FREE FRIDAY FUNNIES: COMEDY FEST COMES TO TAKUTAI SQUARE ON FRIDAY 10 APRIL

The New Zealand Comedy Trust & Britomart present
Comedy Fest in Takutai Square
 
NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo is teaming up with Britomartto bring the laughs with Comedy Fest in Takutai Square, a free day of comedy that promises a sneak peek of what’s to come at this year’s NZ Comedy Fest, on Friday 10 April.
 
Fresh faces and top-tier talent from the expansive Aotearoa comedy scene will take over Takutai Square to serve up their funniest gags and silliest bits, all for free. Whether you want to pop down during your lunch break, you’ve got tamariki to keep entertained during the school holidays, or you’re meeting friends after work, the Fest has you covered.
 
At 12.30PM, Lunchtime Laughs is a pick-me-up guaranteed to have you in stitches over your sandwich. The relatable and always crack-up Tony Lyall (7 Days, Comedy Gala, The Project) hosts a stellar line-up, featuring Raw National Comedy Quest finalists Annie Guo,Evie Orpe and Sophie Stone, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power star Anthony Crum, and The Edge host-turned-comedian Harrison Keefe.
 
Laughter is for everyone! Family-Friendly Funnies at 3PM sees Sam Smith (the comedian not the singer; our Sam Smith has been on 7 Days and Taskmaster) host a whānau-focused lineup of comedians and improvisors. Clowning their way through an hour of school holiday entertainment are Florence Hartigan (Me, My Mother and Suzy Cato) and Auckland’s improv favourites Bull Rush.
 
When the sun goes down, the legends come out for Later On Laughs. From 6.30PM, 2025 Billy T nominee Itay Dom (Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, The Bachelorette NZ) hosts an unmissable who’s-who of comedy in Aotearoa including Celebrity Treasure Island runner-up Courtney Dawson (NZICF Best Newcomer 2024), 7 Days regular Paul Douglas, 2023 Billy T nominee Gabby Anderson and New Zealand’s favourite American country singer and comedy legend, Wilson Dixon.
 
“We are stoked to debut a free day of comedy at Takutai Square. A massive mihi to Britomart for helping us to bring more laughs into the inner-city at a time when Aucklanders really need it! Keeping the event free makes it super easy for people to meet up and discover a new favourite comedian ahead of the NZ International Comedy Festival in May,” says Festival Producer Jay Law.
 
Comedy Fest in Takutai Square is a partnership between NZ Comedy Trust and Britomart, proudly supported by Auckland Council Events and the City Centre Targeted Rate.

The 2026 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo runs from 1 – 24 May.
 

www.comedyfestival.co.nz

COMEDY FEST IN TAKUTAI SQUARE
Friday 10 April, FREE
12:30PM – Lunchtime Laughs
Tony Lyall (MC), Annie Guo, Sophie Stone, Anthony Crum, Harrison Keefe, Evie Orpe

3:00PM – Family-Friendly Funnies
Sam Smith, Florence Hartigan, Bull Rush improv

6:30PM – Later On Laughs
Itay Dom (MC), Courtney Dawson, Paul Douglas, Wilson Dixon, Gabby Anderson