The quiet problem with New Zealand’s comedy audiences

This year’s International Comedy Festival was a roaring success, but some comedians have turned the spotlight on audiences. Are they too timid? Do our hecklers suck? Josie Adams sizes things up. When Netflix star James Acaster closed his last show of the Auckland International Comedy Festival, he ended with a confession: “This is only the … Read more

Waiting is for suckers: 10 great comedy shows to see before the Comedy Festival begins

Can’t wait until the festival starts to get your comedy fix? There’s plenty of live comedy and exciting events on in the lead up to the festival. Spinoff Comedy co-editor Natasha Hoyland picks the cream of the crop. At The Classic: The Classic is Auckland’s non-official home of comedy and produces weekly line ups of … Read more

Podcast: The Spinoff’s Unnamed Comedy Festival Pod – Week 2 feat Acaster, Assadi & a bad heckler

We didn’t know what to do about the Comedy Festival, so convened a motley trio of know-nothing punters to talk about it.   Host Alex Casey is joined by The Spinoff editor Duncan Greive and internet sensation Paul Williams to discuss the second week of the New Zealand Comedy Festival. Acts assessed include James Acaster, … Read more