Press Release
26/11/09

Wellington represented for the Billy T James Award in 2010

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TJ McDonald is Wellington’s only chance for bringing the Billy T Award back to the capital. As the sole Billy T Award nominee from Wellington for 2010, TJ McDonald joins a list of previous nominees that includes Ben Hurley, Dai Henwood, and the Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement.

From thirteen applicants for the award, TJ made it through the selection process to become one of five nominees who must now perform a solo show in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2010.

‘It’s a daunting prospect,’ says TJ, ‘but I’m looking forward to representing the Wellington scene, especially as all the other nominees are Aucklanders!’

His provocatively titled show ‘A Māori ate my Great Granddad’ will look back at a family history that covers everything from his grandparents fleeing war torn Poland to drunken pub fights, plus a few dark family secrets. Though he has performed in every NZ Comedy Festival since 2005, this will be TJ’s first solo show.

A regular on the New Zealand comedy scene since 2004, TJ has recently completed his third festival performance with sketch group ‘The Comedy Cure’, made the finals of Radio New Zealand National’s ‘Stand Up and Be Counted’ comedy series and is set to perform at the Comedy Christmas Gala at SKYCITY Theatre in December.

The Billy T Award is New Zealand’s premier award in stand up comedy for up and coming comedians. Previous winners have gone on to perform throughout the country and around the world. This capital city comic could soon be among them.

ENDS