Mel Parsons, above, will be delivering a jolly good time together with James Nokise.
Mel Parsons, above, will be delivering a jolly good time together with James Nokise.
Combine the talents of a folk singer and a Samoan/Welsh comic and something entirely different is created as Northland audiences are about to find out.
Comedian James Nokise and songstress Mel Parsons combine their considerable - and considerably dissimilar - talents in their cabaret show, Beauty and the Bro.
AFred Dagg Comedy Award nominee and two-time Billy T Comedy Award nominee, Nokise has carved out a reputation in New Zealand for going after everything from gangs to politicians to Pacific Island stereotypes.
Fresh from four years working on the United Kingdom stand-up comedy circuit, he's also performed at the Edinburgh and Adelaide festivals, guest lectured at universities, been a member of the award winning Puppet Fiction (Pulp Fiction with Puppets) crew and written Wellington's popular political satire series,
Nokise has returned from the UK stand-up comedy circuit to perform Soso Gangsta, his hilarious and slightly true take on New Zealand gang culture.
Parsons will be presenting new work, plus a variety of songs from her first two albums - ranging from rollicking country numbers to heartfelt ballads, and accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Gerry Paul (Grada, Tim O'Brien).
Parsons grew up on the West Coast but now calls home a hotel room and a suitcase.
*Arts on Tour New Zealand is helping Beauty and the Bro tour the country, including three Northland venues: The Turner Centre, Kerikeri, Tuesday, September 23, 7.30pm; Copthorne Hokianga, Omapere, Wednesday, September 24, 7.30pm; The Riverbank Centre, Reyburn House Lane, Whangarei, Friday, September 26, 7.30pm.
