Three share comedy prize

By Louisa Cleave

Auckland comedian Philip Patston and Wellington duo Humourbeasts are winners of the $5000 Billy T Grants.

The awards, announced last night, are open to local performers at the International Laugh! Festival and recognise up-and-coming comedians.

The winners were chosen from five finalists including Irene Pink, Paul Ego and Jon Stubbs.

Humourbeasts is made up of actors Jemaine Clement, of television's Skitz, and Taika Cohen, who appears in the new Dunedin feature film Scarfies.

Patston, a finalist last year, suffers from cerebral palsy and describes himself as New Zealand's only gay, vegetarian, pierced, wheelchair-using comedian.

Their performances will be shown in highlights of last night's Billy T Showcase on TV2 on Thursday.