Comedy Festival 2011: First Laughs, It's A Gas

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

2011 NZ International Comedy Festival

FIRST LAUGHS, IT’S A GAS!

Sixteen of the best from the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival launch the ultimate comedy caper! Arj Barker and the gang are jazzed to be performing at the Opera House in Wellington for Visa First Laughs on Sunday May 1.

Visa First Laughs will blow the lid off the opening night of the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival in New Zealand’s capital; the show kicks off the season of laughs with critically-acclaimed international and local comedic talent.

Arj Barker (Flight of The Conchords) leads this sizzling line-up – an all-star cast of comedy's finest, including: Mark Watson (UK); Greg Proops (US, Whose Line Is It Anyway?); Wilson Dixon (US); Wil Anderson (AUS, 7 Days, The Gruen Transfer); Terry Alderton (UK); The Boy With Tape On His Face (NZ); and stars of 7 Days Dai Henwood, Ben Hurley, Jeremy Elwood and Rhys Mathewson (2010 Billy T Award Winner).

Revel in a night of rollicking, raucous laughter at The Opera House for Visa First Laughs.

Purchase your tickets with Visa and be in to win a trip for two to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland!

For new, reviews and sweet deals, visit www.comedyfestival.co.nz

Visa First Laughs
Sun 1 May, 7pm (duration: 2 hours)
Opera House, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $69.50, Groups 10+ $65
$1.50 Performing Arts Levy will apply; service fees will apply

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz

THE 2011 NZ INTERNATIONANL COMEDY FESTIVAL PRESENTS

CLASS COMEDIANS

AN EDUCATION IN TOMFOOLERY!

Fear not, parents of New Zealand – your little Billy or Jessica’s school time shenanigans may indeed pay off in the future after all.

Thanks to the NZ International Comedy Festival’s coveted Class Comedians programme!

Every one of your favourite comedians had to start somewhere – Billy Connolly worked on an oil rig, Jack Black was in TV commercial for the Atari video game Pitfall. New Zealand’s own Dai Henwood DJ’d at weddings while Bret McKenzie starred in a Trumpet ad. Even beloved comedian Rhys Darby enlisted in our nation’s army.

Class Comedians has been instrumental in the growth of New Zealand comedy and a feature throughout the Festival’s lifetime. Each year, ‘class clowns’ are hand-picked through a series of tryouts across schools in Auckland and Wellington. Those who the comedians see potential in are invited to free Comedy Workshops held during school holidays and weekends – therefore not interfering in whatever Billy or Jessica is studying during term time!

Being put through their paces in the run-up to the Festival, the class will learn skills like stand-up, sketch writing, character comedy, publicity, promotion and how to tailor jokes for television or radio from numerous top-quality performers from the 2011 Festival line up – both local and international.

Once they’ve built up their skills, Billy and Jessica will get the chance to put them to the test – a performance at the annual Class Comedians Showcase. With all the skills acquired, the budding young comics will each perform four minutes of stand-up in front of a real life audience during the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival!

But don’t take our word for it – why not ask one of the programme’s most successful graduates.

“Being a part of Class Comedians 2006 was the most important thing that has ever happened to me, bar my birth”

- Rhys Mathewson, Billy T Award Winner 2010, Editor of Craccum, has starred in and writes for TV3’s 7 Days and C4’s The Jono Project

WHY NOT ENROLL TODAY? INFORMATION ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB – www.classcomedians.co.nz

For news, reviews and sweet deals visit www.comedyfestival.co.nz

Class Comedians Showcase Auckland
Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE
Saturday 21st May, 3pm (duration: 2 hours)
Tickets: Adults $25, Students $15*
Bookings: 0800 BUY TICKETS (289 842) or www.comedyfestival.co.nz

Class Comedians Showcase Wellington
San Francisco Bathhouse, 171 Cuba Street
Saturday 21st May, 3pm (duration: 2 hours)
Tickets: Adults $25, Students $15*
Bookings: TICKETEK – 0800 TICKETEK or www.comedyfestival.co.nz *service fees will apply
Tickets go on public sale 9am, Thursday 21 March!

NZ International Comedy Festival publicists
Joanna Lee Kelly or Benjii Jackson
Phone: +64 9 368 4180
Email: elephant99@paradise.net.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

THE 2011 NZ INTERNATIONANL COMEDY FESTIVAL PRESENTS

COMEDY RIDES AGAIN

The Comedy Convoy is hittin’ the road to bring the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival to audiences across the country. This mob will be heading from top to bottom, east to west and everywhere in-between with 11 one-night-stands across the North and South Island.

And leading the way is one of New Zealand’s funniest exports, host Jarred Christmas (NZ, UK). Following sell-out shows in Edinburgh, a 25-date tour of the UK, a starring role in a BBC2 sitcom, storming appearances on hit UK panel shows, and most recently a surprisingly skilled performance of Madonna’s ‘Hung Up’, complete with pink leotard and heels, for BBC’s Comic Relief.

Joining Jarred (voted “Best MC” by Chortle.co.uk) on tour is Carey Marx (UK), who is becoming a Festival staple here in New Zealand, after his stunning debut performance in 2009 earnt him Best International Show at the Last Laugh awards ceremony. His last show in New Zealand saw him counting down the ten most taboo words or topics in stand-up comedy – Marx is a man not afraid to push the envelope.

Australia’s Felicity Ward is widely respected in her home country for her work in The Ronnie Johns Half Hour and music quiz Spicks and Specks. Her show, Textbook Idiot, at the 2010 NZ International Comedy Festival cemented her as one of Australasia’s brightest, and most offbeat, comediennes of recent years. Armed with an acoustic guitar, Ward’s humour is endearing and slightly eccentric.

One of the biggest stories of the 2010 Festival, Rhys Mathewson, made history by becoming the youngest ever winner of the coveted Billy T Award. A graduate of the Class Comedians programme in 2006 and a mainstay of both the Festival and the comedy circuit since then, Mathewson’s youthful exuberance and tongue-firmly-in-cheek demeanour has him regarded as the ‘next big thing’ in many comedy circles.

Rounding off the gang is The Boy With Tape On His Face (NZ), who has become a revelation in the international comedy circuit since his five-star performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year. A multi-award winner, this comedian’s one-man show has drawn comparisons to Buster Keaton and been described by Chortle as a “truly magical experience.”

So don’t be a square; book your tickets to the Comedy Convoy before they sell out. It’ll blow your mind, you dig?

Filmed for TV3.

For news, reviews and sweet deals, visit www.comedyfestival.co.nz

Comedy Convoy pit stops

17 May - Tauranga

18 May - Hamilton

19 May - Hamilton

20 May - Napier

21 May - Palmerston North

23 May - Nelson

24 May – Blenheim

25 May – Christchurch * this event is on hold due to recent events but please check www.comedyfestival.co.nz for updates as the NZ International Comedy Festival would love to provide a great night out to the people of Christchurch.

26 May - Dunedin

27 May - Invercargill

28 May - New Plymouth

29 May - North Shore, Auckland

Tickets go on public sale 9am, Thursday 21 March! *service fees will apply

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

THE 2011 NZ INTERNATIONANL COMEDY FESTIVAL PRESENTS

LATE LAUGHS

ARE YOU GAME?

For late-night party animals, insomniacs, or those who just want one more laugh for the road – Late Laughs is ready to ruffle a few feathers!

Every Friday and Saturday night during the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival in Wellington, the San Francisco Bathhouse will be the home for this wicked night of fun, the place to see our local and international stars cut loose and go wild. Be there to see an array of comedians deliver some of the Festival’s most memorable and hilarious moments, MC’ed by local heavyweights Jarred Christmas , Brendhan Lovegrove and Steve Wrigley.

In 2011 Late Laughs will also be wreaking havoc in Auckland! Every Saturday night of the Festival The Basement will be the hotbed for this action-packed late-night malarkey, where anything could happen... with MC’s Brendhan Lovegrove, Steve Wrigley and Jeremy Elwood.

A haven for the comically demented. Language may offend. Adult content and nudity may entertain.

Not for the faint-hearted!

Book if you dare…

Auckland
Sat 7 May, 11.30pm – Hosted by Jeremy Elwood
Sat 14 May, 11.30pm – Hosted by Steve Wrigley
Sat 21 May, 11.30pm – Hosted by Brendhan Lovegrove
Duration: 2 hours
Tickets: $20
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (242 538) www.ticketek.co.nz *service fees will apply

Wellington
Fri 6 & Sat 7 May, 10pm – Hosted by Jarred Christmas
Fri 13 & Sat 14 May, 10pm – Hosted by Brendhan Lovegrove
Fri 20 & Sat 21 May, 10pm – Hosted by Steve Wrigley
Duration: 2 hours
Tickets: $20
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (242 538) www.ticketek.co.nz * service fees will apply

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

THE 2011 NZ INTERNATIONANL COMEDY FESTIVAL PRESENTS

STAND UP FOR KIDS

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE!

There once was a small boy who used to laugh at everything; from the words bum, poos and wees to even people falling over in the play pen.

Something happened one day though which puzzled his mum and dad; the young boy stopped laughing, so silent, so sad.

His family tried everything, his friends were perplexed. They tried all their pranks, leaving their teacher so vexed!

Then one day came the NZ International Comedy Fest, which brings together comedians – the best!

Mother and dad, friends knew what to do; get him to Stand-up For Kids! For a laugh, or a few.

Stand-up For Kids has become a beloved family outing during the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival. For the past three years, the season has assembled some of the best talents locally and internationally to present a showcase that is both kid-friendly and a lot of fun.

Stand-up For Kids draws comic heavyweights from the more mature circuit to tailor their material to younger audiences.

This year, it’s the silliest comedian in the universe Derek Flores’ task to round up a new bunch of fantastic comedians to fan the flames of laughter – and all the while keeping it clean for the kids. It’s a one-hour showcase of the funniest family-friendly material, guaranteed to get our youngest comedy fans giggling!

Flores is an international award-winning improvisor and master of crazy characters, who won him fans for life at last years Stand-up for Kids. “The best character I liked was Derek because it was very hilarious.” – Sam, age 6

“The Stand-up for Kids show is like the Most funniest Show ever because you won’t stop laughing and stop clapping at all.” – Corryna, age 7

For news, reviews and sweet deals, visit www.comedyfestival.co.nz

Stand-up For Kids

Capital E, McKenzie Theatre, Wellington
Saturday 7th, 14th and 21st May, 2:30pm (duration: 1 hour)
Tickets: Adults $25, Conc. $15* *service fees will apply

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.comedyfestival.co.nz

Tickets go on public sale 9am, Thursday 21 March!

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

WELLINGTON IMPORVISATION TROUPE PRESENTS:

ALL-STAR MICETRO

A TRULY RANDOMIZED, CRASH-BAN IMPROV FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT!!

Join the Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT) as they do battle for the ultimate title to become the All-Star Micetro champion, May 8th and 15th.

A trusted and favourite format of both improvisers and WIT fans alike, Micetro is

always a fun challenge and the beauty of it is that it is never the same show twice.

You as the audience members play a vital role in determining who among the brave improvisers will be crowned as the All-Star Micetro champion.

Laugh along with the performers as they play another hearty round of "Epic Poem".

Cry with them as they tug at your heart-strings with a never-before-seen version

of "Gibberish Opera". Sigh with relief alongside them as you realise it will also

never-be-seen again!

"Edge-of-your-seat comedy" ~ TV3 Nightline, NZ

"I laughed so hard I couldn't see" ~ Salient, NZ

"Formidable and Funny" ~ Theatreview.org.nz

WELLINGTON

Dates: 7:00 PM Sunday 8 May and Sunday 15 May

Venue: The Fringe Bar, Cnr Vivian and Cuba Streets, Wellington

Tickets: Adults $14, Conc. $12

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

Website: wit.org.nz
MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

ANIL DESAI in "HEY, IMPRESSIONS GUY!"

A TRULY TALENTED MIMIC, DESAI HAS ASTOUNDED AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE WITH HIS RECORD BREAKING 52 IMPRESSIONS IN 5 MINUTES

A veteran of a decade of Edinburgh Fringe Festival's, British comic and master impressionist Anil Desai graces our shores for the first time ever this year.

Desai's current show "Hey, Impressions Guy!" garnered rave reviews in Edinburgh. He went on to tour India and Australia where he appeared on Hey Hey It's Saturday! With jaw dropping ease, Desai slips from De Niro, to Johnny Depp, Nelson Mandela to Homer Simpson, and he leaves his audiences in hysterics.

As a comedian Desai began his career starring in the Award winning BBC sketch show series Goodness Gracious Me. He followed this by creating his own comedy sketch group The Giant Pineapple Boys, performing in London and Edinburgh Festivals. He also co-hosted on the ever popular live late show Spank! When Anil began standup comedy in 2005 he created comedy characters Rajesh – Bollywood Lounge singer & Candice the Fluffer Girl. Desai is one of the few acts that can cross the genre divide performing continually on the comedy, cabaret, variety and burlesque circuits.

* * * * The List

"It's not just clever, but utterly hilarious...one to watch"

Edinburgh Evening News

"A Tour-de-force of impressions...side-splittingly funny... Desai is ridiculously talented...Stardom is beckoning"

* * * * Edinburgh Guide

"A possessed schizophrenic tour-de-force...more than an impressionist, combining typical observational stand up with voices making him a force to be reckoned with...a highly entertaining and worthwhile night out..."

* * * * Hairline

AUCKLAND
Dates: 10 - 14 May, 7:15pm
Venue: Upstairs @ The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, City
Tickets: Adults $25, Conc. $20 Group (6+) $20
Bookings: 0800 Ticketek (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz

Duration: 1 hour

WELLINGTON
Dates: 17 - 21 May, 7.15pm
Venue: Club Ivy, The Garden Club
Tickets: Adults $25, Conc. $20 Group (6+) $20
Bookings: 0800 Ticketek (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz

Duration: 1 hour

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

ADRIAN BOHN PRESENTS

ARDAL O’HANLON

A TRULY A STAR OF ABC TV’S FATHER TED 7 MY HERO

Returning to New Zealand for the first time since his highly successful tour of 2007, multi award-winning comedian and actor Ardal O’Hanlon is one of the most acclaimed artists in the comedy industry. He returns to New Zealand as part of the NZ International Comedy festival following a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival and a hugely successful UK tour.

Ardal O'Hanlon has an extensive list of both acting and comedy television credits and although best known for his starring roles in the sitcoms, Father Ted and My Hero, is first and foremost a stand-up comedian.

A spellbinding fusion of off-beat stories and polished material combine to make Ardal’s stand-up act a hilarious journey touched with life enhancing observations and unexpected twists. His sheer originality and talent ensure that there is no other performer quite like him.

A founding father of Dublin’s Comedy Cellar, the spiritual home of Irish comedy, he moved to London where he quickly won the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year. Since then he has continued to perform to sell-out audiences in the UK and around the world (from Australia to Zambia not to mention tours of US and China).

As well as Father Ted, Ardal's TV credits include leading roles in comedy dramas such as Big Bad World and the Ben Elton penned, Blessed. He has played a cat creature in Dr Who, a cameo part in Skins and three series’ of The Stand Up Show on BBC. On Irish television, Ardal has presented a number of documentaries and is currently starring in the sitcom Val Falvey TD. Movie roles have included Another Bobby O’Hara Story, The Butcher Boy and the lead role in award winning short film Flying Saucer Rock n Roll

He has also written a bestselling novel, The Talk of the Town (on the Best Seller lists for a full year) and was included in the influential tome, 1001 Books to read before you die. The book was released in America, renamed Knick Knack Paddy Wack where it reprised the UK success.

It was, however, his consummate starring role in three series’ of the BAFTA winning series Father Ted, which initially propelled Ardal in to public attention with his hilarious portrayal of Father Dougal McGuire. This role also won him the Top Television Comedy Newcomer in 1995 as well as nominations for Best Actor in 1996 and Top Television Personality and Best Actor in 1997, 1998 and 1999, along with Best Comedy Actor at the 1999 BAFTA Awards.

www.abpresents.com.au|

Auckland

Dates: Saturday 30th April

Venue: Town Hall

Bookings: 0800 buytickets (289842) www.buytickets.co.nz

Tickets: $55

Wellington

Dates: Monday 2nd May

Venue: Opera House

Bookings: 0800 ticketek (812538) www.ticketek.co.nz

Tickets: $55

MEDIA RELEASE: Jan 2011

MARY TOBIN PRESENTS....

