Comedy Festival reviews: Nic Sampson’s lovely story, Lou Sander’s beautiful shambles… and James Roque’s dick

Sam Brooks hits the Comedy Fest halfway point with a lovely story from Nic Sampson, a beautiful shambles from Brit Lou Sanders, and James Roque mixing theatre and stand-up while maybe getting his dick out. Nic Sampson: Jewel Heist Nic Sampson’s show last year, Nic Sampson Has Fallen Down A Well, was one of the … Read more

Comedy Festival reviews: Snort regulars Donna Brookbanks and Guy Montgomery more than deliver

Sam Brooks marks the halfway point of the comedy festival with two slam-dunk shows from Billy T Award winner Guy Montgomery and Snort regular Donna Brookbanks. Guy Montgomery: Let’s All Get In A Room Together It’s hard to sum up why Guy Montgomery is special as a comedian. He mixes the affability of the popular … Read more

The Spinoff’s Comedy Fest Diary – Week 2: Comedians review their own opening nights

Comedy co-editor Natasha Hoyland ended up in hospital as the opening nights of NZ International Comedy Festival’s second week were kicking off. So she asked the comedians to review their own shows in her absence. Hello, Natasha here! Coming to you live from my death bed. This time of the week I usually do my … Read more

Comedy Festival review: James Nokise is the winner on the day

Sam Brooks checks out James Nokise’s new sports-focused show, and discovers an hour that’s much more than just jokes about rugby. James Nokise: Talk A Big Game At this point in his career, James Nokise is a New Zealand institution. Whether its from his comedy (So-So Gangsta, The Bronaissance), or from his award-winning theatre (Rukahu), Nokise … Read more

The Bitches’ Box duo on five years touring the nation’s woolsheds, and finally bring their show to town

Amelia Dunbar and Emma Newborn have spent the last few years touring their show The Bitches’ Box around the country’s woolsheds, but now they’re back in the city with their new show: Sons of a Bitch. Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks had a chat with the pair about their touring experiences, and what keeps people coming back to their … Read more

The Laugh-Off’s second episode, and we’re doing it live!

It’s the end of the first week of the Comedy Festival, the second episode of The Laugh-Off podcast and our first/last live record. The second episode of our comedy festival podcast sees actor, writer and comedy expert Chelsea McEwan Millar joined by comedy editor Sam Brooks and award-winning comedian Rhys Mathewson (filling in for comedy editor … Read more

Backstage with musical comedy duo The Fan Brigade

Natasha Hoyland sits down with The Fan Brigade – Amanda Kennedy and Livi Mitchell – to talk about songwriting, Mike McRoberts and toilet sex. How did you guys meet? I heard you met on Twitter, is that right? Amanda Kennedy: Yeah, that’s right! We randomly followed each other and then I was brave and DM’d … Read more

Comedians share the worst heckle they’ve ever had (WATCH)

“And she stood up and said, ‘It’s just not funny!’” Welcome to the third instalment in our video series Comedians Answer Our Questions, featuring a number of funny people appearing in this year’s NZ International Comedy Festival. This time we asked comedians to tell us about the worst heckle they’ve ever had. The answers we got … Read more

Comedy Festival review: Zoe Lyons is just really, really good

Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks wraps up his first week of the festival with British stalwart Zoe Lyons. Zoe Lyons: Little Misfit When you’re at the end of the first week in the comedy festival, especially a week where you’ve seen close to ten shows, largely by new or emerging acts, what you want is to … Read more

Live. Laugh. Nap in between: The Spinoff Comedy Festival Survival Guide

It’s the end of week one of the comedy festival and you’re probably already tired from all those Late Laughs late nights, hungover from too many drinks at The Basement, and in pain from laughing too much. We asked Chelsea McEwan Millar, host of our new comedy podcast The Laugh-Off, to share her tips for … Read more

What happens if you do stand-up in a library? Nic Sampson finds out (WATCH)

A few weeks ago, comedian Nic Sampson came to The Spinoff with an idea: What if he did a comedy show in a library? We’ve got the bizarre results, and a brief interview with the man himself, right here. Sam Brooks: Why on earth did you want to do stand-up in a library? Nic Sampson: … Read more

Comedy Fest reviews: David goes full Correos and Bridget Davies and Tom Sainsbury are ones to watch

Sam Brooks heads to the new show by last year’s Billy T Award winner David Correos and a duo lineup featuring Snapchat star Tom Sainsbury and newcomer Bridget Davies. David Correos Is Going Full Correos One of the most memorable moments in comedy in New Zealand over the past five years has been seeing David … Read more

‘I hope we didn’t get any shit on you’ – The Spinoff’s Comedy Fest Diary, Week 1

Comedy co-editor Natasha Hoyland recaps the shows she’s seen and what she’s looking forward to in this festival diary for Week 1 of the NZ International Comedy Festival, proudly sponsored by Flick Electric Co.  Hello! It’s me! Natasha Hoyland, one of the editors of The Spinoff’s comedy section. This time each week, I’ll be sharing … Read more

Comedian Nick Rado’s guide to the health fads that are actually massive scams

Comedian Nick Rado’s life changed drastically when he married a yoga instructor. For one thing, he learnt more than he ever wanted or needed to know about whole foods, super nutrients, and health fads in general. Here he shares his hard-won knowledge. Hello! My name is Nick Rado and I’m the head writer for Three’s … Read more

Comedy Fest reviews: Brynley Stent escapes from Gloriavale and Tessa Waters gives a comedy masterclass

Sam Brooks checks out Comedy Festival shows from Funny Girls star and Snort regular Brynley Stent, and from Australian clowning superstar Tessa Waters. Plus – we bestow our second Spinoff Badge of Honour. Tessa Waters: Over Promises Tessa Waters is a genius. It’s as simple as that. I’ve never seen a New Zealand audience, notoriously … Read more

Welcome to The Laugh Off, The Spinoff’s comedy festival podcast!

