The Comedy Fest is back and nothing helps give insight to where a culture presently is quite as perfectly as comedy. What is allowed to be joked about and what we consider humourless are all experimented upon in real time on a stage. There are at times nothing quite so dangerous as comedians.
The current micro aggression policing wokeness that has spread through the culture has invariably amputated some comedy and there are plenty of shows where you will actively wonder how much of this is a comedy gig and how much a twitter rant by a vegan gender binary activist feminists collective. There seem to be some shows where everyone will need to sign an affidavit allowing consensual jokes with agreed laughter but there are still some gigs that have kept their edginess and are worth support.
Here are TDBs picks for 2019.
5 Star Comedy Preview
Always the best preview show, and you aren’t locked in like hostages to the big gala event. It’s already sold out and there are only single tickets left so you should move to grab a seat now. This year they have the very funny Ian Smith, Lauren Pattison, Phil Nichol, Paul Sinha, Alistair Barrie, Tom Houghton, Brennan Reece and Chris Henry from Scotland.
A BARD’S TALE – THE GREATEST PLAYS SHAKESPEARE NEVER WROTE
I’m always a sucker for Shakespeare related humour so I’m always going to watch comedy that sends up the Bard.
BEC SANDYS, BROOKE WEST & AUDREY PORNE – ROLE MODELS
This looks hilarious and Audrey Porne is very funny on Twitter.
THE BIG SHOW 2019 – AUCKLAND AN INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE
Amazing line up – Alistair Barrie (UK), Eleanor Tiernan (Ire), Tom Houghton (UK), Brennan Reece (UK), and Chris Henry (Scot).
DIALOGUE MATTERS – HOSTED BY PAX ASSADI
this will probably be the most important and serious gig of the festival, comedians discussing the most important issues of the day, could be hilarious or it could be timid and frightened shivering in the corner.
FRICKIN DANGEROUS BRO – LEGACY
Easily one of the best talents in the festival.
UTHER DEAN – ‘ELEVATION’
A cynical take on millennial culture. I’m in.
MELANIE BRACEWELL – THE RUMOURS ARE TRUE
Always a stand out comedian and under rated. Never bad show.
NO HOLDS BARRED COMEDY BATTLES
Looks like it is based on the comedy roast battles, this will be an interesting night to see how offensive NZ comedians are allowed to be.
RONNY CHIENG – TONE ISSUES TOUR
He works on The Daily Show. You have to go.