ARJ BARKER - ELEVEN
SOMETIMES 10 JUST ISN’T ENOUGH

Arj Barker returns to the shores of New Zealand with his new show, featuring an hour of the inventive stand-up comedy for which he is known and loved. Join Arj as he fearlessly tackles 11 of the most controversial topics around, including 3D movies, Death, Google Maps and prawns. If you’ve seen him before, you know you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t seen him yet? It’s cool. You’re probably just super busy, with work and stuff...

Arj Barker stared as "Dave" in Seasons 1 & 2 of the HBO Smash Hit "Flight of the Concords".

Barker who won the coveted Perrier Best Newcomer Award in 1997 has firmly established himself as one of the golden boys on the international comedy circuit. He performed massive sell out seasons all across Australia last year, as well as a 4 month tour around regional Australia.

Arj has made numerous appearances on late night talk shows, including the Letterman and Conan O'Brian shows, as well as starring in his own Comedy Central half hour special on the HBO. He is a favourite on Australian TV having appeared in Thank God You're Here, Rove, Spicks & Specks, Good News Week and Talkin 'Bout Your Generation.

Arj Barker is back by popular demand! Get it quick. This is world-class comedy.

"If comedians are the new rock stars, then Arj Barker is stand-up's Dave Grohl" The Age, Melbourne 2009

"It's a joy to spend an hour in his world”

The Advertiser, Adelaide 2008

“If you prefer comedy with its collar up, then Arj Barker may have you head-butting your boyfriend with violent laughter. He has a lovely turn of phrase, a wacky imagination and a unique style.” The Age, Melbourne 2008

"He's invariably hilarious" (4 & a half stars) The Advertiser, Adelaide 2009

Auckland
Sat 30 & Thu 5 - Fri 6 May, 9pm
SKYCITY Theatre
Level 3, cnr Wellesley St West & Hobson St, CBD
0800 TICKETEK (842 5385)
Adult: $36.50 Conc $33.50/ Group 10+ $33.50
www.ticketek.co.nz

Wellington
4 May, 8:30pm
The Opera House
111-113 Manners St, CBD
0800 TICKETEK (842 5385)
Adult: $36.50 Conc $33.50/ Group 10+ $33.50
www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: Jan 2011

BEN HURLEY IN

DO THE EVOLUTION

Metro Best of Auckland Award Winner “Can a Kiwi Comedian get any bigger?”

“He is a great standup comedian with a laid-back, relaxed style that belies the sharpness of his gags and the precision of his delivery.” The Christchurch Press 2011

7 Days, The Vodafone Music Awards, AotearoHA, Ben and Jeremy’s Big Road Trip. It’s been a big year for Ben Hurley. But this small town boy “done good” is as surprised as anyone by his success. Not content to rest on his laurels, Ben has chiseled out another hilarious hour of comedy just for the NZ International Comedy Festival, his 10th in a row

This year he explores the theory of evolution and how it applies to everything in life. A keen “Darwinite”, Ben will show how everything evolves; politics, relationships, comedy, television, but most important of all, how we all evolve as people.

After sell out shows in 2008, 2009 and 2010, This promises to be another blockbuster offering from one of New Zealand Comedy’s finest.

Auckland

Dates: Sat 30 April & Mon 2 – Sat 7 May, 7pm

Venue: The Classic, 321 Queen St

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz / www.comedy.co.nz

Tickets: Adult $26 / Conc. $22

Wellington

Dates: Mon 16 – Sat 21 May 7pm

Venue: San Francisco Bathhouse, 171 Cuba St

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz

Tickets: Adult $26 / Conc. $22

THE WELLINGTON COMEDY CLUB PRESENTS

BEST OF THE FEST 2011

ALL THE FESTIVALS BEST ACTS

The Wellington Comedy Club presents ‘Best of the Fest’, 2011’s premier late night showcase of the Festival’s best local, national and international acts.

Hosted at Wellington’s home of comedy, The San Francisco Bathhouse, ’Best of the Fest’ gives you the opportunity to the see the best acts doing their best material, it’s no holds barred comedy that will leave you in fits of laughter and wanting more.

A past New Zealand International Comedy Festival award-winning show with sell out shows in 2010, ’Best Of The Fest’ is Thursday night comedy at its best.

If you’re a regular at the club or yet to see live stand up, come along and check out ‘Best Of The Fest’, grab a drink and a seat and enjoy the best comedy Wellington has to offer.

Not to be missed.

WELLINGTON

Dates: Thursday 5th,12th & 19th May From 10pm

Venue: The San Francisco Bathhouse, 171 Cuba Street, City

Tickets: $20

Bookings: Door Sales Only

Website: www.wellingtoncomedyclub.co.nz / www.sfbh.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

MR & MRS WILLS & THE CLASSIC PRESENT

THE BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS FACE

WITHOUT A WORD OUR NEW COMEDY HERO MAKES A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO THE NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL.

After his extraordinary success on debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2010, playing to sold out houses from day one, and gaining an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination, followed up with a National Tour of the UK, New Zealand’s latest international success story, Sam Wills a.k.a The Boy With Tape on His Face, is delighted to return to the NZ International Comedy Festival for the first time since 2007.

Drawing on a heritage that includes silent film, mime, magic, puppetry, Motown and the films of Patrick Swayze, The Boy With Tape On His Face is a pensive, curious soul approaching every object and audience member as a potential friend - or plaything. Shoes sing, empty dresses dance and electrical tape blossoms into roses creating a world of possibilities where the only certainty is laughter.

This exciting one-man show is attracting attention across the globe, The Boy With Tape on His Face has racked up awards for Best Show, Best Show Concept, People's Choice, to name a few at the New Zealand, Melbourne and Adelaide festivals.

Wills is a mad scientist of vaudevillian pranks, who reminds us that life is an adventure…

Reviews from Edinburgh 2010

“The Boy With Tape on His Face is utterly spectacular! Endlessly inventive, hysterically funny. Sublime physical lunacy – fight for a ticket.” Tim Arthur, Time Out

“A deliciously skilful hour, some of the set pieces are simply joyous, sometimes mesmerising” The Times

“It’s not often you can say you really didn’t want a show to end” The Scotsman

THE BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS FACE

AUCKLAND

Dates: 5 nights only in Auckland / Tues 10 to Sat 14 May / 7pm

Venue: The Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, The EDGE

Tickets: Adult $28.00 / Conc. $24.00 / Group 10+ $24.00

Booking: Book at 0800 BUYTICKETS / www.buytickets.co.nz

WELLINGTON

Dates: 6 nights only in Wellington / Mon 2 to Sat May / 7pm

Venue: San Francisco Bathhouse, Cuba St, Wellington

Tickets: Adult $26.00 / Conc. $22.00 / Group 10+ $22.00

Booking: Bookings at Ticketek Ph 0800TICKETEK

MEDIA RELEASE: 26th January 2011

BRAD ZIMMERMAN

GROWN UP

MORTGAGES, MARRIAGES, AND MORBID TERROR

Terrified of growing up? Brad Zimmerman is. In his first solo show, Brad digs deep into himself to face his fears and the inevitability of adulthood.

What exactly is an adult? Brad Zimmerman has no idea, but he worries he may be one of them. Having experienced many traditional ‘coming of age’ milestones in the past few years – including touring Europe, buying a first home, and getting engaged – he fears adulthood has arrived and his childhood may be lost forever.

Whether you’re afraid of growing up, or want to look back on your own journey, visit Club Ivy in May, to join one of Wellington’s favourite comedians as he attempts to find out, once and for all, ‘What is a grown up?’ and ‘Is he one of them?’

Brad Zimmerman is a young and energetic comic from Wellington, New Zealand. He has performed all over New Zealand and the UK, including the world famous Comedy Store in London, and the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

With mostly observational and story-based material, his jokes come from life experiences, and range from travel adventures to basic frustration aimed at the absurd behaviour of the average human being, including himself.

“Zimmerman is high energy, compelling and actually fun!” – Salient Magazine

WELLINGTON
Dates: 3 May – 7 May, 7.15pm
Venue: Club Ivy, 13b Dixon Street, Wellington City
Tickets: Adults $15, Conc. $13, Groups (5+) $10
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

A BOY NAMED HAMBURGER PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS:

2011 BILLY T AWARD NOMINEE CAMERON MURRAY IN

LOGICAL ODDITY

WELLINGTON’S BILLY T HOPE ODDLY LOGICAL

In 2011, New Zealand’s newest comedy star brings his Billy T Award nominated show “Logical Oddity” to the NZICF. Cameron Murray will be taking on the banality of life by applying his own delusional reasoning to the monotony of the mediocrity.

Cameron Murray has a sharp eye for storytelling and takes a weird and wonderful approach to comedy, best described as awkwardly whimsical. One of just five Billy T Award nominees for 2011 and after only taking five years to become a ‘fresh new face’, Cameron has been climbing the ranks of New Zealand comedy since winning the 2008 Raw Comedy Quest, a stepping stone to bigger things for many New Zealand’s comedians, including Billy T award winner Cori Gonzalez-Macuer.

“Logical Oddity” is a show for those looking for more from everyday life, for people wanting to see award winning comedy and for people who wish they were more awesome. Cameron Murray knows awesome. Cameron Murray is awesome. Cameron Murray will share awesome. By taking a unique look at the dilemma of being the lone man stood up in the double date of life, he plans to deliver pearls of peculiarity as he entertains the masses in their quest to better themselves.

Winner - New Zealand Raw Comedy Competition 2008

“Sharp and unusual” – theatreview.org.nz

"His star is in the ascendant... cerebral and surreal” - Lumiere

WELLINGTON
Dates: May 3-7, 7.00pm
Venue: The Fringe Bar – Cnr Cuba & Vivan Streets
Tickets: Adults $18 Conc. & Groups 10+ $15
Bookings: Ticketek 0800 842 538 or online www.ticketek.co.nz

AUCKLAND
Dates: May 17–21, 7.00pm
Venue: Brooklyn Bar - 57 Lorne St, Auckland
Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. & Groups 10+ $15
Bookings: Ticketek 0800 842 538 or online www.ticketek.co.nz

Media Release 2011

COMEDY.CO.NZ PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

ON YOUR MARX!

HE MIGHT BE A SCOUNDREL BUT WE WELCOME THE RETURN OF A CROWD FAVOURITE AT THE 2011 NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL.

Carey Marx impressed local audiences on debut at the 2009 NZ International Comedy Festival receiving the award for ‘Best International Show’. He returned in 2010 with sell-out seasons of two of his solo shows, ‘Careyness’ , in which he counted down the 10 most offensive words or topics in stand-up comedy, and his 2nd show, ‘Doom Gloom Boom’ which targeted the global exploitation of the boom in doom in gloom.

In 2011 Marx returns to the festival with another edgy, politically incorrect show.

Carey Marx is a SCOUNDREL, a rascal and very occasionally a rogue. But he is never a fraud. Well, not anymore.

In his early days Carey was a medium, an above average medium! His methods consisted of lying. It’s not like anyone can check with their dead dad.
Yes, it's so easy to speak on behalf of dead people. Just ask your grandmother. She agrees. Oh, and she loves you, by the way.

Here is a true story of a formative moment, and of exploitation by someone who now knows better. Here is a moral tale about not getting caught. Here is an account of lying too well and going too far.

This is Carey at his most responsible revisiting himself at his most deplorable, exposing some tricks of his old trade and, finally, admitting that it’s just not nice to con people using confidential information, emotional manipulation, and accurate guesswork.

‘Rambling and mischievous, he's a bit like Peter Pan's evil twin’ – New Zealand Herald.

‘A genius for the unexpected and hilarious left turns’ – The Guardian UK.

CAREY MARX : SCOUNDREL

AUCKLAND

Dates: 7 nights only in Auckland / Mon 2 to Sat 7 May / 8-30pm

Venue: The Classic - 321 Queen St, Auckland

Tickets: Adults $26 / Conc $22 / Groups 10+ $22

Booking: Ticketek Ph 0800Ticketek / Online @ www.comedy.co.nz

WELLINGTON

Dates: 1st time in Wellington; 7 nights only / Mon 9 to Sat 14 May / 8:30pm

Venue: San Francisco Bathhouse, Cuba St, Wellington

Tickets: Adults $26 / Conc $22 / Groups 10+ $22

Booking: Ticketek Ph 0800Ticketek / Online @ www.comedy.co.nz

Media Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AWESOMENESS INTERNATIONAL PRESENTS

CHRIS BRAIN IS DELIGHTFUL (AND OTHER BLASPHEMY)

IN A WORLD POPULATED BY TV FRIENDLY COMICS, BRAIN IS A MAVERICK

Most days Chris Brain is delightful, but like his mind, his comedy is peppered with the dark side of existence. A consummate comic, Brain delights in showing us the underside of the world in his own unique, hilarious way.

Chris Brain famously won the Billy T Award in 2009 for a show that dealt with his own demons, anxiety, addiction and depression. At the time he smugly joked that "life was good but he may not be this way next year". The following year was a long walk up a very steep hill. Wracked with anxiety each day victory was not just getting out of bed, it was also not having a drink and being able to perform comedy onstage. For this feat he won the Spirit of the Festival, and showed us all what a superbly strong man he is.

Rising out of the comedy ashes of the past decade, Brain is fighting fit and out to prove to you all why he is called one of the country's top standups, why he won the Billy T Award, and why Rhys Darby had him support him on stage during his Australian and NZ tours.

"He has a wonderful way of peppering his anecdotes with some ferociously intelligent and killer one liners... you do have to have your wits about you or you'll miss the amusing subtlety of some of what he's saying." tvnz.co.nz

"One of NZ's Top Comedians" Dominion Post

AUCKLAND

Dates: 11 - 14 May, 10pm
Venue: Upstairs @The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, City
Tickets: Adults $25, Conc. $20 Groups 6+ $20
Bookings: 0800 Ticketek or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 4 -7 May, 10pm
Venue: The Garden Club, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $25, Conc. $20 Groups 6+ $20
Bookings: 0800 Ticketek or www.ticketek.co.nz

Media Release – For Immediate release

KEITH PATTERSON SUPPORTS

CLAYTON CARRICK-LESLIE in

FANTASMAGORICAL

2010 Billy T Award nominee Clayton Carrick-Leslie returns to the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in full theatrical swing, in his one-hour stand-up show, Fantasmagorical. From the precociousness of molly-coddled modern-day tots, to Kate and Williams’ impending nuptials, Carrick-Leslie dissects nuances of day-to-day life and pop culture with trade mark theatricality. Rhythm and music always make an appearance in Carrick-Leslie’s one-hour shows and it comes as no surprise that at points within this performance he incorporates his loop pedal, saxophone and piano keyboard.

Carrick-Leslie has been a formidable solo act in the festival for the last two years, attracting full audiences and favourable reviews. Last year’s solo show Bring It was judged as one of five nominations for the prestigious Billy T Award, and also earned Carrick-Leslie a nomination for Best Show at the 2011 NZ Comedy Guild Awards. 2010 was a strong year for Carrick-Leslie off the live stage, securing appearances on TV3’s 7 Days and AotearoHa, and TV2’s Great Christmas Comedy Gala.

This year, he brings on board a support act in the form of comedy veteran Keith Paterson. Paterson made his mark in the late nineties on the popular televised comedy line-up show Pulp Comedy. Carrick-Leslie reveals “Keith and I have had a tremendous rapport since we joined together in the 2007 festival under the banner “Thrice Pudding” and I have always wanted to share a show with him again. Keith is incredibly rare in his intelligent and whimsical observations. We have a great deal in common, especially a love of word play and sparing use of profanity.” Paterson opens the show and joins Carrick-Leslie in a musical finale.

Fantasmagorical is a clever show by comedians with multi-faceted performance backgrounds. With extensive runs in Auckland and Wellington this year, this show stands a real chance of becoming a Festival favourite.

