Eamonn Marra

Overview

In true good spirit, severe anxiety sufferer Eamonn Marra is making light of his experience in a Mental Health Respite Centre as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival. His show, Respite, is not a mockery of anxiety, nor an indulgence in his own issues, but a self proclaimed attempt to turn his experience into a coming-of-age, better-self type scenario, where he aims to educate and entertain audiences simultaneously.

What was initially written as a short story, but later transformed into a monologue to be presented on stage, Eamonn’s story includes no romance or sensei, nor any tidy beginning, middle and end structure with a climactic epiphany midway through. It’s just a tale of life and struggles and humans. It is real and refreshing. And it is (somehow) pretty funny.

The Wellington local is just 23 years old but has already performed a number of acclaimed shows, including solo show Everything Else and opening for Raybon Karn in the 2013 NZ International Comedy Festival. He is self-deprecating, insightful and anything but egotistical.