Comedy Festival 2012: Dai Henwood

Dai Henwood. Photo / Supplied

The New Zealand International Comedy Festival begins this weekend bringing local and international comic heroes to our stages. Here, Dai Henwood talks about his forthcoming shows.

Describe your show in 10 words or less:

Topical humour about politics with the appropriate amount of awesome.

Will we have heard any of the jokes before?

No, we don't know what will be in the news yet so the jokes will be a mystery to us until the day.

So, why should we go to your show instead of saving our money for Flight of the Conchords in July?

Definitely go and see FOTC, they are a solid up-and-coming act who are really going places. They have chosen Vector Arena as their venue which is an ambitious move. A kind thing would be to buy a ticket so they can at least break even.

What is your pre-show ritual?

I like to joke around with the other guys, have a Red Bull (sugar-free, I am watching my weight) and generally take the piss out of Jeremy Corbett.

Is dying on stage a rite of passage for a comedian or something to be avoided at all costs?

It is something that you try to avoid at all costs but it is a hazard of the job.

Much like being attacked by a dog, it will happen when you least expect it.

Are members of the audience fair game? Or should they be treated with respect at all times?

Treated with respect, but if they interject they lose all rights. Heckling is not wanted by most comedians.

If you were a superhero who would you be?

Can't-Put-On-Weight-Eating-Pastry Man.

For those of you who don't have a musical aspect to your show ... how do you compete with all those clever dicks offering the double whammy of musical comedy?

A lot of musical comedy is not that funny. It is just people who can't be in a proper band repeating the same punchline. I would say be wary of musical comedy.

Except Flight of the Conchords, I haven't heard much but what I have heard I like. They'll definitely go places.

Who will you be heading along to see during the festival?

Jason Byrne, Stephen K. Amos, Ben Hurley and Steve Wrigley, Jamie Bowen, Justine Smith and Irene Pink.

From: New Zealand
Show: 7 Days Live
When and where: Sky City, 7pm, May 3-5

-TimeOut