Kiwi comedian Dai Henwood will host the opening night of the NZ International Comedy Festival in Wellington next month, bringing a line-up of local and international acts to the capital.
The Best Foods Comedy Gala will take place on May 2 at the The Opera House, marking the start of the three-week festival.
The annual event features a fast-paced showcase of performers from across the festival programme, offering audiences a preview of different comedy styles in one night.
Henwood has previously appeared in the gala as a performer but will take on hosting duties for the first time. He joins a list of past hosts including Hayley Sproull, Chris Parker, Melanie Bracewell, Justine Smith and Pax Assadi.
Festival producer Jay Law said the gala played a key role in bringing audiences and performers together.
“It’s a night where everyone can come together, artists, producers, audiences, locals and internationals, and celebrate how important comedy is,” Law said.
The show is recommended for audiences aged 15 and over and is expected to draw a large crowd as one of the festival’s headline events.
The NZ International Comedy Festival runs across multiple venues in Wellington and Auckland, featuring a mix of established names and emerging talent from New Zealand and overseas.
