The New Zealand Comedy Guild Incorporated was established in March 1999 to promote and protect the interests of the professional stand-up comedians and live comedy performers in New Zealand’s entertainment industry.

Chris Brain is the 2009 Billy T Award winner.

Te Radar is the 2009 winner of 'The Fred'

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MIKE BODNAR Contact Mike

Thanks to a previous existence as a broadcaster, Mike’s ear (along with his other one) is keenly attuned to the way we (ab)use the English language. He also likes to keep an eye (and occasionally two) on life around him.

What he does with these aural and visual observations is to sprinkle them with a dose of laterality and obliqueness, melding them into stand-up comedy routines that are genuinely entertaining and even revelatory. He makes you think.

Ten years ago when Mike did a one-off 10-minute comedy stint a critic said much of his material was over the heads of the audience. The critic is now part of the foundations on the new McKay’s Crossing flyover. Mike however took the opportunity in 2005 of re-launching himself seriously (can that be done?) into stand-up comedy, being awarded Best Newcomer at Wellington’s Green Room.

Since then he’s performed at regular R30 gigs at Wellington’s Katipo café, the Buzz Bar in Lower Hutt, Indigo (Runner-up 2006 Rookie Competition), been part of the Wellington Fringe ’06 stand-up show This Time Next Year, and has even done Wanganui, though he prefers not to talk about that. Before it sank off Island Bay he organised a very successful comedy evening on board the frigate HMNZS Wellington. It went down well. So did the frigate. He’s also played the Classic in Auckland, and does a mean Billy Connolly.

Mike has experience as an MC and his communications work in the private and public sector makes him ideal for corporate functions as well as mainstream comedy gigs.