THE COMEDY MIXTAPE: A HAND-PICKED SELECTION OF AOTEAROA'S FRESHEST AND FINEST COMICS HITTING THE STAGE IN SOUTH AUCKLAND

The New Zealand Comedy Trust & Best Foods present
The Comedy Mixtape with Pax Assadi

The producers of the NZ International Comedy Festival and Pax Assadi are bringing a new lineup show The Comedy Mixtape to the BNZ Theatre at Manukau’s Vodafone Events Centre, for an unmissable night of stand up with some of Aotearoa’s biggest comedy stars and hottest emerging talent on Saturday 6 August.

Pax Assadi will host the night and introduce his picks of the freshest and funniest comics on the circuit. Pax has been smashing it on stages and TV, he was the host of the 2020 Best Foods Christmas Comedy Gala, star of Frickin Dangerous Bro On The Road, and recently launched his autobiographical sitcom Raised by Refugees.

Headlining this sensational night of comedy is the International Samoan Superstar Tofiga Fepulea’i (The Laughing Samoans), who took the honour of biggest-selling act at last year’s Comedy Fest.

Mangere legend Bubbah, debuted on the hilarious sketch series SIS, took her comedy to the backyards of South Auckland in lockdown and nailed a great show that got everyone talking at Comedy Fest last year.

David Correos became infamous for his rap in Taskmaster, this Billy T Award Winner and Fred Award Finalist will totally surprise and delight you!

When she’s not guest starring on Have You Been Been Paying Attention? and making hilarious online content (@janayeh), Billy T nominee Janaye Henry (Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa) is killing it live in front of audiences with her fresh vibes.

Some of Tāmaki Makaurau’s freshest comics will also be making their debuts on the big stage, including: 

  • Courtney Dawson - (Ngati Kuri/Tainui) fashion icon and comedian providing hot tips on Māori TV’s Rags 2 Riches and her funny take on the latest news on Have You Been Paying Attention?. She also won the 2019 Raw Comedy Final.

  • Heta Dawson - (Ngati Kuri/Tainui) the comedy genes are strong with the Dawsons - Heta is not only a funny guy - he’s also Courtney’s dad! 2019 Raw Comedy Quest Finalist Heta brings laughter wherever he goes, from his birthplace in South Auckland, to the rest of Aotearoa, and BACK to South Auckland with The Comedy Mixtape. 

  • Kura Turuwhenua (@kumara_chipz) - (Ngāti Porou/Tūhoe/Kāi Tahu) this 2022 Raw Finalist has been giving fans her hilarious hot takes on TikTok, see them live on the night! 

  • Ed Amon - who alongside his standup career also has a Masters in Indigenous Studies, a column in his local paper, and his own podcast (Baboon Yodel). 

  • Natalie Samy - has had a bunch of roles recently with Netflix’s The Legend of Monkey, Joe Daymond’s This is Auckland and Brown Noize and soon to be seen in the Comedy Central UK series Bouncers. 

  • Bailey Poching - a Sāmoan/Māori comedian and filmmaker, raised in the UK’s blustery Yorkshire moors. This bright eyed Polynesian developed a warped sense of self, as well as an unhealthy need for attention… pretty much a comedian’s ultimate tools.

Sowmya Hiremath - voted Best Female Comedian in 2020 by Cartel Comedy, she is the master of ‘taking her life’ to the stage and making it comedy gold. 

This show will be filmed for THREE to give audiences around the motu a chance to enjoy this kickass comedy showcase. Proudly presented by the New Zealand Comedy Trust, Best Foods, Pax Assadi (with The Junkyard), Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Flava and THREE at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau.

www.comedyfestival.co.nz

Michelle Lafferty