Kenny Sebastian, a popular Indian stand-up comedian, brought his show ‘Professor of Tomfoolery’ to Christchurch on July 20, 2023, at Westend Event Centre.
The show was organised by Madras Factory, and it was part of Sebastian’s Australia and New Zealand tour, which also included three shows in Auckland and one in Wellington.
About 200 people attended in Christchurch, excited to witness his comedic brilliance. Sebastian rose to fame through his YouTube channel, where he shares stand-up clips and original skits, amassing an impressive 152 million views since 2008.
The Bangalore-bred, Mumbai-based stand-up is in the middle of one of the largest world tours by an Indian comedian. Kenny has played more than 1,500 shows worldwide.
He has been on tour since April 2023 starting with Canada and USA, followed by an extensive Europe tour and then Australia, where he performed seven shows in five cities.
In 2017, he produced an hour-long comedy special for Amazon Prime, and in 2020 he released ‘The Most Interesting Person In The Room’ on Netflix.
The New Zealand tour marked his first appearance in the country. The 32-year-old comedian, known for his honest and relatable humour, began his elaborate sixth comedy show on November 18, 2022, in Hyderabad.
In ‘Professor Of Tomfoolery’, Sebastian shares heartfelt but relatable stories as the family theme takes centrestage. He talks about funny memories from his childhood, including his adventurous first car ride with his parents. Kenny skillfully uses storytelling to dissect and mock the pressures faced by children in a nation that often disregards their voices.
Sebastian also explores the differences between generations like Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha. He shows how they handle life’s challenges in their own unique ways, making the audience burst into laughter.
Kenny added a personal touch by sharing stories about his wife Tracy and creating fictional tales about her relatives, which everyone can connect with.
Eesha, a guest at the Christchurch gig, shared her excitement: “I have been eagerly waiting for Kenny to come to New Zealand for a long time. I have attended his shows in Bangalore before and wanted my Kiwi boyfriend to experience his zany humor too. And he didn’t disappoint!”
A master of improv, Sebastian’s stand-up set allows him to be quirky and eccentric without taking any moral high ground. His endearing personality is his unique selling point, and he connected effortlessly with his fans.
Sebastian also engaged in crowd work during the show, interacting with the audience, asking questions, and finding humour in their responses, leaving everyone laughing uncontrollably.
When asked about the difference between his shows in India and abroad, Kenny said, “There’s no divide. I don’t water down my jokes to make them palatable for the non-Indian audience. The jokes and the stories actually become a way for them to discover the Indian culture.”
The show was enjoyable and captivating, observing how different generations in desi households interact, seamlessly combining thought-provoking questions with entertainment to keep the audience engaged.
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