Latest news with #JustineSmith
Scoop
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
The Quest Is On To Find Wellington's Next Comedy Stars
The capital's premier open mic comedy competition, the Wellington Raw Comedy Quest, returns for 2025. A stepping stone for many New Zealand comedians, the Raw Comedy Quest offers the chance to witness the rising stars in stand-up comedy before they hit the big time. The first heat kicks off in Wellington on 3 July at Fringe Bar, MC'd by 2020 Quest finalist and 2025 Billy T nominee Lesa Macleod-Whiting. Subsequent heats will follow every Thursday from 10 July – 7 August at Fringe Bar. The top comedians from each week will go head to head at the semifinals on 13 & 20 August, before the Wellington final takes place on 29 August at Hannah Playhouse, with MC Justine Smith. The Wellington Raw Comedy Quest is held annually by the Humorous Arts Trust, who will be celebrating 15 years of supporting local comedy this August. This year also marks the 15th year Humorous Arts have run Wellington Raw. Over this time, many winners and finalists have gone on to carve out successful careers in comedy. Last year's winner, Liv Ward, went on to become a finalist in the National Raw Comedy Quest, before also taking out Wellington's Best Newcomer at the NZ Comedy Festival this year. 2022 winner Hoani Hotene, who first kicked off his comedy career with Humorous Arts Trust's Raw Meat Monday (Wellington's longest-running open mic comedy night), became the coveted 2025 Billy T Award winner. They aren't the only successes to come out of Pōneke from the Comedy Quest, with other winners including the likes of Janaye Henry, Maria Williams, Gabby Anderson and Orin Ruaine-Prattley. "The Raw Quest is a real highlight of my year, I can't wait to see the next generation of Kiwi comics succeed and bring more great laughs to the capital" , says Humorous Arts Trust co-founder and comedian Jerome Chandrahasen. To enter the Wellington Raw Comedy Quest all you need is 6 minutes of original material, and the guts to give it a go. To enter, just contact contact@ The Wellington winner and runner up are flown to Auckland to compete in the National Raw Comedy Quest final at The Classic later in the year, on Saturday 25th October. Wellington Raw Comedy Quest is sponsored by KiwiTicket Ltd and is supported by the Wellington City Council. WELLINGTON RAW COMEDY QUEST First Heat Thursday 3 July, Fringe Bar MCd by Lesa Macleod-Whiting Heats Thursday 10, 17, 24, 31 July & 7 August, Fringe Bar Semifinals Wednesday 13 & 20 August, Fringe Bar Final Friday 29 August, Hannah Playhouse
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
B*tch Better Have My Funny: The Queens Of Comedy Hit The NZ Comedy Fest
Press Release – Elephant Publicity One of NZs greatest stand up comedians, the evening will also feature award-winning comedian Justine Smith. Justine is much-loved from her stints on 7 Days and Taskmaster. The NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo is now in full swing, and the laughs just keep coming. The New Zealand Comedy Trust is thrilled to announce B*TCH Better Have My Funny, a night packed with great comedians, great vibes and a line-up that delivers hit after hit. Join Kiwi comedy legend Michèle A'Court as host on Saturday 17 May at Q Theatre, for this incredible line-up of pure entertainment – fast, funny, and full of energy. Host Michèle A'Court is a 2023 ONZM recipient, and winner of Female Comedian of the Decade at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards in 2010 and the 2015 Reilly Award for Excellence in Comedy. Michele has performed around the world, including in Canada, the UK, Australia, Papua New Guinea and East Timor. With her work on stage, screen and radio, Michèle is truly one of our country's best comedians. She'll be joined by this year's Best Foods Comedy Gala host, Hayley Sproull. Multi-talented comedy sensation, audiences will recognise her as co-host of ZM's Fletch, Vaughan & Hayley Breakfast Show, winner of Taskmaster season 5 and host of The Great Kiwi Bake Off. One of NZ's greatest stand up comedians, the evening will also feature award-winning comedian Justine Smith. Justine is much-loved from her stints on 7 Days and Taskmaster. She also hosted the Best Foods Comedy Gala in 2021, won the Billy T Award in 2003 and has won the NZ Comedy Guild's Best Female Comedian four times. Rounding out the first comedians on the bill is Courtney Dawson, winner of Best Newcomer at the 2024 fest. Since kicking off her comedy career in 2019 she's won the Raw Comedy Quest, starred in Celebrity Treasure Island, Paddy Gower Has Issues and Have You Been Paying Attention?, and hosted the 2024 Comedy Mixtape. The international pay gap is still sitting at 23%. If you're a teacher, nurse, midwife, healthcare worker, caregiver, early childhood, social worker, youth worker, probation officer, corrections psychologist, or anyone else impacted by the Pay Equity Amendment Bill passed under urgency this week, then the New Zealand Comedy Trust are offering 23% off your ticket. With more names still to be announced, come for the punchlines, stay for the party. It's the comedy show you'll be talking about on Sunday. The 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo runs from 2 – 25 May. The full programme is available now at Content Sourced from Original url
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Kāpiti Get Ready – NZ Comedy Fest Is Back In Town For One Night Only This May
Back for the third year, the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo returns to Kāpiti for the one night with a bite-sized comedy show packed with top-tier talent and guaranteed laughs. Don't miss the chance to catch some of Aotearoa's best comedians on the coast, with Comedy Fest at Kāpiti, on Saturday 10 May at Te Raukura ki Kāpiti. The evening will be hosted by one of Wellington's favourite comedians, MC and comedy producer Jerome Chandrahasen. A regular performer at the NZ Comedy Fest, he's performed at the Best Foods Comedy Gala, The Comedy Mixtape and performs and has taken his shows to the Edinburgh Fringe, NZ Fringe, and even a nice little pub in Kāpiti. One of NZ's great stand up comedians, the evening will feature award-winning comedian Justine Smith. Justine is much-loved from her stints on 7 Days and Taskmaster. She also hosted the Best Foods Comedy Gala in 2021, won the Billy T Award in 2003 and has won the NZ Comedy Guild's Best Female Comedian four times. 2024 Topp Prize winner James Nokise comes home to join the line-up. A multi-talented comedian, playwright, columnist, podcaster, theatre maker, and social commentator, James has been making audiences laugh for over twenty years. Known for his critically acclaimed RNZ podcast Eating Fried Chicken in the Shower, he's also taken out the Fred Award in 2019 and has performed across the globe. Joining them is Sera Devcich, a stand-up comedian known for her razor-sharp observations and no-nonsense approach. Drawing from real life, Sera delivers bold, relatable comedy with confidence and punch. She's performed at the Comedy Gala, appeared on 7 Days, and toured with some of Aotearoa's comedy legends, including Ben Hurley and Paul Ego. Also joining the lineup is Dan Boerman, originally from the Wairarapa he's now based in Scotland. Dan returns to Aotearoa following a packed-out debut at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe, where his observational, high-energy, and chaotic humour made a lasting impression. Most recently, he stopped traffic—literally—drawing hundreds to Wellington's Cuba Street with a live performance of him folding a fitted sheet. 'Kāpiti knows how to turn it on — every year the laughs get louder and the crowds get bigger! We're bringing a power-packed lineup for one unforgettable night of comedy on the coast. If you've ever needed an excuse for a great night out, this is it. Don't miss the chance to see some of the country's sharpest comedy minds in action!' says the Festival's Chief Executive, Lauren Whitney.
