Whanganui will get the chance to see Elizabeth McMenamin-Pervin's brand of observational comedy next week. Photo / Supplied
Whanganui will get the chance to see Elizabeth McMenamin-Pervin's brand of observational comedy next week. Photo / Supplied
Stand-up comedy nights will soon be a monthly fixture in Whanganui.
DIY Comedy, the team behind the Raw Comedy Quest, is setting up shop at Porridge Watson next week, and a Whanganui local will be performing her routine for only the second time.
While Elizabeth McMenamin-Pervin has a history intheatre, telling jokes to an audience is something brand new to her.
"A lot of my friends in Auckland are professional comedians, and I was just like 'I reckon I can do that'," McMenamin-Pervin said.
"Mostly, I wanted to get in to comedy purely because of my love of it."
McMenamin-Pervin, whose style sits in the "observational" category, said that while a six-minute set didn't sound like a lot, writing enough material was harder than it seemed.
"You'd get to three minutes, and then it was 'oh s**t, there's another three to go'.
"Have I got a solid six in the bag? I've got a six, but who knows if it's solid."
Local comedians Kajun Campbell Brooking and Dave Wiggins will also feature next week, and McMenamin-Pervin said she was a big fan of both.
Alongside the Whanganui talent next week will be DIY Comedy founder Ben "Tito" Caldwell.
He said there had been attempts at setting up a permanent comedy night in the city but none had stuck as yet.
"I suppose this is another attempt, but the fact that there's now a really strong performer base in Whanganui really helps," Caldwell said.
"We are trying to make sure local acts are looked after in terms of the spots that are available, which are semi-professional and rookie spots."
Ben Caldwell is the man behind the monthly event. Photo / Supplied
While comedy was traditionally a "male domain", Caldwell said it was important that women and gender-diverse people had an opportunity to get on stage as well.
"In a place the size of Whanganui you need to pick from as many different demographics as you possibly can to try and cultivate an audience.
"If you keep going down the same well you'll eventually dry out."
McMenamin-Pervin said female New Zealand comics such as Rose Matafeo and Melanie Bracewell had inspired her to give it a go herself.
"All the guys seem confident to get up, so why wouldn't we give it a go as well?
"People say 'I can't believe you're going to do this' but once I had kids, nothing else scared me.
"I've already done the scariest thing, so how hard can comedy be?"
Wiggins was returning from a long comedy break and would be the MC for the evening, Caldwell said.
"He was a very successful comedian in Auckland, a Billy T nominee, then gave it all up to move to Whanganui.
"Traditionally, comedians who have moved out of urban centres and into the provinces don't have the ability to perform, because there's been no local scene.
"Now there's something developing in a places like Whanganui it means they can get back into it."
DIY Comedy Live At Porridge Watson is on Thursday, August 12. The show begins at 8pm.
