Boxing busker wins Iron Chicken
An English busker who boxes with his audience has won the Iron Chicken award at the Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival.
Performer Fraser Hooper was presented the award for best busker at the festival at the Isaac Theatre Royal last night.
Hooper, who grew up in London but moved to Wellington in 2010, has performed at the buskers festival in Christchurch about a dozen times. He has performed on the street for about 29 years in more than 30 countries.
He said he was delighted to win the Iron Chicken award. ‘‘It is really nice,’’ he said. ‘‘There are so many great artists here. It is a privilege to be recognised this year. I feel really chuffed.’’
Hooper impressed the Iron Chicken judges with his playful show and a hilarious routine involving audience members in a comical boxing match.
He said the Christchurch festival was special.
‘‘It is one of the best festivals of its kind in the world,’’ he said.
‘‘It is an amazing place for buskers to play. The festival puts some idiots who love each other in the same place so we can all do what we do best.
‘‘It is an environment where we can be at our best and the audience can be at their best.’’
He enjoyed performing for Christchurch audiences.
‘‘Over the years, I have done some of my best shows here and I have watched some of my favourite clowns in the world play here.
‘‘It has been great to see how the festival has grown and how the artists have grown.’’
He remembers performing in Christchurch after the 2011 earthquakes. ‘‘You felt privileged to be part of something that was quite unique.
‘‘Having people after the quakes coming out and laughing together was extraordinary.’’
Hooper was presented with the distinctive Iron Chicken trophy, designed by Canterbury artist Hannah Kidd, at The Last
Morsel show, which included some of the best performers at the festival showing off their best routines.
Previous winners of the Iron Chicken include performers like Sam Wills, aka Tape Face, Mulletman, The Daredevil Chicken Club and Shay Horay.
Street busker shows finished yesterday, along with many of the evening shows at the festival. LIMBO will run until February 3, and new evening shows open next week, including performances by the Modern Ma¯ ori Quartet, The Revolver Club and beat boxer Tom Thum.