logo
B*tch Better Have My Funny: The Queens Of Comedy Hit The NZ Comedy Fest

B*tch Better Have My Funny: The Queens Of Comedy Hit The NZ Comedy Fest

Scoop11-05-2025
The NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo is now in full swing, and the laughs just keep coming. The New Zealand Comedy Trust is thrilled to announce B*TCH Better Have My Funny, a night packed with great comedians, great vibes and a line-up that delivers hit after hit. Join Kiwi comedy legend Michèle A'Court as host on Saturday 17 May at Q Theatre, for this incredible line-up of pure entertainment – fast, funny, and full of energy.
Host Michèle A'Court is a 2023 ONZM recipient, and winner of Female Comedian of the Decade at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards in 2010 and the 2015 Reilly Award for Excellence in Comedy. Michele has performed around the world, including in Canada, the UK, Australia, Papua New Guinea and East Timor. With her work on stage, screen and radio, Michèle is truly one of our country's best comedians.
She'll be joined by this year's Best Foods Comedy Gala host, Hayley Sproull. Multi-talented comedy sensation, audiences will recognise her as co-host of ZM's Fletch, Vaughan & Hayley Breakfast Show, winner of Taskmaster season 5 and host of The Great Kiwi Bake Off.
One of NZ's greatest stand up comedians, the evening will also feature award-winning comedian Justine Smith. Justine is much-loved from her stints on 7 Days and Taskmaster. She also hosted the Best Foods Comedy Gala in 2021, won the Billy T Award in 2003 and has won the NZ Comedy Guild's Best Female Comedian four times.
Rounding out the first comedians on the bill is Courtney Dawson, winner of Best Newcomer at the 2024 fest. Since kicking off her comedy career in 2019 she's won the Raw Comedy Quest, starred in Celebrity Treasure Island, Paddy Gower Has Issues and Have You Been Paying Attention?, and hosted the 2024 Comedy Mixtape.
The international pay gap is still sitting at 23%. If you're a teacher, nurse, midwife, healthcare worker, caregiver, early childhood, social worker, youth worker, probation officer, corrections psychologist, or anyone else impacted by the Pay Equity Amendment Bill passed under urgency this week, then the New Zealand Comedy Trust are offering 23% off your ticket.
With more names still to be announced, come for the punchlines, stay for the party. It's the comedy show you'll be talking about on Sunday.
The 2025 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo runs from 2 – 25 May. The full programme is available now at www.comedyfestival.co.nz
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Cassie Henderson's audition for The Voice Australia 2025 stuns all four judges
Cassie Henderson's audition for The Voice Australia 2025 stuns all four judges

NZ Herald

time2 days ago

  • NZ Herald

Cassie Henderson's audition for The Voice Australia 2025 stuns all four judges

She made a great first impression on the show but Henderson is no stranger to Kiwi audiences, coming to local prominence in 2013 when she competed in X Factor New Zealand aged 14 and placing fifth. Asked about the role music plays in her life, Henderson told the panel: 'I love to entertain, I love to perform for people, but music is the thing that I do when I'm by myself and I feel safe and alone in my bedroom. 'I had a few setbacks and I kinda stopped singing for a long time and I kinda realised one day that there is nothing else that I want to do in this world and in my lifetime.' In the interaction, Henderson hinted it was her experience on X Factor that presented those setbacks. 'There was a point there where I had online commentary about my voice, and just about me, and I think I just took it to heart because I was quite young at the time. I was 14.' Henderson said getting to choose from all four of the show's mentors felt like a dream. 'I really can't believe I'm standing here making this decision.' Ultimately, Henderson elected to be the first contestant on this season coached by former Spice Girl Melanie C, who told Henderson: 'You are born to do this. You just own that stage and it is so natural to you.' Henderson took a hiatus from music after appearing on X Factor, but returned to pursue her passion full-time in 2023. She released a single, Seconds to Midnight, in August 2024 and it remained at number one on the RadioScope NZ Airplay Charts for 15 weeks. In June, she took home the award for Best Pop Artist at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards. Last year she told the Herald a move offshore was the next logical step. 'I think, as a musician, I'm too comfy here. I'm not getting pushed out of my comfort zone consistently enough,.' she said. 'It's a big, wide, crazy world, and I'm pretty keen to go explore it. And I can't wait to then come back to New Zealand, and be proud to come home.'

