Grab Your Mates and Get Ready to Laugh

NZ International Comedy Festival in Cahoots with Old Mout Cider: 24 April – 17 May
Full Festival line-up announced and on sale Thursday 26 February at midday.
Shows in Auckland, Wellington, and across the country with the 2degrees Comedy Convoy.

This year a wealth of new talent is on offer to make the 2015 NZ International Comedy Festival in cahoots with Old Mout Cider, the most laughtastic experience of your mortal life! Award-winning internationals, popular locals and returning Festival favourites will bring you a huge range of comedy styles – trust us, you’ll find it all in this year’s Festival.

The Old Mout Cider Comedy Gala (Friday 24 April at The Civic in Auckland) and Old Mout Cider First Laughs (Monday 27 April at the Opera House in Wellington) will kick off the laughs. Hosted by top Irish stand-up Ed Byrne, he’ll introduce you to an exciting selection of new and familiar comedy faces, including Dai Henwood (NZ), Urzila Carlson (NZ/SA), Craig Campbell (CAN), Des Bishop (IRE/US) and much more! After these spectacular opening nights, the laughs continue for three weeks, ending with Last Laughs (at SkyCity Theatre on Sunday 17 May), the closing celebration for 2015 hosted by Nick Rado.

What’s become known as the alternative Gala, and a could be a great treat for Mum on Mother’s Day, is Le Comique (Sunday 10 May at SkyCity Theatre) hosted by the charmingy hilarious Brit Carl Donnelly, dishing up an eclectic and engaging mix of comedy, including our favourite Amercian cowboy Wilson Dixon, cheeky duo The Naked Magicians, lip-smacking musical comedy pair EastEnd Caberet, English gentleman Andrew Watts, Tom Binns as the hysterical hospital radio DJ Ivan Brackenbury (UK), and more to be announced.

Giving you a taste of who is hot right now, Next Big Things (25 April in Auckland & 28 April in Wellington) also returns with Kiwi favourite Ben Hurley, introducing his top picks of the emerging comedians who are currently making their mark on the scene.

Watch out for the 2015 Billy T Award nominees Tim Batt, Eli Matthewson, Hamish Parkinson, Matt Stellingwerf and Nic Sampson, their solo shows are shaping up to be impressive. And celebrate previous winners of the prestigious Billy T Award at the Best Of The Billys (3 May at SkyCity Theatre). Hosted by Ben Hurley and featuring performances from some of the winners from the last five years with Rose Matafeo, Rhys Mathewson, Nick Gibb and Guy Montgomery.

Touring the regional hotspots from 12 - 23 May is the 2degrees Comedy Convoy. Hosting the tour is Steve Wrigley (7days), with Rose Matafeo and Guy Montgomery; showing the international stars, Des Bishop described as “funny & erudite” by The Scotsman & Brit Nish Kumar “the Asian answer to Jon Oliver” (Chortle.co.uk), the pearl of the Pacific’s local must-sees.

But wait there’s more… Stand-Up for Kids, offers up hilarity for the young (and young at heart!); Class Comedians embraces high school students aspiring to be comedians; and The 5pm Project is a line-up show especially created for teenagers to go to with their mates.

During the Festival we will also be offering a range of Deaf friendly comedy shows featuring an interpreter on stage, see comedyfestival.co.nz for the shows and dates.

The full line-up of shows on offer and public on sale will be on Thursday 26 February at midday.

For special pre-sale access on Wednesday 25 February at midday, head to comedyfestival.co.nz

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