MEET THE COLLECTIVE
Comedy Culture NZ is a theatre company and brand name for like-minded performers and producers to collaborate and grow under while championing queer, neurodiverse, differently abled voices from all cultures and backgrounds.
bridie thomson (she/they)
Pedantic Overlord & Honk Police
Having moved from Hawkes Bay to Auckland in early 2023, Bridie quickly learned the way to get amongst things in the Comedy scene was to put the shows on yourself. And that’s exactly what they did in the Summer of 2023, they started building a production house to create and experiment under, with the intention of collaborating and growing the collective into a resource and dependable brand for performers and audiences alike, without losing its DIY punk roots and integrity. First and foremost, it was a space for fellow queer, neurodiverse and differently abled folks to find their voice. Secondly, it was the only way they knew how to make friends.
Bridie is a self-taught Theatre Maker, clown and Entertainer with over 10 years of experience on stage, screen and behind the scenes. A versatile Actor and natural Comedian, Bridie excels in a vast range of comedic genres from clown to puppetry to sketch and is known for their larger-than-life characters and outrageous facial expressions. They can also be found alongside the improv troupes Improverished, This Might Get Weird & The Ruckus.
Beyond the stage, Bridie is an MC, Voice Actor, DJ, Audio Describer, Producer, Florist and list-maker who loves to collaborate!
Find them @bridiethomson or bridiethomson@gmail.com
Rebecca mary gwendolon (ANY/ALL)
Deputy Purveyor of Whimsy
Rebecca is a Pākehā/Māori performer (Te Rarawa, Ngai Takoto, Ngāti Awa) from Tāmaki, Aotearoa. Rebecca is an improvisor and comedian and power-house player of the Auckland improv scene; so it only made sense when they came on as a co-producer in early 2025. But most importantly Rebecca is just a Silly Billy trying to spread joyfulness in a challenging world. With a drive for creating inclusive, diverse, and accessible performances; Rebecca is passionate about pushing the boundaries of both improv and comedy. You can find them performing with many improv groups in their home city including Bull Rush, Casual First Date, Love Lamp and This Might Get Weird. He is also director of improvised theatre company, Improverished.
Rebecca is a critically acclaimed improviser, comedian, storyteller and producer who loves to collaborate! A powerhouse teacher to boot, they also thrive in creating improvised formats for both live stage shows and workshops.
Find them @rebeccamarygwendolon or rebecca@comedyculturenz.com
Izzy renton (she/her)
On Tour with NYPDEEZ Nuts + 100 Things
Izzy Renton is a British-New Zealand comedian with a background in film production (Star Wars Ep. VIII: The Last Jedi, Disobedience). Izzy has diverse improvised comedy experience: training at the Hoopla Improv School in London and performing across Tamaki Makaurau’s improv community (Mischief Company, Love Lamp, This Might Get Weird). However, the troupe she calls home is Improverished, with whom she has performed, directed, and taught since 2020.
Izzy recently branched out into stand-up comedy, attending the New Zealand Comedy School in 2024.
joel vinsen (he/him)
Open Mic Co-Producer & Comedian
Often absurd, sometimes dark, and frequently silly; Joel approaches his stand-up with equal parts respect and contempt. Unpredictable dumb/smart comedy delivered in a deadpan style. A true original and 2026 Billy T Comedy Award Nominee, Joel is part of the team who helps facilitate our open mic, weekly at Cafe 39.
@voeljinsen
Annie guo is a 2023 Raw Comedy Quest Finalist, sell-out Comedy Fest favourite and not-so-typical immigrant on a quest to find what kiwis find funny.
She is part of the team who helps faciliate Comedy Culture’s weekly open mic at Cafe 39 in Ponsonby, every Thursday.
@annieguocomedy
Annie guo (she/her)
Open Mic Co-Producer & Comedian