Seven Magnificent Comedians In Wellington Gearing up

Press Release

22 March 2012

Seven Magnificent Comedians In Wellington Gearing up for a laugh

comedy.co.nz productions is pleased to present seven magnificent comedians in Wellington this April and May as part of the 2012 NZ International Comedy Festival. The seven stunning acts are:

Janey Godley the Queen of Scottish comedy ‘In The Godley Hour’; Gordon Southern from England with his freewheeling ‘A Brief History of History’; Andrew O’Neil a cross-dressing, steam-punk vegan and occultist comedian in ‘Alternative’; ‘Terry Alderton’ a big gun English act back by popular demand; Chris Cox a mind reader who can’t actually read minds in ‘Fatal Distraction’; New Zealand’s own The Boy with Tape On His Face with a brand new show ‘MORE TAPE!’; and Craig Campbell an ‘outdoor adventurer’ of comedy and regular visitor to the festival returns for another shot. Commenting on the stellar line up, Scott Blanks from comedy.co.nz productions said, “producing live comedy is just about the best job in the world because everybody loves a good laugh. And, in this year’s festival, I have the pleasure of bringing a diverse range of acts to Wellington including the new show from ‘The Boy With Tape on His Face’, a bit of classic mind reading with a fresh twist from Chris Cox, and the return of some favourites, Janey Godley, Craig Campbell and last year’s big hit, Terry Alderton.”

Janey Godley (Scotland) in ‘The Godley Hour’ The Queen of Scottish comedy is back with a brand new hour on her 4th tour to the NZ International Comedy Festival. It’s not hard to understand the comparisons with Billy Connolly. Janey Godley is also from Glasgow, has a colourful vocabulary, tells wild rambling stories about her misadventures and has a love affair with New Zealand audiences. To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the NZ International Comedy Festival we have invited Janey back to perform a brand new hour at Wellington’s San Francisco Bathhouse (Apr 30 to May 5). Her new show ‘The Godley Hour’ places the comedian at the epicentre of some extraordinary events, personal disasters and strange-but-true happenings; a sex party in L.A. with the worse buffet, the joy of finding out you may have been responsible for a man's death, a frightening bus trip to Venice Beach, and a recent pregnancy scare. Not only a stand-up comedian Janey is also a bestselling author, playwright, award-winning podcaster and former Scotsman newspaper columnist "One of Scotland's finest onstage treasures... Compelling... ballsy... a breath of fresh air" Guardian UK "The most outspoken female stand-up in Britain... The most ribald and refreshing comedy talent to have risen from the slums of Glasgow since Billy Connolly..." Daily Telegraph "The funniest mum on earth... you can't help but love this woman... her dry wit and exquisite sense of irony" New Zealand Herald Dates: Mon 30 April to Sat 5 May, 7pm Venue: San Francisco Bathhouse, Cuba St Tickets: Adults $26, Conc. $22 (+BF) Bookings: 0800Ticketek or www.ticketek.co.nz comedy.co.nz productions

International Word Clown Presents Gordon Southern (England) ‘A Brief History of History’ All History. One Hour, With Jokes. Following the sell out success of "Free Range" in 2011 Southern's "poetic, clever and joyfully freewheeling" (Chortle) mind will meander through history. With a mixture of storytelling, tiny bursts of music and lightning quick audience interaction, all of history will be explored in hardly any detail. In the last year, Southern has headlined “Best of the Edinburgh Fest” In Adelaide Fringe and Brisbane Comedy Festival, SOLD OUT his entire run of “Free Range” at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. He headlined “The Big Show” in his first ever New Zealand Comedy Festival in 2011, followed by his solo show “Free Range” and an appearance in a televised benefit for Christchurch’s earthquake relief. Southern has headlined The Comedy Store Mumbai, Central Europe, Hong Kong, Thailand, Egypt, Greece and the Laughter Factory in Dubai, was a resident host at Edinburgh’s notorious “Late n’ Live” “ His smooth relaxed style is a joy. He feeds off the audience and his machine gun comebacks to crowd banter are bang-on” **** Herald Sun “Stellar stand up.... So charming you want to take him home to Mother.” The Age www.gordonsouthern.com/ Dates: Tue 1 May to Sat 5 May, 7pm Venue: 22 Allen St, Te Aro Tickets: Adults $26, Conc. $22 (+BF) Bookings: 0800Ticketek or www.ticketek.co.nz

Andrew O’Neill (England) ‘Alternative’ He’s a transvestite, heterosexual, cross-dressing, steam punk, metal head, vegan, and occult comedian. He is also a bit ‘alternative’! On his first visit to the NZ International Comedy Festival in 2010, English comedian, Andrew O’Neill made a lot of new friends (well at least 3) who liked him so much that he’s been invited back to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the festival performing at the Cavern in Wellington 1st to 5th May. Following another storming run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2011, and having performed in every corner of the British Isles, Andrew O'Neill is back with a brand-new show, ‘ALTERNATIVE’ and, at least three new jokes. Andrew's fans include the comic book writer Alan Moore who says, "Andrew O'Neill is like comedy ball lightning. Fast, electrifying and even funnier than the misfortunes of others" Fellow comic book writer Neil Gaiman says of Andrew - "Absolutely hilarious, laughed with delight from start to finish" "Hilarious, incredibly smart, quick as a whip" Adelaide Advertiser. “One of the funniest comedians on the circuit at the moment … hitting new heights of comedic brilliance” Time Out. “He’s got a natural optimism and love of silliness that leaves you feeling remarkably positive … a winning blend of polemic and off-beat whimsy” The Guardian. www.andrewoneill.co.uk Dates: Tue 1 May to Sat 5 May, 8:30pm Venue: Cavern Club, 22 Allen St, Te Aro Tickets: Adults $26, Conc. $22 (+BF) Bookings: 0800Ticketek or www.ticketek.co.nz comedy.