AUCKLAND

Dates: Sat 30 April, Tues 3 to Sat 5 May 2011, 7:15pm

Venue: Upstairs @ The Basement

Tickets: $20 Adults / $15 Conc. / Groups 10+ $15

Booking: Ticketek Ph 0800TICKETEK / ww.ticketek.co.nz

Show Duration: 1 hour

WELLINGTON

Dates: Weds 18 May to Sat 21 May. 10pm

Venue: The Garden Club, 13 Dixon St, CBD

Tickets: $18 Adults / $14 Conc. / Groups 10+ $14

Booking: Ticketek Ph 0800TICKETEK / ww.ticketek.co.nz

Show Duration: 1 hour

Media Release – For Immediate release

THE BOILEROOM PRESEENTS KEITH PATTERSON SUPPORTS

Comedy at the Boileroom

Comedy returns to Upper Hutt, with some of the best of the festival performing in the intimate surround of the BoileRoom. Come and enjoy your favourite performers up close and personal at Upper Hutts only regular comedy venue.

WELLINGTON

Dates: Saturday 7 & Saturday 14 May, 7pm

Venue: Mayfair Café at The BolieRoom Wine Bar, 116 Main Street, Upper Hutt

Tickets: $16 Adults / $12 Conc

Booking: Mayfair Café 04 527 4116 or mayfaircafe07@xtra.co.nz

Show Duration: 1 hour

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

CORI GONSALEZ-MACUER – THINGS I HATE

Promo girls, The Feelers, Ed Hardy…none of these have been safe from Cori over the years. The year he returns to the comedy festival and takes things further by doing an entire show on EVERTHING he hates. After years of keeping everything hidden away inside, its time for Cori to blow up in this brand new one hour show.

THINGS I HATE

Promo girls,

homeless people,

Matthew Ridge,

The Long Room,

Cosh Bar,

Ed Hardy,

Dubstep,

Dance Music,

Bad Spelling,

People who don’t indicate,

People who create a Facebook event when they lose their phone,

Anyone who uses LOL,

Tattoos of the outline of NZ,

Boyracers,

People who chew with their mouths open,

The Feelers… and many, many more.

Since winning the 2006 Billy T Award, Cori has become one of the most familiar faces on the NZ comedy scene with various televised stand up performances including the 2007 TV2 Comedy Gala, Aotearoha, Best of the Billy’s and the TV2 Christmas Comedy Gala. As well as stand-up, Cori has been one of the stars of the critically acclaimed shows 7 Days and TV2’s A Night At The Classic. Cori also won the 2008 Qantas Film and Television how as part of C4’s Jono’s New Show (Best Entertainment Show). Thrown in dozens of national torus and a brief spell overseas where he partied more than he performed, and you have about 8 years experience in the industry. Some good…some bad. More bad probably.

AUCKLAND
Dates: Tue 10 May – Sat 14 May, 8:30pm
Venue: Brooklyn Bar, 57 Lorne St, CBD
Tickets: Adults $25 / Conc. $22 / Groups 10+ $22
Bookings: 0800 TICKTEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: Tue 3 May – Sat 7 May, 8:45pm
Venue: Club Ivy, level 2, The Garden Club, 13 Dixon St, CBD
Tickets: Adults $25 / Conc. $22 / Groups 10+ $22
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

NOTORIOUS PROUDLY PRESENTS

DAI HENWOOD IN FONZIE TOUCHED ME

A LOOK BACK THROUGH THE CLOUDED RECOLLECTIONS OF HENWOOD

The 80’s are far enough away now that we can fondly look back and recognise that they were pretty awesome and not quite as cringe worthy as we first thought. This is Dai’s take on that time, what influenced us and what effect that has had. With some jokes of course. Extrapolate out some other influences from even further in the past and you start to build a picture, not necessarily of us as a nation and a culture, but how Dai’s warped sense thinks we are. This is by no means exhaustive, or even that accurate but when has Dai ever let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Dai’s penchant for creating some sort of hyper reality where statistics can prove anything, has seen him rise to the top of the New Zealand comedy scene. Not exactly a wall flower, his antics on Insert Video Here led to a cult following and the resulting Roll The Dai and Roll The Dai Outback were ratings hits. Three years of hosting the NZ Music Awards, hosting his owns AotearoHA Christmas special and now with a third season as team leader on top rating and critically acclaimed 7Days, Dai has always kept his grounding in live stand up comedy.

Fonzie Touched Me is not just an analysis of the 1980’s, though it’s easy to see how Dai has been fiddled with by them. He does seem predisposed to leg warmers and florescent lycra, but this show looks at a much wider range of people and situations that have had an affect on us.

Arguably one of the finest comics we’ve produced here in New Zealand, Dai will once again fill up SKYCITY in Auckland and the San Francisco Bathhouse in Wellington during the Comedy Festival in May. Sold out for the last four years, there will not be any additional shows so early bookings are recommended.

AUCKLAND
Dates: 11 May – 14 May, 7pm
Venue: SKY CITY Theatre, Level 1, Cnr Wellesley St West and Hobson St
Tickets: Adults $35, Conc. $30
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 16 May – 21 May, 8.30pm
Venue: San Francisco Bathhouse, 171 Cuba St
Tickets: Adults $30, Conc. $27
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

COMEDY.CO.NZ PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

BACK IN HIS FAVOURITE TERRITORY OF NEW ZEALAND IN 2011

DANNY BHOY - ‘MESSENGER (PLEASE DO NOT SHOOT)’

BRAND NEW SHOW

He is one of the most sought after comedians working in the world today and 2011 welcomes Danny’s return to our shores with a brand new show to delight his Kiwi fans. Since his last visit here in 2009, his worldwide reputation as one of the finest observational storytellers around has continued to flourish. His recent time in the USA and Canada resulted in an hour-long Comedy Central Special and a highly prestigious turn on the David Letterman Show and saw him take on his first solo tour across North America.

He will be back in New Zealand in 2011, to headline the annual NZ International Comedy Festival with a comprehensive tour of all the major centres including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Hastings, Invercargill and New Plymouth.

Described by one critic as “the stand-up equivalent of Bill Bryson”, Danny is a truly international comedian who is a master at uncovering those little quirks and idiosyncrasies about a country which others seem to miss.

His latest show ‘Messenger (please do not shoot.)’ is a new show for his Kiwi fans, coming fresh off the back of a hugely successful tour of the UK performing in theatres up and down the UK, and filming a special one-off set at London’s famous Apollo Theatre for the BBC.

As always, we can expect more hilarious yarns from the globetrotting Scot, who regularly draws on his own life experiences as a source of rich comedy fodder. Danny Bhoy is consistently one of the highest selling comedians in New Zealand and his worldwide fan base continues to grow at a staggering pace. 2011 promises to be another busy year for the brilliant young Scot.

“Bhoy remains in a class of his own.” The New Zealand Herald.

DANNY BHOY – MESSENGER (Please do not shoot)

2011 NZ National Tour including;

AUCKLAND

Dates: Mon 16 May 8.30pm.

Venue: ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE, CBD

Tickets: Adults $49.50 / Conc. $44.50 / Groups 10+ $44.50

Bookings: 0800 BUYTICKETS (289 842) www.buytickets.co.nz

WELLINGTON

Dates: Fri 13 – Sat 14 May, 8.30pm.

Venue: The Opera House, 111-113 Manners St, CBD

Tickets: Adults $49.50 / Conc. $44.50 / Groups 10+ $44.50

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz

Also playing Mon 9 May, Takapuna, Bruce Mason Centre, Ph 09 9709700 / www.ticketmaster.co.nz

Media Release for immediate use: 28 January 2011 New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2011

FERGUS AITKEN PRESENTS

FERGUS AITKEN

ALTERED EGO

Fergus Aitken returns to the Comedy Festival with a hilarious Altered Ego!

One of Wellington's favourite comedic talents, Fergus Aitken - known to many for his character Mr Fungus- NZ’s Loudest Mime, returns to the Comedy Festival with an all new show which is not for the kids!

Proving that smart adults still have plenty of fun, Fergus explores the action-packed voyage of 'personal growth' with honesty, irony and passion for the moment in the world premire of his new show Altered Ego.

Since the success of toured 2009 Comedy Festival show, TRUE STORIES And Other Stuff That Probably Isn’t, Aitken has played numerous times at Fringe Bar (Wellington), The Classic (Auckland) and various other comedy clubs nationwide, developing new material and strengthening his comedian and MC muscles.

"Knicker wettingly funny… Right up there with the best. Whatever else you see in the festival, follow it up with this late night treat” – Theatreview.org.nz

"Made my friend laugh so hard, she got hiccups..." - Dominion Post

"Hilarious" - NZ News UK

Proud to be part of the 2011 Comedy Festival

UPPER HUTT

Dates: 13 May, 8.00pm
Venue: Expressions, 836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt
Tickets: Adults $25, Conc. $20 (service fees apply)
Bookings: www.expressions.org.nz or 04 527 2168

WELLINGTON
Dates: 18 – 21 May, 10.00pm
Venue: Club Ivy, Upstairs 13 Dixon St, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $18, Conc. $15 Groups 6+ $15 (service fees apply)
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

OO GISH PRESENTS

GISH in

B’DMM-GISH

Pun & Musical laughter… Maori Stylus!

On April 30’ Gish will be bringing yet more musical comedy with a touch of more bad puns that you’ll not be able to help yourself but either laugh or groan before laughing. A sure night out of good value for cheap gags and expansive fun!

One Maori with one guitar on one stage performing one hour of one’s own versions of someone else’s melodies. All together becoming one Big-Gish night of ONE-derfulness. We’ll all become one or someone once I’ve one you all over!

Winner of Most Offensive gags 2003 & 2004, Also as seen on Jaquie Brown Diaries, Pulp Comedy 2001 & 2002 & also AotearoHA 2007 & 2009. Gish is one of NZ’s favourite local comics and is always reviewed as one of our best performers on the circuit to date.

AUCKLAND
Dates: Sat 30 April & Wed 2 – Sat 7 May, 10pm
Venue: The Classic Studio, level 1, The Classic, 321 Queen St, CBD
Tickets: Adults $23, Conc. $18, Groups 6+ $20
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: Tue 10 – Sat 14 May, 8:45pm
Venue: Club Ivy, level 2, The Garden Club, 13 Dixon St, CBD
Tickets: Adults $23, Conc. $18, Groups 6+ $20
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

AWESOMENESS INTERNATIONAL PRESENTS

GLENN WOOL in

NO LAND MAN

If comics were rockstars, Glenn Wool is the King. Travelling the world performing for two years, this rolling stone has gathered a hefty passport stamp collection and a raft of stories.

NZ's favourite Canadian comic brings us a night of sharp and lethally funny comedy. Behind Wool's laconic Canadian drawl hides a biting, intelligent wit and a cleverly subversive take on the world. This has earned him the reputation as one of the top comics working in the world today.

Last year he won Best of The Fest at the 2010 Sydney Comedy Festival and appeared in a number of TV shows internationally. Most notably on The John Oliver Show (Comedy Central) and The Green Room (Comedy Central / Showtime). He also touched base in NZ to appear in 7 Days between his international touring.

Wool started out on the stand-up circuit in Vancouver in 1995 before making the jump to the UK where he quickly went from rising star to one of the mainstays of the UK comedy circuit. Success in the UK has lead to an international career with shows across the world from Dubai and Hong Kong to New York and Los Angeles. Wool has become a recognisable face on UK TV in shows like Never Mind The Buzzcocks, The BBC Standup Show and The World Stands Up for Paramount. Wool also is the popular choice for comedy on the UK music festival circuit with performances at Glastonbury, Reading, Latitude and Bestival under his belt.

“Effortlessly funny with an affability that other comics can only dream of – You have to go and see Glenn Wool.” The Guardian

“Absolutely hilarious” Independent

"Edgy, imaginative, funny and original, Wool sets the standards at the fringe” Daily Telegraph

“Why aren't you in a queue somewhere buying a ticket?" The Scotsman

Auckland

Dates: 10th – 14th May, 8:30pm

Venue: The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, City

Tickets: Full $26 / Concession $22 Groups (6+) $22

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz

Wellington

Dates: 3rd – 7th May, 8:30pm

Venue: The Garden Club, 13 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington

Tickets: Full $26; Concession $22 Groups (6+) $22

Bookings: 0800 ticketek www.ticketek.co.nz

www.awesomenesscomedy.com

Media Release for immediate use: 28 January 2011, New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2011

THE IMPROVISORS PRESENT:

SNAKE OIL

FEATURING GREG ELLIS

Greg Ellis returns to Circa with a charlatan’s one-man improv comedy!

Greg Ellis returns with his second solo improvised comedy show following last year’s successful Holmes Alone – winner of the “Now!” Award at the 2010 NZ Improv Festival.

This time he takes you into the world of Dr. Artemis Lovelace: explorer, raconteur, amateur chemist and snake oil salesman.

Snake Oil is a journey into a world of tall tales, bogus cures and Victoriana, as one man attempts to bring to the stage a tale that is too epic to be true!

Improv has taken Ellis all over the world, as a professional comedian and Theatresports athlete. He has represented New Zealand at both Commonwealth and World Cup level.

“Greg Ellis is as excellent an improviser as Sherlock Holmes is a detective . . . the way he deals with entrances, exits and swift exchange of dialogue is very funny and satisfying” – Theatreview.org.nz, Holmes Alone 2010

Proud to be part of the 2011 Comedy Festival

www.comedyfestival.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 15 - 18 May, 9.30pm
Venue: Circa Two, 1 Taranaki St, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. $15 / Groups 10+ $15 / School Groups 10+ $10
Bookings: 04 801 7992 or www.circa.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

A-LIST ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS:

GREG PROOPS LIVE

The always dapper Greg Proops with retro hair, glasses, interesting voice and mannerisms is best known for his unpredictable appearances on Whose Line is it Anyway?, the hit, improvised comedy show hosted by Drew Carey. Greg is also a regular on the long- running British version of WLIIA?

Mr. Proops' other television appearances include The Drew Carey Show, Just Shoot Me, Talk Soup, Politically Incorrect, The Wayne Brady Show and Hollywood Squares.

Proops has a fun, self-deprecating, flamboyant, quick comedy style with depth, range, and most importantly, great jokes.

Mr Proops is a frequent guest on Chelsea Lately on E! and The Late, Late show with Craig Ferguson. Uncle Greg may be heard as the voice of Bob the Builder on the popular children’s series seen in the USA on PBS.

“Sharp dressed and even sharper witted.” - LA Times

AUCKLAND
Dates: 7 May, 9pm
Venue: SKYCITY Theatre, Level 3, Cnr Wellesley St West & Hobson St
Tickets: Adults $39.90 / Conc. $36.90 / Groups 10+ $36.90
Bookings: 0800 TICKEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 6 May, 8.30pm
Venue: The Opera House, 111 – 113 Manners St, CBD
Tickets: Adults $39.90 / Conc. $36.90 / Groups 10+ $36.90
Bookings: 0800 TICKEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

GLOWING SQUIRREL RESENTS

GUY CAPPER in

SPACE PETS

Get ready to have your mind blown with some of NZ’s hottest talent as award-winning animator / comedian Guy Capper brings you his silliest show yet!

Guy Capper’s Space Pets combines the vocal talents of Jemaine Clement (Flight of The Conchords) with the intergalactic soundtrack skills of musicians Riki Gooch (Trinity Roots) and Mike Nyland (Sons of Midas).

Guy’s latest multimedia comedy show is his most intense and silliest yet, featuring interviews with Aliens’ Pets from across the universe and beyond! Guy has been creating Animated Characters for nearly twenty years - and says this show will be the best!

Guy and Jemaine’s claymation sheep are going off on You Tube … check them out at … http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePenNZ and don’t miss your chance to see a universe of talent through the eyes of Aliens’ Pets!

