Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News

Critically acclaimed comedy comes to The Meteor

Waikato Herald
24 Oct, 2020 06:07 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
James Roque: "There's power in seeing your story onstage and I want to give that to the Filipino community and wave our flag proudly." Photo / Supplied

James Roque: "There's power in seeing your story onstage and I want to give that to the Filipino community and wave our flag proudly." Photo / Supplied

Fresh from rave reviews and sell-out shows across Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, James Roque brings his hour of "too real" laughs to Kirikiriroa.

James has always thought his hang-ups about being brown came from when he landed on Kiwi soil all those years ago. Now he realises he may have accidentally checked in some baggage. Join him as he unpacks it all – who knows what will come out.

Live comedy is back at The Meteor Theatre in Hamilton with the arrival of James Roque's critically acclaimed show, Boy Mestizo.

A finalist for the Fred Award for Best Show in the 2019 NZ International Comedy Fest, this comic exploration of colonisation follows Roque unpacking his hang-ups about being brown, inspired by his first visit to the Philippines as an adult.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"The story is about my first visit to the Philippines in 20 years. So, if you're Filipino, expect to go 'oh, I know what that is', and if you're not, expect to learn something new! There's power in seeing your story onstage and I want to give that to the Filipino community and wave our flag proudly."

Having performed Boy Mestizo to sell-out crowds across Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland and even Bali, Roque wanted to bring this hit show back to Hamilton post-lockdown.

"We're all going through a tough time at the moment with the pandemic, and I think it's super important to still be able to have a laugh and a nice night out if you can.

"The cliché saying that 'laughter is the best medicine' exists for a reason – there's definitely truth in that."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Light-hearted and hilariously honest, this no-holds-barred takedown of the long-term effects of colonisation offers a deft touch to an often-tough conversation.

"The word 'mestizo' means mixed race," Roque explains. "In the Philippines, being mixed or lighter skinned is always what is considered more beautiful.

"Growing up, I never really questioned that. But now, as an adult, I've realised how messed up that actually is – and I reckon comedy is the best way to destroy that way of thinking."

A local favourite on the stand-up scene, Roque is a familiar face from Jono and Ben, Funny Girls and Only in Aotearoa. He's also a panellist for hit shows 7 Days and Have You Been Paying Attention? NZ.

Discover more

Six60 first concert for Hamilton in 10 years

14 Oct 04:43 AM

Council takes a stand against social media abuse

16 Oct 12:19 AM

Originair launches new route between Hamilton and Palmerston North

19 Oct 09:07 PM

Te Aroha woman part of an international breast cancer clinical trial

19 Oct 08:39 PM

He has opened for some of the biggest names in international comedy, including Nick Kroll, Ronny Chieng, Demetri Martin and Ron Funches.

• Boy Mestizo at The Meteor Theatre for one night only on Friday, October 30, 7.30pm. All tickets $25 + booking fees. Bookings: themeteor.co.nz

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Waikato News

Waikato Herald

'High-risk' shoplifter hides stolen loot in pram, takes 5 vacuums in two weeks

Waikato Herald

Gangs, meth and a murder trial: Why a key Crown witness rethought her loyalty to Mob boss

Waikato Herald

Mayor dismisses claims fugitive dad stole quad bike from farmer


Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Waikato News

'High-risk' shoplifter hides stolen loot in pram, takes 5 vacuums in two weeks
Waikato Herald

'High-risk' shoplifter hides stolen loot in pram, takes 5 vacuums in two weeks

In total, the young mum stole $8546 worth of items over several months.

05 Sep 06:00 AM
Gangs, meth and a murder trial: Why a key Crown witness rethought her loyalty to Mob boss
Waikato Herald

Gangs, meth and a murder trial: Why a key Crown witness rethought her loyalty to Mob boss

05 Sep 02:00 AM
Mayor dismisses claims fugitive dad stole quad bike from farmer
Waikato Herald

Mayor dismisses claims fugitive dad stole quad bike from farmer

05 Sep 01:15 AM


NZ’s convenience icon turns 35
Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

02 Sep 09:23 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP