Comic prepares to 'throw things out there and see what sticks'

Having Tourette's syndrome and playing poker is difficult, says a 2013 Dunedin Fringe Festival comedian.

Nick Gibb, of Auckland, said he would headline the five comedians performing in the second season of the Polson Higgs Comedy Club at the 2013 Dunedin Fringe Festival.

The 2011 Billy T Award winner said he would try to read and respond to the Dunedin crowd.

''I'll do what I usually do.

''I'll throw things out there and see what sticks.''

Part of his show would talk about living with Tourette's syndrome, Mr Gibb said.

''I have a story about playing poker in Vegas and the difficulty of managing a poker game with Tourette's. It's not the best combination.''

Comedians' personal inadequacies often produced good comedy.

''Anything that is wrong with yourself, anything you can shine a light on, any quirks, it all helps.''

MC Simon McKinney, of Auckland, said he was appointed MC of the second season because he spent the first 22 years of his life in Dunedin.

''Being a Dunedin boy is a good way to welcome this fabulous talent.''

Dunedin was renowned for challenging crowds and comedians had to ''work hard'' to get laughs, he said.

''Billy Connolly said, 'It takes a while to get them on your side but once you do, you almost have to get them surgically removed'.''

He had opened for Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan and English comedian Stephen Merchant and was the ''warm-up'' comedian for New Zealand's Got Talent. He had just performed on a two-week cruise from Brisbane to Osaka, Mr McKinney said.

''That was a blast.''

Tevita Manukia, of Auckland, said his comedy would ''poke fun'' at his Tongan descent and would address the common misconceptions between Pakehas and Tongans and vice versa.

''They think we are all cleaners but in Otago, even the cleaners are white.''

Dunedin comedians Lockie Rhodes and Kate Hanwould perform at the three-night season, which begins tonight.

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What's on
Today
Daily: Wild Lines, Otago Museum Reserve.
Daily: Civilising Divisions, streets of the central city.
9am-4pm: Monsters Great and Small, Margaret Freeman Gallery.
9.30am-5pm: Woven Luxury, Seriously Twisted.
10am-6pm: Graf The Box, Octagon.
11.30am: Queer Deportment, George St.
Noon-6pm: Hurry Up and Wait, Dowling Street Project Space.
12.30pm: RE:Perform,The Blue Oyster Shipping Container, Festival Hub (Octagon).
1pm-7pm: On The Rise, Flourish Studio Gallery.
2pm-6pm: Reduction of the Deity, Community Gallery.
7pm: Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, The Church.
7pm: In Absentia, The Globe Theatre.
7pm: Bonnie Prince Charlie, Otago Boys High School.
7pm: Lines Of Flight, Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
7pm: Ngatahi _ Know The Links, Queens.
7pm: A Night At The Theatre, Pioneer Women's Hall
7pm: The Funniest Joke In The World, Ombrellos
7.30pm: Break-In, 33 Jetty St.
8pm: Entomo, Temple Gallery.
8pm: Gobsmacked: Showbiz and Dating, Isis Lounge.
8pm: Polson Higgs Comedy Club, Municipal Chambers.
8pm: For Your Future Guidance, Community Gallery.
8.30pm: In and Out Of Context, The Octagon.
8.30pm: The Adventures of Jimi Samoa, Ombrellos
9pm: Festival Club, Queens.
9pm: A Play About Space, The Globe Theatre.
10pm: The Almanac Experiment, Ombrellos.
10pm: Trubie and Abby Are Just A Bit Worried, Queens.
10pm: Porcelain Punch Travelling Medicine Show, Fortune Studio Theatre.

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- shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz