James Roque has also appeared in The Masked Singer NZ, and in TVNZ's Frickin Dangerous Bro... On the Road. Photo / Supplied
This Saturday Roque is taking his latest one-man comedy act to Rotorua's Shambles Theatre for the first time.
In Boy, Mestizo Roque tells the story of his first journey back to the Philippines after 20 years, and the reflections on identity he experienced along the way.
"I talk about being disconnected from my culture," Roque said.
"When I went back I realised just how much colonial baggage [the Philippines] has as a country."
While Boy Mestizo puts the New Zealand Filipino experience under a spotlight, Roque believes the show's message is universal.
"The heart of the show is that you are enough as you are," Roque said.
Boy Mestizo is showing this Saturday May 15 at Shambles Theatre. Photo / Supplied
The comedian finds his craft is an accessible way to package conversations about race, colonialism, and identity.
"What I want to do is give context, so people know why things are the way they are in society today, so we can change things.
"It's about making people laugh and educating people about serious and urgent conversations that need to happen."
Roque has been performing this show for two years. Boy Mestizo sold out in Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland and Wellington in 2019 and was a finalist for the Fred Award for Best NZ Show at the NZ International Comedy Festival.
"I remember the first couple of times I did it and I saw people in the audience crying," Roque said.
