May 2012
26 posts
8 tags
Keeping Up With NZ 'The Griddy's' Comedy Awards...
The ticker tape has settled on the stages of this years New Zealand International Comedy Festival with the climax of the announcements of the Billy T and Fred Comedy Awards at Last Laughs.
After watching 26 shows I enjoyed the festival so much I wanted to find a way to celebrate my favourite shows.
From the middle of the Festival I began selecting my favourtie shows to put together a shortlist...
22 tags
Last Laughs ! New Zealand Comedy Festival 2012
What a great show to finish on! Last Laughs did not disappoint with both the Billy T and Fred Award finalist doing their thing on stage which produced a range of fantastic performances.
Hosted by Te Radar, a full house at SKYCITY Theatre must have all had their favourites but there was no question that all the comedians were deserving winners.
Starting with the Billy T’s, first on stage was my...
6 tags
Janey Godley The Godley Hour - Review
My loyalty for the ladies has finally kicked in as I made it to another female comedians show last night.
Janey Godley ‘The Godley Hour’ has been at The Classic all this week so I was so pleased to get a chance to see the show before the end of her fantastic run.
I had been keeping up with Janey during her time in New Zealand through her blog and podcasts. This year’s visit to...
5 tags
Jan Maree Hairy Today, Gone Tomorrow - Review
To my shame this was the first female comedians show I have seen at the NZ International Comedy Festival, but what a way to start! (Never fear I have a few more on my list this week).
From the minute a glam Jan Maree bounced and Croatian danced on to the stage it wasn’t just her outfit that got my attention, it was her confidence. She has the perfect level of self assurance and likability...
5 tags
Ben Hurley & Steve Wrigley Live & Unleashed -...
Ben Hurley and Steve Wrigley begun their 5 night run at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival last night with their first festival show together Live & Unleashed.
These two well known Kiwi comics are brilliant at what they do and have great confidence and command of the stage.
Their style is laid back with clever and witty banter. There is a strong rapport between them which makes...
5 tags
Tarun Mohanbhai - Joke In The Box - Review
Last night I went to see Tarun Mohanbhai’s Joke In the Box at the Vault, Q Theatre.
This clever show sees Tarun play a comedian with a identity crisis who decides to reinvent himself.
Joke In The Box explores all the comedy clichés while ‘Ziggy’ the comedian tries to find his new style, eventually emerging as Tarun.
The show is narrated through Ziggy’s relationship...
8 tags
The Boy With Tape On His Face - More Tape - Review
I had seen ‘The Boy’ on TV but following last night’s opening night of ‘More Tape’ at Q Theatre, I realised you really do have to see him live to fully appreciate this extraordinary performer!
The show is packed with visual treats cleverly entwined into stories which are often expertly timed to accompanying music. That’s not all! Don’t think you can hide from ‘More Tape’ as this ‘Boy’ can sneak up...
14 tags
NZ International Comedy Festival - my picks for...
I can’t believe how quickly the last two weeks have gone by and I have laughed, giggled, tittered and chuckled my way through them.
I have seen 18 shows and counting and I have even announced my very own inaugural ‘The Grid’ Comedy Award 2012, click here to see my shortlist so far. Watch this space as more will be added during the week!
I have had the chance see some of the...
5 tags
Gordon Southern A Brief History Of History -...
Last night I squeezed in to The Classic Studio for a sold out performance of Gordon Southern’s show A Brief History Of History.
Dressed in jeans with a shirt and tie just like a cool teacher, the next hour was filled with hilarious historical content crammed in around Gordon’s excellent audience participation and gold star system.
It all happens so fast! The centuries fly by as this...
5 tags
Dan Willis Ferris Bueller's Way Of...Review
There has been so many great shows on this week that I only got a chance to see Dan Willis’s last night but I am glad I did.
His hour show is based around his favourite film, yes you guessed it the 1986 classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
This ex IT geek from the UK tells us of his life changing decision to quit his stable and comfortable job in IT to become a stand-up comedian.
He...
18 tags
The Griddy's Comedy Award 2012!
During the last few weeks I have been searching for my inaugural ‘The Grid’ Comedy Award winner.
I have seen as much live comedy as I can at the NZ International Comedy Festival and feel it’s time to announce my current front runners with only a few days of shows remaining!
Below are my top shows. Click on the links to read the full reviews.
Jason Byrne - The People’s...
6 tags
Barry Morgan’s World of Organs – Review
Oh the joy of this man!
Just the sight of Barry Morgan’s poster made me chuckle so I thought that the show couldn’t fail to induce further burst of laughter.
From the minute he was on stage I just smiled and laughed. Dressed in a safari style suit with the biggest and best hair I have seen at this festival he camply addressed us,
“G’day shoppers and welcome to Barry Morgan’s World of Organs!”
All...
7 tags
Chris Martin No. Not That One - Review
This UK namesake of the lead singer of one of the world’s most famous bands is in Auckland performing his show Chris Martin No. Not That One.
Chris is energetic from the offset, keeping a great pace throughout the show. He is upbeat yet self-deprecating with a youthful enthusiasm which lets you know he loves what he does.
This show focuses on our judgements of both ourselves, and of those around...
6 tags
Steve Hughes Heavy Metal Comedy – Review
At 10pm last night I went back up to the Loft at Q Theatre, which is becoming a bit of a second home for me these last few weeks, to watch some Heavy Metal Comedy from Steve Hughes.
