WORLD CLASS COMEDY SHOWCASE

Wellington’s most successful Stand Up comedy export, Ben Hurley, returns from England for this year’s Comedy Festival, and he’s bringing his two favourite acts from Britain’s busy comedy circuit with him to perform in Hurley’s Choice.

After winning almost every comedy award New Zealand has, Hurley left the country last year to tackle the world comedy circuit.  He’s since become one of the few NZ comics to crack the notoriously competitive UK scene – performing on television (Comedy Store TV – Paramount Comedy), and up to seven nights a week live as a headliner in clubs like Jongleurs and the Comedy Store.

Over the last 12 months, Hurley has performed alongside every major comic in the UK. For the Festival, he brings to Wellington what he considers to be the two best live acts of the 300 odd he’s seen – JJ Whitehead and Al Pitcher.

"I wanted Wellington audiences to have the opportunity to see two of the most talented comics in the world right now.  You’d have to pay over $NZ60 to see these guys in London. Luckily, neither of them really understand how the exchange rate works, and I’ve convinced them to keep tickets to $22 each."

Canadian J.J. Whitehead is one of the most sought after club acts in the world, and has just filmed an hour long "Comedy Now" special for American TV.  UK born, NZ raised Al Pitcher has a unique, surreal style – and his improvising skills have seen him land jobs as a warm up act for Nigella Lawson’s television show, and Two Pints and a Packet of Crisps. He also writes and presents a show for BBC Radio One.

Ben Hurley

‘Comedic Legend’ The New Zealand Herald (NZ)
‘He can be easily consumed as pure entertainment’ Metro (UK)
JJ Whitehead
‘Not to laugh with him would seem like a puritanical abstention’ The Scotsman (UK)
‘His complete onstage ease is impressive to behold’ Metro (UK)
Al Pitcher
‘Catch him while he is cheap’ Evening Standard (UK)
‘Absolute star in the making’ Time Out (UK)

Dates:  Wed 23 – Sat 26 May, 8.30pm
Venue:  San Francisco Bathhouse, 171 Cuba St, Wellington City
Tickets:  Adults $22 Conc. $16 Groups 5+ $16
Bookings:  Ticketek 0800 TICKETEK (0800 842 5385)
Show Duration:  1 hour 30 min

1 hr