Look, I get it—the months are getting colder and historically that triggers a city-wide slow ghost into hibernation, unless something utterly magical can entice us away from the comforts of the couch. Well, our favourite comedy festival sponsored by a jar of mayo is coming and it's packed with a helluva lot of creative flexes as comedians from here and abroad strut their stuff across theatres and venues up and down the motu from 2 'til 25 May.
Get ready for three weeks of laughs, panicked attempts to avoid audience participation, questionable heckles and clapping 'til you question whether you actually still have hands.
Not sure where to start? Scroll for the Urban List edit of shows you simply must hit in the 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival With Best Foods Mayo.
Best Foods Comedy Gala
2 May, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland | 3 May, The Opera House, Wellington | $59-139
Set the scene with the Best Foods Comedy Gala, which just so happens to be the official opening of the festival. Hosted by Hayley Sproull, you'll get a taste of what's to come, featuring the likes of countless local and international comedians including Felicity Ward, Tape Face, Eli Matthewson, Chopper, Josh Thomson and more. If you're new to the festival or you're just not sure what your vibe is, the Gala's essential-viewing to help you suss out your faves.
Billy T Award Nominees
Various
The thing I love most about the NZ International Comedy Festival (aside from the fact it's sponsored by mayonnaise) is the way it holds space for fresh new talent in the form of Billy T Award nominees. This year's contenders? Hoani Hotene, Lesa MacLeod-Whiting, David Stuart, Booth the Clown & Jak Darling, and Itay Dom. And in case you didn't know, Billy T Awards are a really big deal with previous winners including Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Rose Matafeo, Dai Henwood, Melanie Bracewell and Abby Howells.
Welcome To My Dream
6-10 May BATS Theatre, Wellington | 13-17 May Basement Theatre, Auckland | $28-40
Image credit: Abby Howells | Andi Crown
Speaking of, 2023 Billy T Award winner Abby Howells, is performing with her solo show Welcome To My Dream, a soliloqy on life as a full time comedian in the big smoke of Tāmaki Makaurau. If you've seen her in Taskmaster Season 5, you'll know you're guaranteed a great time.
Top tip: The Saturday 5pm Auckland performance will include NZSL interpretation by Platform Interpreting NZ.
Sweetie
6-10 May, BATS Theatre, Wellington | 13-17 May, Basement Theatre, Auckland | $25-30
I was going to whip up a pithy blurb for this one but, really, there's nothing for it but to report verbatim the show's own description: "After one tumultous month in Melbourne in 2024, Joanna Cosgrove returned to NZ no longer straight and, after a family secret was unearthed, no longer as white as she once thought she was." See what I mean? Just get tickets to Sweetie, rn.
And if she's looking familiar, that's because Johanna Cosgrove's the star of THREE's Madam and it just so happens that her co-stars and co-creator are also in the festival: Donna Brookbanks, Florence Hartigan, Barnie Duncan, Shoshana McCallum.
This Is Going To Hurt: Secret Diaries Of A Junior Doctor
12 & 13 May, Bruce Mason Theatre, Auckland | 14 & 17 May, The Opera House, Wellington | $69.90
Frothed Grey's Anatomy and House back in the day? If doctors do it for you, you're going to want in on This Is Going To Hurt (spoiler alert: It won't!). Created by real life doctor-turned-BAFTA-award-winning comedian Adam Kay, the show dials into the nitty gritty of life on and off the hospital wards. Described oh so visually as "continence-endangering", there's only one thing left to say: This show's exactly what the doctor ordered. (I won't be apologising.)
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Requiem For Year 13
13-17 May Basement Theatre, Auckland | $23-28
Image credit: Liv Parker | supplied
Hot on the heels of her award-winning 'werewolves, vampires and harry styles' solo debut, Liv Parker is back to raise the bar even higher with her signature smart, relatable, side-splitting comedy. Her muse this time? High school. Yep, Requiem For Year 13 is far too close to home and that's exactly why you'll see us there.
Sudden Death
13-17 May, The Classic, Auckland | $28-32
We're getting Scottish comedy royalty—make way for Scottish Comedian of the Year, Rosco McClelland who's making his Aotearoa debut this year with Sudden Death. Shortlisted for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow award in 2024, Rosco's show is sure to be a hoot, or—at the very least—a beguilling sound bath.
Dogbar Bigdreams
14 May, Basement Theatre, Auckland | $24-27
Cult-classic Live Reel will take their rightful place in Basement Theatre's theatre space for an NZ International Comedy Fest special, Dogbar Bigdreams, where host Nicky Vella and six hugely talented comedians will perform Coyote Ugly completely from memory, in 60 minutes. This is awe-inspiring improv. Just go.
The Immortal Legacy Of Me
14-17 May Te Auaha - Tapere Iti, Wellington | 20-24 May, Q Theatre, Auckland | $20-26.50
Image credit: David Stuart | Megan Goldsman Photography
Self described as a "criminally unappreciated international cultural icon" (and I'm inclined to agree), I first saw David Stuart when I ushered for his show 'Good Breeding' at Basement Theatre last year and I'm going to go all-out and call it an utter sensation. Naturally, The Immortal Legacy Of Me will be just as exceptional.
On The Shoulders Of Giants
15-17 May, Basement Theatre, Auckland | $22-26
Bailey Poching and Anthony Crum are joining forces for a show they're promising will have "the confidence and pizazz of ten confident and pizazzy men." If that sounds like a bit of you (it does) you'll want to hightail it to On The Shoulders Of Giants where you'll get an education in comedy and success.
You Can't Say That
15-17 May, Q Theatre, Auckland | $26.50
Image credit: Anisa Nandaula | supplied
Shoutout to the time Anisa Nandaula arrived in Queensland expecting to find a multicultural paradise but instead found a whole lot of cows. Relatable. Anisa will be spinning similar yarns while navigating the complexities of being a Black girl in Australia and relationships to her new home, Uganda, all delivered with the sharpest of wit.
Pure Mature
16 May, Q Theatre, Auckland | $30-35
The icon from Celebrity Treasure Island, Taskmaster and, of course, *that Turners ad,*Bubbah is slingin' her solo show Pure Mature where she'll riff on the trials and tribulations of being the eldest grandchild.
Surblibor Season 3
17 May, Q Theatre, Auckland | $35
If you notice uncanny similarities between this gag and a certain tv show, you're one smart cookie. Hosted by Rhys Mathewson, Surblibor Season 3 will see 10 comedians battle to the death it out for $1000 in cold, hard cash. Prepare for shameless backstabbing, dramatic immunity challenges and more twists than a packet of twisties. And if you dig this, you'll definitely want to check out Rhys Mathewson's solo show, Time Trial, too.
Wife Guys
17 May, Basement Theatre, Auckland | $20-26
If you've been perusing this list gagging for a comedy drag show hybrid, settle petal—you just found it. In Wife Guys, female and non-binary comedians will do sets as male comedians and you know they'll be holding nothing back.
An Idiot's Guide To Wine
17 May, Auckland Town Hall | 18 May, Naumi Hotel, Wellington | $65-75
Keen for a comedy show that doubles as a wine-tasting? Don't answer that—it's rhetorical. Of course you're down. Art and wine? It's surely the Urban List dream. Qualified wine specialist and comedian, Merrick Watts, is bringing two favourite Kiwi pasttimes together in An Idiot's Guide To Wine where Mez is somehow both the wine expert and the idiot and will guide you through a wine tasting journey that's sure to be chaotic AF.
Want more fun things to do? Check out
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Main image credit: Joanna Cosgrove | supplied.