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The Billy T Award is one of the most prestigious honours a New Zealand comedian can win. Named after the legendary comedian Billy T James, this award celebrates the best emerging performer at each year’s Comedy Festival. Since 1997, the prize has been won by comedians that have gone on to become household names – including Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Rose Matafeo and Dai Henwood
On this season of Billy T' Billy, the New Zealand Herald is spotlighting this year’s nominees – Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams - in conversation with previous Billy T and Fred Dagg award winner, as well as celebrating 30 years of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
22 Episodes
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For the last episode of the season, 2024 Billy T winner Lana Walters is joined by the 2025 winner Hoani Hotene. They discuss his victory, the themes of his show, and what he plans to do next - plus Lana's papal-themed handover of the title, and what it's like being a mother in comedy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For the final episode of the season, Brynley Stent, Donna Brookbanks and Eli Matthewson are on the podcast to discuss their varied careers as comedians - including their team with the improv group, Snort, writing sketches for Jono and Ben and Funny Girls, and their careers as solo comedians. From memories of favourite sketches, the pros and cons of standup and social media, and a bit of Christchurch mall culture and New York education, this one has got it all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Jack Ansett, James Mustapic and Ray O'Leary are stepping out of the group chat and into the studio to talk about their experiences as Billy T nominees, bad experiences performing in front of family members, the pros and cons PowerPoints - and if Jack and Ray would ever follow James onto Celebrity Treasure Island. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Alice May Connolly, Johanna Cosgrove and Liv McKenzie are sitting down for a chat about the changing face of comedy and if it's improving for women, as well as discussing their on screen roles, working with big name actors, and their worst gigs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, it's the Wellington half of the 2025 Billy T Award nominees - clowning duo Booth the Clown & Jak Darling, and stand-up Lesa MacLeod-Whiting. They discuss the scene in Wellington, how they got into comedy, how they all met, and dig into the usual stories of strange gigs and advice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, the Auckland contingent of the 2025 Billy T Award nominees - David Stuart, Hoani Hotene and Itay Dom - gather on the podcast to their nominated shows, thoughts on the Auckland comedy scene and open mic nights, viral comedy, jobs outside of comedy, and their strangest ever gigs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Comedy Festival is right around the corner, so to get us all in the mood, the first episode of the new season has the 2025 Comedy Gala host Hayley Sproull getting insights and advice from former hosts, Pax Assadi and Rhys Mathewson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this special one-off bonus episode, 2023 winner Abby Howells hands over the yellow towel to 2024 winner, Lana Walters. They discuss their experiences winning and the aftermath, their writing and standup processes, how Abby has found winning the award, what Lana has found being a new mum and a standup, and how still needs to change for women in comedy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2021 Billy T winner Brynley Stent trades jumbo-sized towel tips with this year's winner Abby Howells. The comedic champs talk about Howells' award-winning show, her being open on stage about being on the autism spectrum, and Stent embracing her frigid reputation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Billy T' Billy has made it to the last ten years of New Zealand comedy. Taking us on today's tour are scene standouts Joseph Moore and James Roque.
Then, host Rhys Mathewson talks to Urzila Carlson, who in just over a decade has risen to be a star in both Aotearoa and Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Standup stalwarts Irene Pink, Dai Henwood, and Justine Smith take Rhys Mathewson through what was good and bad about comedy twenty years ago and what has changed for the better. Hint: It's got way more people performing that aren't straight dudes.
On the international side, Rhys Darby explains how encouragement from British performers convinced him to spread his wings and pursue his comedic craft outside of our island nationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Veteran comedians Jeremy Corbett, Michele A'Court take host Rhys Mathewson through the beginning of Aotearoa's standup scene, and writer and co-founder of the NZ International Comedy Festival and The Classic Comedy Club Paul Horan explains how overseas comics like Bill Bailey and Simon Pegg were enticed to our shores.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2023 Billy T nominee Maria Williams is joined by 2012 Billy T winner - and her brother - Guy Wiliams to discuss their family's comedy roots, mental health and politics in comedy, the highs and lows of musical theatre, and Guy's advice Maria isn't in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2023 Billy T nominee Janaye Henry is joined by 2021 Fred winner Eli Matthewson to discuss their writing, rehearsing and standup styles, performing for queer audiences, talking about exes and partners in their sets, and competing against friends for awards. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2023 Billy T nominee Jack Ansett is joined by 1998 Billy T winner Jonny Brugh to discuss New Zealand comedy in the 90s, sketch versus standup, if awards are important, TikTok, and Jonny's experiences on the set of Thor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2023 Billy T nominee Gabby Anderson is joined by 2019 Fred Award winner James Nokise to discuss the Wellington comedy scene, their religious backgrounds, Gabby's other career as a teacher - and the gig that's haunted James for a decade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2023 Billy T nominee Abby Howells is joined by 2018 Billy T winner Melanie Bracewell to discuss being comedy nerds, bad first gigs, being a woman in comedy and the joys of Tumblr and Monty Python.
Find tickets to Abby and Melanie's International Comedy Festival shows here: https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2019 Billy T winner Kura Forrester hands over the yellow towel to her successor Brynley Stent, and they discuss the continued success of female comedians and the joys of performing on stageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Josh Davies and David Correos discuss how to write a good joke, and why bringing a documentary crew to your worst ever gig isn't a great ideaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lana Walters and Rhys Matthewson talk about the highs and lows of organising a comedy show, and writing comedy while pregnant.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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