MELANIE BRACEWELL - DILLY DALLYING [2026 NZ INTL COMEDY FEST]

I'll get around to writing a proper bio for this show later but I'm in the middle of a sudoku. Can you just put something like "Melanie Bracewell is back with a brand-new hour about returning to unfinished things later in life. With rave reviews and multiple awards under her belt you don't want to miss it."

Melanie Bracewell has a rare ability to take the everyday frustrations of adult life and turn them into something bright, sharp, and genuinely joyful. In Dilly Dallying, she leans fully into that strength, delivering a show that is tightly structured, full of energy, and packed with the kind of callbacks that remind you just how carefully crafted her comedy really is.

From the moment she steps onstage, Melanie radiates confidence. Not the loud, chest‑puffed‑out kind, but the kind that comes from someone who knows exactly how to control a room. She moves with purpose, gestures with precision, and keeps the audience buzzing with a level of physicality that elevates even the simplest joke. Her energy is infectious, and it sets the tone for an hour that feels both polished and delightfully loose.

One of the first things you notice is how well-structured the show is. Melanie does not rely on rambling anecdotes or loose improvisation. Every story has a purpose, every detail is planted for a reason, and every joke feels like it belongs to a larger design. The callbacks are constant and clever. Just when you think she has moved on to a completely unrelated topic, she finds a way to loop it back to something from earlier in the show. That moment of recognition hits the audience like a wave, and the laughter that follows is explosive. It is the kind of comedic craftsmanship that only comes from someone who has spent years honing their timing.

Her crowd work is minimal, but when she does engage, she does it with creativity. The air-dropping bit in particular is a standout. It is playful, unexpected, and perfectly suited to her style. She never relies on the audience to carry the show, but she knows how to use them to heighten a moment without losing control of the narrative.

What makes Dilly Dallying so relatable is the subject matter. Melanie does not try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, she digs into the small annoyances and quiet joys that make up adult life. Business class flights. Neighbourhood disputes over recycling bins. The perfect comeback that arrives hours too late to be useful. These are not groundbreaking topics, but Melanie’s delivery makes them feel fresh. She has a way of capturing the exact emotional truth of a situation, then twisting it just enough to make it hilarious.

There is also a refreshing lack of self-deprecation in her material. She does not tear herself down for laughs, nor does she lean into political commentary. Instead, she focuses on observational humour delivered with confidence and humility. She enjoys what she does, and that enjoyment radiates through the room. It is rare to see a comedian who can be this funny without resorting to cynicism or bitterness.

The overarching theme of the show is, unsurprisingly, dilly dallying. Melanie talks about being in her thirties and feeling the pressure from society to hurry up and tick off the milestones. Marriage. Children. Settling down. Doing the things. But instead of treating dilly dallying as a flaw, she reframes it as something that has shaped her life in positive ways. She talks about the joy of taking your time, the value of small detours, and the unexpected benefits of not rushing into things just because everyone else thinks you should.

This theme becomes especially poignant when she discusses love. Melanie reflects on how finding love too early can sometimes mean losing it before you are ready to hold onto it. She talks about timing, growth, and the strange way life unfolds when you give yourself permission to slow down. It is sweet without being saccharine, thoughtful without being heavy, and it ties the entire show together beautifully.

One of the most impressive things about Dilly Dallying is Melanie’s ability to keep a joke going long after you think it has reached its natural end. She jumps in unexpected directions, adds new layers, and finds fresh angles that keep the audience laughing even as they think they know where the punchline is heading. It is a testament to her skill as a writer and performer. She understands rhythm, she understands surprise, and she understands how to build a joke into something bigger than it first appears.

Her physicality is another highlight. Melanie gestures with purpose, using her whole body to sell a moment. Whether she is reenacting a petty argument with a neighbour or demonstrating the ridiculousness of a flight upgrade, her movements amplify the humour. It is expressive in a way that makes the jokes land harder without ever feeling over the top.

There is also a sense of humility that runs through the show. Melanie never positions herself as the hero or the victim of her stories. She is simply a person navigating the strange, often inconvenient world of adulthood. That relatability is what makes the show feel so grounded. She is not trying to impress the audience. She is trying to connect with them.

The pacing is tight, the transitions are smooth, and the overall structure is one of the strongest elements of the show. You can feel the planning behind it, but it never feels rigid. It feels like a comedian at the top of her game, confident enough to trust her material and skilled enough to execute it flawlessly.

