Chris Brain is in ‘the Best Place’!
Chris Brain is in ‘the Best Place’!
Chris
Brain scooped the NZ International Comedy Festival’s big
prize, The Billy T Award, at the “Last Laughs” event on
Sunday night in front of a sold out audience at SKYCITY
Theatre.
Despite the recession New Zealanders flocked to
see comedy shows this year, in the first week the festival
sold 70 percent of last year’s total. Festival Director
Kylie Aitchison was delighted with the outturn and support
from the New Zealand public “the strong numbers were a
surprise," she said “we were expecting to sell less this
year, it seems people really did need a laugh’
Chris
Brain won rave reviews with critics and audiences alike for
his show ‘In a Better Place’ the show followed Chris’s
darkly comic journey through depression, gambling, drinking,
religion and drugs. Depression didn’t colour his view on
life, it magnified Chris’s unique and hilarious take on
the human condition and obviously touched and entertained
audiences and judges alike.
Chris Brain beat out a high calibre of contestants involved in this year’s Billy T Awards –Jim Brown, James Keating, Dave Wiggins and Vaughan King were all in line for the big prize. The winner of the Billy T Award picks up not only the yellow towel synonymous with Billy T James but, also a $5000 cheque.
The irrepressible Te Radar became the fourth comedian to win the newly created FRED Award, besting the likes of Steve Wrigley and Paul Ego. He also picked up ‘Best Local Show’ in Auckland, highlighting what a huge success his show “Eating the Dog” was.
Garnering a standing ovation from fellow comedians Te Radar joins past winners Dai Henwood, Brendhan Lovegrove and Ben Hurley, he received The Fred Award Boot and a $3000 travel grant.
Other winners included Rhys Mathewson who received “Best Newcomer” for his innovative show ’The Best $18 You’ll Ever Spend’ and the UK’s Carey Marx picked up “Best International Act” to a rapturous applause.
The full list of NZ International Comedy Festival 2008 award winners are:
Billy T Award – Chris
Brain
THE FRED Award – Te Radar
Best International
– Carey Marx
Best Local Show Auckland – Te
Radar
Best Local Show Wellington –Jan Maree
Best
Newcomer – Rhys Mathewson
Spirit Of The Festival
Auckland – Jeremy Elwood
Spirit Of The Festival
Wellington – Derek Flores
Best Marketing – Dai
Henwood
ENDS