Raw Comedy Quest’s lower South Island semi-final is taking place in Wanaka this Saturday (August 7) and two local comedians are on the bill.

Considered a rite of passage for up-and-coming comedians, Raw Comedy Quest is New Zealand’s biggest open mic comedy competition. 

Wanaka comedians to reach the semi-finals include Sean Tinker and Henry Suttor.

Comedy hosts Remarkably Funny are helping organise the event and representative Tim Mueller said the competition was strong and the standard high.

“We've had three great heats in the Southern Lakes area with over 200 people coming along to watch so far,” he said.

He encourages locals to head along and support the performers at Saturday’s event.

“There's been a really high standard of performance from the entrants so far and I'm really excited to see what the ones who have progressed have to say on Saturday.”

Sean and Henry will be up against five other comedians, all of whom will be judged by local poet, writer and performer Liz Breslin and Queenstown-based comedian Darren A Hill.

The event is taking place at Rhyme and Reason Brewery.

It follows heats in seven locations around the lower South Island and it is one of three semi-finals taking place.

Successful comedians from the semi-finals will move on to the regional final, held this year in Queenstown, with the winner then representing the Lower South Island region at the national finals in Auckland.

Raw Comedy Quest’s lower South Island semi-finals will take place in Wanaka this Saturday (August 7) at Rhyme and Reason on Gordon Road, starting at 7.30pm.

General admission costs $15 and there are 20 tickets available for lower earners for $10. Book here.

The Lower South Island leg of the Raw Comedy Quest is a co-production between Dunedin Comedy, Remarkably Funny, and Terry Frisby. 

PHOTO: Supplied