This year’s New Zealand International Comedy Festival once again has a massive line-up of out comedians and lgbti-interest shows. DeAnne Smith: Get Into It Openly-lesbian comedian DeAnne Smith presents a show that digs deep, then deeper. You’ll like it, if you like super fun things, laughing, and feeling less alone. The Montreal Gazette says DeAnne is “fresh, cutting…one of the finest wits in the country.” The UK’s Telegraph calls her “Smart. Very funny. Effortless charm lets her get away with murder.” She’s never actually murdered anyone. Tickets Urzila Carlson: MAN UP Man Up explores societies’ expectations of a man when he becomes a husband and a father... especially if that man is a lady. Urzila will examine gender roles, sexual rolls and ham rolls; all whilst demonstrating how to have a cup of cement and harden up - because big boys don’t cry right? Also, your long awaited answer to the “who’s your daddy” question. Best pop along and find out! Sold out last three years – Book now! Tickets Chris Parker: No More Dancing in the Good Room Chris Parker (Snort and Tighty Whiteys) is putting on one of his silly little shows. If it were 1999, he would be performing it in Mum’s “Good Room”, but she said his limbs are getting too long and he doesn’t have enough control over them. In fact, she’s banned him from dancing in the house altogether. No More Dancing in the Good Room is the autobiographical account of a young gay boy growing up in a liberal supportive family. Tickets Bearly Kiwi: Neil Thornton Find out why Neil Thornton is known as the funniest smartest American ex-pat married gay bear comedian from New York City living in New Zealand. A regular in US comedy clubs, Neil currently performs all over New Zealand, from Auckland to Wellington, Whangaparaoa to Winton. He also appeared on TV3’s After Hours. “A bold performer with intelligent material. Constantly amusing and thought provoking” – Ruminator Tickets Eli Matthewson: Faith Eli was a card-carrying, Parachute-attending, Christian teenager who gave it all up for the life of guilt-free sinning. But did he make the right choice? The little gay rock-star of New Zealand comedy is back with a second nomination for the Billy T, with a brand new show that explores life after leaving youth group. Tickets Fitness Club: Witness The Fitness Love. Adventure. Friendship. All very important concepts that may or may not be explored in this debut hour of core strengthening and thinspirational comedy from Auckland’s newest sketch group. With tens of characters, hundreds of dollars in budget, and up to two bits where everyone fights each other, this is going to be a Cirque du Soleil level theatrical spectacular. Written by and starring Joseph Moore, Tom Furniss, Laura Daniel, Chris Parker and Thomas Sainsbury. Tickets Penny Ashton: Hot Pink Bits Curious what Divine Brown, rubber enemas and pizza sex have in common? Aren’t we all. After performing her smash hit over 200 times and selling out from Edmonton to Tokoroa, gay fave Penny Ashton is back with her in a burlesque-esque romp through the knickers of the sex trade. From famous prostitutes to Shane Jones, it’s everything you never wanted to know. All singing, all dancing… and all wrong. Tickets The Girl and the Gay She eats ice cream for breakfast, is addicted to Police 10-7 and only swipes left. He collects comic books, drinks pale ale and doesn’t know what Grindr is. Neither of them are really winning at life. The Girl and the Gay is the new play from award-winning writer Sam Brooks, starring Chelsea McEwan Millar and Jordan Blaikie. It’s Will and Grace meets Girls meets two people you’d actually want to hang out with. Tickets Adrienne Truscott's Asking For It “A One-Lady Rape About Comedy Starring Her Pussy and Little Else” Dressed only from the waist up and ankles down, Adrienne undoes and does in the rules and rhetoric about rape, comedy and the awkward laughs in-between. With commentary from George Carlin, Louis C.K. and Robert De Niro, ducks, whistles and enough gin she lets her pussy do the talking. Tickets The New Zealand International Comedy Festival runs from 24 April - 17 May. Jacqui Stanford - 4th March 2015