By the end of the hour, Dilly Dallying feels like a celebration of taking your time. It is a reminder that life does not need to be rushed, that joy can be found in the small inconveniences and unexpected detours, and that sometimes the best things happen when you let yourself wander a little.

It is cute. It is clever. It is incredibly solid work from a comedian who knows exactly how to craft a show that feels both effortless and meticulously designed.

The show is part of the NZ International Comedy Festival. Find tickets to a show near you here

Review written by Alex Moulton

LILY CATASTROPHE - LITTLE SISTER [2026 NZ INTL COMEDY FEST]

Lily Catastrophe is scared she might be kind of basic. Trans comedian Lily Catastrophe brings her signature puckish energy and high femme aesthetic to her anxieties from growing up queer to life in her 30s. Lily tackles the questions that have plagued her surprisingly long existence: how do baseball innings work, what even is a Cool Girl, and can she ever step out of the role of the perennial Little Sister?

By the time I reached Basement Theatre for Lily Catastrophe’s Little Sister, my brain felt like it had been through a spin cycle. After weeks of festival shows and too many late nights, a 9.30pm slot suddenly felt like a personal attack. I must be getting old. But even in my slightly fried state, it was clear that a lot of the audience was buzzing for this one. And to be fair, this is a show that speaks directly to a particular crowd. If you are trans femme, queer, or have ever tried to navigate the world while figuring out your own identity, Lily’s work hits with a level of relatability that is hard to ignore.

Little Sister marks Lily Catastrophe’s return to the Comedy Festival after the success of her debut, Bottom Surgery, and she arrives with the same high femme aesthetic and puckish energy that made her stand out in the first place. This new show digs into her anxieties, her frustrations, and the strange mix of joy and chaos that comes with growing up queer and reaching your thirties with more questions than answers.

The opening of the show is one of its strongest moments. Lily taps into the current emotional climate for trans people with a sharpness that feels both cathartic and necessary. There is a collective exhale in the room as she names feelings many have been carrying quietly. It is not heavy, but it is honest, and that honesty becomes the backbone of the entire hour.

From there, Lily guides the audience through a series of transitions. Not just gender transitions, but the transitions that shape a life. High school to adulthood. Son to daughter. Social expectations to self acceptance. And, of course, the side quests that come with all of that. She has a knack for layering punchlines so that they land differently depending on where you sit in your own journey. Some jokes hit with recognition, others with surprise, and some with the kind of delayed resonance that makes you laugh and then think.

Her reflections on sexuality are delivered with nuance and a refreshing lack of pretence. Lily is not trying to present herself as a polished authority on queer identity. Instead, she speaks from the messy middle, where labels shift, desires evolve, and self-understanding is a moving target. She talks about relationships with a mix of vulnerability and sharp observation, capturing the awkwardness, the confusion, and the joy of figuring out who you are attracted to and why.

One of the funniest parts of the show is her commentary on body image, particularly her reflections on boob sizes. Even as someone who is not trans femme, I found myself nodding along. Double D really is too much boob and too much flesh. Lily’s ability to make these moments accessible without diluting their specificity is one of her strengths. She knows how to bring the room in without flattening her own experience.

The show’s title, Little Sister, becomes a recurring theme. Lily explores what it means to be seen as the perpetual younger sibling, the one who is always catching up, always trying to prove something, always trying to be taken seriously. She ties this into her broader anxieties about adulthood, queerness, and the pressure to present as a Cool Girl when she is not entirely sure what that even means. The result is a narrative that feels both personal and widely relatable.

Lily’s stage presence is confident but never overbearing. She has a conversational rhythm that makes the audience feel like they are being let in on something private. Her vulnerability is not performative. It is simply part of how she communicates. She is candid about her fears, her frustrations, and her insecurities, but she never lets the show sink into self-pity. Instead, she uses humour as a way to navigate those feelings, inviting the audience to laugh with her rather than at her.

Her comedic timing is sharp, and she knows how to build tension before releasing it with a perfectly placed punchline. There are moments where she leans into absurdity, moments where she leans into sincerity, and moments where she blends the two so seamlessly that the audience is laughing before they realise the emotional weight behind the joke.

The show is not without its imperfections. There are sections where the pacing dips slightly, particularly when Lily dives into longer stories that take a while to reach their comedic payoff. But even in those slower moments, her charm carries the room. She has a natural ability to keep people engaged, even when the narrative meanders.

What stands out most about Little Sister is the connection Lily builds with her audience. She speaks to a community that often feels unseen or misunderstood, and she does it with warmth, humour, and a refreshing lack of pretence. For trans femme audience members, the show feels like a mirror. For everyone else, it offers insight into experiences that are rarely explored with this level of nuance on a comedy stage.

