What a Laugh...
3 weeks of festival madness has begun in NZ International Comedy Festival
(29 April - 21 May 2005).

Comedy Q & A with Andrew McClelland (right)
Why should we see your show?
Because it is absolutely the best comic faux-university lecture about pirates in this year's comedy festival. Honestly. A1.
Andrew McClelland - Comedy Q & AWhat a Laugh...
3 weeks of festival madness has begun in NZ International Comedy Festival
(29 April - 21 May 2005).

Comedy Q & A with Andrew McClelland (right)
Why should we see your show?
Because it is absolutely the best comic faux-university lecture about pirates in this year's comedy festival. Honestly. A1.
Andrew McClelland - Comedy Q & AInterview with CAL WILSON
Why should we see your show?
Not only is it a trifle twisted and dripping with gags (described by one punter as "funny and a little bit evil") it contains songs, sequins, and William Shatner's underpants. Think Moulin Rouge meets The Addams Family.
Cal Wilson Comedy Q & A
Penny Ashton's Busty Rhymes at The Silo

The ODDFELLOWS NZ International Comedy Festival kicked into action on Friday the 29th of April with the red carpet opening event, which played on TV2 last night. The gala - designed to give a sneak preview of the best of the fest featured an outstanding selection of both local and international talent.

Most shows only play for a week - so if you haven't done so already its time to urgently check out the programme. Currently playing in Auckland are some great local acts that are worth dashing out to see. Auckland comedians include Cal Wilson, Penny Ashton and Dai Henwood. Wellington also offers a stunning local line-up of talent including Taika Cohen, Sam Wills and Guy Capper.

The festival also boasts some big international stars of the comedy circuit. We are lucky enough to have Stewart Lee performing for 2 weeks in Auckland and then all around the country as part of The ODDEFELLOWS Comedy Convoy. He's not only a comedian but also a writer, rock critic and opera lyricist - he wrote the acclaimed Jerry Springer Opera. Jeff Green, author of the bestsellers A-Z of being single and The A-Z of Living Together, also performs a season at The Auckland Town Hall.

Highlights for week two of the festival include two young Melbourne based comedians that perform their award-winning solo shows for the first time ever in New Zealand. If you'd like to step outside the traditional stand-up genre check out Lawrence Leung and Andrew McClelland. Lawrence Leung's show SUCKER is a partly autobiographical story of the swindles, cons and scams he learned when he was seventeen and travelling Australia. The audience is assured to pick up the odd scam in this hour long show which exposes classic scams and card cheating techniques.

Andrew McClelland's show is all about pirates - this man knows all there is to know about the subject. He presents a history lecture that reveals amazing facts on the bandits of the sea. Hysterically funny -because truth is funnier than fiction.

- don't underestimate the Lindauer Comedy Divas. The Divas are a must-see festival event - showcasing the hilarious wit, charm and talent of the fairer sex. Playing in both Auckland and Wellington with an impressive line-up including the international sensation - Kitty Flanagan alongside our very own Justine Smith, Cal Wilson and Michele A'Court.

Week 3 also sees the return of the Timor Oddyssey. This first premiered in 2001 - it's a hysterical documentation of Te Radar's journey into East Timor. With the odds certainly stacked against him on even making it to the dairy, this is an amazing example of true Kiwi ingenuity. Te Radar is a sharp social commentator and a brilliant comedian.

- but there's so much more
check out on the whole programme on www.comedyfestival.co.nz

The ODDFELLOWS NZ International Comedy Festival plays:
29 April - 21 May - Auckland
3 May - 21 May - Wellington
16 May - 22 May - Nationwide Comedy Convoy