Taken outside of Q Theatre in Auckland, during the 2015 NZ International Comedy Festival.
The New Zealand International Comedy Festival (NZICF; sometimes the NZ Intl Comedy Fest) is a comedy festival in both Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, run by the New Zealand Comedy Trust and held across three weeks during April and May.[1] From its beginnings in 1993 as a 2-day event, the festival has developed into a major nationwide event with a total attendance of over 100,000 people each year.
Main events
Each year the Festival features over 200 shows and involves around 250 performers. The Festival contains a wide range of comedy performances – from emerging artists through to NZ comedy industry veterans and stars of the international comedy circuit.
Similarly, the Festival caters for a wide range of audiences with specific shows aimed at children and teenagers, and a diverse offering of comedy fare.
Alongside the large number of local and international shows, there are a number of events held annually such as the Class Comedians programme. This is an initiative set up to train talented high school students in the art of stand-up comedy and ends with a showcase at Q Theatre. Its most successful graduate is Rose Matafeo. The RAW rookie competition is also held every year, with the national finals at The Classic Comedy and Bar in Auckland.[2]
Last Laughs!
To conclude the festival is the Last Laughs! awards showcase, held on the last Sunday. It is the last chance for the nominees for the Billy T Award and Fred Award to perform before the winners are announced at the end of the show. Other festival prizes awarded at Last Laughs include: Best International Show, Best Local Show, Best Newcomer, Best Marketing Campaign, and Spirit of the Festival.
