Taking centre stage

Christchurch-raised comedian and actor Chris Parker had a big year in 2021, winning Celebrity Treasure Island and adapting to a new way of working and creating throughout multiple lockdowns. Chris has an exciting year ahead, kicking things off with his nationwide tour this February.

Growing up in Canterbury, Chris developed a love of performing from a young age. Heading to Wellington to study at Toi Whakaari was a big step in getting to where he is today in his career. You may have spotted him on screen, having appeared in popular shows including Jono and Ben, 7 Days and Have You Been Paying Attention, as well as a handful of New Zealand films.

While he now lives in Auckland, Christchurch still holds a special place in his heart. “Absolutely I am still very connected to Christchurch. I have loved seeing the city through the rebuild come back to life again, I’m very invested in it.”

For many industries, the year just passed was full of challenges, and unforeseen hardship. As a performer living in Auckland, Chris felt the impact of lockdowns and restrictions alongside many others.
With cancelled comedy events and tours, Chris was looking for ways to still reach and connect with his audience, and he gravitated towards his social media channels.

Short, humorous videos on Instagram became a new outlet. “I asked myself, well what can I do to keep myself entertained? I was mostly doing them for myself, and then a couple of big ones took off.”

Playing various characters that were easily relatable seemed to be catching the attention of Kiwis all over the country. As we would wait to hear the weekly press conferences and latest alert level updates, Chris and his characters were also riding the same anxious wave with us, providing much needed comedic relief to his audience, and himself. “I never want to torture myself with work, so I always make sure I am enjoying what I’m making.”

Last year was also full of a different kind of challenge for Chris, as he underwent the gruelling process of competing in Celebrity Treasure Island and ended up coming away with the glorious win.

Nine weeks in beautiful Northland competing against well-known Kiwis was no vacation. While physical strength was a factor, anyone watching at home could tell it was the mental game and determination that it all came down to. Chris taking the victory also meant the $100,000 prize money was donated to his chosen charity, Rainbow Youth.

He gained the title but also learnt a lot of lessons about himself during the show. “I think we are so quick to define who we are, what we can or cannot do, I’m this and I’m that. The only person who is setting those limits is you. If you take them away, you can pull it off. I think I underestimate myself as a comedian because I’m always the funny one. I learnt I need to stop saying I’m just here as a laugh and actually take it seriously.”

His new tour, Gentle Man kicks off in February and will be covering most of the country, arriving in Christchurch on 25 February. It will showcase some of his best material from the past few years, as well as some fresh and new work. He’s referring to it as, “Now that’s what I call Chris Parker.”

Many New Zealander’s got to know Chris over the last few years from his viral videos during lockdowns as well as on Celebrity Treasure Island, so he is excited to be ‘back in his natural habitat’ onstage, to reintroduce himself to old fans and new.

Gentle Man details

What:
The best of Chris Parker
When:
25 February 2022, 7.30pm
Where:
Isaac Theatre Royal
Tickets available:
premier.ticketek.co.nz