Host Chelsea McEwan Millar is joined by Spinoff Comedy co-editors Sam Brooks and Natasha Hoyland to talk about the kick-off of the NZ International Comedy Festival. The first episode of our comedy festival podcast sees actor, writer and comedy expert Chelsea McEwan Millar joined around the oval table by Sam and Natasha to talk about … Read more

Comedians share the funniest things they’ve ever seen (WATCH)

“As she’s going over, her pants just split right up the middle.”  Welcome to the second instalment in our video series Comedians Answer Our Questions, featuring a number of faces in this year’s NZ International Comedy Festival. This time we asked comedians to tell us about the funniest thing they’ve ever seen, from unexpected peeing, … Read more

David Ladderman and Lizzie Tollemache on making old school magic in a modern world

Sam Brooks caught up with David Ladderman and Lizzie Tollemache, husband and wife creators of circus-magic-sideshow-theatre hybrid Mr. and Mrs Alexander, currently at Wellington’s Circa Theatre as part of the Comedy Festival.  How did you get into circus? David Ladderman: So, all those years ago at uni which I went to go to learn to be a … Read more

Comedy Fest reviews: Guy Williams and Lucy Roche tackle sex and politics

Sam Brooks’ take on two NZ International Comedy Festival shows that debuted in Auckland over the weekend: Ubiquitous funnyman Guy Williams and Wellington newcomer and 2016 RAW Comedy Quest winner Lucy Roche. Lucy Roche: Dollars and Sex One of the highlights of Last Laughs last year was watching an audience of eight hundred people react to … Read more

Comedy Festival reviews: Rose Matafeo, Daniel Sloss and more

Sam Brooks kicks off the Comedy Festival with reviews of four shows: NZ favourite Rose Matafeo, international Daniel Sloss, rapping grandpa John Carr and Wellington circus trio Laser Kiwi. Plus – our first Spinoff Comedy Badge of Honour is awarded. John Carr: Down With The Young Ones “Is he for real?” That’s what I asked … Read more

Nazeem Hussain on stand up, ‘I’m a Celebrity’, and why NZ comedy will be the next big thing

Natasha Hoyland caught up with Australian comedian and actor Nazeem Hussain backstage at the Flick Electric Co. Comedy Gala to talk about his experiences in comedy, living in the jungle, and talking to strangers.   Natasha Hoyland: You were on the latest season of the Australian version of I’m a Celebrity…Get me Out of Here!, … Read more

The Williams Comedy Dynasty: An epic interview with Guy, Paul and Maria Williams – Part II

Sam Brooks talks to the three Williams siblings – all comedians – about growing up in a loud, competitive household, their mum’s sideline in character comedy, and their plans for a family stand-up tour. You can find part one of this interview here. Part two of the interview starts with Maria making a discovery on … Read more

Top 5 picks from the Flick Electric Co. Comedy Gala

Spinoff Comedy co-editor Natasha Hoyland shares her highlights from the Flick Electric Co. Comedy Gala, New Zealand’s biggest night in comedy. Boy, oh, boy, last night was incredible! I think, in fact, that it was probably the best comedy gala I’ve ever been to. Although it was three hours long, the programmers balanced the acts … Read more

The Williams Comedy Dynasty: An epic interview with Guy, Paul and Maria Williams

Spinoff Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks talks to the Williams siblings about family dynamics , what lead them into comedy, and who’s the funniest (spoiler: it’s dad). The Williams siblings are fast becoming a New Zealand entertainment dynasty. Guy, the eldest, is a Billy T Award winner and a regular on Jono and Ben; Paul, the … Read more

And so it begins: The Basement’s Comedy Fest curtain-raiser, reviewed

Spinoff Comedy co-editor Natasha Hoyland heads to the Basement Preview Show for a first look at the acts performing there over the course of the comedy festival. The Flick Electric Co. Comedy Gala is happening tonight in Auckland, which means it’s officially time for the NZ International Comedy Festival! To celebrate, I went out to … Read more

Is working at Jono and Ben just like 30 Rock? Head writer Alice Snedden explains

Alice Snedden has taken off in the past few years, becoming a head writer of Jono and Ben, a regular cast member of hit improv troupe Snort and a regular columnist for The Sunday Star Times. Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks had a chat with Alice about her comedy, her column and controversial pop-star Katy Perry. Sam … Read more

‘We’re all craftsmen. Performers are athletes.’ James Nokise on creating comedy out of sport

James Nokise is known for his political comedy and theatre, but his show this year pivots to focus on a subject largely untouched by New Zealand stand-up comedy: sports. Sam Brooks talks to Nokise about the reasons for the change, and what’s so funny about sport. Sam Brooks: So you’re known for doing a lot … Read more

Guy Montgomery on making comedy in New Zealand – and why he’s moving to New York

You might know Guy Montgomery from winning the Billy T Award a few years ago, from his smash-hit podcast The Worst Idea of All Time, or from TV3’s Fail Army. Sam Brooks talks to Guy about his career in comedy and what he plans to do in New York. Sam Brooks: Are you ready to be … Read more