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  • Spotlight
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    • 9

      IT: Chapter Two review: bigger budget, bigger run-time, bigger scares

      Shawn Moodie
      September 5, 2019
      Entertainment, Film, Spotlight
    Recent

    • We Will Rock You: The Musical – Interview with David Mackie

      Shawn Moodie
      August 20, 2019

    • INTERVIEW: Jack Jones on ‘All You Need Is Love’

      Shawn Moodie
      July 23, 2019
    • 10

      In Review: ONCE The Musical

      Shawn Moodie
      July 2, 2019

    • In Review: The Wolves

      Shawn Moodie
      June 24, 2019

    • The 2019 Pacific Dance Festival is finally here!

      Shawn Moodie
      June 7, 2019
      1

    • In Review: An Iliad

      The Speakeasy
      May 31, 2019
  • Watch & Listen
    Featured

    • New music from San Holo & Broods - “Honest” released today

      Shawn Moodie
      January 31, 2020
      Alternative, Electronic, Listen, Main, Music, Watch and Listen
    Recent

    • INTERVIEW: Jack Jones on ‘All You Need Is Love’

      Shawn Moodie
      July 23, 2019

    • In Review: 2040

      The Speakeasy
      July 6, 2019

    • In Review: Top End Wedding

      The Speakeasy
      May 6, 2019
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    Featured

    • IN REVIEW: Have You Ever Been With An Asian Womxn?

      Johan Chang
      March 1, 2020
      Entertainment, Theatre
    Recent

    • 7 Live Comedy Venues In Auckland To Get Your Post Lockdown Laughs

      Oliver Smith
      June 18, 2020
    • 10

      In Review: Leather Lungs: Yas Queen!

      Liz Lauder
      February 6, 2020

    • In Review: Pop Up Globe Farewell Summer Season – Much Ado About Nothing

      Liz Lauder
      December 24, 2019
    • Film
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    Featured
    • 10

      In Review: Leather Lungs: Yas Queen!

      Liz Lauder
      February 6, 2020
      Culture, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music, Theatre
    Recent

    • NEW MUSIC: VÏKÆ

      Chontalle Musson
      August 12, 2020

    • NEW MUSIC: Great Gable – new album

      Chontalle Musson
      August 11, 2020

    • NEW MUSIC: Milly Tabak

      Chontalle Musson
      August 10, 2020
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    Featured
    • 10

      In Review: Leather Lungs: Yas Queen!

      Liz Lauder
      February 6, 2020
      Culture, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music, Theatre
    Recent

    • 7 Live Comedy Venues In Auckland To Get Your Post Lockdown Laughs

      Oliver Smith
      June 18, 2020

    • In Review: Pop Up Globe Farewell Summer Season – Much Ado About Nothing

      Liz Lauder
      December 24, 2019

    • Bourbon Cocktails Every Millennial Should Know

      Shawn Moodie
      November 1, 2019
    • Fashion
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  • NZ International Comedy Festival
    Featured

    • NZICF: Fred Awards Finalists Announced

      Shawn Moodie
      May 25, 2019
      Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
    Recent

    • NZICF In Review: Better Than I Was The Last Time – David Correos

      Grace Hood-Edwards
      May 26, 2019

    • NZICF In Review: Heroic – Donna Brookbanks

      Grace Hood-Edwards
      May 25, 2019

    • NZICF In Review: The Blair Witch Projector – James Mustapic

      Grace Hood-Edwards
      May 24, 2019

    • NZICF In Review: Kura Shoulda Woulda – Kura Forrester

      The Speakeasy
      May 24, 2019

    • And The Winners Are… Raw Comedy Quest 2019 Crowns 2 Winners

      Oliver Smith
      May 24, 2019

    • NZICF In Review: Traffic Jam – Darcy Murray & Wade Jackson

      The Speakeasy
      May 23, 2019
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  • ABOUT US

NZ International Comedy Festival

This April, the NZ International Comedy Festival hits a quarter century, and it looks as though we’ve never needed comedy more. Over the course of the Festival, we’ll be interviewing comedians, highlighting shows that you should attend, and of course offering our reviews.