The promoter’s description frames Lily as someone who is scared she might be kind of basic, and she plays with that idea throughout the show. She pokes fun at her own anxieties, her own contradictions, and her own attempts to fit into roles she never asked for. It is self-aware without being self-indulgent.

By the end of the hour, Little Sister feels like a thoughtful, funny, and emotionally grounded exploration of identity. It is not the kind of comedy that relies on big physical gags or rapid-fire punchlines. It is comedy built from introspection, from lived experience, and from the strange, often hilarious process of becoming yourself.

For me, it was not the most personally resonant show of the festival. But the audience around me loved it, and it is easy to see why. Lily Catastrophe has crafted a work that speaks directly to the people who need it most, and she does it with intelligence, vulnerability, and a wicked sense of humour.

Little Sister earns a solid four out of five. It is heartfelt, insightful, and delivered with a voice that feels both distinct and necessary.

The show is part of the NZ International Comedy Festival. Find tickets to a show near you here

Review written by Josh McNally

Edited by Alex Moulton

OPETI VAKA - I LOVE MY MUM [2026 NZ INTL COMEDY FEST]

Mums are the most under-valued people in our society. They do everything!! cook, clean, hold the family together, raise the kids, work jobs, run errands and they still don’t get the praise they deserve. The truth is, without mums none of us would even be here… literally.

Opeti Vaka steps onto the stage with the kind of presence that feels instantly familiar to a Kiwi audience. There is no theatrical buildup, no dramatic entrance, and no attempt to inflate himself into something larger than life. Instead, he arrives with a grounded, easy confidence that signals exactly what the next hour will be. I Love My Mum is not a show built on gimmicks. It is built on lived experience, cultural truth, and the kind of humour that only comes from surviving chaos with people you love.

The title might suggest something sentimental, but the show quickly reveals a sharper edge. Vaka’s material is deeply personal, shaped by his upbringing in a mixed Māori, Irish, and Tongan household where money was tight, discipline was unpredictable, and affection was expressed through sacrifice rather than soft words. He talks about growing up in a single-income home, watching his mum stretch every dollar, and only realising as an adult how much she carried on her shoulders. The comedy lands because it is rooted in truth, and the sincerity behind it gives the show its emotional weight.

Vaka is not a punchline machine. He is a storyteller. His style feels like listening to an uncle at a family barbecue who starts with one simple memory and somehow ends up weaving a story that gets funnier the longer it goes on. He paints vivid scenes of childhood: hand-me-down clothes, crowded living rooms, chaotic family gatherings, and the kind of discipline that could be triggered by something your sibling definitely did but you somehow got blamed for. The audience laughs because they recognise the patterns, even if their own families looked different.

His Tongan heritage becomes a major source of comedy, but never in a way that feels cheap or stereotypical. The jokes come from observation, affection, and lived experience. He talks about the intensity of Tongan mums, the expectations placed on boys, the cultural contradictions, and the way love is expressed through food, sacrifice, and the occasional terrifying glare. He balances this with reflections on Māori and Irish influences in his upbringing, comparing temperaments, parenting styles, and the different flavours of chaos each culture brought into his home.

One of the strongest recurring themes is the contradiction between strict parenting and unconditional love. Vaka captures the fear many Polynesian kids know well, where a single look from your mother could ruin your entire day. But he also highlights the sacrifices behind that sternness. The long hours. The quiet resilience. The way parents shield their children from the worst of life while carrying the weight themselves. The show never becomes heavy, but the emotional truth sits just beneath the surface.

The official festival description calls the show bold, self-aware, and packed with big laughs, centred around the idea that no matter how far you stray or how much you stuff up, there is no love quite like your mum’s. That description is accurate. The show is funny, but it is also a tribute to the people who hold families together through sheer force of will.

What makes Vaka’s approach so effective is that he never stops the show for a dramatic monologue. The heartfelt moments arrive naturally, tucked between jokes. One minute, the audience is laughing about cheap dinners or chaotic family discipline, and the next, there is a quiet shift where everyone recognises the reality behind the humour. He trusts the audience to understand the emotional layers without needing to spell them out.

His crowd work is another highlight. Vaka interacts with the audience in a way that feels relaxed and conversational rather than disruptive. He asks questions, reacts to responses, and folds people into the show without losing momentum. There is a looseness to his performance style that suits the material perfectly. Even when a story is clearly rehearsed, he delivers it with the rhythm of someone reliving the memory in real time.

