Why I only saw women at this year’s comedy festival

Sam Brooks explains his decision to cut all men out of his comedy festival diet. Yeah, that’s a clickbaity headline. The fact is, this year I saw a fraction of the comedy festival shows I usually see. Last year, when I was the comedy editor here at The Spinoff, I saw 42 and reviewed almost … Read more

That’s a wrap! Comedy editors Sam and Natasha look back at this year’s Comedy Festival

The NZ International Comedy Festival is over for another year, and so our two Comedy co-editors Sam Brooks and Natasha Hoyland take their final bows. Read on for their farewell messages. Natasha Hoyland What a crazy, incredible, exhausting time the festival always is! I always end up so completely knackered that I almost fall asleep … Read more

What does The Billy T Award mean in 2017?

Spinoff Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks takes a look at the recent history of the Billy T Award, what felt different about this year’s nominees, and what that means for New Zealand’s comedy industry as a whole. There was a Moonlight/La La Land joke when it came time to announce the Billy T. It wasn’t funny. … Read more

‘I don’t leave the door open for bullshit to come in’: A conversation with Urzila Carlson

Urzila Carlson is straight up the biggest comedian in the country today. Spinoff Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks talks to her about how she got so good at being funny. Sam Brooks: So you’re fucking excellent. Urzila Carlson: Thank you! How are you as good as you are? It’s like… you’re so good. Thank you. I dunno, … Read more

The Brooks Awards: Sam Brooks hands out his very serious Comedy Fest gongs

There’s the Billy T Award, there’s the Fred Award… and now there’s Spinoff Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks’ completely biased Comedy Festival awards. I saw 40 shows in the festival. That’s just over one third of all the shows, which seems like simultaneously too many shows and nowhere near enough. Best Show That Should’ve Been At … Read more

The Laugh-Off’s fourth and final episode: the wrap up

The NZ International Comedy Festival has come to an end for 2017 and emotions are running high. The fourth and final episode of our comedy festival podcast sees actor, writer and comedy expert Chelsea McEwan Millar joined by Spinoff comedy co-editors Sam Brooks and Natasha Hoyland as they emotionally wrap up the final week of the NZ … Read more

If women aren’t funny, how come they took out all the awards at Last Laughs?

For years New Zealand comedy has – with some notable exceptions – had a reputation as something of a boys’ club. Last night its three key awards were all won by women for the first time. Natasha Hoyland, a young comedian herself, describes how that moment felt. When they announced Rose Matafeo as the winner … Read more

‘Performing to 50 women and 10 men is the ideal ratio’: Rose Matafeo on making award-winning comedy

Rose Matafeo won the Fred Award last night. It’s New Zealand’s most prestigious comedy award, along with the Billy T Award (which she has also won). Sam Brooks talks to her about her comedy, life overseas, and their shared passion for musical flop Nine. I’m going to be straight up here and say that I love … Read more

Comedy Festival reviews: Louise Beuvink and Joel Creasey impress, while two Billy T nominees fall short.

Sam Brooks roars into the third week with two of this year’s Billy T nominees, an impressive hour from local comedian Louise Beuvink, and a great one from Australian Joel Creasey. Louise Beuvink: Ladylike: A Modern Day Guide To Etiquette Right off the bat, Louise Beuvink gets points for using a Madonna mic. Death to … Read more

The Spinoff’s Comedy Fest Diary, Week 3: ‘My brain is broken’

Just as the biggest annual event in NZ comedy was getting underway, Spinoff Comedy co-editor Natasha Hoyland ended up in hospital. But now she’s back and raring to go – in time for the festival to enter the home straight. I’m back! I’m alive! And I can tell you right now, it’s so good to … Read more

Raw Comedy finalist Uther Dean on why it’s a raw deal for comedy rookies

Uther Dean is a finalist in tonight’s Raw Comedy Quest Grand Final at Q Theatre – and he’s terrified. He explains why that is, and why there’s a big problem with stand-up comedy that nobody talks about. There is one big problem at the very heart of stand-up comedy. That problem is everyone. Everyone is … Read more

Comedy Festival: Alice Snedden comes out swinging, Paul Williams makes a mark, and Eli Matthewson gets deeper and darker

Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks starts week three of the festival with a three-show ripper. Alice Snedden kills her first hour, Paul Williams makes a name for himself, and Eli Matthewson only gets better. Alice Snedden: Self-Titled It can take years for comedians to find their feet. Stand-up comedy is an artform of trial-and-error as much … Read more

Comedians tell us what they hate more than anything else in the world (WATCH)

“I can’t believe I’m saying this but, that’s just how outrageous I am!” The fourth instalment of our video series Comedians Answer Our Questions is here! Featuring a number of funny people appearing in this year’s NZ International Comedy Festival, this time comedians tell us about the things they hate more than anything else in … Read more

Sam Brooks on Dialogue: Identity and why you should absolutely come see it

Dialogue: Identity, proudly supported by The Spinoff, is a one-off storytelling event at Q Theatre this Friday, May 19. One of the performers, Sam Brooks (who also happens to be our Comedy co-editor), introduces the show here. By now I’ve been in two workshops for the storytelling show Dialogue: Identity, which is the latest in … Read more

Should a comedy show actually make you feel things? Brendon Green says yes

Brendon Green’s shows have a tendency to make people laugh, but also make them cry. He explains why that is, and why it’s actually okay. Twenty minutes into the Thursday night show of my Wellington season, during a pause, an audience member called out “I thought this was a comedy show!” It got a laugh. … Read more

The Laugh-Off’s third episode, and we’re starting to lose our minds

It’s the end of the second week of the Comedy Festival, the third episode of The Laugh-Off podcast and the day we lose it. The third episode of our comedy festival podcast sees actor, writer and comedy expert Chelsea McEwan Millar, comedy editor Sam Brooks and performer Jess Brien attempt to keep things together as … Read more

The Spinoff Reviews New Zealand #19: Two Hearts

Duncan Greive watches Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore weave sketch comedy songs and new material into a choreographed, heavily produced pop powerhouse. The line between perfect pop and its parody is incredibly thin. Joseph Moore, one half of Two Hearts, the fake band currently playing Q Theatre, knows this well enough to argue persuasively in … 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

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

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

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