TERRY ALDERTON (England) Voted #1 Comedian in the UK in 2011 by The Sun. Direct from his sell out 2012 UK Tour, the man with the record for the most encores at London Comedystore is back by public demand at the NZ International Comedy Festival. Big gun English comedian Terry Alderton is up to his old tricks on stage and when the voices in his head take over the show, audiences know they are in for a wild ride. Voted ‘Best International Guest’ at the NZ International Comedy Festival in 2010 and 2011, Alderton returns down under for a third time where he will play a week long season at the San Francisco Bathhouse in Wellington. Following his sell out shows here last year, Alderton returned to the UK to launch a new show at the Edinburgh Fringe in August followed by a national UK tour. His unique delivery featuring dialogues with the voices in his head while his back is turned to the audience has attracted a legion of fans. The Sun newspaper voted him ‘Best Comedian in the UK’ at the end of 2011. “Terry is in astonishing form … masterful – 4 stars” The Sunday Times UK “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 UK www.terryalderton.com Dates: Tue 1 May to Sat 5 May, 8:30pm Venue: San Francisco Bathhouse, Cuba St Tickets: Adults $26, Conc. $22 (+BF) Bookings: 0800Ticketek or www.ticketek.co.nz comedy.

Chris Cox (England) in ‘Fatal Distraction’ Voted ‘Best Comedy Show in the UK’ in 2011 by Venue Magazine. Don’t look away or he may just read your mind! This remarkable entertainer returns to the NZ International Comedy Festival with a brand new show, ‘Fatal Distraction’ playing a week long season at Wellington’s Whitireia Performance Centre. Chris Cox is a unique force when it comes to mind-reading entertainment and he has a string of accolades under his belt including; 5 Edinburgh Fringe shows, 4 UK Tours, 3 West End Shows, an extended sell out run at the 2010 New Zealand International Comedy Festival, a bloody big heap of 4 and 5 star reviews, 2 Edinburgh Fringe Awards, a 2011 Best Comedy Show award win, must see show listings and numerous TV and Radio appearances. All that and he’s still in his early 20s. What a busy boy. The self proclaimed mind reader who can’t read minds uses a mongrel hybrid mix of witty chit chat, magic, psychology, body language, devilish good looks and lying to make you think he knows what you’re thinking, despite never knowing what you are thinking, or being able to really do anything he says. See Chris Cox at the 2012 NZ International Comedy Festival and all won’t be revealed. “One of the most exciting entertainers in Britain’ The Guardian “He does tricks that would make Jesus proud… Loveable, geeky & deceptively talented” Time Out www.magiccox.com Dates: Tue 8 May to Sat 12 May Venue: Whitireia Performance Centre, 25 Vivian St, Te Aro Tickets: Adults $26.50, Conc. $22.50 (+BF) Bookings: 0800Ticketek or www.ticketek.co.nz comedy.

The Boy With Tape On His Face … MORE TAPE He’s our new international success story back with a brand new show at the 2012 NZ International Comedy Festival for one night only at The Opera House. The award winning Boy With Tape On His Face has had a huge year since his sold out season here at the 2011 festival. He was the first NZ comedian to participate in a Royal Variety Performance in Dec 2011 and he performed in The 1st Comedy Proms at the Royal Albert Hall backed by a 50 piece orchestra. Following a sellout Edinburgh Fringe season , a national tour of the UK and a swag of awards, he’s launched a brand new show … MORE TAPE. Drawing on a heritage that includes silent film, mime, magic, and puppetry, The Boy With Tape On His Face is a pensive, curious soul approaching every object and audience member as a potential friend - or plaything. A mad scientist of vaudevillian pranks; The Boy reminds us that life is an adventure. “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 www.theboywithtapeonhisface.com/ Dates: Sat 12 May / 7pm Venue: The Opera House, Courtney Place Tickets: Adults $35, Conc. $32 (+BF) Bookings: 0800Ticketek or www.ticketek.co.nz comedy.

Craig Campbell (Canada) is back! Canadian born ‘outdoor adventurer’ is back to celebrate 20 years of Comedy Festival in New Zealand. A strapping 6ft 3in ex-athlete with Scottish ancestry, Craig Campbell commands stages with vigour relishing the banter with un-weary hecklers. Known, as the ‘outdoor adventurer’ of comedy in the UK where he now lives, stand-up oddly is one of the few things Campbell does inside. An instinctive entertainer, Campbell brings his characteristic wit, talkative charm and animated manner to stories about his travels; befriending the audience with accents and boisterous re-enactments. NZ comedy festival scouts first spotted a young Craig Campbell in 1997 at the prestigious ‘Just for Laughs’ Festival in Montreal. He’s since visited our festival 3 times and now returns with a brand new show for a week long season at the San Francisco Bathhouse in Wellington. Match fit on the back of his first full solo national tour in the UK, Campbell has established his reputation as a top headline act and he’s made numerous appearances on TV shows such as Michael McIntyre’s ‘Comedy Roadshow’ (BBC One) and Russell Howard’s ‘Good News’ (BBC Three). Once the notorious host of Canada's legendary TV show ‘Ed's Night Party’, he’s guest headlined on other Canadian TV shows such as ‘Jim Carrey Live’ and ‘Just for Laughs’. “Bringing a tale to life like a young Billy Connolly” Edinburgh Evening News “One of the most skilled storytellers and jokesmiths on the circuit” Chortle.co.uk www.craigcampbell.com/ Dates: Mon 14 May to Sat 19 May Venue: San Francisco Bathhouse, Cuba St Tickets: Adults $26, Conc. $22 (+BF) Bookings: 0800Ticketek www.ticketek.co.nz

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