If the measure of a great kids’ comedy show is uncontrollable giggles, squeals of delight and the occasional snort-laugh, then Mr Snotbottom’s Stinky Silly Show is a runaway success.

As the New Zealand Comedy Festival’s only offering for youngsters, this high-energy, gloriously gross performance has kids (and quite a few grown-ups) in stitches from start to finish. Mr Snotbottom — Australia’s prince of pong and master of muck — delivers a riotous mix of snot jokes, toilet humour, silly songs and wonderfully weird noises, all with a gleeful sense of mischief.

Children roar with laughter throughout the show, shouting out answers, gasping at the ‘disgusting’ bits and fully embracing the chaos. But it’s not just fart symphonies and booger ballads — this is a showcase of serious skill in silly wrapping. Performer, Mark Trenwith brings over 20 years of experience in comedy and performance, with training in Commedia dell’arte (Malcolm Fox), long-form improvisation (Improv Conspiracy) and clown (Ira Seidenstein and Scott Wynn), as well as a Bachelor of Creative Arts from Flinders University. He’s digested every bit of his training, let it all ferment in comedic acids, then gleefully spewed it back up as a delightful treat for our kids.

Mr Snotbottom is a seasoned performer who knows exactly how to work a young audience, balancing slapstick with sharp timing and just enough cheek to keep things lively without crossing the line. Parents who may have braced themselves for an hour of endurance soon find themselves laughing along too.

In short, Mr Snotbottom’s Stinky Silly Show is a fantastic, feel-good comedy experience that delivers exactly what it promises: stinks, silliness and side-splitting fun. If your kids love all things yucky and funny (and let’s face it, most do), this is one show they won’t want to miss.

Reviewed by Luna Rama (aged 8):

Mr. Snotbottom’s Stinky Silly Show was very funny. At first he came on to stage with only his boxer shorts on! He tried to get his pants on but they kept falling off. When he had finally got them on he wanted to brush his teeth but he tried to use a hairbrush! He did not like how the hair tasted. Then he tried using a dustpan brush but that was too dusty! Then he finally tried a toilet brush!!!

He had lots of songs. Sometimes he sang about mums and dads in the audience. He was very good at playing the ukulele. There are some bits when he pulls people from the audience to do stuff. I recommend this show but be warned: it’s extremely funny and gross!

Reviewed by Dev Rama (aged 6):

Mr. Snotbottom’s Stinky Silly Show was really funny and gross! There was only one comedian in this show his name was Mr. Pprrrrffffffffffffffffft Snotbottom. He came all the way from Australia. Once finally came onstage but he came out in his heart underwear. Then his pants kept falling down and he couldn’t put his top on the right way round. He tried to put on other people’s clothes. One of the t-shirts said ‘I love dog poo’ with a poop emoji. He was going to put his jacket on his head!

I really liked the part where he was trying to brush his teeth. He sang songs about mums and dads that were really funny. He tried to guess some people’s names. He called some kids up on stage to make a band out of cleaning things and he got the audience to sing like a choir.

I liked that we got to meet him afterward to say thank you and to get a photo with him and a signed poster!

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