I had seen Steve support Rhys Darby the previous night at SKYCITY Theatre where this UK based, Australian comic was completely hilarious. He worked a possibly hesitant crowd of Rhys fans to win them over and have us...
9 tags
Anil Desai’s Night At The Movies – Review
I had been looking forward to Anil Desai’s Night At The Movies ever since I first saw the NZ International Comedy Festival programme.
I am a huge movie fan and a huge live comedy fan so the idea of combining them both seemed genius to me.
Anil’s hour show is great for a movie fan as you will not only recognise the actors he impersonates but the classic movie lines he quotes too.
Anil’s love of...
6 tags
Rhys Darby – This Way to Spaceship - Review
Rhys Darby’s This Way to Spaceship started its five night run to a sold out SKYCITY Theatre last night. Read this full review on our website Keeping Up With NZ!
His new stand-up show is in conjunction with his first book conveniently also named This Way to Spaceship, a handy autobiographical end of world companion where you can hear how NZ’s biggest stand-up comic went from meek geek to king of...
9 tags
Terry Alderton - You'll Be Glad to See the Back of...
Terry Alderton is back in New Zealand with his new show You’ll Be Glad to See the Back of Him at the Q Theatre in Auckland this week.
While leaving the theatre, following last nights opening night of this unique UK act, my boyfriend said, ‘I can’t wait to read your review of that!’
This is not to say we didn’t like it, we loved it! It was just that he is so totally...
5 tags
7 tags
Milton Jones at The Classic - Review
Milton Jones is in New Zealand for 13 shows for the NZ International Comedy Festival.
With the first week under his belt this week is your last chance to see one of the UK’s top headliners here in NZ for the 2012 festival.
If you have never seen Milton Jones here is an idea of what to expect.
You will experience fast one liners, both clever word play and surreal subject matter. His...
10 tags
Marcel Lucont Gallic Symbol - Review
Marcel Lucont has had such a succesful run at this years NZ International Comedy Festival that he added an extra show for his Auckland fans yesterday afternoon.
I had not had the chance to watch him so far this week so was eagerly anticipating this much talked about show.
He is as cool and laid back as his poster suggests while he enters stage with that je ne sais quoi that you should expect...
9 tags
The Axis of Awesome - Review
Last night a packed Comedy Chamber witnessed the last but one of The Axis of Awesome’s show in Auckland.
I have heard and read a lot about this comedy rock trio during the first week of the festival but have avoided youtubing so as not to spoil the surprise, and I knew enough to know they sounded rocking.
My expectations were met, and some as they were, well awesome.
The group came on...
13 tags
NZ International Comedy Festival - my picks for...
Wow what an amazing first week it’s been! It’s already time to look ahead to week two!
The NZ International Comedy Festival kicked off on Friday 27 April with the monster that is the Comedy Gala.
It as great to see this aired on TV so we all got a taste of the great acts we could see this year at the festival.
I have been busy watching and reviewing shows so have a look around my...
8 tags
Brendon Burns Home Stretch Baby at The Classic...
I am a fan of Brendon Burns and first saw him perform live in 2002 during Edinburgh Fringe. Now it seems that I have seen him at 5 year intervals, as I watched his award winning 2007 show So I Suppose This Is Offensive Now and Home Stretch Baby at the NZ International Comedy Festival 2012.
This Australian comedian is a favourite on the UK comedy circuit and I believe this is his first time...
17 tags
Ben Hurley Presents New Faces - Review
Ben Hurley presented a night of new talent from New Zealand last night at the Loft at Q Theatre.
Unfortunately the room was not full but those of us that were there were up for a laugh, and for supporting up and coming comedy.
Ben Hurley is a seasoned performer so he is at ease both on the stage, and with chatting to the audience, which included a chat with with me! After a short warm up he...
9 tags
Jason Byrne People's Puppeteer at Q Theatre -...
Where do I even start talking about last night’s Jason Byrne stand up show People’s Puppeteer at the Q Theatre in Auckland .
It was a chaotic, rampant laughter fest which fell in to disarray and resulted in pure comedic genius and aching sides.
Entering the stage as a huge puppeteer Jason Byrne proceeded to Irish dance across the stage as the merry crowd wooped, cheered and clapped almost...
9 tags
Chris Cox Fatal Distraction at Q Theatre - Review
The Q Theatre’s Rangatira stage looked filled with copious amounts of props while, through the load speakers, the voice of Chris Cox gave us our first instructions of the evening.
As I sat front row with my boyfriend I waited for others to join us but it seemed everyone felt safer one row back!
Turns out at Fatal Distraction it doesn’t really matter where you sit at this interactive show.
Chris...
April 2012
12 posts
10 tags
Craig Campbell at The Classic Auckland - Review
As a last minute addition to my itinerary last night I popped in to The Classic to see Craig Campbell, a Canadian comedian who I had not seen before but whose poster won me over.
It was a quiet Monday crowd and one that I am not entirely sure fully appreciated the genius story telling capabilities of Craig Campbell.
I found him totally engaging, clever, sometimes quite unexpectedly shouty, but...
9 tags
Dead Cat Bounce at The Loft @Q - Review
Dead Cat Bounce is a three piece band from Ireland, but don’t expect classic covers at this show. Dressed the part and proving their rock credentials, the 3 guys wore gold skinny jeans, glittery leggings and leather trousers, much to the delight of the female front row!
This comedy rock trio gave us an hour of excellently executed songs including one about a Homophobic Penguin performed in the...
