HO HO…. HA?

HO HO…. HA?

Tired of having to clean up the office the morning after the Christmas party? Fed up with recycling bins full of photocopies of lewd body parts? Or do you just fancy treating yourself to a night out where the speeches will actually be funny? Then the producers of the NZ International Comedy Festival have a seasonal treat to fill your stocking.

The Comedy Christmas GalaComedy Christmas Gala is a fast paced, two-hour showcase of hilarity with the hottest comedy talent from New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom, playing a strictly limited season in Auckland, Hawkes Bay, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
The Auckland show is being filmed for TV2 and will be bursting with Christmas cracker goodness. Stepping into the ‘Comedy Christmas Gala’ hot-seat is comedy legend Brendhan Lovegrove (NZ), who will be hosting the festive festivities. Lovegrove will be joined on the Auckland stage by over 12 top notch comedians including the “Maxwell Smart & Agent 99 of Kiwi Comedy, Jeremy Elwood & Michele A’Court”.

Michele reigned as NZ’s Best Female Comedian from 2002 – 2007 and appears regularly on our TV screens, newspapers and radiowaves as well as on stage in theatres and pubs nationwide. Jeremy’s face will be familiar from the new hit TV current affairs show “7 days”, but is also one of NZ’s most successful stand up comedians.

Returning to NZ shores for this special show is the aptly names Jarred Christmas – the man responsible for the London showcase “4 Kiwis Walk Into A Bar” and a regular performer on UK & USA TV and radio. Jarred was a competitor in the 2008 series Last Comic Standing, and we’re pleased as punch that he will be bringing his world-class, high energy, gag-tastic stylings to our stage.
Also spreading the Christmas cheer will be our Australian friend Wil Anderson – GQ “Comedic Talent” Man of the Year, and smash hit of the 2009 Crunchie Comedy Gala - and perennial favourite, American country western star Wilson Dixon.
Of course, the Festive season is about celebrating new friends as well as old. Making his debut in New Zealand to enjoy a Christmas in the sun, we welcome Jarlath ReganJarlath Regan (IRE). Regan is a regular on television in his native Ireland on their version of Mock The Week and was a crowd favourite in his solo show at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, having outgrown his opening act spot alongside the likes of Ardal O’Hanlon and David O’Doherty.

Also new on the NZ comedy scene is Zoe LyonsZoe Lyons (UK), whose confident razor sharp wit created a huge buzz on the comedy circuit in 2004 when she won the 'Funny Women Award ‘. She demonstrated her ability to laugh in the face of adversity, as a contestant on the UK’s ITV's 'Survivor!' where she ate a rat and lived to tell the tale and no… rat does not taste like chicken.

But don’t worry, NZ – it’s not all about Auckland. From the 9th December, Brendhan Lovegrove gives Rudolph a giddy-up and leads a troupe of 6 wise men and women out on the road to entertain the rest of the country. Audiences from Hastings to Queenstown can catch highlights of the Christmas show before it goes on air, with performances by Ben Hurley (NZ), Michele A’Court (NZ)*, Jeremy Elwood (NZ) , Wilson Dixon (USA) , Jarlath Regan (IRE) and Zoe Lyons (UK).

This Christmas Comedy Gala has enough festive spirit for the whole country – so get amongst it!

* Michele A’Court will not be appearing in the Hawkes Bay show.

Comedy Christmas Gala Comedy Christmas Gala plays:

AucklandAuckland
SKYCITY Theatre
Friday 4th and Saturday 5th December
Bookings through TICKETEK – 0800 842 5385 or www.ticketek.co.nzwww.ticketek.co.nz

Hawkes BayHawkes Bay
Hawkes Bay Opera House
Wednesday 9th December
Bookings thought TICKETDIRECT – (06) 871 5282 or www.ticketdirect.co.nzwww.ticketdirect.co.nz

New PlymouthNew Plymouth
TSB Theatre
Thursday 10th December
Bookings through TICKETEK – 0800 842 5385 or www.ticketek.co.nzwww.ticketek.co.nz

WellingtonWellington
The Opera House
Friday 11th December
Bookings through TICKETEK – 0800 842 5385 or www.ticketek.co.nz

ChristchurchChristchurch
James Hay Theatre
Saturday 12th December
Bookings through TICKETEK – 0800 842 5385 or www.ticketek.co.nz

QueenstownQueenstown
Memorial Hall, Queenstown
Sunday 13 December
Tickets through TicketDirect (03) 450 9005 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz

ENDS

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