Cats, Sports, Sequins, and Sassy Best Friends Dominate Comedy Festival

Rose Matafeo returns with a rave Guardian review under her belt, Tessa Waters has been snaffling awards left right and centre, Donna Brookbanks is wading through cats to bring you her first full hour and James Nokise is definitely talking about sports (and only sports, not politics at all).

This New Zealand International Comedy Festival, the company behind Rose Matafeo's 2015 & 2016 hit Finally Dead brings you a line up of the sharpest tools in the lol shed. Zanetti Productions is proud to present three of the most fantastic female comedians Australasia has to offer, as well as New Zealand's king of biting political satire.

After ruling the UK and Australia with her comedic genius, Rose Matafeo returns with her fast-paced, theatrical comedy style in Sassy Best Friend. Discussing friendship, finding yourself, and giving up on your dreams, this banger is back from 28 April-6 May at Basement Theatre, and 16-20 May at Wellington Rowers Club.

Award-laden physical comedy master Tessa Waters graces us with her outrageous silliness in her dance, clown and sketch mashup; Over Promises. A world-class, Gaulier-trained idiot, Tessa is here to blow the funnies out of the water. She will be packing an eager crowd into the studio at Basement Theatre from 2-6 May, and BATS Theatre from 10-13 May.

A crowd favourite at cult weekly improv show Snort, Donna Brookbanks is here with her very own feline-enthusiast show; Cat Lady In Waiting. You will meet a plethora of cat crazed characters as you giggle your way through this infectiously funny treat. You can find Donna and her cats at Basement Theatre from 9-13 May.

The witty James Nokise, famous for his biting political satire, arrives at Comedy Festival to serve you his thoughts on sports Talk A Big Game. He promises to talk only World Cup and World Champions, leaving behind his much loved World Events (not). Audiences can get in on all the sports banter (and potential political banter) from 9-13 May at Q Theatre, and 2-6 May at Cavern Club.

With a focus on supporting work that invigorates social change and celebrates otherness, Zanetti Productions is thrilled to present these four hilarious shows, each uniquely funny in their own right. Across these practitioners audiences will find a wonderfully diverse range of content, backgrounds, and comedic brilliance.

Rose Matafeo - Sassy Best Friend
Auckland
Dates: Fri 28 April - Sat 6 May, 7pm
Venue: Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave
Tickets: $24 - $30
Bookings: basementtheatre.co.nz // 0508 ITICKET (484 253)

Wellington
Dates: Tue 16 - Sat 20 May, 7pm
Venue: Wellington Rowers Club, Wellington Waterfront
Tickets: $24 - $30
Bookings: iticket.co.nz // 0508 ITICKET (484 253)

Tessa Waters - Over Promises
Auckland
Dates: Tue 2 - Sat 6 May, 8.20pm
Venue: Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave
Tickets: $20 - $25
Bookings: basementtheatre.co.nz // 0508 ITICKET (484 253)

Wellington
Dates: Wed 10 - Sat 13 May, 9.30pm
Venue: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace
Tickets: $17 - $25
Bookings: bats.co.nz // 04 802 4175

Donna Brookbanks - Cat Lady In Waiting
Auckland
Dates: Tues 9 - Sat 13 May, 8.20pm
Venue: Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave
Tickets: $20 - $25
Bookings: basementtheatre.co.nz // 0508 ITICKET (484 253)

James Nokise - Talk A Big Game
Auckland
Dates: Tues 9 - Sat 13 May, 8.30pm
Venue: Q Theatre, 305 Queen Street
Tickets: $20 - $25
Bookings: qtheatre.co.nz // 09 309 9771

Wellington
Dates: Tue 2 - Sat 6 May, 7pm
Venue: Cavern Club, 22 Allen St
Tickets: $20 - $25
Bookings: iticket.co.nz // 0508 ITICKET (484 253)