Matt Elliott (comedian)
Encyclopedia
Matt Elliott is a New Zealand
stand-up comedian and established author and biographer.
and was educated at St Peter's College
where he won the General excellence and senior English prizes in 1987.
in a show called Lewd and the Ludicrous. In 1991 he was runner up in a comedy quest at Auckland's Abby's Hotel. Elliott then became part of a comedy collective called Laughter Mafia which performed weekly and successfully at the same venue which became the comedy venue of Auckland in 1991 and 1992. Elliott was also involved in monthly shows by comedians called "Comedyfest" at Kitty O'Brien's Irish Pub and other venues in 1992 and 1993. After his stint in Melbourne (see below), Elliott participated in the 1994 Auckland Watershed Comedy Festival
.
because opportunites to perform were limited in Auckland. Abby's had wound down and Kitty O'Brien's only offered five or ten minutes in a monthly show. Elliott was the first Kiwi comedian to work on the Melbourne circuit in the early 1990s. He appreciated the professionalism and competitiveness of the comedy scene in Melbourne and also the friendliness of the audiences. Elliott said: "sometimes the advertising for shows said that I was from New Zealand so I would start by saying 'I've just got to get something out of the way - fush and chups'. That would get a great reaction, then I would get on with the rest of my act". Often, Elliott was able to perform every night of the week at pub shows or in a succession of one-off monthly shows. As 1993 went on, his style became based more on one-liners than the longer material he had been doing in New Zealand - he felt that there was less for him to remember and also less for the audience to "wade through". After one and a half years, and having achieved his "professional goals", Elliott returned to Auckland in 1994.
. He produced and presented a weekly radio show dedicated to promoting comedy - old and new - on Wellington
Access Radio for two years and authored the satirical news blog mattelliottsbreaking news. Elliott's last stand-up comedy appearance was in 2007. However, he is known for his large collection of comedy audio and has played selections from it on National Radio and with Graeme Hill
on Radio Live
. His knowledge of New Zealand comedy history has also been used in television programmes such as New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers
and Rocked the Nation 2: Top 100 Pop Culture Stories. He has now written two books, one a history of New Zealand comedy and, in 2009, a biography of the New Zealand comedy legend, Billy T James. The latter work was a best-selling non-fiction title and declared the best biography for 2009 by North & South. He has two other writing projects in train.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
stand-up comedian and established author and biographer.
Background
Elliott comes from AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and was educated at St Peter's College
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
where he won the General excellence and senior English prizes in 1987.
Early days
Elliott began performing professionally as a stand-up comedian as a "nervous teenager" in 1989 at a late night cabaret at the Station Hotel, AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in a show called Lewd and the Ludicrous. In 1991 he was runner up in a comedy quest at Auckland's Abby's Hotel. Elliott then became part of a comedy collective called Laughter Mafia which performed weekly and successfully at the same venue which became the comedy venue of Auckland in 1991 and 1992. Elliott was also involved in monthly shows by comedians called "Comedyfest" at Kitty O'Brien's Irish Pub and other venues in 1992 and 1993. After his stint in Melbourne (see below), Elliott participated in the 1994 Auckland Watershed Comedy Festival
New Zealand International Comedy Festival
The New Zealand International Comedy Festival is held annually in Auckland and Wellington with a travelling convoy visiting other parts of New Zealand. It is run by the NZ Comedy Trust. -Main Events:...
.
Melbourne
In early 1993, Elliott moved to MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
because opportunites to perform were limited in Auckland. Abby's had wound down and Kitty O'Brien's only offered five or ten minutes in a monthly show. Elliott was the first Kiwi comedian to work on the Melbourne circuit in the early 1990s. He appreciated the professionalism and competitiveness of the comedy scene in Melbourne and also the friendliness of the audiences. Elliott said: "sometimes the advertising for shows said that I was from New Zealand so I would start by saying 'I've just got to get something out of the way - fush and chups'. That would get a great reaction, then I would get on with the rest of my act". Often, Elliott was able to perform every night of the week at pub shows or in a succession of one-off monthly shows. As 1993 went on, his style became based more on one-liners than the longer material he had been doing in New Zealand - he felt that there was less for him to remember and also less for the audience to "wade through". After one and a half years, and having achieved his "professional goals", Elliott returned to Auckland in 1994.
Career
From the 1990s, Elliott has had sold out shows at Comedy and Fringe festivals, worked in television and film, written and directed satirical revues, devised and taught a comedy writing course which spawned the Ministry of Chocolate Fisheries sketch comedy radio show on Plains FMPlains FM
Plains FM, is a community access radio station in Christchurch, New Zealand broadcasting to Canterbury on 96.9FM since 1989.The station provides training and facilities to groups and individuals in Canterbury who wish to make their own radio programmes by, for and about their communities...
. He produced and presented a weekly radio show dedicated to promoting comedy - old and new - on Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
Access Radio for two years and authored the satirical news blog mattelliottsbreaking news. Elliott's last stand-up comedy appearance was in 2007. However, he is known for his large collection of comedy audio and has played selections from it on National Radio and with Graeme Hill
Graeme Hill
Graeme Hill is a New Zealand broadcaster. He has been a weekend and fill-in host for Radio Live since the station's inception, and currently hosts a 10:00 to 14:00 talk show with a focus on music and science. He was previously an announcer on Radio Sport...
on Radio Live
Radio Live
Radio Live and Radio Live Sport are nationwide Auckland-based New Zealand talkback, news and sports radio networks owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand...
. His knowledge of New Zealand comedy history has also been used in television programmes such as New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers
New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers
New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers was a weekly television programme first shown on Prime Television New Zealand on 6 October 2005. 430 notable New Zealanders were ranked by a panel to determine the 100 most influential in New Zealand history...
and Rocked the Nation 2: Top 100 Pop Culture Stories. He has now written two books, one a history of New Zealand comedy and, in 2009, a biography of the New Zealand comedy legend, Billy T James. The latter work was a best-selling non-fiction title and declared the best biography for 2009 by North & South. He has two other writing projects in train.