Ben Elton Announces New Cities As Part Of His Massive Authentic Stupidity Tour In 2025

AUCKLAND, NZ (11 MARCH, 2025) – New cities have today been announced for Ben Elton, the undisputed godfather of modern stand-up’s brand-new live show – Authentic Stupidity.

Ben will now play Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga, Napier and Dunedin alongside his dates in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch across April and May.

Tickets for all new shows will go on sale at 12pm on Thursday 13th March. For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.co.nz

The world has changed a lot since Ben last toured - a whole new existential threat has emerged to challenge our very existence: Artificial Intelligence. Apparently, it’s going to render all human life meaningless, but Ben is here to warn you that AI is not the greatest threat that we face; it’s Authentic Stupidity!

Ben said: “The verdict’s in! Humanity is thick! Homo halfwit. The idiot branch of the Ape family! We need signs to tell us to step off escalators, we elect gibbering fools to lead us and now we’ve invented Artificial Intelligence which is actually going to replace us! I’ve spent 45 years in comedy exploring the outer limits of human idiocy and my mission has never been more timely. Forget AI! It’s AS we need to be worrying about!”

Ben Elton’s multi-award-winning career spans over four decades and includes seminal and groundbreaking television shows (The Young Ones, Blackadder, Upstart Crow), West End plays (Popcorn, Upstart Crow), West End musicals (We Will Rock You, The Beautiful Game, Close up: The Twiggy Musical), best-selling novels (Stark, Dead Famous, Two Brothers) and feature films (Maybe Baby, Three Summers, All is True).

In October last year, Ben returned to Channel 4 for a one-off revival of Friday Night Live to rave reviews. The reincarnation of the original smash-hit Saturday Night Live was critically acclaimed and Ben won the BAFTA for Comedy Entertainment Programme 2023.

BEN ELTON AUTHENTIC STUPIDITY NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2025

NEW SHOW – CLARENCE ST THEATRE, HAMILTON – SATURDAY APRIL 19

NEW SHOW – SIR HOWARD MORRISON CENTRE, ROTORUA – TUESDAY APRIL 22

NEW SHOW – BAYCOURT ADDISON THEATRE, TAURANGA – WEDNESDAY APRIL 23

MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE, WELLINGTON – SATURDAY APRIL 26

KIRI TE KANAWA THEATRE, AUCKLAND – MONDAY APRIL 28

NEW SHOW – NAPIER MUNICIPAL THEATRE, NAPIER – WEDNESDAY APRIL 30

NEW SHOW – TOWN HALL, DUNEDIN – THURSDAY MAY 1

TOWN HALL, CHRISTCHURCH – FRIDAY MAY 2

TICKETS ON SALE MARCH 13 AT 12PM

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: benelton.live & livenation.co.nz

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