NZ Comedy Festival: Rhys Mathewson

Rhys Mathewson is from Auckland, New Zealand.

The 2014 Comedy Festival kicks off this week with local and overseas funny folk pitching for you to see their shows. Here's the first instalments in a series of Q&As with some of the stars in the three-week event.

Where have we seen you before?
Probably at the drive-through of the Quay St McDonald's, depending on whether or not you work in the Quay St McDonald's.

My comedy festival show is called:
Hombre Lobo!

Due to it mainly being about:
Werewolves, heartbreak and growing a beard. It's waaaaaaay funnier than it sounds.

The idea behind it having been inspired by:
Living in the United Kingdom and my first ever break up.
Don't worry, I am totally over it.

Compared with how I am in everyday life the person you will see on stage is:
In everyday life I am less likely to tell people that I've banged their mum if they ever try and talk.

The one thing I worry about the most performing this show is:
Honestly? Whether or not my ex- girlfriend who broke up with me because she came out of the closet would be upset with my perspective on the events of our break-up. Or the audience not laughing, I guess.

But I think the show is just as funny as:
That time I played a YouTube video of a Marvin Gaye tribute at the same time as a YouTube video of two giant tortoises having sex. Because that is the funniest thing I have ever done.

It may not be for you if you're offended by:
Swear words. I use a lot of them, they're the salt and pepper of language and my show is weeeeell seasoned.

But do head along if your idea of great live comedy involves:
A clown getting the shat beaten out of him by the entire audience with kiwi cricket bats. On an unrelated note, if anyone would like a small walk-on part in my new show, please flick me a tweet (@Rhyspect). Applicants should be comfortable wearing oversized shoes.

Or if you are fans of:
Zac Efron. I wouldn't possibly say it of myself but I have been called New Zealand's Zac Efron. It's a great compliment; I think Zac is a really talented guy - he can sing, he can dance, he can act but more importantly, he has that X factor. He has IT. And by IT, I mean a rockin' body. Am I right, every sighted person on the planet?

Though if you sit down the front be warned:
You will probably see a lot more of me than you ever wanted to. New Zealand's Zac Efron has a very different type of IT.

For me, this is NZ Comedy Festival number:
Eight depending on whether or not you count that last year I skyped in a set from the United Kingdom.

Which makes me:
One of the choices to host Late Laughs this festival. It takes a certain amount of experience to get really, really drunk in front of an audience and still be funny. Well, at the least entertaining.

Where/when:
The Basement Studio. Saturday April 26, April 29-May 3.