Sam Wills
Encyclopedia
Sam Wills is a 32 year old professional New Zealand
prop-comic currently residing in London
. On stage he performs as "The boy with tape on his face" or as one half of the two person act "Spitroast" or simply as Sam Wills. He performs regularly on the New Zealand Comedy Circuit, has featured in the New Zealand International Comedy Festival
and the World Buskers Festival.
's Circus School where he has taught juggling there for two years. His interest in the phenomenon of traditional circus freak shows and influences such as the Jim Rose Circus
and the Tokyo Shock Boys led to experiments with shock comedy, earning him his first Pulp Comedy appearance, the Best New Face award for the 2001 season, and the title ‘Prince of Cringe’ from Truth and TV Extra magazine.
Until 2001, Sam was a driving force in the Christchurch
entertainment scene, featured at balls, private functions and corporate events; running weekly comedy nights and appearing on local television.
January 2002 saw Sam move to Auckland to become resident comedian at the casino in SKYCITY Auckland
. His weekly show, the NCB Comedy Hour, is now in its fourth year and continues to push the boundaries of comedy performance with its blend of circus skill and vaudeville
style.
In March 2008 Sam took his show 'The Boy with Tape on His Face' to the Melbourne Comedy Festival, where it received great critical acclaim.
After Melbourne, Sam moved to London.
. He has also performed at the World Buskers' Festival in 2004, 2005 and 2008. He was a consistent performer on Pulp Comedy during its three seasons on TV2. He performed on the red carpet
for the World Premier of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
in Wellington
. He was the support act for David Strassman
's 2003 tour of New Zealand. He has also performed at private functions for the former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark
and the King of Tonga George Tupou V
. In the UK he made an ITV appearance on Comedy Rocks hosted by Jason Manford (2011), and also appeared at the first ever BBC Comedy Prom at London's Royal Albert Hall on 13 August 2011 (broadcast on BBC 2 on 27 August 2011).
In 2002, he received the Best Marketing award from the New Zealand International Comedy Festival
.
In 2005, he received New Zealand's highest comedy honours, the Billy T Award
for his show Dance Monkey Dance: The Evolution of Sam Wills and the "Best Show" award from the New Zealand Comedy Guild.
In 2006, he received the "Best Show" and "Best Show Concept" awards from the New Zealand Comedy Guild.
In 2007, he received the "Best Show" and "Best Show Concept" awards from the New Zealand Comedy Guild as well as the "Best Poster" and "Best Show Auckland" awards at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival
.
In 2008, he received the "Peoples Choice" award at the World Buskers Festival and the Groggy Squirrel Readers Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. He was also nominated for the 'Best Newcomer' at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.
In 2011 he won best breakthrough act at chortle live comedy awards 2011 as 'the boy with tape on his face'
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...
prop-comic currently residing in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. On stage he performs as "The boy with tape on his face" or as one half of the two person act "Spitroast" or simply as Sam Wills. He performs regularly on the New Zealand Comedy Circuit, has featured in the New Zealand International 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:...
and the World Buskers Festival.
Biography
Sam Wills was born on 29 August 1978 and began his performing career in Timaru at the age of thirteen while he trained as an apprentice clown. He has since mastered a diverse range of performance styles and skills. He holds a diploma in New Circus from Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of TechnologyChristchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology
The Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology , formerly the Christchurch Technical College, is an institute of technology in Christchurch, New Zealand...
's Circus School where he has taught juggling there for two years. His interest in the phenomenon of traditional circus freak shows and influences such as the Jim Rose Circus
Jim Rose Circus
The Jim Rose Circus is a modern-day version of a circus sideshow. It was founded in Seattle by Jim Rose in the early 1990s. The sideshow came to prominence as a second stage show at the 1992 Lollapalooza festival, then called the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow...
and the Tokyo Shock Boys led to experiments with shock comedy, earning him his first Pulp Comedy appearance, the Best New Face award for the 2001 season, and the title ‘Prince of Cringe’ from Truth and TV Extra magazine.
Until 2001, Sam was a driving force in the Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
entertainment scene, featured at balls, private functions and corporate events; running weekly comedy nights and appearing on local television.
January 2002 saw Sam move to Auckland to become resident comedian at the casino in SKYCITY Auckland
SKYCITY Auckland
SKYCITY Auckland is a casino and event centre in the Central Business District of Auckland, New Zealand. Located at the base of the Sky Tower, it was the second casino in New Zealand, and still is the only one in Auckland....
. His weekly show, the NCB Comedy Hour, is now in its fourth year and continues to push the boundaries of comedy performance with its blend of circus skill and vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
style.
In March 2008 Sam took his show 'The Boy with Tape on His Face' to the Melbourne Comedy Festival, where it received great critical acclaim.
After Melbourne, Sam moved to London.
Notable performances
Sam performed as the MC of the Late Club at the Auckland Festival in 2005 (AK05) and for First Night at the Aotea CentreAotea Centre
The Aotea Centre is a performing arts and events centre / theatre in the Auckland CBD, Auckland City, New Zealand. Located at the western edge of Aotea Square, off Queen Street, the centre provides cultural venue space in the heart of the city and is managed by 'The Edge'...
. He has also performed at the World Buskers' Festival in 2004, 2005 and 2008. He was a consistent performer on Pulp Comedy during its three seasons on TV2. He performed on the red carpet
Red carpet
A red carpet is traditionally used to mark the route taken by heads of state on ceremonial and formal occasions, and has in recent decades been extended to use by VIPs and celebrities at formal events.- History :...
for the World Premier of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a 2003 epic fantasy-drama film directed by Peter Jackson that is based on the second and third volumes of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings...
in 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...
. He was the support act for David Strassman
David Strassman
David Strassman, is an American ventriloquist who is best known for his ventriloquism act with the characters Ted E. Bare and Chuck Wood. He began performing magic at the age of twelve after a visit to the Magic Castle in Hollywood.-Biography:David Strassman is the second of four children. His...
's 2003 tour of New Zealand. He has also performed at private functions for the former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
and the King of Tonga George Tupou V
George Tupou V
George Tupou V , is the current King of Tonga.-Early life:...
. In the UK he made an ITV appearance on Comedy Rocks hosted by Jason Manford (2011), and also appeared at the first ever BBC Comedy Prom at London's Royal Albert Hall on 13 August 2011 (broadcast on BBC 2 on 27 August 2011).
Awards
In 2001, Sam received Pulp Comedy's Best New Face Award.In 2002, he received the Best Marketing award from the New Zealand International 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:...
.
In 2005, he received New Zealand's highest comedy honours, the Billy T Award
Billy T Award
The Billy T Award is New Zealand’s most prestigious comedy award recognizing New Zealand comedians with outstanding potential. It has been presented annually since its inception in 1997 when Cal Wilson and Ewen Gilmour shared the award...
for his show Dance Monkey Dance: The Evolution of Sam Wills and the "Best Show" award from the New Zealand Comedy Guild.
In 2006, he received the "Best Show" and "Best Show Concept" awards from the New Zealand Comedy Guild.
In 2007, he received the "Best Show" and "Best Show Concept" awards from the New Zealand Comedy Guild as well as the "Best Poster" and "Best Show Auckland" awards at the New Zealand International 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:...
.
In 2008, he received the "Peoples Choice" award at the World Buskers Festival and the Groggy Squirrel Readers Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. He was also nominated for the 'Best Newcomer' at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.
In 2011 he won best breakthrough act at chortle live comedy awards 2011 as 'the boy with tape on his face'
External links
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kBTbBOhg0k&feature=related Sam Wills on Youtube