Te Tuhi Announces Suzy Park As New Curator
Te Tuhi Announces Suzy Park As New Curator

Scoop

time5 days ago

  • Scoop

Te Tuhi Announces Suzy Park As New Curator

Press Release – Te Tuhi Te Tuhi is delighted to announce the appointment of Suzy Park as Curator, joining the organisation in November in Seoul, South Korea, Suzy brings a decade of experience working with artists, collectives, and institutions across Korea and beyond. Her appointment marks an exciting next chapter for one of Aotearoa New Zealand's leading platforms for contemporary art. Suzy has held curatorial roles at the 2024 Busan Biennale, BOAN1942, and WESS, and was the editor of the respected art journal B-Art. Her practice spans contemporary visual art, time-based media, and interdisciplinary work, with a focus on projects that push boundaries and ask complex questions. Grounded in curiosity and intellectual rigour, Suzy's work explores how the fundamental nature of art is perceived differently across time and place – and how its inherent values might be explored through the interplay of form and content. Te Tuhi first connected with Suzy when presenting three New Zealand artists at the 2024 Busan Biennale. That experience affirmed a shared curatorial vision rooted in integrity, curiosity, and experimentation. Suzy joins Te Tuhi at a moment of transformation. With gallery spaces currently closed for essential repairs and upgrades, the team is using this time to reflect, plan, and prepare for a new phase of programming. In her first months, Suzy will relocate to Tāmaki Makaurau and begin shaping the 2026 exhibition programme. Suzy will be joining a skilled and quietly ambitious team: • Andrew Kennedy, Exhibition Programme Manager, whose 13-year history with Te Tuhi has seen the development of some of its most ambitious shows; • Dr Vera Mey, International Programme Manager At Large, an art historian and curator with a global research and curatorial practice; • Liam Jacobson, Curatorial Intern and rising voice in Aotearoa's art world. The team is supported by Executive Director Hiraani Himona (Ngāi Te Whatuiāpiti, Ngāti Rangiwhakāewa, Ngāti Hikarara), whose leadership is informed by decades of work across the arts, Māori development, youth empowerment, disability rights, gender, and sexuality. Supporting quotes On being offered the Curator position, Suzy said: 'I've been questioning how the fundamental nature of art has been understood differently across time. Yet some questions remain unresolved without stepping beyond familiar ground. Joining Te Tuhi, an institution with a remarkable 50-year legacy of continuously supporting artistic experimentation and expanding internationalism grounded in locality, offers a rare opportunity to rethink the nature of art across different geographies. Aotearoa New Zealand's unique cultural and historical context, shaped over centuries, sustains a deeply resonant art scene today. What excites me most is the chance to engage with artists here through both fresh eyes and long-held questions. I'm truly grateful to the Te Tuhi team for inviting me to be part of this journey.' On Suzy's appointment, Te Tuhi's Executive Director Hiraani Himona said: 'Our team and artists loved working with Suzy in Korea, and we're thrilled she was so enthusiastic about joining us in Aotearoa. Her curatorial approach resonates deeply with Te Tuhi's values – community-minded, collaborative, and socially engaged. Suzy brings with her a fresh international perspective and a deep commitment to artists, which will be a tremendous asset as we grow our programme and continue shaping the next 50 years of Te Tuhi.' About Te Tuhi: Te Tuhi is a leading platform for contemporary art in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a programme consciously and continually shaped towards rigorous, adventurous and socially engaged artistic experimentation. Te Tuhi's primary focus is on commissioning both national and international artists to make new work by creating stimulating contexts for artists to respond to and work within. Te Tuhi presents work in its galleries in Pakuranga and Parnell, around Auckland and Aotearoa, internationally and online. Te Tuhi offers artists and curators opportunities to develop their practice through studios, awards, residencies and internships both in Aotearoa and overseas. Integrated with its exhibitions, Te Tuhi provides public programmes for general audiences and for schools. Te Tuhi has been embedded in its local community for 50 years, delivering arts and cultural experiences for schools, young people, community groups and people of all backgrounds and ages. Arts Out East is Te Tuhi's community arts brokering programme for the Howick Local Board area in East Auckland. Te Tuhi operates O Wairoa Marae, an urban marae in Howick; Te Tuhi Café, Aotearoa's first training café for people with intellectual disabilities; and Te Taiwhanga Taiohi, East Auckland's Youth Space in Botany Town Centre. Te Tuhi's building in Pakuranga also hosts a vast range of independent community groups.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store