The rumours are true _{by Alessia Belsito-Riera}

Chris Parker is in the (Opera) House on the 19^th of July with his new show Stop Being So Dramatic. The self-proclaimed People’s Princess of Aotearoa is desperate to prove he’s really chill and down to earth, so he Zoomed in to spill the tea.

What do you have to say about these drama queen allegations?

Well, they’re very much true. They’ve been flying around since I was a child. I’ve always just been dramatic. I studied at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in Wellington, so I’ve even tried to make a name for myself with these allegations.

We love a diva. What can we expect from your new show?

Stop Being So Dramatic examines my history of performing and how I got to where I am now. It also examines some of the things that held me back – spoiler alert: they were all me – and how we get in the way of ourselves and the drive I have now to not diminish those parts of myself. I really celebrate them and perform them at their full scale. It’s about embracing those things that some people might classify as cringe, but I consider my special powers.

What do you love about comedy?

I love its directness. I love its access. It’s the most connected I feel to the audience. In a play, your scene partner is the other actor, but in stand-up I like to think it’s the audience. You and them are trying to form this genuine connection. Your better shows are always the ones where you are actually connecting with the audience rather than going through the material that you’ve gone through a million times. It’s such a beautiful promise. You’re going out there to make an audience laugh. There is no other hidden agenda, I’m just trying to give you the best night out.

What are you excited about for your Wellington show?

I think the Opera House is the best venue for comedy in the country, and Wellington has always been a highlight of the tour. This will be my third time doing a show in that venue and they’re always amazing. Wellington is the best city to have a little romantic weekend away. I do enjoy touring around the entire country but there’s something so beautiful about going to Wellington. And also, because I studied there for three years, there is this real-life satisfaction I feel being back. Now I can go into Iko Iko and buy a random little mug. When I was a student, I couldn’t do that – my dreams have all come true [laughs].

We’re so excited to have you – hopefully Wellington’s wind and weather will cooperate.

It won’t. Don’t say that; it never does. I’m not going to Wellington for the weather! No one is! That’s a good sign about a city. When people turn up even though they know the weather is terrible, you know you’ve got a good city on your hands.