Standout stand-up _{by Alessia Belsito-Riera}

With the silly season well and truly over and no more public holidays in sight until Easter, February and March may look a little daunting. But Aotearoa’s biggest comedy names and best up-and-coming talents are here to turn your frowns upside down with three consecutive weekends of laughter at Abandoned Taproom Petone.

Starting with the 20^th and 21^st of February, Weekend Laughs brings heavy-hitters Justine Smith and Jeremy Corbett to the stage. Acting as MC, Smith is one of New Zealand’s greatest with 7 Days, Taskmaster, and the 2003 Billy T Award padding out her resume. As for Corbett, he’s a man that needs no introduction as the host of 7 Days.

Joining them on the 20^th is award-winning British comedian Sully O’Sullivan and 2025 Wellington Raw Comedy Quest finalists Elliott Lam and Katy Borrows, while the 21^st slots are filled by 2025 Wellington Raw Comedy Quest finalist Ralph Hilaga and Guanny Liu-Prosee.

2025 Taskmaster star Jack Ansett will MC on the 27^th and 28^th of February for headliner James Nokise, a Fred Award-winning comedian known for his fearless approach and ability to give a voice to underrepresented communities.

Closing out the three weekends of standout stand-up on the 6^th and 7^th of March is MC Ben Hurley with an impressive lineup comprising 2025 Billy T Award and 2022 Raw Comedy Quest winner Hoani Hotene and 2026 Billy T nominee Kipling DC, the self-proclaimed ‘Big Dog’ of Wellington comedy.