The pacing occasionally wanders, especially during longer stories that could be tightened for sharper comedic impact. Some punchlines arrive a little later than they need to, and there are moments where the audience is unsure whether a story is building toward a joke or a reflection. But even these slower sections contribute to the show’s charm. They reinforce the feeling that Vaka is not performing for the audience. He is talking with them.

What sets Vaka apart from many comedians covering similar territory is his lack of cynicism. Modern stand-up often leans into bitterness or irony, but I Love My Mum is warm without being soft. Vaka clearly loves the people he talks about, even when describing dysfunction or hardship. That warmth gives the audience permission to laugh at difficult experiences without feeling cruel.

The show also reflects something important about contemporary New Zealand comedy. Some of the strongest voices emerging right now come from multicultural backgrounds, telling stories that reflect modern Aotearoa more honestly than traditional mainstream comedy ever did. Vaka’s material feels distinctly Kiwi and distinctly Polynesian at the same time, blending both identities naturally rather than treating them as separate worlds.

There is also something refreshing about how unpolished parts of the performance remain. Bigger comedians sometimes lose the rawness that made them compelling, but Vaka still performs with the hunger and honesty of someone who genuinely wants the audience to understand where he came from. The laughs feel earned because the stories feel lived in.

By the end of the show, the title I Love My Mum no longer feels simple. It becomes the perfect summary for a performance that is ultimately about gratitude. Gratitude for struggle, for culture, for family, and for the people who quietly carry others through life without recognition. Vaka honours his upbringing without romanticising poverty or hardship, which is a difficult balance to strike.

For those who grew up in large Polynesian or mixed culture households, the show will feel deeply familiar. For everyone else, it offers a funny and heartfelt glimpse into a world shaped by resilience, humour, and strong family bonds. Either way, the result is the same: consistent laughs, genuine emotion, and a comedian who feels like he is only just beginning to hit his stride.

I Love My Mum is more than a comedy show about childhood memories. It is a celebration of the women who hold families together, wrapped inside sharp storytelling and unmistakably Kiwi humour.

The show is part of the NZ International Comedy Festival. Find tickets to a show near you here

Review written by Jack Kemp

Edited by Alex Moulton

LASER KIWI - EVERYBODY KNOWS [2026 NZ INTL COMEDY FEST]

Buckle up for a wild ride in this visual, audial and conceptual extravaganza. Armed with world-class circus skills and their signature brand of surreal sketch comedy, they'll attempt the impossible: articulating that thing we're all thinking. Laser Kiwi will make you laugh, gasp and maybe even agree on something for once.

Everybody Knows hits the stage like a controlled explosion, and Laser Kiwi wastes no time proving they are here to break your brain in the best possible way. ACC would have kittens if they knew how many people walk out of this show thinking they could give it a go. I left buzzing, inspired, and absolutely certain that if I attempted even one of their stunts, I would be in traction by morning.

Laser Kiwi has always been known for their blend of circus and comedy, but Everybody Knows feels like the most polished, most chaotic, and most joyfully unhinged version of their work yet. It is a show that hits you at full speed from the moment the lights come up. Drum and bass thunders through the room, the lighting pulses like a nightclub possessed, and the trio launches into a sequence of physical feats that make you wonder if gravity is just a suggestion.

The first thing that strikes you is the sheer energy. This is not a slow build. This is a rocket launch. The pacing is relentless in the best possible way, especially for anyone with ADHD who thrives on rapid shifts, visual stimulation, and constant novelty. There is always something happening. A juggling sequence. A lighting gag. A physical stunt. A moment of absurd comedy that comes out of nowhere. It is a sensory feast, but crafted with intention rather than chaos for chaos’s sake.

The trio behind Laser Kiwi are masters of their craft. Zane, Degge, and Imogen have a chemistry that feels effortless, the kind that only comes from years of working together and pushing each other to new creative extremes. Their credentials speak for themselves. Winners of the Overall Circus Award at FringeWorld 2023. Best Circus and Physical Theatre at Adelaide Fringe 2019. Foolers of Penn and Teller in 2025. These are not hobbyists. These are world class performers who know exactly how to build a show that feels both ridiculous and technically astonishing.

Imogen’s aerial work is a standout. She moves with a kind of controlled wildness, as if she is both defying gravity and negotiating with it. There are moments where the entire audience holds its breath, watching her twist and drop and climb with a confidence that borders on supernatural. Her sequences are woven into the show with precision, supported by lighting that turns each moment into a visual spectacle.

Zane and Degge bring a different kind of magic. Their juggling is crisp, inventive, and often used as a setup for comedic misdirection. They play with rhythm, timing, and audience expectation in ways that feel fresh even for people who have seen a lot of circus. They also lean into physical comedy with a level of commitment that makes even the simplest gag land hard. Their timing is impeccable, and their willingness to look ridiculous is one of the show’s greatest strengths.

One of the most impressive elements of Everybody Knows is the integration of audiovisual storytelling. The tech team deserves as much praise as the performers. The lighting is not just decorative. It is narrative. It shapes the mood, punctuates jokes, and elevates the physical sequences into something almost cinematic. The sound design is equally sharp, shifting from pounding drum and bass to atmospheric soundscapes that guide the emotional beats of the show.

The audience is not just watching. They are part of the experience. Laser Kiwi has always excelled at audience involvement, but this show takes it to another level. People are pulled into the narrative in ways that feel playful rather than intimidating. The performers know exactly how to read the room, choosing participants who will enhance the moment rather than derail it. The result is a sense of collective joy, a feeling that the entire room is in on the joke.

What sets Everybody Knows apart from other circus comedy shows is the underlying story. It is subtle, woven through the spectacle rather than spelled out, but it gives the show emotional weight. There is a deeper message tucked inside the chaos, something about connection, creativity, and the strange beauty of trying things that might fail. It is not heavy handed. It is simply present, like a quiet heartbeat beneath the noise.

The comedic tone is sharp and playful. Laser Kiwi leans into absurdity without ever losing control. They know exactly when to push a gag, when to pull back, and when to let the audience sit in the ridiculousness of a moment. Their humour is physical, visual, and often delightfully stupid in the smartest possible way. It is the kind of comedy that feels universal, accessible to anyone regardless of background or language.

The show is also incredibly tight. Every transition is smooth. Every beat is intentional. The pacing never drags, and even the quieter moments feel purposeful. It is clear that an enormous amount of thought has gone into crafting a show that feels spontaneous while actually being meticulously choreographed.

If there is one downside, it is that the show feels too short. Not because it lacks content, but because the energy is so infectious that you want more. When the final bow comes, the audience is buzzing, cheering, and wishing the trio would launch into one more sequence. It is rare to leave a show feeling both fully satisfied and hungry for more, but Laser Kiwi manages it.

Everybody Knows is a triumph. It is bold, inventive, hilarious, and visually stunning. It breaks the mold of what a comedy festival show can be, blending circus artistry with comedic storytelling in a way that feels fresh and exhilarating. It is a five-star experience from a team that continues to push the boundaries of their craft.

If you want a night that will leave you laughing, gasping, and maybe planning a very ill advised attempt at juggling in your backyard, this is the show to see.

The show is part of the NZ International Comedy Festival. Find tickets to a show near you here

Review written by Josh McNally

Edited by Alex Moulton

SASHI PERERA - PEAR TREE [2026 NZ INTL COMEDY FEST]

Sashi's family name - Perera - means pear tree in Portuguese. It's a common name in Sri Lanka where Sashi was born but never lived. Till a series of pear-shaped events saw her move back to where it all began with her white Australian husband in tow. Pear Tree is a stand-up comedy show about that. It traverses family, love, legacies, homes, knives, race, cats and kids - spliced with a little geopolitics and singing. 

Every now and then, a comedy show arrives that feels different from everything else you have seen. Not louder, not wilder, not more chaotic, but sharper. More deliberate. More thoughtful. Sashi Perera’s Pear Tree is that kind of show. After weeks of festival chaos, late night crowds, and a parade of performers leaning into absurdity, slapstick, or pure silliness, walking into Sashi’s show felt like stepping into a completely different space. The audience itself signalled that shift. For the first time this festival, there was a clear demographic leaning. The room was filled with women and a strong presence of Asian audience members. It felt intentional, not because the show excludes anyone, but because Sashi speaks directly to experiences that resonate deeply with people who rarely see themselves centred in comedy.

From the moment she begins, it is clear that Pear Tree is not built on shock value or physical antics. Sashi brings a calm, grounded presence to the stage. She is warm, articulate, and incredibly precise with her words. Her comedy is not about the biggest laugh. It is about the truest one. She delivers humour with honesty, vulnerability, and a clarity of thought that makes the entire room lean in. It feels less like watching a comedian perform and more like listening to someone articulate the things you have been thinking but never quite found the words for.

