Meet the 2017 Billy T Nominees
The Billy T Award is named in honour of our 'cuz', Billy T James. The award is an initiative of the New Zealand Comedy Trust that aims to recognise and support up-and-coming NZ comedians with outstanding potential and commitment to their comedy career.
This year's nominees are all doing their first full hour show in this years festival, so make sure you get along to see these incredible emerging talents!
ANGELLA DRAVID // DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
Love makes you do crazy things.
This is a love story. Well, kind of. Except it went a bit wrong. Really wrong.
So wrong that Angella’s written a show about it. A story so intriguing she’s
been nominated for the Billy T. So bizarre that it has to be seen and heard
to be believed.
"Angella Dravid is bloody brilliant. One of the most unique and original comedians
I have ever see" – Guy Williams
Winner – Best Newcomer 2015, NZ Comedy Guild
LI’I ALAIMOANA // MINORITY RAPPORT
This New Zealand-born Samoan brings his guitar and keyboard to the stage
to go through his past with a fine-tooth comb in his debut comedy show, Minority Rapport.
As David Tua once stated on National television, “There are ways, and then
there are ways…”. Li’i Alaimoana will bring a knock-out blow to live comedy with
his musical/stand-up comedy show where his “ways” will have you in stitches.
“He achieves what Neil Thornton describes as the Holy Trinity of Comedy: The “Oh”,
The Groan and the Clap simultaneously” – Theatreview
Scruffpot, bogan and effervescent storyteller... Patch Lambert coaxes equal parts hilarity and honesty from life’s pitfalls, and navigates the ups and downs of life as an over-imaginative child, an anxious teenager, and a hapless adult.
"An incredibly funny comic... But he should be at home looking after his kid" – Brendhan Lovegrove
Winner - 2016 Breakthrough Comedian, NZ Comedy Guild Awards
PAUL WILLIAMS // SUMMER TIME LOVE
The summer is coming. You know what that means: beaches, bathing suits
and boys (or girls depending on your sexual orientation. I personally prefer
girls I just didn’t want to ruin the alliteration). Hi, I’m Paul Williams and
I’m here to teach you how to be a ladies’ man or a man’s lady or a man’s
man or a ladies’ lady. Again, whatever your sexual orientation is. There’ll
be some songs, there’ll be some jokes and also I’ll help you find your one
true love.
Cheers.
"Paul keeps it real” – James Acaster
"Insanely talented" – Rose Matafeo
RAY O’LEARY // A PESSIMIST'S GUIDE TO OPTIMISM
Ray O’Leary presents a timid unleashing of opinions from an overeducated man with too much time on his hands. Armed with nothing but a philosophy degree, this pessimist will show you how we can be optimistic about the big moral dilemmas facing society – charity, criminal justice, psychic dogs. His analytical, sometimes dark yet always hilarious style will have you laughing and feeling like you almost learnt something.
“Dapper and funny” – Urzila Carlson
Winner – Best Newcomer 2016, NZ Comedy Guild
Don't forget to check out last year's winner...
DAVID CORREOS // DAVID CORREOS IS GOING FULL CORREOS
After winning the Billy T last year and stepping out of the shadows with his full noise extremity, David Correos is going FULL CORREOS! To understand what this means is to know that it will be a hilarious, action-packed show that will leave you gasping for more.
The amount of energy David expends in his shows is unparalleled. This isn't just another dude telling jokes, this is a full variety spectacular. With jokes!
Get ready to have your expectations blown away as David takes the audience on a FULL CORREOS!
“seems to only have to stand there to get the laughs” - Theatreview
