Fun in the city

FUNNY MAN: Comedian Taylor Ruddle will headline the gig along with a handful of other talented comics. Picture supplied

Comedian Ben Tito Caldwell loves performing in Gisborne. The producer of DIY Comedy reckons the shows at Evolution Theatre are his favourite on the calendar.

“Gisborne audiences are so much fun. The crowds we've had have been awesome, really appreciative of the acts that we bring. And Evolution Theatre is incredibly supportive of us. It's my favourite place to gig in the country,” says Caldwell.

After their September show was delayed due to the Delta outbreak, Caldwell was desperate to get a Gisborne fix before the end of the year and they worked with the theatre to reschedule to November. Tickets for the show are currently limited to 40 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

“It's a tough time for live entertainment at the moment. I've had several shows that I've had to cancel or postpone, but I feel incredibly fortunate too that I've been able to run as many shows as I have since we came out of lockdown, but the margins are pretty thin,” says Caldwell.

A heavy hitting lineup is joining him for A One Night Stand, hosted by former Gisborne radio DJ Richard Dryden and features Maggie Malone, Jessica Charlotte and Taylor Ruddle.

Headline act Ruddle (pictured) started doing stand-up while living in Fukuoka, Japan where he helped kick-off the local scene. He is based in Christchurch and travels around Canterbury to perform regularly.

Tales of his misadventures overseas and his attempts at getting fit serve as the bulk of his act, seasoned throughout with spicy pop culture references, whimsical wordplay and general silliness. His comedic style is upbeat and friendly, described as “disarmingly laid-back, with a twinkle in his eye, disguising a sharply honed wit.”

Tickets for the show are just $20 and available from KiwiTicket. If there are any door sales available on the night, these are $30, so pre-buying is encouraged.