Lower Hutt is in for a big night this January with Summer Laughs, presented by Laughs on Tour. A star-studded gala featuring national and local comedians will take to the stage at Little Theatre on Saturday 16 January.
Headlining the night is the humble king of comedy, Tofiga. Audiences have been delighted by his stand-up comedic genius, acting and musicianship. He first rose to stardom as one half of the iconic Laughing Samoans and has gone on to be one of the most recognisable Samoan comedy talents today. On screen, people will have seen him in Taskmaster, Moana 2 and God of Storms.
The evening will be MC’d by Hoani Hotene. Originally from Lower Hutt, the 2025 Billy T Award winner, 2022 Raw Comedy Quest winner, and star of Taskmaster has quickly established himself as one of Aotearoa’s funniest comedians.
Two-time Billy T Award nominee and Best Newcomer winner James Mustapic will also be performing. Known for his hit TVNZ series Abandonment Issues and James Must-a-pic His Mum a Man (he successfully did!), and his web series Repressed Memories, James has also appeared on 7 Days, Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont-Spelling Bee and won 2023 Celebrity Treasure Island.
Wellington comedian Raybon Kan has performed at comedy festivals in Montreal, Edinburgh and Melbourne, and now he’s adding Lower Hutt to the list. An author and award-winning comedian, his stand-up career began in Wellington more than 30 years ago, and since then he’s been making people all over the motu laugh.
Also on the lineup is 2025 Billy T nominee, Lesa MacLeod-Whiting, an award-winning comedian, writer and improviser. Starting stand-up in 2020, she quickly made her mark at the National Raw Comedy Quest Final. Since then, she’s co-founded the improv company Tiny Dog, and debuted her solo show in 2023, earning a nomination for Best Newcomer.
Rounding out the event is the best fresh talent out of Pōneke, with Wellington Raw Comedy Quest finalists Ben Tafau, Katy Borrows and Tim Stannard, and National Raw Comedy Quest runner-up Guanny Liu-Prosee.
Summer Laughs Lower Hutt is made possible with support from the Hutt City Council and Hutt Mana Charitable Trust.
Summer Laughs
Little Theatre, Lower Hutt
Saturday 16 January, 7.30PM
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