The show tackles heavy themes. Racism, colonialism, power imbalances, marriage, parental expectations, fertility, and the complicated relationships between generations. These are not easy topics, and in the hands of a less skilled performer, they could feel heavy or didactic. But Sashi approaches them with humility and a gentle confidence. She does not lecture. She invites. She opens the door to her experiences and lets the audience walk through at their own pace.

Her delivery is conversational, but never casual. She knows exactly what she is doing. Every pause, every shift in tone, every moment of eye contact is intentional. She has a way of making the room feel safe enough to laugh at things that are not traditionally funny. Not because the topics are trivial, but because she frames them with such clarity that the humour becomes a release valve. A way to breathe through the discomfort.

There are cultural references woven throughout the show, particularly around Sri Lankan identity and diaspora (ethnicities being geographically scattered) experiences. Some of these may fly over the heads of audience members unfamiliar with the culture, but the emotional truth behind them is universal. The specifics may be Sri Lankan, but the themes are global. The pressure to marry. The expectation to have children. The unspoken rules of family dynamics. The quiet ache of not fitting into the mould society hands you. These are experiences that resonate far beyond any single cultural group.

What makes Pear Tree so compelling is the way Sashi balances intellect with relatability. This is easily the most highbrow show I have seen this festival, but it never feels inaccessible. She talks about systemic issues with the same ease that she talks about awkward family conversations. She moves from macro to micro without losing the thread. The result is a show that feels both deeply personal and quietly political.

One of the strongest elements of the show is the way Sashi handles tension. She builds it slowly, layering stories and observations until the room is holding its breath. Then she releases it with a perfectly timed joke, and the laughter that follows is not just amusement. It is relief. Recognition. Catharsis. This is not comedy that distracts you from your problems. This is comedy that helps you look at them from a new angle.

Her reflections on societal expectations hit particularly hard. The idea of the perfect life plan. The house. The partner. The children. The timeline that everyone is supposed to follow. Sashi dismantles these expectations with a mix of humour and honesty that feels both comforting and confronting. She speaks to the quiet grief of not meeting those milestones, the frustration of being judged for it, and the strange freedom that comes from letting go of the script entirely.

There is also a softness to the way she talks about family. She acknowledges the love, the pressure, the misunderstandings, and the cultural weight that sits between generations. She does not villainise anyone. Instead, she shows how complicated love can be when filtered through tradition, migration, and shifting identities. It is tender, thoughtful, and beautifully delivered.

Sashi’s stage presence is magnetic. She holds the room with ease, not through volume or theatrics, but through authenticity. She is a strong storyteller, a sharp thinker, and a performer who understands the power of silence as much as the power of a punchline. She sings at one point, and the room lights up. She makes eye contact with audience members in a way that feels personal rather than performative. She creates connection without forcing it.

Pear Tree is not a show built on big, explosive moments. It is a show built on accumulation. Layer by layer, story by story, idea by idea, Sashi constructs something that feels meaningful. By the end, you realise you have not just laughed. You have listened. You have reflected. You have felt something shift.

It is no surprise that she sold out her original run. This is the kind of comedy that stays with you. It lingers. It makes you think on the walk home. It makes you want to talk about it with someone. It makes you want to see what she does next.

Pear Tree is thoughtful, intelligent, and quietly powerful. It is a show that trusts the audience to keep up, to engage, and to feel. Sashi Perera has crafted something rare: comedy that is genuinely meaningful without sacrificing humour. It is a standout of the festival, and one I am grateful to have experienced.

The show is part of the NZ International Comedy Festival. Find tickets to a show near you here

Review written by Alex Moulton

HENRY YAN - MUM WANTS A GIRLFRIEND (FOR ME?) [2026 NZ INTL COMEDY FEST]

Mumma Yang is worried about her son being single for the rest of his life, so she has told him to do a standup comedy to showcase his talent of talking continuously for an hour. If there is anything the ladies love, it is a man who will not stop talking! He will discuss topics like dating for an ‘awkward guy’, family relationships, being 30 years old and imitation crab.

Some comedians walk onstage with swagger. Henry Yan walks onstage with the energy of someone who has been sent on a mission by his mother and is still trying to figure out how he got roped into it. Mum Wants A Girlfriend (For Me?) is a show built on awkward first dates, questionable romantic decisions, and the relentless pressure of parental expectations. It is charming, chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt.

