Raw Comedy Quest: A Launching Pad for Local Talent
Laughter is a lifeblood of Wellington’s arts scene, and this August, The Hannah will host the Raw Comedy Quest Wellington Final, a night where the next generation of comics step into the spotlight. The nationwide competition has launched countless careers, and in Wellington it has been nurtured for 15 years by producer Jerome Chandrahasen, who knows just how transformative stand-up can be.
Jerome’s journey into comedy wasn’t a calculated career choice. He was studying maths and sciences and used to go along to watch high school friend James Nokise perform, while Ben Hurley was running both the uni drama club and the Wellington Comedy Club. It was a scene brimming with possibility, and Jerome found himself caught up in the momentum.
“When you hang around those troublesome sorts, next thing you know you’re on stage! So I just sort of slipped into it by accident and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Comedy thrives in communities and with infrastructure that allow performers to take risks. That’s exactly what Jerome and a group of friends set out to create when they saw a gap in the city. What began as a $5 open mic night has become the backbone of Wellington comedy.
“There was a bit of a comedy vacuum… so we set up a charitable trust called the Humorous Arts Trust in 2010. That was myself, Jim Stanton and Matiaha Paku and we were just running a five dollar open mic night. We wanted something that could sustain more than one person — so if somebody left, the comedy would still keep happening.”
That night became Raw Meat Monday, which has been running every week since 2010. “We must have done, I don’t know, 700, 800 shows,” Jerome says. “Quite a number of comedians have started there — Guy Williams, Hoani Hotene who won the Billy T Award this year, Lesa MacLeod-Whiting, Alice Brine… and many more. So yeah, there’s quite a lineage.”
Wellington is where comedy thrives on freedom and fun. Unlike bigger cities with strict hierarchies and career “steps,” Jerome explains that Wellington’s scene is refreshingly open. The only real entry requirement is that you’re enjoying yourself.
“Playground is a really good word for it. We don’t have the strict hierarchical system you might have in bigger cities where you have to move up the comedy ladder. In Wellington we’re just: are you having fun? Great. We’ll chuck you on.”
It’s this openness that Jerome reckons has helped Wellington punch above its weight in the Raw Comedy Quest. “Wellington has won something like 40% of the Raw Comedy Quest finals,” Jerome says. “We’ve had bagpipes, mimes, deadpan one-liners, political comedy, absurdist comedy… there will be a space for you at a gig somewhere in Wellington for that type of comedy.”
The comedy scene — like its audience — is shifting with the times. Jerome has watched as younger generations have come through in waves, and more recently, as those waves have changed. The days of large student crowds flooding in have given way to a different pattern, with performers often arriving later in life, and with richer lived experiences.
“We don’t get as many students coming through. There used to be really big groups of students who’d come through and support their mates. I think how universities changed into more vocational degrees and rental prices pushing students further out into the suburbs has made it harder for them to come in. So generally people are coming into comedy now in their mid-20s rather than their early 20s or teens.”
At the same time, the digital world has added a whole new dimension. Online platforms are now springboards into live performance. “A great example of that would be someone like Joe Daymond, who built up this massive online following, but then also took the time into building up his craft as a stand-up comedian and then just did a sold-out tour… Melanie Bracewell is another classic example.”
Comedy isn’t just about laughter — it’s about connection. In a world where people often feel isolated, live comedy offers something rare: the chance to sit in a room full of strangers and realise you’ve shared the same thoughts, frustrations, or awkward experiences. And it matters.
“It’s a really cathartic experience to be sitting in a room with a bunch of people and to all realise ‘oh we’ve all had that same experience…’ Hearing it spoken out loud and getting to laugh about it can be quite a community building sort of thing. And there are so many diverse voices in New Zealand comedy now… Māori, Pacifica, South American performers, rainbow community voices. You’re going to find something in there for you that you’re going to connect with.”
This is the magic of Raw Comedy Quest — uniting different voices, generations, and styles into one unforgettable night.
Fast-paced. Silly. Political. Absurdist. Unpredictable. That’s how Jerome anticipates this year’s Wellington Final will roll. From razor-sharp one-liners to surreal absurdities, the night promises to showcase the full spectrum of what comedy can be.
“It’s just going to be a great night out,” he says. Hosted by Justine Smith — “she’s just a crack up… she’s a really good example of that sort of Kiwi camaraderie” — the night will also feature a set from 2019 Wellington winner Opeti Vaka. “He’s Māori, Tongan, lives up the Kāpiti Coast and just does really, really funny material about culture and being a father and family man.”
It’s the first time The Hannah has hosted Raw Comedy Quest. She’s long been a home for bold and adventurous performance, and her central location makes it the perfect stage for a competition built on discovery.
“We’re really excited to be moving to The Hannah for the very first time. It’s a beautiful theatre and it’s in such a great location. It’s kind of nice that it’s just down the road from Fringe Bar too — you’re moving your way up Courtenay Place in your comedy career. Head a little bit further, you’ll get to the airport and it’ll take you to Auckland and out in the world!”