Media Release 17 September 2012

Rhys Darby Accepts Invitation From Boys’ High Year 12 Student

Comedian Rhys Darby will speak to more than five hundred Year 9 and 10 students from Christchurch Boys’ High School tomorrow.

Darby is in Christchurch to promote his upcoming show “This Way to Spaceship” at the CBS arena on October 3 and is thrilled to be able to accept Yr 12 student Jake Miller’s invitation to talk to students as part of a leadership programme he has developed at Boys’ High.

“I hear that Jake is a remarkable young man. He lost his dad in the Fox Glacier plane crash in late 2010 and yet has still marched forward arranging this speakers series and showing what a highly motivated guy he is. He managed to get Helen Clark, John Key, Rob Fyfe...and me" says Darby. "Oh crikey, two out of three are civil servants; I hope they are not expecting Murray!"

Jake says he Facebooked Darby about a year ago and was thrilled when the opportunity came up to have the comedian speak at Boys’ High.

“The speakers we have had to date have been incredible,” he says. “When Helen Clark was here a few weeks ago, not one boy made a sound or even moved the whole time she spoke. She told us about what other boys our age are dealing with in third world countries and if we ever found the going getting tough in Christchurch, to try hard to put it in perspective and keep moving forward,” says Jake.

Rhys Darby says with the incredibly difficult times Christchurch people have been though and continue to be challenged by, he is looking forward to bringing “This Way to Spaceship” to town in early October.

The show is the live version of his top selling first novel, This Way to Spaceship, 'a handy autobiographical end of world companion’ which was published earlier this year and stayed at the top of the International Bestseller List in NZ for 7 weeks. Darby is veryproud that the book and show have been seen as the story of nice guys finishing first by audiences and media alike.

The CBS Arena show will be recorded for a DVD which will be out in time for Christmas.

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