MORE COMEDIANS ANNOUNCED FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT OF COMEDY AT THE BEST FOODS COMEDY GALA
NZ Comedy Festival & Best Foods Mayo present
Best Foods Comedy Gala
Hosted by Chris Parker
The annual Best Foods Comedy Gala, a veritable feast of comedy, adds six more allstar comedians to the already impressive line-up. This stellar night of uproarious live comedy, on Friday 3 May in Auckland and Saturday 4 May in Wellington, will kick off a month of comedy with the 2024 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo.
Hosted by Chris Parker, and joining the already announced Heath Franklin’s Chopper, Brynley Stent, Pax Assadi, Abby Howells and Takashi Wakasugi is:
Nazeem Hussain. Coming in hot from across the ditch Nazeem Hussain is one of Australia's biggest stars and much-loved TV and radio personalities. With almost 1.5 million followers on social media, a Netflix special (Nazeem Hussain: Public Frenemy) and two children’s books under his belt, Nazeem is an unstoppable comedy force.
Hayley Sproull. Also joining this top tier line-up is television and radio host, actor and all-round comedy superstar Hayley Sproull. Much loved host of ZM’s Breakfast show, host of The Great Kiwi Bake Off and Have You Been Paying Attention? NZ. You’ll also remember her from Golden Boy and Funny Girls, and regular appearances on 7 Days.
He Huang. Winner of Best Newcomer at 2023 Sydney Comedy Fest, He Huang is best known for her viral stand-up routine from Australia’s Got Talent in 2022, which racked up 60 million views! She’s no stranger to the big stage, having recently performed in the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Just For Laughs TV Galas.
Alice Snedden. UK based writer, comedian and improviser Alice Snedden is home for this year’s Comedy Gala. A 2017 Billy T nominee, she’s a writer/co-director on Starstruck with Rose Matafeo (BBC/HBO MAX), host of Alice Snedden’s Bad News (The Spinoff) and podcast Boners of the Heart with Rose. Before her adventures took her to the UK, she was head writer of Funny Girls and Golden Boy on THREE.
Rhys Mathewson. Returning to the Gala stage after hosting in 2022 is stand-up comedian Rhys Mathewson. Billy T Award and the Fred Award winner, his blend of sly observations, sharp one liners and outright silliness have been delighting kiwi audiences both on stage for almost two decades, and on TV shows like Seven Sharp, 7 Days and showing off his twinkle-toes on Dancing with the Stars.
Eli Matthewson. Fellow Fred Award winner Eli Matthewson will also take to the stage. Recently Eli’s been reading the news on Paddy Gower Has Issues, joined a cult on Celebrity Treasure Island and got cut in the most dramatic Dancing With The Stars exit ever. Eli received five star reviews at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe and is a regular panellist on 7 Days.
More laugh out loud funny comedians are still to be announced for both Auckland and Wellington. All of Aotearoa will also get to enjoy the biggest night of comedy with this year’s Best Foods Comedy Gala filmed exclusively for THREE.
The 2024 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo runs from 3 – 26 May, with the full programme to be announced in March 2024.
BEST FOODS COMEDY GALA
AUCKLAND
Friday 3 May, 7.30pm
Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre
50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland Central
Tickets via Ticketmaster
WELLINGTON
Saturday 4 May, 7.30pm
The Opera House
113/111 Manners Street, Te Aro
Tickets via Ticketmaster