Justine Smith was stellar in her debut as Comedy Gala host. Photo / Jinki CambroneroAfter a year away due to lockdown, the New Zealand International Comedy Festival is under way once again. And throughout the festival's first two events – the flashy, made-for-TV Best Foods Comedy Gala and the Basement Comedy Preview – one thing has become clear: this year is all about Kiwis. While they are somewhat ironically keeping "International" in the name, the Comedy Festival in 2021 is almost entirely local acts, and the opening weekend showed there is a lot of comedy within our borders. The New Zealand International Comedy Festival is under way from Tuesday, May 4 until May 23.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 03, 2021 01:06 UTC