"If Salvador Dali was to try his hand at Stand-up comedy Guy Capper would definitely be it" - The Dominion Post

"Guy Capper could be NZ's next Andy Kaufman" - The Dominion Post

"Guy Capper Puts Heart and Soul into His Performance" - The Dominion Post

"Capper ad-libbed professionally and hilariously" - Adelaide Fringe

Auckland

Dates: Auckland Sat 30 April & Wed 4th – Sat 7th May, 10pm
Venue: Upstairs at the Basement, Level 1, Lower Greys Ave,CBD
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 5385) www.ticketek.co.nz
Tickets: Adults $20/ Conc $16 / Groups 5 + $12

Wellington
Dates: Wellington : Wed 11th – Sat 14th May, 10pm
Venue: The Ivy - Level 2 13 Dixon Street
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 5385) www.ticketek.co.nz
Tickets: Adults $18/ Conc $12 / Groups 5 + $10

Media Release: For Immediate Release

HIGHBROW, LOWBROW, MONOBROW

ALL EYES, AND EYEBROWS, ON COMEDY FESTIVAL SHOW

Possibly the most and least pretentious show this festival, ‘Highbrow, Lowbrow, Monobrow’ fancies itself as a reflection of true Wellington. Balancing a love of intellectual, witty, researched, bordering on smarmy humour, and the secretive-at-first love of simple, shallow, short, smirky and plain crude jokes. Joyous crude jokes.

Running May 4-7th, three Wellington rising comedic talents Gareth Bradley, Nathan Winter, and Matt Hulholland will run the gamut of tasteful and tasteless through stand-up comedy, media and song.

Gareth and Nathan hit their stride with the show ‘Levin For Beginners’ - the first Wellington show to sell out all tickets in the NZ International Comedy Festival 2010, and look to ascend further with this show. Nathan was also nominated in the Comedy Guild Awards 2010 for ‘Most Offensive Gag’.

Joining the line-up is lowbrow powerhouse Matt Mulholland. Matt has attained over 3.2 million views to his YouTube channel, featuring self-made music comedy videos. They have received airplay in France, USA, Japan and Australia.

Regarding the idea for the show, Gareth recalls “I remember reading reviews of comedy shows, where they kept digging into the psyche of the comedian – wanting to pin the comic’s motivation on low self-esteem, Freudian prattle and various attacks on their character. Never accepting risqué humour, misjudging playful pretentiousness. So I thought it’d be great to set the expectation at the outset – the overly tasteful and tasteless.”

About Nathan Winter:

"A breathless set...ended the show on a huge high" - Dominion Post

About Gareth Bradley:

“His exacting wit was the highlight of the show” – Salient

Wellington:
Date: Wednesday 4 - Saturday 7 May, 2011. 10pm
Venue: Club Ivy (13 Dixon Street, Wellington)
Price: $16 adult, $12 student / concessions (6+)
Booking: Ticketek - 0800 TICKETEK + www.ticketek.co.nz

ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE: For immediate release

JOINT VENTURES & JOINT REPAIRS PRESENTS:

IDIOTS: BACK 2 SCHOOL

A PLAY BY NIC SAMPSON

St Peter’s college, one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious public schools has seen a fair amount of decline in recent years. The grounds are overgrown, the library is full of possums, and the 1st XV hasn’t won a Fraser Shield title in over 20 years. The new principal is trying her best to get St Peter’s back on track, but it’s complicated when your rugby captain is in love with you. Oh and you’re also being haunted by the misoginistic ghost of a former principal.

Opening Tuesday 17th May, Idiots: Back 2 School is an irreverent cross-section of an ordinary day at an ordinary college full of ordinary weirdos. 13 of Wellington’s most attractive actors tackle a series of inter-connected vignettes about stoners, rugby heads, music nerds, feuding teachers, love-triangles, jealousies, betrayals, ghosts, and a couple of seagulls. It’s high school. Just like you remember it. *

* Your high school experience may have differed significantly.

Nic Sampson is an experienced comedy writer currently working for television’s The Jono Project. He has written and starred in two comedy festival shows at BATS: Tim and Andy: An Adventure, and The Burn, where he played an optimistic angel on work exchange in hell. His latest endeavor Idiots: Back 2 School enjoyed a packed-out season in Auckland last year and starred some of the city’s top actors including Keisha Castle-Hughes, Morgana O’Reilly, Ari Boyland, and Gareth Williams, as well as direction from Thomas Sainsbury, Peter Salmon, and Dena Kennedy. Nic is stoked to be bringing Idiots to BATS theatre with a whole new cast of Wellington actors and directors adding their own talent to the madness.

WELLINGTON
Dates: 17 May – 21 May, 8pm
Venue: BATS Theatre, Kent Tce, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. $14 / Groups 10+ $14
Bookings: 04 802 4176, www.bats.co.nz

Media Release for immediate use: 28 January 2011 New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2011

THE IMPROVISORS PRESENT:

THE IMPROVISORS in

POLITICS – THE MUSICAL

Friends, Romans, Countrymen – lend me your ears!

Politics and improvisation – the two great arts of making things up as you go along – come together set to music in one show especially created for this election year.

The Machiavellian twists and turns of politics combine with the mental agility of improvisation and sheer stupidity of attempting a complete musical to give you a show more internationally hilarious than Question Time!

Vote with your feet! Get to Circa for a show that ticks all the right boxes!

“Brilliant! Shakespeare would be so very, very proud!” – Theatreview.org.nz, Shakespeare the Musical

Proud to be part of the 2011 Comedy Festival

www.comedyfestival.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 17 – 21 May, 7.30pm
Venue: Circa Two, 1 Taranaki St, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. $15 / Groups 10+ $15 / School Groups 10+ $10
Bookings: 04 801 7992 or www.circa.co.nz

Press Release: New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2011

THE IMPROVISORS PRESENT:

THEATRESPORTS

AN EPIC COMEDY BATTLE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

The long running family comedy sensation THEATRESPORTS returns for another year!

Catch the funniest folk in Wellington attempting to outdo each other in brightening up your winter weekend in a show where you take control.

Gnarled improv veterans and fresh-faced newcomers are thrown together onstage with one aim in mind – to make you laugh!

As always the audience fuels the fun with suggestions and sits in judgement on the final product so join us for a night of improvised hilarity every Sunday culminating in the ultimate final all-star showdown July 10th!

There’s a reason THEATRESPORTS has been lighting up Circa stage for years and this is your change to catch the fun.

“Genuine Family Entertainment” - Capital Times

Proud to be part of the 2011 Comedy Festival

www.comedyfestival.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 8 May – 10 July, 7.30pm (Sundays Only)
Venue: Circa Two, 1 Taranaki St, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. $15 / Groups 10+ $15 / School Groups 10+ $10
Bookings: 04 801 7992 or www.circa.co.nz

Target="_blank">www.improvisors.co.nz or www.circa.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

NOTORIOUS PROUDLY PRESENTS

IRENE PINK & JUSTINE SMITH

“I’M SORRY I SAID THAT” OR ARE THEY?

Two of the shining lights of New Zealand comedy Irene Pink and Justine Smith have teamed up to bring you and hour of some sublime stand up. Think of this as the Voltron of comedy combining their powers to form something more than the sum of it’s halves. This is a full blown hour of glory that is destined to be one of the great shows of the 2011 Comedy Festival.

If ever there were two comedians destined to work together it’s Irene and Justine. Their mutual distastes of, well most stuff actually, mean they are like peas in a pod. Except two peas that harrass each other mercilessly picking each other apart untill the whole thing falls into a completely hilarios shambles.

Having worked together many times as part of the Lady Bunch and on line up shows such as Divas, they both have an accute understanding of how to push each others buttons. Each other, and the rest of the world.

Irene has been performing stand up for over a decade, she has featured Comedy Galas, AotearoHA’s, A Night At The Classic, Pulp Comedy and 7Days and Comedy Central.

“A mountain of natural wit, Pink is not shy about extracting mirth from subjects like her size, her sexuality, her culture, what drugs she's on ("anyone else on the P tonight? ...only 3 more sleeps 'til Christmas!"). Again, hilarious.” – Theatreview

Having won the Billy T Award and Best Femal Comedian, Justine has established herself as one of the key players in new Zealand Comedy. With a flick of the eye and “To be honest…” she will have the audience in stiches. Always hilarious, Justine is a writer for TV3’s Jono Project and contributes to TV3’s 7Days.

“I doubled over with laughter” – Kate Ward-Smythe

AUCKLAND
Dates: 30 April & Mon 2 – Sat 7 May, 8.45pm
Venue: Classic Studio, Level 1, 321 Queen St
Tickets: Adults $25, Conc. $22
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 17 May – 21 May, 8.30pm
Venue: Fringe Bar, Cnr Cuba & Vivian Sts
Tickets: Adults $23, Conc. $20
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

CROWBAR PRODUCTIONS PRESENT:

THE IRREFUTABLE TRUTH ABOUT PET FOOD

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BARNABY FREDRIC

“Pet food for thought….”

“Barnaby Fredric steals the show in The Irrefutable Truth About Pet Food, an irreverent spoof soap opera with shades of Andy Kaufman and Mike Myers (in his heyday). Full of great characters and inventive sight gags, and with a moral ending that had the audience in fits, Fredric's piece harnesses the true power of comedy.” Thomas LaHood – Theatreview

The Irrefutable Truth about Pet Food is an absurd, post apocalyptic, musical, solo comedy that runs the gamut from the mundane to the epic. With a style reminiscent of both the low-key realism of “The Office” mixed with the surreal absurdity of “Airplane!”, for anyone who has ever worked in a dead-end job or seen a Hollywood disaster film. Fredric plays 3 hilarious characters, combined with an imaginative set, musical numbers, creative use of props, a boat and partial nudity.

In a pet food warehouse, the day begins as the “New Guy” meets Marcus, the clumsy lovable oaf, an unlucky chump who wants to meet women, despite having never been in a relationship with one. Working in the office is Dee, a lazy fat South African blonde with a passion for pies, novelty songs and not doing any work. James is their boss, obsessed with pet food after a mysterious incident robbed him of his right eye. It seems like an ordinary day at the warehouse…..until a catastrophic event of global proportions changes EVERYTHING…. FOREVER.

Barnaby Fredric (Song for the Ugly Kids, Le Sud, Toys) is a performer with a bizarre and original sense of the absurd. In this show he unleashes his imagination to create an energetic, unrelenting one man tour-de-force that will leave you breathless (because you have been laughing so much).

This modern, kinetic piece of comedy is sure to appeal to the young, those young at heart, and those who watch a lot of youtube.

AUCKLAND
Dates: 17th May – 21st May, 7pm
Venue: The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, City
Tickets: Adults $20, Conc. $15 Groups 10+ $15
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz or (09) 3611000

WELLINGTON
Dates: Tues 3 – Sat 7 May, 8pm
Venue: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce
Tickets: Adults $20, Conc. $14
Bookings: BATS Theatre 04 802 4175 or book@bats.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: 31st January 2011

NOT EVEN BRODUCTIONS PRESENTS:

JAMES NOKISE in

THE THING IS...

The bigger the lie, the more hilarious the story.

In 2011, New Zealand's favourite Welsh / Samoan, James Nokise, has tall tales to tell from round the world.

After completing his critically acclaimed “Growing Up” trilogy (Beige Against The Machine, The Adventures of Jimi Samoa, Is This It?), comedian James Nokise brings his fourth straight hour of new stand-up to the 2011 New Zealand International Comedy Festival with The Thing Is...

“A star in the making” - New Zealand Herald 09

What is The Thing? In 2010, James Nokise returned to overseas travel and discovered things had changed drastically since his last adventure. In this new age of Wikileaks, it's not so much the amount of lies, as the amazing excuses people come up with for them. And somehow things are moving backwards. New Zealand's hosting a Rugby World Cup, while trying to avoid the embarrassing Fijian dictator, the Torries have taken England, bigotry is rampant,Wall Street crashed, and machete crime is up! Machete crime!

“This is a man who is not so much angry at racist attitudes as befuddled at the pointlessness of it all...plenty of laughs, easy rapport, and confident delivery”

Edinburgh Fringe Report 2010

It all culminates in one massive lie, discovered amongst a nest of others, in the social circus that is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Because when people begin an excuse with “The Thing is..”, how far are they prepared to go?

“You just can't resist seeing where he's going next” - tvnz.co.nz 2010

There's a lot of big lies out there, and even bigger excuses, but that's not going to stop James Nokise making you laugh while he spends an hour trying to figure out what is The Thing.

“Arguably New Zealand's most underrated Comedian” - The Dominion Post 2010

Auckland

Dates: Sat 30th April and Tue 3rd May – Sat 7th May, 8.30pm
Venue: Brooklyn Bar, 332 Queen St, City
Tickets: Adults $20 / Conc. $18 / Groups 6+ $18
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz

Wellington

Dates: Tues 10th May – Sat 14th May, 7pm
Venue: The Garden Club, 13 Dixon St, CBD
Tickets: Adults $20 / Conc. $18 / Groups 6+ $18
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

JAMIE BOWEN IN

MUNFRED BERNSTEIN’S CABINET OF WONDER

A rambunctious and ramshackle opus from a man unhinged…

Munfred Bernstein’s Cabinet of Wonder is a place to celebrate the mystery of the world and the oddities of those who inhabit it. It’s a chance to see that there’s still magic to be discovered, even if it’s only in your mind. It’s an hilarious hour of fantastical stories, characters, scientific untruths and music that at any moment could completely fall apart from sheer enthusiasm alone. You’ll witness a treasure trove of tales both loose and wild from a man slightly bent; all accompanied by music from instruments that sound like they should be put out of their misery. It’s more than just stand-up… It’s a fast-paced, fun and frenetic one-man traveling sideshow.

Devised under the supervision of Ben Crowder (Head, Bad Jelly The Witch) and directed by Jesse Griffin (Wilson Dixon, The 4 Noels), this new and innovative work combines all of Jamie’s talents to make for a truly unique and entertaining hour of comedy. It’s a touch of vaudeville, cabaret, circus, music hall and soapbox oratory; all mixed in together with good old-fashioned story telling. Marvel as Munfred pulls from his Cabinet of Wonder a collection of curios carefully collated to instil a sense of curiosity. Each object leads us into another story of amazement and intrigue, which is set to a soundtrack played by Munfred before your very eyes. So take a look inside the Cabinet of Wonder. You’ve got nothing to loose; except your wallet and keys.

Jamie has established himself as one of the local comedic talents to watch. He has over a decade of performing under his belt and in that time has been all over New Zealand, not to mention Edinburgh, London, Singapore and Australia. He was the co-creator and writer for TVNZ’s cult hit A Night At The Classic, has appeared on TV3’s AotearoHa and works both on-screen and behind the scenes at hit show 7 Days. 2011 marks his 11th year at the NZICF and instead of showing signs of slowing down or being a one-trick-pony, Jamie has again pushed the creative boundaries to bring you a hugely entertaining hour of something that’s hopefully a little bit different and definitely a little bit wonderful.

“Honestly one of New Zealand’s greatest stand ups… And one of our best entertainers” – tvnz.co.nz

“… A delectable taste for rousing excitement, he is a live wire and hugely talented. A stand out local comedian; the man is a star ready to be discovered” – coupdemain.co.nz

AUCKLAND
Dates: 10th May – 14th May, 7pm
Venue: The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, City
Tickets: Adults $20 / Conc. $15 / Groups 6+ $15
Bookings: 0800TICKETEK (842 5385) or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 3rd May – 7th May, 9:30pm
Venue: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, CBD
Tickets: Adults $20 / Conc. $14 / Groups 6+ $14

Bookings: (04) 802 4175 or book@bats.co.nz

For more information contact:

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

THE JAN MAREE EXPERIENCE PROUDLY ENABLES

JAN MAREE in

FEVER BITCH!

Two dogs, one shambolic relationship and a burning desire to explain what it takes to make it in Hamilton! Gleeks, Cougars and Bogans alike will find something to love about award winning female comedian Jan Maree’s brand new showcase of singing, dancing, talking and thinking, making for sixty minutes of fast-paced, honest, in-your-face fun.

When Jan moved to Hamilton in 2003 she had no idea she’d end up there. More FM Waikato spat her out of their breakfast show; she didn’t leave. Her next radio bosses made her redundant, still she didn’t leave...well, she did leave, and then she went back again. Despite the fact that Jan would probably get more work on teevee if she moved back to Auckland, she still stays in Hamilton. What a dick.

Or is she?

With more punch than an abusive partner Jan explains the many ways in which she loves the town everyone else loves to hate.

Originally from Wellington’s bogan mecca the Hutt Valley, Jan firmly believes that Hamilton is just like the Hutt, but with farms. Just like the Hutt, if you don’t have a husband lined up by the time you’re aged 14, you are a failure. So how has Jan coped over the years? Arriving as a single 29 year old, and now, as a newly single woman in her autumnal thirties, Jan picks on picking up in the pub, solo-shopping and domestic laziness.