Henry is a young comic with a bright, slightly frantic presence. He has that endearing quality where you can see the gears turning in his head as he speaks, and half the fun is watching him follow whatever thought pops up next. The show technically has a central narrative about a first date, but Henry treats structure like a polite suggestion rather than a rule. He veers off into tangents with absolute commitment, creating a sprawling tree of stories that branch in every direction. The audience gets a huge laugh every time he circles back and reminds us, almost sheepishly, that we are still talking about the conversational topics of his date.

These tangents are where Henry shines. One moment he is dissecting awkward text conversations, the next he is talking about parties, then suddenly he is deep into a horse joke that has no business being as funny as it is. He has an unshakeable love for horses, and he brings them up with the enthusiasm of someone who knows it is ridiculous but cannot help himself. It is quirky, but it works because he leans into it with sincerity.

Henry’s crowd work is another major part of the show. He loves interacting with the audience, and he pounces on latecomers with the excitement of a puppy spotting a new toy. A door opens, someone tries to slip in quietly, and Henry immediately lights up. He peppers them with questions, riffs off their answers, and folds them into the show as if they were always meant to be part of it, threatening to restart the show to catch them up on what they've missed. He is quick on his feet, and his improvisation feels natural rather than forced.

There is a youthful looseness to his set. You can tell he is maturing in his comedic voice but still figuring out which stories hit hardest and which tangents need trimming. That rawness is part of the charm. He performs with a kind of earnest vulnerability that makes the audience root for him. Even when he is laughing at his own jokes, which he does constantly, it feels genuine rather than self-indulgent. He is having fun, and that energy is contagious.

The heart of the show lies in the tension between Henry’s desire to find love and the pressure he feels from his parents. He jokes about needing to provide grandchildren, about being pushed into dating for reasons that have nothing to do with romance, and about the absurdity of trying to meet expectations that feel impossible. Beneath the humour is a quiet theme about self-worth. Henry talks openly about the need to love yourself before you can expect someone else to love you, and he does it in a way that feels honest rather than preachy.

This underlying sincerity gives the show emotional weight. While the audience laughs at the train wreck of his dating life, we also recognise the universal longing for connection. Whether it is the desire for parental approval, the hope of finding a partner, or the simple need to feel seen, Henry taps into something relatable. He makes space for vulnerability without losing the comedic momentum.

His material covers a wide range of topics. Awkward parties, strange advice from friends, the pitfalls of modern dating, and the bizarre rituals of trying to impress someone all make an appearance. He talks about being vulnerable in front of strangers, about the fear of saying the wrong thing, and about the strange comfort of oversharing when you are nervous. These moments land because Henry delivers them with a mix of self awareness and self mockery that feels authentic.

The structure of the show is loose, but the through line is clear enough to keep the audience anchored. Every tangent eventually loops back to the central story, and the payoff is always worth the detour. The laughter that erupts when he finally reconnects the dots is one of the highlights of the night. It feels like watching someone navigate a maze they built themselves, only to realise they forgot where the exit was.

Henry’s stage presence is warm and approachable. He does not posture or pretend to be cooler than he is. He leans into his awkwardness, embraces his quirks, and lets the audience see the parts of himself that many people would hide. That honesty is what makes the show work. You get the sense that he is not performing a character. He is simply being Henry, and that is enough.

There are moments where the set feels slightly scattered, where a tangent goes on a bit too long or a joke loses steam. But even in those moments, Henry’s charm carries him through. He has a natural ability to win the audience back with a quick smile, a self deprecating comment, or a sudden shift into a new story. The imperfections make the show feel alive rather than over rehearsed.

By the end of the hour, the audience feels like they have been on a journey with him. Not a polished, tightly structured journey, but a heartfelt, funny, and deeply human one. Henry Yan is a comic who is still growing, still experimenting, and still discovering the full range of his comedic voice. But the foundation is strong. He is relatable, quick witted, and unafraid to be vulnerable.

Mum Wants A Girlfriend (For Me?) is a quirky, sympathetic, and thoroughly enjoyable show. It blends awkward humour with genuine emotion, and it leaves the audience laughing while also feeling a surprising amount of affection for Henry and his chaotic search for love. It is a show that reminds you that even the messiest stories can be meaningful, and that sometimes the best comedy comes from simply being honest about who you are.

The show is part of the NZ International Comedy Festival. Find tickets to a show near you here

Review written by Alex Moulton

THOMAS CHAPMAN - WORK SAFE [2026 NZ INTL COMEDY FEST]

Thomas Chapman is very funny. He is an Auckland-based comic who has kept punters in Tamaki Makaurau laughing for the last few years. Thomas was runner up in the Raw Competition in 2020 and won the Best Newcomer in the 2021 Comedy Guild awards. First solo show in NZ following a debut hour in Melbourne and Nelson in 2024. Known international on random open mics in other countries as “I don't know that guy but he seemed pretty good”.

