Waterdeep Mountain High: Ep. 3. The Smuggler’s Run, part one

Welcome back to Waterdeep Mountain High, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast set in a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun. “Yesterday we literally found some dead kids, and they didn’t even give us the next day off.” Barely recovered from the traumatic events of their afternoon in detention, our heroes are tasked … Read more

Waterdeep Mountain High podcast: Finding Hootie part 2 – the reckoning

It’s the second episode of our new comedy Dungeons and Dragons podcast! Welcome back to Waterdeep Mountain High, a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun. “It’s like Hugh Grant vs Colin Firth” In the second episode of Waterdeep Mountain High our heroes Forrest Rivers, Kate Shepherd, Hillardo Morrison, and Peng the Goblin … Read more

Welcome to Waterdeep Mountain High, a new Dungeons & Dragons podcast

It’s a new Dungeons and Dragons podcast set in the most fantastical setting of all…a crappy high school. Welcome to Waterdeep Mountain High, a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun. In this first episode, plucky teens Forrest Rivers and Kate Shepperd, their plucky teacher Hillardo Morrison, and plucky (psychotic) exchange student-goblin Peng, … Read more

How do you survive in the cursed town of Brokenwood?

Ahead of the season four premiere of The Brokenwood Mysteries, Alex Casey speaks to two of the show’s stars about their favourite murders.  Everyone wants their friends to throw them a nice surprise birthday picnic, but nobody wants the party to be crashed by a mangled skydiver who never quite got his parachute open. Really … Read more

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

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

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

‘I think she’s having a fit!’ – NZ comedians share their festival horror stories

Every comedian has at least one horror story. We asked some our favourite funny people for their festival nightmares, and we got back stories ranging from lost luggage to accidental hypnotisation. I just arrived in Melbourne to find out my venue is double booked and now I have to do my show at another time … Read more

‘I came off stage and cried’: Donna Brookbanks’ Melbourne Comedy Fest diary

Melbourne Comedy Festival: lots of shows, lots of cool people, fewer audiences. Auckland comedian Donna Brookbanks shares the second installment of her Melbourne festival diary. Read Donna’s first diary entry here. Dear Diary, Today I woke up. Last night, Alice [Snedden] and I did our show to eight people! That’s 58 spare seats! I had … 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