Comedy Fest Questionnaire: Greg Ellis

Comedy Fest Questionnaire: Greg Ellis

1) Tell us what your show is called this year? 

Vance Fontaine for Lovers.

2)  Why? 

Because this is the show where Vance Fontaine, NZ's greatest singer and love legend, shares his romance secrets.

3) Can you give us a few hints as to what broadly your festival show is about? 

It's hard to say - it's completely improvised. But there will be a touch of romance and lots of improvised music.

4) How much time have you spent crafting the show over the past 12 months since the end of the last festival? 

We are always jamming together as a band but as each show is created on the night you can't really prepare.

5) The comedy festival is turning 21 this year – it’s a big age 21 – whatyou’re your memories of being 21? Or if you’re not old enough yet, you lucky person, what are your hopes for being 21? 

I got dumped by my girlfriend on the night of my 21^st.

6) The Comedy festival is one big party and catch up for a month - is there anyone you’re looking forward to seeing over here either socially or on stage? 

I always love catching up with Steve Wrigley. Once upon a time I was his school teacher.

7) What’s the comedy scene like at the moment who do you rate and why? 

I think Parliament is going very nicely right now.

8)  What’s the best piece of audience interaction you’ve had? 

Every show I do is all about the audience interaction. I've had 23 years of great interactions. But in one show last Comedy Festival a quite drunk young lady decided she was Vance Fontaine's daughter and came up onstage and threw her arms around me. We went with that.

9) What’s the most memorable part of performing for you within the last 12 months?

Getting to sing with my band is always an amazing thing for me.

10) When we say New Zealand International Comedy Festival to you, what’s the first thing you think of?

I've been in every one.

11) How would you persuade people to come and see your show?
Vance Fontaine for Lovers is unlike anything else in the festival. It's one man and an amazing band improvising stories and songs all from your suggestions. And it's been created right here in NZ.