NZICF: Fred Awards Finalists Announced

Shawn Moodie
May 25, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

NZICF In Review: Kura Shoulda Woulda – Kura Forrester

The Speakeasy
May 24, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

NZICF In Review: Dialogue Matters – Pax Assadi

The Speakeasy
May 23, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival

NZICF In Review: God Damn Fancy Man – James Nokise

The Speakeasy
May 22, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
1

NZICF In Review: Tom Foolery – Tom Sainsbury

The Speakeasy
May 22, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Home
NZ International Comedy Festival
10

NZICF In Review: Your Wrong – Phil Nichol

Shawn Moodie
May 16, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival, Spotlight
Within minutes of Phil Nichol walking on-stage I knew that his show ‘Your Wrong’ would be something different. Very different as it turns out. Before going any further, I feel that it’s important to note t...

NZICF In Review: Instant Broadway

Grace Hood-Edwards
May 16, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Covert Theatre’s Instant Broadway opened this week at the Herald Theatre. Posited as an improv musical where “every night is opening night”, the cast create a musical on the spot based on a word thrown out by ...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Legacy – Frickin Dangerous Bro

Oliver Smith
May 15, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
I made my way to the Q Theatre Loft late on Tuesday night, to witness Frickin Dangerous Bro, a sketch group that always serve one of my highlights for the festival; a group that always manages to find the funn...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Myths And Legends – Eli Matthewson

Oliver Smith
May 15, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
It was a cold Tuesday night when I made my way to the Basement, to see Myth and Legend,the latest hour of comedy from the Fred nominated Eli Matthewson, a show that was in my opinion an absolute masterpiece. ...

NZICF In Review: Success Without a Sex Tape – Eleanor Tiernan

The Speakeasy
May 15, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Grace Chua Softly-spoken Irish comedian Eleanor Tiernan comes to NZ for the first time with her new show Success Without a Sex Tape which she has been touring to sold-out audiences and great revie...

NZICF In Review: Me ‘n’ Ma – Hamish and Lynette Parkinson

The Speakeasy
May 15, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Reviewed by Chelsea Pickens I really liked the concept of this show, actually just a guy and his mum sharing a bottle of bubbly. After the build-up of the Lynette reveal and realising hey, this is actually...

NZICF In Review: Best Comedy Show on Earth – Mother’s Day Special

Shawn Moodie
May 13, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival, Spotlight
I always get a little nervous taking my Mum to a comedy show. What if she doesn’t find it funny? What if I start cracking up at a dark or crass joke and she finds out how twisted my sense of humour is? Even wo...

NZICF In Review: Late & Live at The Classic

Shawn Moodie
May 11, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival, Spotlight
We have an enviable crop of talented comedians in New Zealand, but like it or loathe it, it often takes a few international drawcards to really capture people’s attention. That is where the NZ International Co...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Crack-Up Late Show with Alan McElroy

Oliver Smith
May 11, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
It was Friday night, I found myself in the Classic Studio at 10pm, a time associated with the loosest of late night shows, with The Classic's usual Late and Live in the downstairs room, with this Crack-Up Late...

NZICF In Review: All Female, All Funny – C-Suite

The Speakeasy
May 10, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Joelle Reid It is a bleak Friday morning and I am stirring a very large coffee cup with a very small teaspoon. ‘Fuck!’ I frown at the spoon- I have childhood trauma issues for picking that teaspoo...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Improv Bandits

Oliver Smith
May 10, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
On Thursday Night I found myself in Herald Theatre, to see the Improv Bandits, one of New Zealand’s premier Improv groups since 1997. As a lover of Improv, I find myself wondering why I’d never seen them befor...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Absolute Monster – Alice Snedden

Oliver Smith
May 10, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
I found myself in a buzzing Basement Theatre, to see Alice Snedden’s Absolute Monster. I was a little sweaty, partially due to the humidity, and partially due to Auckland traffic. I found myself re-enacting th...

NZICF In Review: Fuq Boiz Forever

The Speakeasy
May 10, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Jaimee Beck As we take our seats at the less-dodgy-than-I-remember Basement’s studio, I become aware of two things; the somewhat too cold air-con, and the fact that 10pm on a Thursday is quite ho...

NZICF In Review: The Big Show

The Speakeasy
May 9, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Stephanie Jane Reader (with Johan Chang) A few days ago I received without question the best text of my life. “Wanna come to a Comedy Show with me and write a review of it?” T...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Elevation – Uther Dean

Oliver Smith
May 9, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
I greeted Elevation with great anticipation, having seen Uther Dean on the circuit I was already a fan of his work, but had never seen a whole hour. His material is usually high in creativity, so it's only log...