Thomas Chapman walks onstage with a show titled Work Safe, but the title is more of a playful nod than an accurate description of what follows. Beyond a brief opening riff about construction work and the odd workplace mishap, the set quickly shifts into something far more familiar: Thomas talking through the everyday chaos of being young, figuring himself out, and trying to make sense of the world around him. It is classic stand up in its purest form. A mic, a glass of water, and a performer working through the strange, funny, and sometimes confusing parts of life.

Thomas has a relaxed presence onstage. He speaks with an easy rhythm, the kind of tone that makes you feel like you are listening to a friend tell stories at a flat gathering rather than watching a formal comedy show. His material jumps across a wide range of topics. The Olympics, odd jobs, university antics, drug experimentation, relationships, and the general uncertainty of early adulthood all make an appearance. It is a set built from the small, recognisable moments of day-to-day life, stitched together with a sense of curiosity about who he is becoming and what he wants to do next.

There is a youthful exuberance to the way he performs. You can feel that the set is still evolving, that he is still testing ideas, shaping them, and figuring out which parts resonate most. Some jokes land cleanly, others feel like they are still finding their final form, but the overall effect is charming. He has a natural comedic tone, a voice that suits storytelling, and a way of leaning into his own awkwardness that makes the audience warm to him.

One of the recurring elements of the show is Thomas’s tendency to focus on audience members. Sometimes it works beautifully. Other times it pulls him slightly off-track. On the night I attended, he zeroed in on a health and safety worker who happened to be in the crowd, which felt fitting given the show’s title. He also spent a fair amount of time interacting with two moustachioed guys in the front row. These moments created some fun exchanges, but they occasionally overshadowed the material itself. It is clear he enjoys bouncing off the room, but the balance between crowd work and structured content is still settling.

Where Thomas shines is in his ability to tap into nostalgia. He references moments from growing up in New Zealand that hit perfectly for anyone around his age. Childhood memories, school experiences, and the strange cultural quirks that only make sense if you were raised here all weave through the set. For audience members who share that background, the jokes land with a satisfying familiarity. For those who did not grow up in New Zealand, some references may fly past, but the charm of his delivery still carries the moment.

His takes on the Olympics are particularly strong. He has a knack for pointing out the absurdity of the specificities of certain sports and contenders that in this global event we all pretend to understand once every four years. His bit about drying agents is another highlight, delivered with a mix of confusion and confidence that makes the punchlines feel effortless. He also dives into targeted marketing, mainly in his own attempts to bring in an audience to his show. These sections feel polished and well observed, suggesting they are the backbone of the set.

The show has a gentle arc, even if it is not tightly structured. Thomas circles around themes of identity, ambition, and the things that hold him back. He talks about the pressure to choose a path, the fear of making the wrong decision, and the inability to manage time properly. It is not heavy or dramatic, but there is an undercurrent of sincerity that gives the comedy a bit more weight. You get the sense that he is genuinely working through these questions, and the audience is invited along for the ride.

There is also a confidence in the way he performs, even when the material is still finding its shape. He seems comfortable onstage, especially in front of people he knows. That familiarity gives him a boost, but it can also create a slight disconnect for those who are not part of his personal circle. Some jokes rely on shared history or inside references that land harder for his peers than for the general audience. It is a common challenge for emerging comedians, and one he will likely refine as he continues to perform for broader crowds.

Despite the occasional uneven moment, the set delivers plenty of laughs. Thomas has a likeable presence, a strong voice, and a clear sense of humour. His material is grounded in real life, relatable, and delivered with an honesty that makes even the simpler jokes feel genuine. He is not trying to be edgy or shocking. He is simply trying to make sense of the world in front of a room full of people, and there is something refreshing about that.

Work Safe may not be the most thematically cohesive show, but it does not need to be. It is a snapshot of a comedian in motion, building his craft, testing his ideas, and learning how to shape his stories. There is potential here, and plenty of room for growth. With more stage time and a bit more structural refinement, Thomas Chapman could easily develop into a strong, consistent voice in the New Zealand comedy scene.

For now, Work Safe is a fun, easygoing hour that offers a mix of nostalgia, observational humour, and youthful honesty. It is not groundbreaking, but it is enjoyable, and it leaves you curious to see where Thomas goes next.

The show is part of the NZ International Comedy Festival. Find tickets to a show near you here

Review written by Alex Moulton