James Mustapic a story to share with us
James, pet cat, James’s mum Janet
OK, we stole it. James Mustapic’s signature surname-driven show title pun. It’s possible he didn’t fully approve of us doing this, but we’re rolling with it because it just… works, right?!
We love the way James names his shows. A simple twist on his surname, and suddenly you’re in his world. Self-aware, a little bit silly, and very personal.
For the 2026 New Zealand International Comedy Festival, that world expands again. This time, it’s a little more revealing, a little more reflective… and, unsurprisingly, still very funny.
From YouTube to the spotlight
James’s origin story feels familiar to a generation raised online, but the leap from screen to stage is where things get interesting.
“I used to make YouTube videos… as a little outlet,” he says. “I really liked being funny… I was kind of shy, but when I would do school speeches, I always tried to be funny and silly.”
Stand-up, however, was a different beast entirely.
“It was really scary. But also really cool… you get automatic feedback. On YouTube you just imagine everyone is laughing… but with stand-up, that really gets put to the test.”
That test — brutal and immediate — became part of the appeal. The nerves, the setbacks, the small wins. “You start to think you’re the best and then you get setbacks… and that challenges you to do more and try to get better. It’s kind of the loop. But it's good.”
Mining real life (and real drama)
If James’s comedy feels personal, that’s because it is. His material draws heavily from his own life — the awkward, the chaotic, and the juicy.
“I like to have a little goss… so when I’m telling stories from my life, that’s when I’m really like, ‘oh my gosh, I’m getting into it.’ I want the audience to feel like they’re a friend.”
This year’s show, titled James Mustapic Yourself Up And Get Back On That Saddle Girlfriend, leans even further into that idea, shaped by what he describes as a year of ups and downs.
“It felt like the past year has been a lot of… you get a knockdown and then you get back up again.”
While some details remain diplomatically vague, the emotional truth is very much intact. And, as he jokes, the title may have accidentally manifested the chaos it now contains.
Enter: Mum
No conversation with James is complete without mentioning his mum — an accidental co-star who has become something of a fan favourite.
“She’s always been very supportive… she would go along with whatever I was doing,” he says. “I’d just film her and say, ‘now say this and do that.’”
Despite not being a natural performer, she’s leaned into the ride, even if it’s sometimes somewhat reluctantly.
“She will sometimes say, ‘oh I don’t want to do that,’ but I think she secretly does love it.”
One particularly memorable moment saw her rehearsing a single line “like 5000 times”… only to get it wrong every night. “It was very funny. It makes it more engaging I think.”
This year, she’ll be in the audience at The Hannah, and, if past behaviour is anything to go by, possibly out socialising with the crowd afterwards.
This year’s show
James describes the 2026 show as a “multimedia extravaganza,” blending stand-up with visual storytelling.
“I’ve got the projector, I’ve got the PowerPoint… lots of clips and photos from things that went down in the past year.”
We can’t wait for the goss. It’s a format that feels very James Mustapic; a natural evolution of his YouTube beginnings, now sharpened by years of live performance.
For audiences who’ve followed him beyond the stage, including Celebrity Treasure Island (of which he was the 2023 winner thank you very much) there’s an added layer of connection.
“The type of comedy I like is when I get a glimpse into the person’s life,” he says. “So I do try to be genuine… the stories in my show, they are true stories.”
That familiarity works both ways. Audiences feel like they know him, which means they’re even more invested in what happens next.
Mustapics: who else to see
No Comedy Fest chat would be complete without a few recommendations, and Mustapic delivers!
Among his picks:
Abby Howells
David Correos
Elouise Eftos
Angella Dravid
Oliver Pol
And of course, his own show — which he assures is a very strong pick indeed.
As for being recommended by comedy celebs Ray O'Leary and Bree Tomasel?
“A bit of nepotism is going on, I think,” he laughs. “But I’ll take it.”
The real funny bits
What makes a James Mustapic show land isn’t just the jokes, though there are plenty. It’s the feeling that you’re being let in on something. A story, a moment, a slightly-too-honest reflection on life as it unfolds. Messy, human, and very, very funny.
Or, to put it simply: he Mustapics the moments you didn’t know you needed to laugh at.