Paul Williams up for comedy award
Nelson comedian Paul Williams thought comedians who made the cut for the annual Billy T Award would be told the early morning.
So when he hadn’t received a call by the 10am deadline he thought he had not made the finals. ‘‘I had kind of given up hope.’’ But it turned out he did make it ‘‘I was really shocked and stoked that they called. I entered because competing for the Billy T has been a dream of mine since five years ago when I found out it existed.
‘‘Also I thought winning would be a good way to silence all my haters.’’
Being funny runs in the family as Paul, 24, is the brother of comedian Guy Williams, who won the Billy T award in 2012.
Paul made a name for himself while still a student at Nelson College making parody rap music videos. He has since moved to Auckland and developed his craft, along with his music.
The Billy T award is named after comedian Billy T James who changed the face of comedy in New Zealand.
The annual award was created by the New Zealand Comedy Trust to support up-and-coming comedians of outstanding potential and help them take their comedy career to the next level.
Williams will be judged during the 2017 NZ International Comedy Festival, which has shows all over the country between April 27 and May 21.
The finalists’ final stand up comedy performances and the award presentation is scheduled at Last Laughs on May 21 in Auckland.
Last year the award was won by David Correos.
Williams said the show would be his first solo show and he said he couldn’t wait.
‘‘I’ve never come close to doing a full hour. It’s still quite far away ... I’m definitely working on it and sorting it, I want to be super well prepared.’’
After graduating, he moved to Wellington to study musical theatre and has attended the NZ International Comedy Festival, the Melbourne Comedy Festival and most recently the Edinburgh Fringe.