Jan Maree has been described as a chauvinist’s nightmare and the thinking man’s wet dream. She has also been called other things, as seen most recently as a guest ‘roaster’ on The Comedy Central Roast of Mike King, the first to be staged outside of the U.S. Exceptionally good at being herself, Jan won hearts whilst ‘surviving’ on TV2’s Island Wars in 2009, she even learned how to be a good loser, kind of. Prepare to be regaled with tales of her island adventures (and her HOT team mates) as well as how being mocked by your peers on national television can be very therapeutic.

Life’s short, don’t be a dick. See this show. Feel better.

AUCKLAND

Dates: Wednesday 11 – Saturday 14 May 2010, 10pm

Venue: The Basement, Lower Grey’s Ave, Auckland City

Tickets: $25 Full / $22 Conc. / $20 Groups 10+

Bookings: Ticketek, ph 0800 TICKETEK or book online at www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON

Dates: Wednesday 18 – Saturday 21 May 2011

Venue: The Cambridge Hotel, 28 Cambridge Terrace, Wellington City

Tickets: $25 Full / $22 Conc. / $20 Groups 10+

Bookings: Dash Tickets, ph 0508 329 953 or book online at www.dashtickets.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

AWESOMENESS INTERNATIONAL PRESENTS

JARRED CHRISTMAS STANDS UP

ONE OF NEW ZEALANDS FUNNIEST EXPORTS IS BACK HOME FOR 2011.

After wowing audiences with his 7 Days and Comedy Gala performances in 2010, Jarred Christmas returns home...again.

If you’re into tightly crafted jokes, a flawless ability to improvise and comedy that sizzles with originality, then this is your man.

Full of passion and charisma Jarred takes the audience on a hilarious thrill ride of laughs and gasps with an edge of good humoured anger that manifests itself in his incredible rants against the small things in our lives.

Jarred is now a familiar face on British TV following a starring role in a BBC2 sitcom, with some storming appearances on hit UK panel shows “Mock the Week” and “8 out of 10 Cats”. At last year’s Montreal Just for Laughs he performed with none other than Steve Martin, and has also won the UK’s prestigious 2010 Chortle Best Compere.

“Christmas is robustly funny, his delivery confident and his show not to be missed.” The List Edinburgh

“One of the funniest men to pick up a microphone” Time Out London.

“Best of the crop...A fabulously boisterous kiwi with a definite future” Evening Standard

Auckland

Dates: 10 – 14th May, 8:45pm

Venue: Upstairs @ The Basement, Level 1 Lower Greys Ave, CBD

Tickets: Adults $25 / Conc. $20 / Groups 6+ $20

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz

Wellington

Dates: 3-7th May, 7pm

Venue: Club Ivy, 13 Dixon Street, Wellington

Tickets: Adults $25 / Conc. $20 / Groups 6+ $20

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For immediate release

JARROD BAKER IN

LITANY OF FAILURES

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG, YOU’RE STILL GETTING IT RIGHT

At first glance, Jarrod Baker might not seem like that much of a failure. He’s an award-winning comedian without a crack habit or any illegitimate children. So far, so good.

Scratch beneath the surface, however, and you’ll find that his apparent success is built on a shaky foundation of mistakes, misunderstandings and incompetence. During the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival Jarrod will share some of those failures for the first time - from misadventures in home renovation through to nearly ruining his own wedding.

The rest of the world won’t get off lightly, however - Jarrod also has a lot to say about the failures of others; why we make the same mistakes repeatedly, but why we nevertheless should be afraid to fail.

Jarrod Baker is one half of Billy T Award winning musical comedy duo Mrs Peacock (as seen on TVNZ’s A Night at the Classic), and an official MC for Richter City Roller Derby. Incorporating music, standup, video and hopefully dance-fighting, Litany of Failures is his debut solo show.

WELLINGTON

Dates: Wednesday 18 - Saturday 21 May, 10pm

Venue: The Fringe Bar, cnr Cuba & Vivian Streets

Tickets: $18 Adults / $15 Concession / Groups 10+ $15

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

PURDEY MOUTH PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

JASON JOHN WHITEHEAD in

STRAYING THE COURSE

“Whitehead's informal, almost friendly delivery masks the subtlety and thoughtfulness of his material. He gives the impression of rambling somewhat aimlessly, speaking on any passing whim, but it is a meticulously constructed soliloquy.” The Scotsman - UK

“A Genuine gift for saying the most outrageous things in the most disarmingly, charming fashion” Toronto Sun - CANADA

After blockbuster shows in 2008 and 2009, NZ welcomes back this easy going and hugely funny Canuck in 2011. JJ has spent the last 12 months touring Canada, UK, the Middle Aast and Australia has worked up a brand new show to unleash on Kiwi audiences.

Jason has crafted an hour of laughs investigating the ways in which we pursue happiness and the resulting successes or failures. From girlfriends that dump you in the middle of an Icelandic Volcanic eruption to how to deal with overly zealous customs officers, Jason’s comedy is honest, personal, relatable and damn funny.

“One of the most genuine comedic talents on show” - **** The List, Edinburgh Fringe - UK

In an illustrious career, Whitehead has received several awards and commendations, most notably the BBC Comedy Award at The Edinburgh Fringe. Jason John Whitehead burst onto the stand-up circuit in 1998, hailed by the press as one to watch. 12 years later he is regular headliner at all major comedy clubs across the UK, tours the world and has appeared on Paramount Comedy’s The Comedy Store (UK) and The World Stands Up (Aus, USA, UK), and in 2006 filmed his own hour long special Comedy Now in his native Canada.

Auckland

Dates: Tue 10 – Sat 14 May, 8:30pm

Venue: Limelight Laugh Lounge, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE

Bookings: 0800 BUY TICKETS www.buytickets.co.nz

Tickets: Adult $25 / Conc. $20 / Groups 6+ $20

Wellington

Dates: Tue 17 – Sat 21 May 8:45pm

Venue: Club Ivy, Level 2, The Garden Club, 13 Dixon St

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz

Tickets: Adult $22 / Conc. $18 / Groups 6+ $18

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

NOTORIOUS PROUDLY PRESENTS

JEREMY ELWOOD’S (UN) COMMON SENSE

JUST WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

Do you regularly ask yourself “Why did I do that?”

Do you read the news and wonder “What were they thinking?”

Do you find yourself looking around at your fellow human beings and marveling “How did we wind up here?”

And are you desperate to have a laugh about it, but don’t know where to start?

If so, look no further than Jeremy Elwood’s (un)common sense.

A Comedy festival favorite and regular panelist on both TV3’s 7Days and Radio New Zealand’s The Panel, Jeremy is well known for serving up hilarious stand up infused with intelligence and thought. Critics and audiences loved 2010’s show, Jeremy Elwood Thinks Too Much, calling Elwood “an immensely skilled comic artist, and at the same time a very thoughtful humanist philosopher” (Theatreview.org.nz) and naming it “Best Comedy” at the 2010 Dunedin Fringe Festival.

(un)common sense is a sequel, of sorts. It continues Elwoods’ bold take on nonconventional topics, finding the humour in the best, worst and weirdest parts of the world around us whilst always looking below the surface of what we might take for granted. Elwoods’ festival shows are always an event, something more than a regular set in a bar or club, and this year promises to be no different, so even if you’ve seen him before, you definitely haven’t seen (un)common sense.

In 2010, Jeremy Elwood headlined comedy clubs across New Zealand, Sydney, Indonesia and Singapore as well as appearing regularly on NZ Television and radio. In 2011, he continues to observe, question and dissect our society, and turn what he finds into comedy gold. If you want more from a standup show than blandness or whimsy, if you want to leave the venue with sore ribs from laughing and a sore head from thinking, and if you’ve ever wanted answers to those pesky questions we started withthis is the show for you.

AUCKLAND
Dates: 30 April & 3 – 7 May, 8.45pm
Venue: Upstairs @ The Basement, Lower Greys Ave
Tickets: Adults $25, Conc. $22
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 17 – 21 May, 7.00pm
Venue: The Garden Club, 13B Dixon St
Tickets: Adults $25, Conc. $22
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

JEROME CHANDRAHASEN, JIM STANTON & TJ
MCDONALD in

SEX, RELIGION & POLITICS

The Conversation Starters

Three of Wellington’s most accomplished comedians and preferred dinner party companions, Jim Stanton, TJ McDonald and Jerome Chandrahasen are guaranteed to make you laugh, and leave you talking. Presenting their unique take on the classic subjects, their first show together will cover Sex, Religion, Politics and everything in-between.

TJ McDonald has never shied from the taboo. His show A Maori Ate my Great Granddad touched on race, politics and cannibalism saw him nominated for the 2010 Billy T Award. He is certain to entertain any audience, whether they agree with him or not.

“strikes favour and easy laughs with all those around him” - THEATREVIEW

Jim Stanton is a frequent performer at the NZ International Comedy Festival, having been involved in sketch troupe The Comedy Cure and as a member of The Comediettes. A consummate host, don’t be fooled by the garnish that hides a wit sharp enough to cut through the regular topics of conversation.

“smart and likable, with just enough bitter to balance the sweet” - SCOOP

Jerome Chandrahasen is always ready for a discussion on any subject, a regular guest at the Victoria University Great Debates, he has also supported the Morepork as New Zealand Bird of the Year, written a poem to his favourite types of meat, and MC’d for performers from Dave Dobbyn to Flight of the Conchords. Most recently seen on TV2’s Christmas Comedy Cracker.

“he certainly offered an infectious enthusiasm and a delightfully lateral view of the world around us” - THEATREVIEW

Sex, Religion and Politics

Auckland
Dates: Wed 18 May - Sat 21 May, 10pm
Venue: Brooklyn Bar, 57 Lorne St, CBD
Tickets: Adults $20, Conc. $18, Groups 6+ $18

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz

Wellington

Dates: Wed 04 May - Sat 07 May, 10pm
Venue: The Fringe Bar, cnr Vivian & Cuba Sts, CBD
Tickets: Adults $20, Conc. $18, Groups 6+ $18

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release 28/01/2011

GENERICDEREK.COM PRESENTS...

THE JOHNNY TAN (AND WIFE)

VARIETY VARIETY SHOW!

Direct from Manilla!

Is it the worlds most thrilling variety show? or Wellington’s own Japanese game show presided over by an over exuberant Filipino?

Fresh from his 3 ocean cruise ship tour comes the legendary JOHNNY TAN!!! (and mysterious wife). Created by Improv and Comedy festival regulars Derek Flores (El Jaguar, The Young & The Witless) and Rebecca De Unamuno (Happy Feet, Chasers War On Everything). Bringing the creators of Sincerely Yours; an improvised love story, together again in an hour of chaos and comedy, this is their postcard to a by-gone era of alcohol fuelled variety shows and incomprehensible Asian game shows.

“International entertainment sensation, Johnny Tan (and mysterious wife), is (are) here in NZ for the first time as a part of the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival. The Phillipines most over rated show man (and mysterious wife) brings his (their) excessive, over the top shenanigans to the intimate and inexpensive Garden Club. Featuring nightly comedy festival guests, prizes, classic cocktail games such as ‘right side up or right side down?’, and including the infamous ‘sex/pizza’ sketch.”

Johnny Tan, equal parts Hasslehof and Weng Weng with a dash of Daniel Craig, a consummate performer; star of song, screen, and story. Accompanied by his long suffering wife, wife, The Johnny Tan (and wife) VARIETY VARIETY Show is ready to redefine awesome!

The Johnny Tan (and wife) VARIETY VARIETY Show!

Date: Wednesday May 11, 2011 to Saturday May 14, 2011, 10pm

Venue: Garden Club (13b Dixon St.)

Tickets: $20/$18/$16 (for groups of 8+)

Bookings: www.tickettek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: 02.02.2011

JOSEPH HARPER'S

BIKES I'VE OWNED VERSUS GIRLS I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH

A show about irrational relationships with bicycles, and misanthropy.

Highly idiosyncratic 2011 Billy T Award Nominee, Joseph Harper, has written an autobiographical show to examine his personal experiences with girls and bicycles. The show touches on cyclic-eroticism, adolescent sexuality, severe depression, Chinamans Hill, and Sarah Ulmer. In spite of the at times 'dangerous' subject matter, Harper refuses to let his show veer into unpleasant and unwanted, offensive waters; it remains meditative, honest and analytical throughout. Along with its 'pay what you want' pricing, it is likely this will be one of the most interesting and cost-effective shows in this year's comedy festival. It will play for two nights in Wellington from the 6th of May, then for three nights in Auckland from the 12th.

Not wanting to have any audience members feel ripped off, Joseph will be performing for donations rather than a standard ticket price. The audience is advised to pay what they thought the show was worth, after its completion. Not one to follow the rule book of putting on a show, Joseph is hoping to fund the season using an innovative, barter based fundraising scheme which he is running from his blog (josephernest.blogspot.com). He is looking to trade off financial support from the general public, in exchange services he can provide to his 'investors'. He's not totally sure that it's going to work.

Joseph Ernest Harper was born and raised on bicycles, in Christchuch. He fell in love for the first time at the age of four, and since then has been involved in a string of beautiful and crushing relationships with both girls and bikes. He currently lives in Auckland, and has been described as, “a supremely gifted performer and one of the leading alternative comedians working today." This is his third comedy festival, and the first in which he'll be performing a show all by himself.

AUCKLAND
Dates: May 12th, 13th and 14th, 9pm
Venue: The Wine Cellar, St Kevins Arcade, K Rd
Tickets: Donation after the show
Bookings: Call Joseph on 0273924447 or visit his blog Josephernest.blogspot.com

WELLINGTON
Dates: May 6th and 7th, 8:30pm
Venue: The Tararua Tramping Club, 4 Moncrieff Street (off Elizabeth St)
Tickets: Donation after the show
Bookings: Call Joseph on 0273924447 or visit his blog Josephernest.blogspot.com

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

CLEAN COMEDY NZ PRESENTS

JUST COMEDY

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT COMEDY

Why did the chicken cross the road? Because you went to a comedy show!

Join three of Australasia’s top clean comedians for the festival’s premier all ages family friendly comedy event. But it’s not just about the laughs. $5 from every ticket will be donated to World Vision’s SMILES campaign, so you’ll not only be a part of a great night of top entertainment but you’ll also be sharing smiles around the world as you help fund chickens, goats, ducks and more.

“I’ve been involved with festival shows for years now and we’ve really built a good following,” says Dave Wiggins the show’s host. “I wanted to honour the people who have come to my shows by giving them something new this year. So I’ve decided to do two things. Bring over some great clean comics with fresh material and also find a way to make the show about more than just jokes and I think we’re done it.”

Just Comedy is of course about more than just comedy. “The title is a play on the word justice,” explains Wiggins. “The show is not just about us having a laugh. It’s also about recognizing that there are people in the world who are suffering from injustice but instead of feeling sad about it, this is a celebration of the hope that we can do something to make a difference. I’m excited about the idea of creating smiles here through our comedy and then sharing them around the world through giving back.”

But just because you’re giving to charity it doesn’t mean your getting a bad deal. Hosted by NZ’s top clean comedian Dave Wiggins the show will feature direct from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Adelaide’s Jason Pestel (Winner of Adelaide Comedy People’s Choice 2009) & Melbourne’s Michael Connell (“Stand up Prodigy…” – The Canberra Times). Don’t miss this unquie event which will having you laugh on outside and feeling good on the inside.

AUCKLAND
Dates: May 20, 8pm
Venue: Baptist Tabernacle, 429 Queen St, Auckland CBD
Tickets: Adults $26.50 / Conc. 22.50 / Groups 10+ $22.50
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: May 21, 8pm
Venue: Elim International, 22 Tennyson St, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $26.50 / Conc. 22.50 / Groups 10+ $22.50
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

DWC & MARK WATSON PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

UK COMEDIAN MARK WATSON

RETURNS TO NEW ZEALAND COMEDY FESTIVAL IN 2011

Author, commentator, twitter-fanatic and one of Britain's most successful stand-ups, Mark Watson returns to New Zealand with his most personal and critically acclaimed show to date.

In a trademark battle between his sharp wit and bashful insecurity, Watson plays out a series of modern social snarls with the aid of an unusually verbose PowerPoint screen.

