When finding love we're always told to "be yourself" but what if "yourself" is chronically comical? Two time Best Comedian (Wellington Comedy Awards) winner Booth the Clown is seeking answers.. and a little kiss..
Some performers walk on stage and deliver jokes. Booth the Clown walks on stage and creates a world. Kissing Booth is not just a comedy show. It is a late-night plunge into queer chaos, handcrafted intimacy, and the kind of theatrical mischief that makes you feel like you have stumbled into a secret society. From the moment you are guided down into the hidden cellar space beneath Q Theatre, it becomes clear that this is not an ordinary night. It feels like entering a tucked-away pocket of the city where the rules are softer, the lighting is warmer, and the audience is invited to let go of whatever version of themselves they carried in from the street.
Every chair is topped with a fluffy handmade pom pom, a tiny crafted detail that sets the tone immediately. Booth is a performer who cares about texture, intimacy, and the small gestures that make an audience feel held. That handcrafted energy is a perfect metaphor for Booth themselves. They are not a comedian in the traditional sense. They are a creator of experiences, a storyteller, a clown in the truest theatrical meaning of the word. Trying to describe Booth is like trying to explain a dream. You can list the events, but the magic is in the feeling.
Kissing Booth works as a comedy show, absolutely. It is funny, sharp, and full of moments that make the audience howl. But beneath the laughter is a layered, thoughtful piece of theatre that explores politics, gender, sexuality, identity, and the absurdity of the human body. Booth moves through these themes with a lightness that never undermines their depth. They create a space where joy and vulnerability can coexist, where silliness becomes a form of truth-telling.
There are moments I do not want to spoil, because part of the joy of Kissing Booth is the surprise. But I can say this: I will never think about Uber car doors the same way again. The nod Booth gives to the transmasc-leaning folk in the room is subtle, clever, and deeply affirming. And the rogue nipple moment is one of those rare pieces of comedy that hits you in the chest because it is both hilarious and unexpectedly personal. It left me feeling seen in a way I did not expect from a clown show, and it brought back memories of my own seven-year disappearing magic trick era.
Booth’s mastery of audience participation is one of the show’s greatest strengths. They do not drag people on stage for cheap laughs. They invite them into the world of the show with care, clarity, and consent. The audience becomes part of the performance, not props for it. Booth reads the room with precision, knowing exactly when to push, when to pull back, and when to let a moment breathe. It is a sophisticated balancing act that many comedians attempt, but few achieve.
The show is also surprisingly romantic. Not in a traditional sense, but in the way it celebrates connection, softness, and the strange beauty of being human. The cellar space, the pom poms, the lighting, the gentle chaos of Booth’s presence. It all adds up to something that feels warm and intimate, even when the content veers into the absurd.
Booth’s clowning style is physical, emotional, and deeply theatrical. They use their body as much as their voice, shifting between characters, moods, and energies with fluid ease. Their facial expressions alone could carry an entire show. But what makes Booth special is the sincerity beneath the performance. They are not mocking the world. They are embracing it, flaws and all, and inviting the audience to do the same.
Kissing Booth is also a reminder of how powerful late-night comedy can be. The looseness, the weirdness, the willingness to take risks. Booth thrives in that environment. They are the kind of performer who shines brightest when the rules are relaxed and the audience is ready for something unexpected. It is no surprise that the people who attend these late shows often walk out buzzing, feeling like they have discovered a secret.
The show is packed with wit, warmth, and sharp insight. Booth’s commentary on current events is woven through the performance with a light touch, never preachy but always pointed. Their exploration of positive sexuality is refreshing and joyful. Their take on the unlikely hero archetype is both funny and strangely inspiring. Everything is delivered with honesty, clarity, and a sense of play.
By the end of the night, the audience is fully in Booth’s world. Laughing, thinking, feeling, connecting. It is rare to find a comedy show that hits all those notes at once. Rarer still to find one that does it with such ease.
Kissing Booth is not just a show. It is an experience. A warm, queer, chaotic, heartfelt, handcrafted piece of theatre that lingers long after you leave the cellar. Booth the Clown is a force in the comedy scene, someone who challenges norms while making you laugh until your face hurts.
If you hear Booth is performing, do not hesitate. Go. Follow the staff member into the carpark. Hang a left. Sit on the pom pom chair. Let Booth take you somewhere strange and beautiful.
You will not regret it.
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