Stand-up season
Award-winning comedian Tom Sainsbury is coming to town – twice! This Friday he’ll be tackling Kinross with his show, Can’t Dim This Shine, before performing Lessons Not Learnt in October in Arrowtown. He plans on bringing hilarious stand-up, a sprinkling of magic, some musings and comical melancholy to the stage.
Born in Matamata, Sainsbury was raised on a dairy farm and always enjoyed acting and drama. He moved to Auckland to study at the University of Auckland, majoring in English Literature and Theatre. Now he’s garnered the title of Aotearoa’s official “Snapchat dude,” and has stared in Taskmaster NZ, Wellington Paranormal and Snackmasters.
His stand-up is described as candid and Kiwi – the shows will bring the fun and cheekiness that Sainsbury is known for, but will dial it up a notch when it comes to risqué content and sharing more embarrassing personal tales. He’ll be talking about a wide range of topics, too, from A.I. to social anxiety, being the face of a major airline and living in an Airbnb for six months.
“Stand-up is my opportunity to witness the impact I'm having on people,” Sainsbury says. “When you upload something onto social media, or film something for TV or film, you're so distant from the audience. It's kind of lonely. Being able to connect with people, in real time, with them in front of you, is so special. It can be hard, of course, sometimes you struggle to hit all your comedy highs, but when you do – it's the best.”
Both shows will involve him with a mic, sharing some yarns with the audience. He’s been busy up in Auckland and Wellington the past year, doing open mic and crafting his act. He says the jokes are landing well and reckons they’ll go down a treat here, too, because we all have such a good sense of humour.
“Can't Dim This Shine is going to be a bit scrappier, a bit more loose, and bit more intimate. It's happening at a winery after all. I've performed at Kinross a few times and I'm just so close to the audience, it's like having friends over for a wine. My show in Arrowtown will be part of my National Tour – so much more official, much more of a proper show, but still with plenty of laughs.”
He loves performing around the country and loves getting insights into different places and how people live. He loves to hear all the gossip, making a few friends and getting to know a place. When he’s in town, he’s looking forward to staying at Kinross and unwinding a bit, and most importantly, meeting the audience.
“I just get so much out of having a wine with the stragglers after the shows, finding out a bit about their lives and then having a laugh. I love when they've connected with my social media videos and then give their own takes on life in the 80s, 90s, or what their Boomer Dad gets up to.”
Outside of the tour, Sainsbury has been working on a show called Small Town Scandal, which will come out on Sky and Neon in February. It’s an adaptation of a true-crime parody podcast. Following his NZ tour, he’s heading over to Australia and the UK next year, making the most of his love of travel and work.
Both shows will offer a relaxed environment and run for about an hour. You just get to show up, take a seat (and maybe a wine!) and chill as you’re entertained.
“And if you're hating it, or you need to go to the bathroom, it'll be over before you know it! And I always feel that a comedy show leaves you with hope for humanity and your community. It'll always lift your spirits,” he says.
Tom Sainsbury will perform his show Can’t Dim This Shine at Kinross on Friday, 22 August – tickets and info are available at kinross.nz. He’ll return to Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall on Saturday, 4 October with Lessons Not Learnt – tickets and info at moshtix.co.nz.