Since his humble debut in 2006 Mark has been selling out to crowds across Australia and the United Kingdom. Back in his home town of London he’s hosted his own game show, We Need Answers, guest hosted Never Mind the Buzzcocks, published three books, performed three endurance 24hr shows, won numerous awards for stand-up and an installation at the Edinburgh Fringe, written a daily blog, accrued over 20,000 twitter followers, and unleashed his inner sportsnut in his new sports panel show, Mark Watson Kicks Off. Did we mention he is only 30?

Appearing on the Auckland and Wellington NZCF Gala!

“One of the Times of London's 50 Funniest People in Britain” – The Times (UK)

“Woody Allen and William Boyd have a bastard love child and this name is Mark Watson” – Stephen Fry

“His is the comedy of self doubt, everyday awkwardness... and small triumphs... served up with a warmth that is immediately inclusive... one of the most reliably funny shows you’ll find this year” - The Guardian, August 2010

“...his set is smart, bittersweet and rich with questions of all sizes”-
The Telegraph (UK), August 2010

AUCKLAND

Dates: 4 – 7 May, 2011, 7pm

Venue: SKYCITY Theatre, level 3, cnr Wellesley St West & Hobson St, CBD

Tickets: Adults $32 / Conc. $27.50 / Groups 8+ $27.50

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON

Dates: 9 – 14 May, 2011, 7pm

Venue: San Francisco Bath House, 171 Cuba Street, Wellington

Tickets: Adults $30 / Conc. $26/ Groups 8+ $26

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

For full tour details visit

www.dirtywork.net.au

MEDIA RELEASE: 9 February 2011

THE BROTHERS BALLSEIN PRESENT

MATIAHA PAKU in

TOP TO TAIL

Wellington comedian Matiaha ‘Muts’ Paku has been on the road. After a hiatus from performing whilst travelling the world, he has returned home to Aotearoa to ask the question...

“What makes a Kiwi unique?”

Is it our Number 8 ingenuity forged out of isolation? Maybe it’s our resolve to continually box above our weight on the world stage? Or is it that we enjoy using an oval ball as an excuse to run head on into one another?

In the last 6 months Matiaha has travelled the length of the country, seeing the sights, taking in the history and performing the odd comedy show in small town NZ. Top to Tail takes a trip through the provinces of New Zealand, delving into their colourful history and famous characters, to find the humour in our journey as a country and how it has helped shape our national identity.

Matiaha Paku - Top to Tail

WELLINGTON

Dates: 3 – 7 May, 2011, 8.30pm

Venue: The Fringe Bar, corner Cuba & Vivian Sts, CBD

Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. $15/ Groups 6+ $15

Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release. 28th January 2011

BALLS TO THE WALL PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

MATT MULHOLLAND

BEYOND EMOTION

YOUTUBE SENSATION PREMIERES AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER OF LUDICROUS HILARITY

“It’s like my birthday, but with less crying.”

(Matt Mutholland’s reaction to fame)

Stock up on tissues now and prepare to ‘find yourself’ as Youtube sensation Matt Mulholland’s brand spanking new stage show wings its way to audiences in Wellington and Auckland from 11 May 2011. Your funny bone and emotions will be touched in ways unimaginable…

Matt has a huge international Youtube following and is known for his amazing musical ability and his perfectly timed humour. His Youtube channel has had over 3 million views and his videos and songs have found their way to TV and radio in France, Japan, The United States, Australia and various Nordic countries. Recently Matt has been featured on the comedy central homepage web page.

Beyond Emotion is the future of New Zealand musical comedy with the whole show composed, written and musically produced by Matt and his talented cast! Audio-visual effects intertwined with clever harmonies, lyrics and the slickest of choreography will please the comedy enthusiast as Matt and his crew take the audience on an emotional journey they will never forget. Beyond Emotion: changing the face of New Zealand musical comedy forever!

"I ain't afraid of no ghosts, but I am afraid of this naked guy and his monkey"

Greg Grunberg (Heroes, Star Trek, Lost, Mission Impossible 3)

“Literally hundreds of you sent us an email asking us to play this guy; honestly his stuff is really funny" Dave and Chuck’s Morning Show (89Xradio, Detroit USA)

AUCKLAND
Dates: 17 May- 21 May, 7pm
Venue: Limelight Laugh Lounge, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE, 50 Mayoral Drive
Tickets: Adults 18, Conc. $14, Group bookings 6+ $10
Bookings: 0800 BUY TICKETS (0800 289 842) or www.the-edge.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 11 May- 14 May, 9.30pm
Venue: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $18, Conc. $14, Group bookings 6+ $12
Bookings: 04) 801 4175 or email, book@bats.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

DPA CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS PRESENTS:

MIKE KING & BRENDHAN LOVEGROVE in

“ITS BLACK AND WHITE”

SWAPPING ONE VICE FOR ANOTHER….

Two of New Zealand’s comedic powerhouses, Mike King and Brendhan Lovegrove, will unite at Wellington’s “The Garden Club” on 10th May 2011 to launch “Its Black and White” in what promises to be one of the best nights out at the festival.

King and Lovegrove will perform a show filled with all new material – including quips about Brendhan’s new found sobriety and no doubt Mike’s continuing one. King’s new lease on life has rubbed off on Lovegrove who has been dry now for 20 days – will he last the distance to the festival? And will his jokes be as funny when he’s sober?

Six times NZ Comic of the Year Brendhan Lovegrove is arguably the most dangerously talented standup comedian in New Zealand. The star of TV 2’s “A Night at the Classic”, Brendhan has experience in both the national and international comedy circuit and brings with him a style of comedy that’s delivered with sharp wit and caustic abandon.

Mike King is New Zealand's best known standup comedian with numerous live and TV credits to his name. More recently Mike was the subject of New Zealand’s first MTV “Roast”.

This show guarantees to be hard-hitting as ebony and ivory collide in what will be a supernova of laughs delivered by two legends of New Zealand comedy.

Lovegrove - “the smartest NZ comic working right now” – James Murray, TV3 website

Lovegrove - “The guy is a master” - theatreview.co.nz

King – “The Maori-est Comedian working - except he's not working, which is often - right now!" Scotty Morrison Te Karere

King - “edgy, frank and fearless” – theatreview.co.nz

AUCKLAND
Dates: 18 - 21 May, 9pm
Venue: Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE, 303 Queen St, City
Tickets: Adults $35 / Conc. $29.50 / Bookings 10+ $29.50
Bookings: 0800 BUY TICKETS (289 842) or www.buytickets.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 10 - 14 May, 8.30pm
Venue: The Garden Club, Ground Floor, 13 Dixon Street, City
Tickets: Adults $35 / Conc. $29.50 / Bookings 10+ $29.50
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz

For more information contact:
Name: Jade Robson / David Steele
Phone: 07 376 0366
Email: jade@dpa.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

NATALIE BRITTEN & NATHAN WINTER

THE NAT PACK

A NIGHT OF IDIOCYNCRATIC ENTERTAINMENT

In the intimate bowels of the Tug Boat, Natalie & Nathan team up to present a show full of quirky hilarity. Come aboard on May 10 to be engrossed by a night of idiosyncratic entertainment.

Off the beaten track in the depths of the Parade Café, the two quirkiest Wellington comics will take you into a journey of the unknown. Exploring subjects that are skipped in normal conversation, its a mix of airy oddities and offensive one-liners. Natalie & Nathan promise that an explosive extravaganza would be exaggerating, but the show and venue (boat) will definitely rock!

Natalie Britten delivers deadpan remarks without a hint of a flinch. For the last two years she’s been writing and performing stand up, improvisation and sketch comedy. A Wellington finalist in the 2010 Raw Comedy Quest and a regular performer for the Wellington Improv Troupe; she performed as one third of the sketch comedy trio, Little Moustache, in 2010 Fringe and Comedy Festivals.

"Obvious comic talent" - theatreview.

Nathan Winter was a national finalist in the 2010 Raw Comedy Quest and has been nominated for the ‘most offensive gag’ award from the NZ Comedy Guild. He has performed in shows such as Levin For beginners & Miscellaneous Etc in the previous two NZ Comedy Festivals.

"A breathless set...ended the show on a huge high"- Dominion Post

WELLINGTON
Dates: 10 – 14 May, 8.30pm
Venue: The Parade Café, Freyberg lagoon, Oriental Bay.
Tickets: Adults $18, Conc. $16, Groups(5+), $15
Bookings: www.eventfinder.co.nz

For more information contact:
Name: Natalie Britten
Phone: 027 7104 261
Email: Natalieb99@gmail.com
Website: Nataliebritten.com

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

MEDLOCK & MUSGROVE PRESENTS

DAN IS DEAD / I AM A YETI

Sometimes you eat your best friend and then you realise that you’re all by yourself in this big bad world.

After killing her comedy partner Dan Musgrove, and eating his brain, Natalie decided to make a solo comedy Yeti show. This. Is. That. Show! From the writers of the sell-out Basement X-mas shows Toys & Christ Almighty! And NZICF’s smash hit’s A Song for the Ugly Kids, and The Giant Face, comes Jill off Shortland St in a giant white Yeti suit.

Tonight Betty the Yeti has some things to get off her hairy chest – Yeti Style! Sure, she’s got a people eating disorder. That’s bad. But she’s seeing some cat-bum-mouth-hand-four-eyed shrink about that. And sure, sales of her autobiography “You Aint Seen Nothing Yeti” have been slow. That’s bad too. But what’s really bad, is that in a moment of pre-menstrual hanger (anger brought about by immense hunger) Betty has eaten the only person who really understood her, her best friend Dan Musgrove. She’s out of love; lost, lonely and looking for a mate.

Dan is Dead/ I am a Yeti is a LOL yarn from the POV of one loveable, politically incorrect, well…Yeti… It’ll make you cry with laughter, and leave you with a warm fuzzy afterglow.

“Betty the yeti really loves watching Shortland St”, says Medlock. She especially loves Jill, which is actually the character I play. I think she has a thing for Hunter, but I know that Lee Donohue only goes for girls who shave…so yeah.” “ Nat’s confused about what’s real and what isn’t. Hopefully having a costume she can put on and take off, will help her work that out.” Says Musgrove. “ Oh and I think it will be the funniest show in the festival, so book cos it’ll sell out for sure.”

“Ferocious comic Talents” – Theatreview

“Humour and pathos in perfect harmony” – Capitol times

“Masters of observation” – Theatreview

AUCKLAND
Dates: 30 April & 3rd May – 7th May, 8.30pm
Venue: The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, City
Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. $14 / Groups 10+ $16
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 10th May – 14th Mat, 8.00pm
Venue: BATS Theatre. 1 Kent Terrace.
Tickets: Adults $20 / Conc. $14 / Groups 10+ $14
Bookings: 04 3829040 or book@bats.co.nz

For more information contact:
Name: Natalie Medlock.

Phone: 0274180611.

Email: natalie.medlock@gmail.com

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

NICK GIBB

PAKEHAS BE ALL LIKE THIS

A potentially misleading, confusing show title that was supposed to be a self explanatory, ironic subversion of a ubiquitous comedy cliché.

Worldy raconteur, soliloquist, and professional dissolute Nick Gibb makes his hilarious, Billy T Award nominated festival debut with “Pakehas Be All Like This”. The show opens in Wellington on May 10, and Auckland on May 16.

Nick's comedy combines trenchant, often absurdist observational material with incisive, tangential anecdotes covering everything from waiting alongside his Grandmother to be shot by an Israeli soldier, to the terror and excitement of sex in shark infested waters, to being on the dole in Palmerston North.

Nick has Tourette's Syndrome, but not the sweary/shouty kind. Mostly he just twitches, blinks, shifts his limbs uncomfortably, and has trouble holding eye contact. This isn't as much of an issue on stage, since the audience is bathed in forgiving, anonymous darkness, and the strange combination of adrenaline and Zen-like calm that he feels on stage tends to mitigate his symptoms. The opposite is true of job interviews, dates, and the operation of heavy machinery. The healing laughter and applause of strangers fills the void that childhood taunts left in his soul, but then, this is true of all comedians. The swearing kind of Tourette's is called “coprolalia”, from the Greek “lalia”, meaning speech, and “copro” meaning filth, or faeces. It effects only about one in ten people with Tourette's. The more you know.

Alongside stand-up comedy, Nick is a writer, actor, and filmmaker. He recently played one of his heroes, Peter Sellers, in “Go On Spike”, a play he co-wrote with Peter Hawes, about a nervous breakdown Spike Milligan suffered while recording The Goon Show. Nick has made a feature length documentary called “Once Upon a Time In The West Bank”, and is the co-creator of the popular webcomic “Dead Philosophers In Heaven”. In 2010 he won the Wellington Raw Comedy Quest.

“Nick Gibb was a revelation.” - Guardian Manawatu

“He is annoyingly f***ing good” - Andrew O'Neill

“Inspired... Gibb was on fire from the moment he took the stage” - Manawatu Standard.

AUCKLAND
Dates: 16 May – 21 May, 7.15pm
Venue: The Classic Studio, Level One, 321 Queen St
Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. $15 / Groups 10+ $15
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

Duration: 1 hour

WELLINGTON
Dates: 10 May – 14 May, 7pm
Venue: The Fringe Bar, Cnr Cuba & Vivian Streets
Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. $15 / Groups 10+ $15
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

For more information contact:
Name: Nick Gibb
Phone: 0210665892
Email: nick_gibb@email.com

MEDIA RELEASE: 31st January 2011 - For Immediate Release

NICK RADO IN

RADO AND JULIET

*** WOULD YOU MOVE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD FOR SOMEONE YOU’VE ONLY KNOWN 12 DAYS? ***

Fresh from the Edinburgh and Hong Kong Laugh Festivals 2011 Billy T Nominee Nick Rado tells this hilariously uplifting true story of how he left his best friends and homeland to chase a girl he hardly knew to the other side of the world. Tracking her down proved tough as he endured everything from working as a giant crocodile in a holiday park, being slapped by a Belgian man in the Isle of Wight to an awkwardly embarrassing encounter with Mariah Carey! … Could this be the most romantic story of all time? … or just unbelievably stalkerish!!!.

Here is what the Edinburgh critics had to say:

“HILARIOUS, ENTERTAINING AND UNEXPECTEDLY MOVING, NICK RADO IS A MASTER STORYTELLER” CHORTLE UK

“HIS COMEDY MAY BE INTERNATIONAL BUT THE LAUGHTER IS UNIVERSAL” ONE4REVIEW, EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

“ON-ITS-TOES COMEDY AND CROWD-PLEASING BUFFOONERY AT ITS BEST” THREEWEEKS, EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

Nick’s show titled ‘Rado and Juliet’ is a superbly funny highlight reel of Nick’s life over the past 8 years resulting in the ultimate human experiment of how far one person would go in search of 'The One'. Rado and Juliet previewed at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival as a 40 minute show with great success and received fantastic reviews.

4 STARS “Rado’s show was an absolute delight, with broad appeal, but subtle, complex and very funny all delivered with wit and charm…” Julia Chamberlain, Highlight UK

Nick Rado originally from Titahi Bay, New Zealand has performed stand-up comedy to critical acclaim in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Netherlands, Hong Kong, the United States and now New Zealand. Nick has recently returned home after living in the UK where he held the position, Executive Producer of London’s Heart Breakfast show, He has been nominated and has won numerous UK Sony Radio awards. Nick has performed at some of the world’s most famous clubs which include Jongleurs, UK, The Comedy Café, Amsterdam and the world famous Los Angeles Comedy Store.

AUCKLAND
Dates: 16 May – 21st May, 8.45pm
Venue: The Classic Studio, 321 Queen Street Auckland City
Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. $15 / Groups 6+ $15
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK / www.ticketek.co.nz / www.comedy.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 10th May – 14th May, 8.30pm
Venue: The Fringe Bar, 191 Cuba St (Cnr Cuba and Vivian St), City
Tickets: Adults $18 / Conc. $15 / Groups 6+ $15
Bookings: 04 801 5007 or www.fringebar.co.nz

For more information contact:
Name: Nick Rado
Phone: 021 156 6025
Email: nickrado@hotmail.com

MEDIA RELEASE: Monday 31st January

NOT EVEN BRODUCTIONS PRESENTS:

THE NO FEFE COLLECTIVE IN

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMEMNTS

It's Election Year!

Time to celebrate the utter ridiculousness of New Zealand politics.

In the 2011 New Zealand International Comedy Festival, at 9:30pm in the final week, BATS Theatre will host a uniquely Wellingtonian Event three years in the making: Public Service Announcements.

For four nights only, Wellington's top artists are coming together at BATS Theatre for a dazzling and enlightening night of political satire. Using a simple hypothesis, The No Fefe Collective aims to prove that things only get crazy in politics, because we allow them to:

Election night 2011.

As the world faces riots and political unrest, it's nice to know that here in New Zealand, we truly have the most boring politicians on the planet.

Voters have had enough.

As results begin to come in, a disturbing trend begins to emerge. One man appears to be on top. One man developing a surprisingly familiar conscience.

Winston.

The No Fefe Collective are a new group of established Wellington artists with experience in Theatre, Film, Television and Comedy - a mixture of backgrounds with a mixture of stories all focussed on one theme - the 2011 Election. Taking the No Fefe (Samoan for Fear) approach, and the kind of inside knowledge that comes from sharing a city full of bars with public servants, audiences are guaranteed hilarious new insights into the realities of the Kiwi political mindset.

Directed by Charlie Bleakly, written by Chapman Tripp nominee James Nokise, and with an all star cast, The No Fefe Collective promises an hour of laughs aimed squarely at our bumbling political system, and it's befuddled members. A definite for anyone working in the public sector.

WELLINGTON
Dates: 18 May – 21 May, 9.30pm
Venue: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent St, CBD
Tickets: BATS Theatre 04 802 4175 or book@bats.co.nz
Bookings: 04 801 5007 or www.fringebar.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

HILAIRE CARMODY PRESENTS:

ON A BOAT

COMEDIANS GUARANTEE TO TUG YOUR FUNNY BONE

Ex-tugboat and newly refurbished cafe and night spot, the Parade Cafe will host 16 comedians in the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival’s most submersed show On a Boat, from May 4th – 7th.

Performed in the engine room of the boat, the show will be entirely under sea level - a first in the 19 years the festival has been running.

The 16 comedians are friends from the weekly Raw Meat Monday Comedy nights held at the Fringe Bar. “I was blown away by the talent that was coming through every week” says show producer Hilaire Carmody. “These are tomorrow’s comedy stars and this is an opportunity for Wellingtonians to say they were there – that they saw them in their first festival show.”

The show will have two line ups per night, the first set of comedians at 7pm and the second set at 8.30pm. See both shows for a special combo price of $25. Tickets on sale from March 21st

Featuring:

Aaron Pyke, AJ, Ants Heath, Becca Barnes, Corey Matthews, Daniel Shenton, Hilaire Carmody, James Jobe, Jared Bosecke, Jeet Sheeth, Natalie Britten, Sam Smith, Thom Adams, Tito, Vitalie Joseph, Wyeth Chalmers.

Parade Cafe will be offering dining and drinks specials – bookings advised.

WELLINGTON
Dates: 4 -7 May, 7pm & 8.30pm
Venue: The Parade Cafe, Fryberg Lagoon, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $18 /Conc. $15 / Combo $25
Bookings: www.eventfinder.co.nz

For more information contact:
Name: Hilaire Carmody
Phone: 0212664626
Email: onaboatnz@gmail.com
Website: http://flavors.me/on_a_boat

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

CHILDREN ON THE EDGE PRESENTS

ON THE EDGE

WELLINGTON & AUCKLAND ONE NIGHT ONLY

(ACTS WILL VARY BETWEEN CITIES)

Laugh out loud for a good cause.

After three years of sold out shows, for the forth year running this ONE NIGHT ONLY comedy extravaganza unites good guys for a good cause!

On the Edge is packed with a star studded line-up of comedians from New Zealand and abroad, who’ve donated their time and talent for vulnerable kids and for what has become a festival event NOT to be missed, in Auckland on the 8th May and Wellington the 15th May.

Your host, Billy T Award winner and TV funny man Cori Gonzalez-Macuer will be joined in Auckland on May 8th by award winning comedians and TV favourites, ‘The Boy with Tape on his Face’, Michele A’Court, Dai Henwood, Jeremy Elwood, Wilson Dixon (US), Simon McKinney, Rhys Mathewson, James Nokise, Ewen Gilmour and Anil Desai (UK).

In Wellington on the 15th May, Cori will be joined by Michelle A’Court, Dai Henwood, Jeremy Elwood, James Nokise, Jerome Chandrahasen, Nick Rado and International Anil Desai (UK).

“This is the most gratifying and genuinely fun show I ever get to do in the comedy festival. The audience are there because they love comedy, they support the cause and they’re there to raise funds for the kids. But it’s not just the audience, the comedians are all doing it for free because they love it, and there is a lovely sense of generosity, mutual respect and a certain enjoyment in each others company. We’re all on the same page, making people laugh for a great cause”, said Michele A’Court.

All acts taking part (aka The Good Guys) are donating their time and talent, many of whom have done so for four years straight, to help raise funds for vulnerable children, orphaned, unaccompanied or living in extreme poverty.

Last years show raised over $10,000 to provide an education and a place of safety for children living on the Mae Sot rubbish dump and attending Sky Blue school. Soon after the show, the school was hit by a storm and funds from the show also contributed to building new toilets and washing facilities as well as a water purification system.

This years show will be even bigger and better and will be doing more amazing things to help the vulnerable children supported by Children on the Edge, and all while the audience has a good laugh.

AUCKLAND
Dates: 8th May, 7pm
Venue: Auckland Town Hall, 303 Queen St
Tickets: Adults $26
Bookings: 0800 BUY TICKETS / www.buytickets.co.nz or www.the-edge.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 15th May, 7pm till late
Venue: San Francisco Bath House, 171 Cuba St

Tickets: Adults $26
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

For more information contact:

Shelly Mansfield, phone 04 460 7455, email: shelly@childrenontheedge.org.nz
www.childrenontheedge.org.nz

Press Release: For Immediate Release

PENNY ASHTON in

HOT PINK TEETH ‘N’ TITS

Big Hopes, Big Dreams and Big … Hair

When Penny failed to win Miss Waikuku Beach 1983 it was a miscarriage of justice. Twenty-Eight years later she’s back to settle the score by perving under the glamorous gowns of Beauty Pageants. From Miss Landmine survivor to Miss Klingon Empire, Ashton will get beneath the Vaseline, sex scandals and bitch fights as she heads to Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas. Once there she interviewed contestants, hairdressers and a million gay men, but when she tried to find Miss New Zealand, things got a little ugly.

Set in 1983 and combining stand-up, songs and a mini-documentary, this is Ashton’s most eclectic show to date. There will be fascinating facts, salacious scandals, a talent show, enormous sleeves and even a swimwear section…. with a little help from the audience. Her documentary follows Ashton as she valiantly reports from Miss Universe in Las Vegas as a bonafide member of the Press, where the madness and enthusiasm of the fans rivals even the most rabid All Blacks groupie.

Penny Ashton has sold out shows from Edinburgh to Edmonton to Gore. She has four Best NZ Female Comedienne nominations, three Adelaide Fringe People’s Choice nominations and one Honourable Mention from The Wellington Fringe. One day she hopes to win something.

Her previous solo show Hot Pink Bits has been performed over 200 times and was the highest grossing show ever for the NZ’s Arts on Tour company. Penny has represented NZ in both Theatresports and poetry, performed in the 2010 Glastonbury Festival and is also the originator of Poetry Idol, and Austen Found: The Undiscovered Musicals of Jane Austen.

“…irresistibly charismatic…infectious humour.” Adelaide Independent Weekly

“…vivacious…highly entertaining…sheer charm and energy…” The Scotsman

… funny, charmingly friendly and warm.....Pure class." The Nelson Mail

CHRISTCHURCH
Dates: 12 April ¬– 16 April
Venue: The Harbour Light, London St, Lyttelton
Tickets: Adults $23, Concession $20
Bookings: SEATED tickets: www.harbourlight.co.nz and 03 3288615

GA tickets, www.eventfinder.co.nz

AUCKLAND

Dates: 10 May – 14 May
Venue: The Limelight Lounge, Aotea Centre, The Edge
Tickets: Adults $23 / Concession $20 / Groups 6+ $20

Bookings: 0800 BUYTICKETS or www.buytickets.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 3 May – 7 May
Venue: Bats Theatre, 1 Kent Tce
Tickets: Adults $20 / Concession $14 / Groups 6+$14
Bookings: 04 8021475, book@bats.co.nz

For more information contact: Penny Ashton, 0272966883 / 09 9638402, penny@hotpink.co.nz / www.hotpink.co.nz

Media Release 2011

RAYBON KAN in

AWESOME $ECRETS OF WINNING THRU £AZINESS*

*or what would a panda do?

Tactical Laziness Connoisseur Raybon Kan shows how to achieve All Your Goals the E-Z Way!!!

$$$!!!!!

Get a Million Dollars! All at once! In a pile! In $1 coins!!!

Get Married! All at once! In a pile!

XXX!!!

Is your hammock strung too tight?

Your snooze button too rigid?

Can’t be bothered dialing pizza?

This Show Is For YOU!!!

WARNING: PowerPoint may offend.

Laziness has gotten a bad name and been blamed for everything. But there’s a new sheriff in town: Raybon Kan vows to clear the name of laziness, install laziness as a puppet dictator, and even get laziness put on the $20 bill. Raybon’s new comedy show is the biography of laziness, revealing it as the leading force in human affairs, and that includes you.

“If you think laziness is the villain, the call is coming from inside the house,” says Raybon, either (a) cryptically, (b) without meaning, or indeed, (c) with a skilful use of caller ID.

The show marks the first time Raybon uses slides for visual effect. “Pictures are worth quite a few words, I’m not sure of the exact exchange rate, but it’s heaps,” he says. The show promises to show audiences how to harness laziness, as the ultimate renewable resource. “Laziness is like a solar generator, a giant beam of sunlight, shining from within you,” says Raybon, only more inappropriately.

Named Best Comedian by Metro and North & South, Raybon is one of New Zealand’s most iconic comedians. Reader’s Digest listed him in the 50 Most Trusted Kiwis; and David Hartnell listed him among NZ’s Top 10 Worst Dressed. A former lawyer, Raybon has performed at comedy festivals in Montreal, Edinburgh, and Melbourne, and sold out comedy tours nationwide. He has published several books, including An Asian at my Table, and America on Five Bullets a Day, co-wrote the comedy-horror film Diagnosis: Death, won the TV IQ quiz Test the Nation three times, and appeared on the American game show Wheel of Fortune. A popular after dinner speaker and MC, Raybon has hosted the Axis Awards, the CAANZ Media Awards, and the red-carpet world premiere of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. In 2011, Raybon is an Ambassador of the Auckland Arts Festival.

Raybon’s show is part of the NZ International Comedy Festival 2011.

AUCKLAND

Dates: April 30 (Preview) and May 3-7 at 8.30pm
Venue: Limelight Laugh Lounge (Aotea Centre)
Tickets: Tickets $25 full / $22 concession / $19.50 preview (April 30)
Bookings: www.buytickets.co.nz, 0800 BUY TICKETS (289 842)

WELLINGTON

Dates: May 17 - 21 at 8.30pm
Venue: Garden Club (13 Dixon Street, Te Aro)

Tickets: Tickets $25 full / $22 concession / Groups 10+ $22
Bookings: www.ticketek.co.nz, 0800 8425 3835

Media Release: For immediate release

CREEPING CHARLIE PRODUCTIONS PROUDLY PRESENTS

RHYS MATHEWSON IS FUN

2010 BILLY T AWARD WINNER

Do you like horse riding? Or board games? Well whatever it is you like doing, throw that shit away, because it’s not half as fun as Rhys Mathewson’s new show. At the 2011 New Zealand International Comedy Festival, “Rhys Mathewson IS FUN”. That’s the show title, by the way, although it also doubles as a semi-accurate description.

Over the past year Rhys has decided that he doesn’t have the adequate amount of fun a 20 year old should be having. And since the most fun thing in Rhys’ life is standing in front of rooms of strangers trying to get them to like him, he thought he’d do it for an hour every night for a week during the most fun time of the year, the Comedy Festival.

Like, imagine you took an hour of your life, and shaped it into a rudimentary barrel. Now imagine Rhys Mathewson filling that barrel with the metaphysical concept of comedy. Can’t imagine it? You don’t need to be able to, because you’ll be able to SEE IT HAPPEN, when “Rhys Mathewson IS FUN”.

After last year’s Billy T Award winning show “RHYSPECT”, the young gun of the New Zealand comedy scene returns with a new hour of stand up. No gimmicks, no epic journeys. It’s just an hour of laughs (because regimented fun is the best kind of fun). What a year it’s been for Rhys too. With appearances on C4’s “The Jono Project” and TV3’s “WannaBEN”,“7 Days”, and “AotearoHA” and then nominated for “Best Male Comedian” at the 2010 NZ Comedy Guild awards and now featuring on TVNZ’s Youtube channel “Unstuck TV” – there’s no stopping Rhys.

Now back to the show. If you miss “Rhys Mathewson IS FUN”, just punch yourself in the mouth, because clearly you don’t like yourself. All your friends will go and be like “You so missed out, it was so fun, I actually kind of hate you now,” and you’ll be like “Woah! Chill out, it was just a comedy show” and they’ll be like “NO YOU LISTEN TO ME! It was the most fun time of my life. And the fact that you weren’t a part of that experience... I just don’t think we can be friends anymore,” and then you’ll die alone. Do you want that to happen? Didn’t think so.

“Rhys Mathewson IS FUN”. Get there.

"an hilarious, side splitting good time for all." TVNZ.co.nz, 2010

“a young guy who knows how to make people laugh”, Theatreview 2010.

AUCKLAND

Dates: Sat 30 Apr, Wed 4 to Sat 7 May, at 10pm
Venue: The Basement Theatre
Tickets: Adults $22 / Conc. $20/ Groups 10+ $20
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK, www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON

Dates: Tues 10 to Sat 14 May, at 7pm
Venue: Club Ivy, Level 2, The Garden Club, 13 Dixon St, CBD

Tickets: Adults $22 / Conc. $20/ Groups 10+ $20
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK, www.ticketek.co.nz

Contact publicist

Eileen Sims @ Noodle, Phone: +64 21 161 1373, Email: eileen@noodlehq.co.nz

Or visit the websites: www.comedyfestival.co.nz or www.creepingcharlie.co.nz

Media Release for immediate use: 28 January 2011 New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2011

HARPUR’S BIZARRE PRESENTS:

IMMORTAL COMBAT

FEATURING SARAH HARPUR

Death is pretty deadly. Is it an epidemic that must be cured, or part of life?

Meet Sarahtron 4 million (who died in 2011 and was stored in the freeezer next to the peas and her granddand) as she gives you glimpses into the future of humanity and life extension.

It is entirely possible that we will see medical immortality in our lifetime - consciousness downloaded onto a hard drive, frozen brains in cryogenic thermoses and robotic body parts.

But if we leave behind an awesome legacy, is it necessary? George Forman named his five sons George. What a dick! Some girl in England holds the world record for 'worm charming', while other kids are climbing Mount Everest, sailing the world solo or becoming Justin Beiber.

An entirely original work, that is innovative, challenging and pushes the boundaries of traditional stand up comedy, through the use of theatrical elements, monologues, music, multimedia and more complex lighting and sound design. IMMORTAL COMBAT will be directed by top Canadian comedian Derek Flores.

Frozen brains. Obsession with fame. Cancer the Musical.

It's IMMORTAL COMBAT!

SARAH HARPUR: Originally from Dannevirke, this Wellington comic, began her career in stand up in 2008. Tackling pressing social issues like cannibalism and cat abortion, she quickly made her mark on the local comedy scene. Sarah is also a budding rock god who will delight meat eaters and vegans alike with her musical numbers, and one half of ‘The Comediettes’.

She is also the creator of the hugely popular blog, www.harpursbizarre.com, and star of the online web series, 101 Dates which is screening at the LA web Festival in March.

Sarah has just returned from a 20 show season at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival with her critically acclaimed solo show, Life. Death. Pets; and is also confirmed to perform this show at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2011.

