AotearoHA: Next Big Thing

Concrete Playground has a double pass to giveaway to AotearoHa at Skycity Theatre, Friday, October 28 2011. Email us your funniest joke to [email protected] to go in the draw.

You can get the same exercise benefits from laughing 100 times a day as you can from ten minutes of rowing. In which case the organisers of AotearoHA: Next Big Thing really have our best interests at heart.

On Friday, October 28 2011, Skycity Theatre will open its voluptuous stage area to a handful of comics – the best new talent (as decided by the producers of the NZ International Comedy Festival) to tickle you inappropriately.

Leading the gaggle (which is what I’ve decided a group of comedians is called, because of “gag” and “giggle”) will be the ubiquitous Ben Hurley, known for TV3’s 7 Days and basically all of the funny things, whose beard will part to introduce the young giants, most of whom I’ve seen and loved.

The droll Guy Williams might be recognisable as “that tall guy from Dai Henwood stuff”, or “the not-really-pro-whaler who infiltrated TVNZ and was interviewed live on Breakfast”. Expect sarcasm in abundance.

A Kiwi by way of South Africa, award-winning Urzila Carlson will also kill you with funny. Not your average female comic, you can expect more than just jokes about how girls get moody when they’re on the rag.

Relative newcomer Mo Kheir’s style has been compared to early Chris Rock, and he won this year’s RAW Comedy competition, so expect great things from him.

Tom Furniss is an all-round thespian, having won Best Actor at this year’s 48Hours and hiking away with the title of Grand National Champ, along with the rest of his film-making team. He’s got a natural sense of humour which translates well to the stage, so he’ll also be guaranteed fun.

Pop along to the show if you’re into good times, making happy eye contact with strangers or just exercise: there’ll be at least 100 moments of laughter, so you can drop tomorrow’s rowing session. Win!