Have a laugh at Sherwood
Comedian Pax Assadi will come to Queenstown to perform his latest show, Secrets, this week. The show isn’t about one big secret to be revealed at the end of the show, but rather features topics that the comic hasn’t broached before. It’s a show that will have you laughing out loud – he’ll explore topics he would usually be uncomfortable with, but from a very fun perspective.
Assadi started performing comedy in 2012 and has since racked up an impressive array of award nominations. He’s also appeared on a number of New Zealand TV shows including 7 Days and the 2016 International Comedy Gala. His performances bring a unique perspective that will resonate with people from every background, incorporating a blend of personal stories and insightful observations to tickle your funny bone. When on the topic of being a comedian in New Zealand, he says that one thing that unites us all is that we’ll laugh at almost anything.
“New Zealanders are quite willing to laugh at a real diverse spectrum of ideas and topics, and I think that’s why people have been responding really well to the show,” Assadi says.
He’s looking forward to heading down here and soaking up some of the scenery before jumping on stage. He doesn’t want to give away too much ahead of the evening, but the Queenstown show is at the end of the tour, so we’ll get to enjoy one of the most refined versions of Secrets.
“The show doesn’t have some big secret that I’m going to reveal that will change everyone’s life. The show is just made up of things that, for a very long time, I’ve been too nervous to explore. That’s thematically what the show is – it’s me as a comedian feeling ready and confident in my skill, and reaching an age now where I’m less worried about what people think of me – being ready to explore ideas and stories, and topics that normally most people would be embarrassed to share to an entire room of strangers."
Secrets was developed after Assadi felt stuck in a cycle of continuously getting bored of stand up, and then challenging himself to push the boundaries with the material he was delivering on stage, which would get him excited about it once again. The cycle would continue, so he felt it was important to think outside of the box more.
“Now I’ve reached this point where I’m pushing myself to be as vulnerable as I could possibly be, because you reach a point where the material you’re doing and the ideas you’re talking about don’t really excite you anymore. But you can change that – you can push yourself and do things that normally would make you feel uncomfortable.”
Figuring out how to do that, and how to walk the line is the exciting part according to Assadi. Continuing to engage in that process is what has brought him to the point he’s at now – feeling excited to get on stage. Concerned that exploring topics that he doesn’t feel ready to talk about, or that the audience won’t be into may result in a negative reaction, he’s surprised that “The audiences have been responding really well to the show!” The feedback has confirmed the idea that “Challenging yourself rewards you, usually.”
Despite the subject matter sounding a little serious, it’ll be a funny night. Assadi will explore topics that he’s usually uncomfortable talking about from very silly angles – turning the ideas into funny observations.
“I tell very goofy stories. The show itself is not serious at all. In fact, if you wanted to absorb the show from a perspective of just wanting to switch off for an hour and just listen to jokes, you can totally do that as well,” Assadi says.
Pax Assadi will take the stage for his show Secrets at Sherwood this Thursday, 7 November. You can find out more info and grab tickets from sherwoodqueenstown.nz/events