WINNER- 2009 RAW Comedy Quest * WINNER- 2009 ‘Best Newcomer’- NZ Comedy Guild Awards * NOMINEE- 2010 ‘Best Comedy’ and ‘Best Marketing’ – NZ Fringe Festival Awards * NOMINEE- 2010 ‘Best Newcomer’ – NZ International Comedy Festival Awards

“Sarah Harpur brings an infectious, slightly clownish glee to her roles.” - Theatreview

“a delinquent sunbeam” – Kate Blackhurst, Lumiere Reader

WELLINGTON
Dates: 11 – 14 May, 10.00pm
Venue: Fringe Bar, Cnr Cuba and Vivian Sts, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $16, Conc. $12, Groups 6+ $12 (service fees will apply)
Bookings: www.ticketek.co.nz

Media Release for immediate use: 28 January 2011 New Zealand International Comedy Festival 2011

LIFE & LOVE . . . THEN PROBABLY DEATH

FEATURING SHAUN HOWES & GABRIEL PAGE

Three hilarious nights of Kiwi comedy for the people of Petone!

Comedy newcomer and Fringe Bar favourtite, Shaun Howes kicks of this journey of life and mankind, turning history into hysteria! Covering our lives from 'The Big Bang' to 'The Future of Cars' Shaun guarantees an interesting view on our unique past, and our possible future.

Then Gabriel Page will ponder love lost, love found, love paid for by credit card. His dedication to singing honest love songs is, quite frankly, twisted.

With a voice reminiscent of the great Chris Rea and beautiful melodies to match, Gabriel’s love songs are betrayed only by the content of his lyrics. Gabriel opened for Flight of the Conchords in their only New Zealand show in 2010.

On for three nights only in Petone’s The Box, don’t miss this charming and twisted look at Life & Love . . . then probably Death!

“Witty, funny, musically very good” - Theatreview.org.nz (Gabriel Page, 2010)

"Shaun makes everyone in the room unafraid to laugh out loud. If you see him, can you tell him he needs to pick up his washing" - Mrs Howes, NZ (2011)

Proud to be part of the 2011 Comedy Festival

www.comedyfestival.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 4 – 6 May, 8.30pm
Venue: The Box, 47 Buick St, Petone
Tickets: Adults $20, Conc. $17, Groups 10+ $15 (service fees will apply)
Bookings: www.ticketek.co.nz

GENERICDEREK.COM PRESENTS...

SHECKY GOLD’S

MISERABLE HOUR OF ENTERTAINMENT

“Stories of love, loss, the beauty of bitterness, and the vainglorious struggle against the over whelming tide of mediocrity, by those who live it daily.”

Shecky Gold is a failed variety show manager.

Mandalay is a failed master of magic.

El Jaguar is a failed Mexican wrestler and father.

Unicorn is a failed...unicorn.

4 character monologues tenuously linked by their association to “this business we call show”.

Veteran international comedy festival performer Derek Flores shares his skewed show business viewpoint revealing the sad, sad price some pay to follow the dream of eking out an existence in entertainment using 4 unique characters ripped from the pages of his own life. With over 20 years of experience, Flores draws on each them them in his exploration of the cold lonely nights and odd characters peopling the midnight gutters of the has beens’ and never was’.

Check out Flores’s other comedy festival highlight, The Johnny Tan (and wife) VARIETY VARIETY Show, showcasing another one of his inventive quirky characters.

Derek has “...enough energy to power the national grid.” -theatreview

“A virtuoso, riotously embodying some oddly afflicted and inventive characters” –Adelaide Advertiser.

“...one of those rare performers who can combine tragedy and comedy in the same scene. You can tell he’s got demons.” NOW Magazine

Shecky Gold’s “Miserable Hour” Of Entertainment

WELLINGTON
Dates: 17 ¬– 21 May, 7pm
Venue: The Fringe Bar (corner of Cuba & Vivian Streets)
Tickets: Adults $18, Conc. $16, Groups 6+ $15
Bookings: www.ticketek.co.nz

For more information or interviews contact:

Derek Flores

NOTORIOUS PROUDLY PRESENTS:

STEVE WRIGLEY IN KEVIN: THE MUSICAL

SOMETHING IS AFOOT IN THE TOWN OF KEVIN

The small New Zealand town of Kevin is all a flutter with the prospect of getting it’s first traffic light. But what sort of scandal and intreague lie behind the placid exterior of this sleepy town? This is a quintessentially New Zealand story which plays on our nostalgic view of small towns throughout the country.

Steve Wrigley starts in this one-man all-singing all-dancing all-mania musical spectacular. And we don’t use the word spectacular lightly. With a full set and score written by the incomperable Mark Dennison, this will be the defininition of a Kiwi battler rising up against the odds to make this masterpiece.

The show has been assisted by the NZ Comedy Trust’s Creative Comedy Inititive, a programe intended to assist works which break the mold and push the boundaries. This has taken the form of financial assistance and mentoring.

Steve himself has been planning Kevin: The Musical in his manic head for a long time now and he is so excited to see this dream come to fruition. This show is a new direction after his series of three Comedy Festival shows which focused on stories from his life and his development through the years. The first of these, First Time, won Steve the Billy T Award and the second and third and fourth saw him nominated for the prestegious Fred Award for comedic excellence.

Friends, colleagues and those who have seen Steve perform either live or on his many TV appearances for Comedy Galas to 7Days, will attest to his absolute entusiasm and energy he brings to his critically acclaimed performances;

“Wrigley is such a superb story teller that you assume he must have spent weeks meticulously planning every sentence of his routine.” – Satellite

Kevin: The Musical will without doubt go down as one of his most impressive and funniest to date

AUCKLAND
Dates: 10 – 14 May, 8.30pm
Venue: Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE
Tickets: Adults $28, Conc. $25
Bookings: 0800 BUY TICKETS or www.buytickets.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 17 – 21 May, 6.30pm
Venue: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Tce
Tickets: Adults $20, Conc. $14
Bookings: book@bats.co.nz, 04 802 4175

Media Release 2011

COMEDY.CO.NZ PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

TERRY ALDERTON

UNFINISHED BUSINESS ENSURES RETURN OF UK COMEDY SUPER HERO, TERRY ALDERTON TO THE 2011 NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL.

The man with the record for the most encores at the prestigious London Comedy Store, stormed the NZ International Comedy Festival in 2010.

From the moment he hit the stage in the 5 STAR COMEDY PREVIEW through to his headline spots closing ‘The BIG SHOW’ at the Comedy Chamber in Auckland and The Opera House in Wellington, everyone wanted to see more of that bald Brit guy, Terry Alderton. So we have invited him back in 2011.

In August 2010, Alderton took his new solo show to the Edinburgh Fringe enjoying a sell-out season and more critical acclaim.

“Terry Alderton is on astonishing form... Masterful” The Sunday Times

“This is a mainstream act that dares to be different, that comes from the soul... Effortlessly enjoyable yet excitingly different. He deserves a big future” The Times

It is this show that he will be bringing to the 2011 Festival with solo seasons at both The Classic in Auckland and the San Francisco Bathhouse in Wellington.

For years Alderton has contended with the voices in his head, now see him bring them to life on stage, in an incredible evening of stand-up, uninhibited digressions, extraordinary caricatures, acute impressions and stunning sound effects which must be seen to be believed.

TERRY ALDERTON (England)

AUCKLAND

Dates: 14 nights only in Auckland / Mon 9 to Sat 21 May / 8-30pm
Venue: The Classic - 321 Queen St, Auckland.
Tickets: Adults $26, Conc. $22, Groups 10+ $22
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz / www.comedy.co.nz

WELLINGTON

Dates: 6 nights only in Wellington / Mon 2 to Sat 7 May / 8:30pm
Venue: San Francisco Bathhouse, Cuba St, Wellington
Tickets: Adults $26, Conc. $22, Groups 10+ $22
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz / www.comedy.co.nz

WELLINGTON IMPROVISATION TROUPE PRESENTS

CSI: WAINUI

A GRISLY MURDER IN THE HUTT. A KILLER ON THE LOOSE. BUT WHY HERE? WHY NOW? WAINUI?

The Wellington Improvisation Troupe is back with a fresh new improvised comedy about CSI, DNA and the DPB. Opening at BATS 10 May, join the CSI: Wainui team - the best forensic scientists, amateur detectives, and neighbourhood-watch-enthusiasts that the Hutt can muster. But with all the emotional baggage they bring to work- can they catch the culprit?

“Everyone knows that Wainui is basically the Vegas of New Zealand,” says Mark Scott, creative director. “With the audience’s help, each night we will solve the unsolvable, uncover the un-uncoverable, and always get the bad guy with the help of cutting edge technology. I think we even have an OHP.”

The Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT) is Wellington’s not-for-profit, community-based improvisational theatre group. WIT performs and teaches the skills of improvisational theatre at community venues around the Wellington region.

Theatre is made up on the spot by some of Wellington’s leading improvisers and courageous newcomers alike, based on suggestions from the audience. WIT players share a love of storytelling and work together as a team to inspire the audience. WIT theatre is sometimes serious, often hilarious and always totally unpredictable.

“I laughed so hard I coudn’t see” - Uther Dean, Salient

"Another small miracle of ingenious group creativity." - John Smythe, Theatreview

"Made me laugh a lot" - Laurie Atkinson, Dominion Post

WELLINGTON
Dates: 10 - 14 May, 6:30pm
Venue: BATS Theatre
Tickets: Adults $16, Conc. $14
Bookings: 04 8024175 or book@bats.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

TOKEN EVENTS PRESENTS

WIL ANDERSON

MAN VS. WIL

Host of The Gruen Transfer. As seen on 7 Days.

WINNER – Best Comedy, Helpmann Award 2010 (Australia)
WINNER – People’s Choice Award, Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2010
GQ MAGAZINE Media Personality of the Year 2010 (Australia)
BEST SHOW NOMINEE – Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2010

Wil Anderson is truly one of Australia’s prolific comedians and media personalities. Socially engaged, politically aware and bloody funny, Wil has written a brand new show of razor-sharp jokes every year since 1997, earning him a swag of awards from Edinburgh Fringe’s Perrier Best Newcomer nomination in 1999 to last year’s People’s Choice Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

While his passion is stand up, Wil has a highly successful media career that spans radio, print and television. As well as guest appearances on shows such as ROVE, Good News Week, The 7PM Project and Seven Days, Wil has hosted three of the Australia’s highest rating and critically acclaimed television series: the AFI Award-winning programs The Glass House (2001-2006) and The Gruen Transfer (currently screening on TV3) with its spin off series Gruen Nation (2010) which was ABC TV’s highest rating program of 2010.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Wil spends a part of every year on the road getting to know places and people who have never heard of him. Having spent the last four months gigging in America and already a regular on US late night comedy talk show, Chelsea Lately, it won’t be long now before Wil takes on the world.

With a strictly limited season in Auckland and his one night only premiere in Wellington, Wil’s on a roll and you don’t want to miss it.

“Anderson’s greatest skill is blending charm, insight and causticity, whatever the topic” Sydney Morning Herald, 2010 (Australia)

“few comics combine sharp political satire and dick jokes as well as Wil Anderson”

The Age, 2010 (Australia)

“uncensored in high-octane form…top stuff” Daily Telegraph, 2010 (Australia)

twitter.com/Wil_Anderson / facebook.com/officialwilanderson / wilanderson.com.au

AUCKLAND
Dates: 11 – 14 May, 9pm
Venue: SKYCITY Theatre, Cnr Wellesley Street West and Hobson Street
Tickets: Adults $37, Conc. $35, Tue & Wed $30
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Dates: 15 May, 7:30pm
Venue: Opera House, 111-113 Manners Street, Wellington
Tickets: All tickets $44.90
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK or www.ticketek.co.nz

Media Release: For immediate release

CREEPING CHARLIE PRODUCTIONS PROUDLY PRESENTS

WILSON DIXON

UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK

WORLD PREMIERE

Following on from the amazing success of last year’s TOTAL SELL OUT season of “Wilson Dixon’s American Dream”, our favourite country singer Wilson Dixon returns to both Auckland and Wellington for the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival with the WORLD PREMIERE OF UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK - a brand new, show about his oddball family and life on the farm in Colorado, USA.

Wilson Dixon has become one of the most loved acts at the Comedy Festival over the past 3 years. Last year, over 3,500 fans attended Wilson's shows in AKL & WLG, making him one of the biggest shows and earning him the Festival’s supreme award, “The Fred”, for artistic achievement. In 2010 Wilson toured the UK with “American Dream”, and was invited to appear on UK comedy great Stephen K Amos’ BBC2 TV Series “The Stephen K Amos Show”.

Wilson Dixon is one of the biggest draw cards for comedy in New Zealand, and traveled back here in late December 2010 to star in TV2’s “Comedy Christmas Cracker – The Work Do”, and to appear on the “7 Days” end of year special on TV3.

The inspiration for UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK comes from a recent break Wilson took in Cripple Creek from his busy touring schedule. What was supposed to be a 4-day holiday turned into a 4-week ordeal in which Wilson had to spend a lot of time with his extended family.

Returning home, Wilson found his vindictive horse Andrew had got so fat he couldn't leave the barn. His brother Jethro made a snowman that caused an avalanche wiping out his sister Darlene's trailer, his Uncle Randy suffered an unfortunate accident in his homemade sauna, and after a freak snow storm cut Cripple Creek off from the world… Wilson feared he might never leave the farm again.

Wilson is also very excited to announce The World Wide Release of his 2nd album, “Introducing Wilson Dixon” at this year’s Comedy Festival. His 1st album, “Wilson Dixon’s Greatest Hits” received massive success with 3 singles from that album topping the NZ iTunes Top 100 Comedy Songs in 2010 - “Never” #1, “Philosophy” #1, “The Mirror” #2. “Introducing Wilson Dixon” presents more of Wilson’s genius philosophic melodies of life.

UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK is set to be Wilson’s biggest “Whooo-ee!!” yet, playing ONE NIGHT ONLY at The Opera House in Wellington and THREE PERFORMANCES ONLY at SKYCITY Theatre in Auckland.

SO BOOK NOW! THIS WILL SELL OUT.

“His laconic storytelling is an inspired combination of side-splittingly funny observations peppered with zinger one liners and showcased what a remarkable talent he is.” tv3.co.nz, 2010

AUCKLAND WELLINGTON
Dates: Thurs 19 – Sat 21 May, at 7pm Dates: Sat 7 May, at 8pm
Venue: SKYCITY Theatre Venue: The Opera House
Tickets: Adults $35, Conc. $30 Tickets: Adults $35, Conc. $30
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK, www.ticketek.co.nz Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK

Media Release for immediate use:

BREAKING THE 5TH WALL PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

YOU CAN'T BEAT WELLINGTON (ON A GOOD DAY)

WRITTEN BY JOSH SAMUELS / DIRECTED BY MERRILEE MCCOY

Returning to the NZ International Comedy Festival after a sell-out season in 2010!

Welcome to a satirical comedy where four socially inept friends attempt to operate a Wellington coffee shop – with spectacularly selfish, chaotic and hilarious results!

You can't beat Wellington (on a good day) is a sitcom-style show performed in an actual Wellington café (Espressoholic). Following the lives of, The Crew, four unethical, self-centered and devious friends who run a Cuba street coffee shop, this show highlights how people can be motivated by pride, self-interest, and instant gratification while trying to "help" sort out social issues that affect Wellingtonians.

Last year, you fell in love with Owen, Donna, Kenny and Doug, now let them lie, cheat and scheme their way into your heart all over again! This year, You Can’t Beat Wellington (On a Good Day) runs throughout the Comedy Festival. Each week features a different, brand new episode with special guests.

This show will not play in Auckland, and features only 3 jokes about the wind.

Espressoholic will be open to ticket holders from 7.30pm for meals and drinks

"Funny, intelligent, warm and self-deprecating and comes complete with a flat white." - Theatreview.org.nz

"[They] clearly have talent at performing comedy”- Salient, NZ

Dates:
Episode One: 4-7 May
Episode Two: 11-14 May
Episode Three: 18-21 May

Time: Doors from 7:30pm, show starts 8.30pm
Bookings: www.eventfinder.co.nz
Tickets: $18 full / $15 concession / $14 groups 8+ (booking fees may apply)

Venue: Espressoholic, 136 Cuba St Wellington

ends

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