Rotorua can laugh with comedian Guy Williams and raise money for mental health

Guy Williams is coming back to Rotorua with a show raising funds for Mental Health Awareness Week. Photo / File

Having a good laugh at comedian Guy Williams' upcoming Rotorua show will be for a great cause.

Williams and fellow comedian Rhian Wood-Hill will perform at the Rotorua Little Theatre, 8 Amohau St, on Friday October 12 from 8pm to 9pm.

All of the proceeds will go to Mental Health Awareness Week Rotorua, done in partnership with Rotorua Little Theatre and Lakes District Health Board.

Williams said mental health was a big issue in New Zealand.

"We don't spend enough time focusing on what's going on upstairs and talking about our feelings. We have a real epidemic of issues at the moment."

He said 100 per cent of the show's profits would go to the Mental Health Awareness Week charity.

Williams said Rotorua was genuinely one of his favourite places to visit, and he absolutely loved the "luge life".

He said the Rotorua Little Theatre was also one of his favourite venues.

"When it has a great crowd in it, it goes off".

It was an awesome vibe and Rotorua was lucky Rotorua to have a small venue like it, he said.

"I think it's something special Rotorua has."

Williams said his show was about comedy itself, because he was a bit worried about comedy these days.

One of the reasons for this was the way comedy reinforced stereotypes and often just went with the status quo, he said.

He hoped his comedy would challenge, offend and, most importantly, make people laugh.

Williams said Wellington-based touring comic Rhian Wood-Hill was "a friend who has been developing a fan base in Rotorua, and is a very talented comedian".

"You get two comedians for the price of one - it's genius."

• Information and tickets: www.eventfinda.co.nz.