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Comedy
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Image: Supplied
12th September, 2021

The not so secret life of Angella Dravid

She won comedy's top award for her jaw-dropping show about eloping to the UK as a teen. In a new podcast, that story is fleshed out in all its shocking glory. 
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By Leonie Hayden
Ātea Editor
12th June, 2021

How Heath Franklin became Chopper

Who's the man under the mo'? Alex Casey meets Heath Franklin, aka Chopper. 
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By Alex Casey
Senior writer
Tofiga Fepulea’i is touring his new stand-up show around the country this month. (Photo: Mark Fa’amaoni)
20th October, 2020

Tofiga isn’t sorry about it

After a truly dismal year, the comedian is back onstage with his new show, Sorry Bout It.
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By Teuila Fuatai
Contributing writer
Waterdeep Mountain High: Welcome to the Home of the Dragon Burger
16th September, 2019

Waterdeep Mountain High: Welcome to the Home of the Dragon Burger

In this special episode, we welcome you back to Waterdeep Mountain High, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast set in a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun.
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By Waterdeep Mountain High
Guest writer
James Acaster
25th May, 2019

The quiet problem with New Zealand’s comedy audiences

This year’s International Comedy Festival was a roaring success, but some comedians have turned the spotlight on audiences. Are they too timid? Do our hecklers suck? Josie Adams sizes things up
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By Josie Adams
Staff writer
Waterdeep Mountain High: School’s Out… Forever? Part 3
26th December, 2018

Waterdeep Mountain High: School’s Out… Forever? Part 3

Welcome back (for the final time!) to Waterdeep Mountain High, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast set in a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun.
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By Waterdeep Mountain High
Guest writer
Waterdeep Mountain High: School’s Out… Forever? Part 2
26th December, 2018

Waterdeep Mountain High: School’s Out… Forever? Part 2

Welcome back to Waterdeep Mountain High, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast set in a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun.
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By Waterdeep Mountain High
Guest writer
Waterdeep Mountain High: School’s Out… Forever? Part 1
26th December, 2018

Waterdeep Mountain High: School’s Out… Forever? Part 1

Welcome back to Waterdeep Mountain High, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast set in a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun.
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By Waterdeep Mountain High
Guest writer
Waterdeep Mountain High: Bullies and Fungus, part 2
1st November, 2018

Waterdeep Mountain High: Bullies and Fungus, part 2

Welcome back to Waterdeep Mountain High, a Dungeons & Dragons podcast set in a below average school in the mystical land of Faerun.
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By Waterdeep Mountain High
Guest writer
A photo from the last year’s NZ International Comedy Festival Gala.
27th April, 2018

It’s 2018 and a white comedian mimicked a Thai woman at the NZ Comedy Gala

The NZ International Comedy Festival kicked off last night with its traditional opener, the NZ Comedy Gala. But this year, among the local and international comedians, there was a whole lot of racism.
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By Julie Zhu
Guest writer
Andy Zaltzman dressing for the occasion (Youtube – Melbourne Comedy Festival)
27th March, 2018

Podcast: Andy Zaltzman can’t stop talking cricket

Podcast host, comedian and big-brained Brit Andy Zaltzman will be coming to New Zealand later this year for the comedy festival. He spoke to Alex Braae about politics, satire, and the game he can't get enough of.
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By Alex Braae
Staff Writer
The 2018 Billy T nominees are here, and they’re pretty damn great
13th October, 2017

The 2018 Billy T nominees are here, and they’re pretty damn great

The 2018 Billy T Award Nominees were announced today. Sam Brooks goes deep on who they are, and why this slate is so great.
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By Sam Brooks
Staff feature writer
That’s a wrap! Comedy editors Sam and Natasha look back at this year’s Comedy Festival
26th May, 2017

That’s a wrap! Comedy editors Sam and Natasha look back at this year’s Comedy Festival

The NZ International Comedy Festival is over for another year, and so our two Comedy co-editors Sam Brooks and Natasha Hoyland take their final bows. Read on for their farewell messages.
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By Sam Brooks and Natasha Hoyland
Guest writer
What does The Billy T Award mean in 2017?
25th May, 2017

What does The Billy T Award mean in 2017?

Spinoff Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks takes a look at the recent history of the Billy T Award, what felt different about this year's nominees, and what that means for New Zealand's comedy industry as a whole.
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By Sam Brooks
Staff feature writer
‘I don’t leave the door open for bullshit to come in’: A conversation with Urzila Carlson
25th May, 2017

‘I don’t leave the door open for bullshit to come in’: A conversation with Urzila Carlson

Urzila Carlson is straight up the biggest comedian in the country today. Spinoff Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks talks to her about how she got so good at being funny.
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By Sam Brooks
Staff feature writer
The Brooks Awards: Sam Brooks hands out his very serious Comedy Fest gongs
23rd May, 2017

The Brooks Awards: Sam Brooks hands out his very serious Comedy Fest gongs

There’s the Billy T Award, there’s the Fred Award, but now we’ve got comedy co-editor Sam Brooks’ completely biased and very serious comedy festival awards.
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By Sam Brooks
Staff feature writer
The Laugh-Off’s fourth and final episode: the wrap up
23rd May, 2017

The Laugh-Off’s fourth and final episode: the wrap up

For the fourth and final episode of our comedy festival podcast, actor, writer and comedy expert Chelsea McEwan Millar is joined by comedy co-editors Sam Brooks and Natasha Hoyland.
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By The Spinoff
Staff writers
If women aren’t funny, how come they took out all the awards at Last Laughs?
22nd May, 2017

If women aren’t funny, how come they took out all the awards at Last Laughs?

For years New Zealand comedy has – with some notable exceptions – had a reputation as something of a boys' club. Last night its three key awards were all won by women for the first time. Natasha Hoyland, a young comedian herself, describes how that moment felt.
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By Natasha Hoyland
Comedy co-editor
‘Performing to 50 women and 10 men is the ideal ratio’: Rose Matafeo on making award-winning comedy
22nd May, 2017

‘Performing to 50 women and 10 men is the ideal ratio’: Rose Matafeo on making award-winning comedy

Rose Matafeo won the Fred Award last night. It's New Zealand's most prestigious comedy award, along with the Billy T Award (which she has also won). Sam Brooks talks to her about her comedy, life overseas, and their shared passion for musical flop Nine.
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By Sam Brooks
Staff feature writer
Beyond the gumboot: The non-Dagg work of John Clarke
21st May, 2017

Beyond the gumboot: The non-Dagg work of John Clarke

On the heels of today's Fred nominee announcements, comedian Jonny Potts digs deep into the non-Fred Dagg work of John Clarke, including a book, a podcast and some handy YouTube clips.
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By Jonny Potts
Guest writer

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