Rhys Darby Brings THIS WAY TO SPACESHIP to Christchurch, Oct 3

Christchurch is the perfect place to shoot the DVD of his comedy show, according to comedian Rhys Darby.

"I started my performance career there, I lived there, started in stand-up there, met my wife there, studied there and I know that Christchurch people can laugh with the best of them," he says.

With the incredibly difficult times Christchurch people have been though and continue to be challenged by, Darby says he is looking forward to bringing "This Way to Spaceship" to town in early October.

"I can't imagine how hard it has been and still is for people in Christchurch," he says. "I have seen pictures of where I used to live and perform, on the corner of Lichfield and Manchester Streets, and it's all gone. I know people are still struggling."

Darby is currently performing "Spaceship" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as part of his UK tour. The show is the live version of his first novel, This Way to Spaceship, 'a handy autobiographical end of world companion' which was published earlier this year and stayed at the top of the International Bestseller List in NZ for seven weeks. The show promises to combine everything Rhys is known for, surreal musings, hilarious stories from his life and a healthy dollop of nonsense and fantasy.

Some say the world could end in 2012. But Rhys Darby has a plan. He's fairly sure the superpowers each have a spaceship ready to launch on the eve of Armageddon. The trick is… to get onboard! Rhys takes us on an autobiographical journey from meek geek to king of cool. This show is a handy guide to living your life like you're the champion no one's heard of. In the end, you might just find you've been invited to recolonise another planet.

Best known for his portrayal of Murray Hewitt in Flight of the Conchords, Darby has also appeared opposite Jim Carrey in the film Yes Man and Bill Nighy in The Boat that Rocked. He has appeared as the lead in two romcoms, Lovebirds, opposite Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins (out on DVD now) and Coming and Going opposite Sasha Alexander (NCIS).

Whilst basing himself between NZ and LA with his young family he has written a book, starred in a now defunct US network sitcom, released his second stand-up DVD, It's Rhys Darby Night, and learnt to drive an amphibious boat.

Tickets to "Welcome to Spaceship" go on sale tomorrow, Monday 27 August. The "Welcome to Spaceship" Christchurch show will take place on October 3, 2012 in the CBS Arena, beginning at 8 p.m.

Tickets: A Reserve $65, B Reserve $55. Ticketek by phone 0800 or online at TICKETEK www.ticketek.co.nz (booking fees may apply).

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