Christchurch comedians Fringe worthy
Watch out Nelson, some of Christchurch’s biggest names in comedy are about to be unleashed during the Nelson Fringe Festival next month.
The shows, three comedies and a darkly comedic nightmarish thriller, run the full gamut from stand-up to drama, improv and a mute solo act by a bloke in an orange beanie.
“The Nelson Fringe Festival is an invaluable opportunity for Christchurch artists to take their act to a new audience,’’ Fringe director Laura Irish says. ‘‘In fact, our Best of Fringe winner of 2016 was the show Gary Starlight by Christchurch artist Jeff Clark.’’
The Playspace Theatre Company’s Georgie Sivier and the unofficial godfather of Christchurch comedy Justin ‘ Rusty’ White are bringing the improv comedy Her to the Fringe.
Sivier, the winner of 2016 Nelson Fringe Festival’s Special Commendation Award says the show is “a story that will have you in tears of laughter whilst touching on some real situations women know all too well. It’s poignant yet wet-your-pants funny.”
White is also in the solo comedy I Learnt Something Once.
“From my nearly 20 years of stand up experience I can convincingly claim to know everything,’’ White says. ‘‘Well, nearly everything. Most things. Maybe not most, but certainly a whole lot of things.”
Cameron McLeod of Spade Face Productions delivers the solo stand up comedy, This is Steve. The show is based on the premise that Steve can’t speak, but is desperate to tell his story anyway.
Kim Georgine of Cat House Films stars in The Visitor, “a darkly comedic nightmarish thriller” in which a woman must cope with an unwanted visitor.
Fringe has received funding this year from the Nelson Events Marketing & Development Pro- gramme, funded by the Nelson City Council. The programme’s objective is to stimulate Nelson’s economy in the shoulder and off seasons by bringing visitors to the city for distinct events.
The Nelson Fringe Festival, Refinery ArtSpace, 3 Halifax St, April 29 to May 7. Information: Tickets: www.eventfinda.co.nz.