NZICF In Review: Sam Smith: Live In Concert – Sam Smith

The Speakeasy
May 9, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Grace Chua Back in the dank cellar basement where I first reviewed two twenty-year-old amateur comedians swooning over wine last year, I tried to prep myself for yet another round of breakthrough ...

NZICF In Review: Eat Slay Love – Rhiannon McCall

The Speakeasy
May 9, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Sarah Kidd Happiness, we all want it. But how do we truly achieve it? In an age where the number of Instagram followers seems to be the preferred barometer of self-worth, social media peddlers of ...

In Review: “UP/DOWN” Cori Gonzalez-Macuer

The Speakeasy
May 9, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival, Spotlight
Review by Sarah Kidd When he isn’t playing the part of a mis-behaved vampire alongside Taika Waititi or delivering thought provoking TEDX talks, you can usually find Cori Gonzaler-Macuer on 7 Days or hangin...

NZICF In Review: Role Models – Bec Sandys, Brooke West & Audrey Porne

The Speakeasy
May 9, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
Review by Mike Beck What happens when you exchange the academic disseminations of Jordan Peterson for a trio of sassy sisters, who deliver their stuff confidently on the comedic stage? You get one of the be...

NZICF In Review: Two Hearts – The Winery Tour

Grace Hood-Edwards
May 8, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
An eager crowd are hustled into the Q Theatre Loft, gawking at the lovely set as they take their seats. Oak barrels adorned with glasses and bottles of wine are scattered about the stage, where vines crawl up ...

New Zealand International Comedy Festival In Review: Iconique – Chris Parker

Oliver Smith
May 8, 2019
Comedy, Entertainment, NZ International Comedy Festival
I returned to my duties as comedy reviewer/weatherman on Tuesday, to see 2018 Fred winner Chris Parker at The Vault at Q Theatre. It was opening night of his new show Iconique a show about his own icons, and h...
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TOP REVIEWS

  • In Review: Horace and Pete

    Nigel Mckenzie-Ryan
    May 12, 2016
    1
    10

  • Joker – a masterpiece of time and place.

    Shawn Moodie
    October 2, 2019
    2
    10

  • In Review: Leather Lungs: Yas Queen!

    Liz Lauder
    February 6, 2020
    3
    10

  • In Review: CitizenFour

    Shawn Moodie
    March 5, 2016
    4
    9.8

  • NZICF In Review: Your Wrong – Phil Nichol

    Shawn Moodie
    May 16, 2019
    5
    10

LATEST POSTS

  • NEW MUSIC: VÏKÆ

    Chontalle Musson
    August 12, 2020

  • NEW MUSIC: Great Gable – new album

    Chontalle Musson
    August 11, 2020

  • NEW MUSIC: Milly Tabak

    Chontalle Musson
    August 10, 2020

  • NEW MUSIC: PRINS

    Chontalle Musson
    August 10, 2020

  • NEW MUSIC: JessB

    Chontalle Musson
    August 9, 2020

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: Dope Lemon – Music Video

    Chontalle Musson
    August 9, 2020

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: LAUV Video

    Chontalle Musson
    August 8, 2020

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: 99% Angelz: Theia and friends

    Chontalle Musson
    August 8, 2020

  • SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: Amanda Palmer

    Chontalle Musson
    August 5, 2020

  • NEW MUSIC: Vayne

    Chontalle Musson
    July 29, 2020

The Speakeasy is a culture and entertainment site for the digital generation.

We're a community of creators and curators on a mission to deliver the stories you care about in an authentic, and distinctive voice.

We cover everyone and everything from the trendsetters to the fringe favourites. From arthouse flicks to box-office hits.

No matter the platform (video, audio, photo, written), you can expect us to deliver stories like no other, because at The Speakeasy we're all about - Entertainment, done differently.

⚡ Trending

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  • Drunk Souls – A Dark Souls Drinking Game

    Mihajlo Pavlovic
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  • In Review: Boners of the Heart

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    In Review: Eye in the Sky

    Johan Chang
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Latest Posts

  • NEW MUSIC: VÏKÆ

    Chontalle Musson
    August 12, 2020

  • NEW MUSIC: Great Gable – new album

    Chontalle Musson
    August 11, 2020

  • NEW MUSIC: Milly Tabak

    Chontalle Musson
    August 10, 2020

  • NEW MUSIC: PRINS

    Chontalle Musson
    August 10, 2020

  • NEW MUSIC: JessB

    Chontalle Musson
    August 9, 2020

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