Sharron Pardoe05:00, May 10 2021
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Wellington comic Chris Parker will MC the first heat of the Raw Comedy Quest battle at San Fran this Feb.
COMEDY FESTIVAL
The New Zealand International Comedy Festival is in full swing and runs until May 23. Here are some of the weekend’s offerings. For the full programme, show information, times, prices and tickets see comedy.festival.co.nz
Chris Parker, How I Felt
San Fran, May 11-15; 7pm Join award-winning comedian Chris Parker as he attempts the worlds very first Live Comedy Felting Show, and possibly his nichest show to date.
Bubbah, Catch You up
With the closed border and Covid contingencies, the NZ Comedy Festival goes on
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Review: Comedy Festival kicks off with Gala, Preview Show
3 May, 2021 12:24 AM
4 minutes to read
Justine Smith was stellar in her debut as Comedy Gala host. Photo / Jinki Cambronero
NZ Herald
By: Ethan Sills
After a year away due to lockdown, the New Zealand International Comedy Festival is under way once again. It s been a long year without an annual dose of comedy gold, and Auckland and Wellington audiences can now look forward to a packed three weeks of the best stand-up, improv and sketch Kiwi comedians have to offer.
And throughout the festival s first two events – the flashy, made-for-TV Best Foods Comedy Gala and the Basement Comedy Preview – one thing has become clear: this year is all about Kiwis. While they are somewhat ironically keeping International in the name, the Comedy Festival in 2021 is almost entirely local acts, and the opening weekend showed there is a lot of comedy within our borders.
VICKI ANDERSON offers a few highlights of events in Ōtautahi Christchurch this weekend and beyond. Have you made time to see the Ralph Hotere exhibition at Christchurch Art Gallery yet? When I visited recently, after checking out CoCA next door, I saw a couple crying quietly with their arms around one another in front of a painting. It is that moving. Christchurch tip of the week: The $6 tacos from Cactus in Barbadoes St. Also visit for the A+ banter. The Christchurch song of the week:
What A Friend by Terrible Sons, husband/wife duo Matthew Barus (Dukes) and Lauren Barus (Fly My Pretties). They play at The Piano on Friday.
Ross Giblin/Stuff
Dave quickly discovered most Wellington venues are not wheelchair accessible, and often has to be carried up flights of stairs over his father’s shoulder. Batten’s comedy career began in 2016 in Australia, where his family lived for nearly 10 years. He was involved in a disability group which organised a comedy course run by well-known Australian comedian Mandy Nolan. “We had to perform as part of graduating at the Lismore Workers Club, and after that I started getting asked to do sets at various places,” Batten said. As he quickly discovered after moving back to New Zealand, most venues were not wheelchair accessible.
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