Simon McKinney is NZ’s #1 stand up Character Impressionist and a much sought after comedian for both live, touring and corporate performances. His impressions are now so well known, that they are now mimicked by the public.

Simon returned from a 2 year stint on the UK pro circuit in 2004, where he performed at two Edinburgh Fringe Festivals and then went on to do a massive 300 gig run across Britain. Since then his appearances at the NZ International Comedy Festival have earned him a Billy T Award Nomination and in 2007 he was voted by his peers as NZ’s “Best Male Comedian” at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards and in 2010 was awarded the “Reilly Comedy Award”, by the Variety Artists of New Zealand. At the 2011 NZ International Comedy Festival, Simon was nominated for the Festival’s supreme award “The Fred” for his show “People”. In 2011 Simon was also invited to open for Irish comedy legend, Tommy Tiernan and the USA’s Greg Proops here in NZ.

His impressions of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bert & Ernie, Elmo and “that movie guy” have always made him a crowd favourite but, it’s his impersonations of the every day folk like “the kiwi lady”, “that drunk guy” and his international accents that connect him with his audience and give him true global appeal. Because of this, Simon is in heavy demand as an MC and guest act for blue chip corporate clients and as a commercial voice over artist.

Simon has appeared in numerous televised “Comedy Gala’s” as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival and TV3’s “AotearoHA” series. In 2010 Simon also appeared in and took the character of “Rachel”, Rhys Darby’s receptionist in TV2’s “Comedy Christmas Cracker – The Work Do”, as well as TVNZ’s “New Zealand Variety Show” and also appeared on TV2’s hit comedy series “A Night At The Classic”.

Simon began his career in children’s television as the voice of Hamish The Fish on “Squirt TV”. At Squirt he began experimenting with stop-motion animation and since then has created short pieces for television and the commercial industry.

As an established local comedian, Simon’s fun and generous style of quirky comedy charms one and all!


Ideal for: show entertainment for conference dinner, corporate function, charity gala

AWARDS / NOMINATIONS

2011 “The Fred Award”, Nominee, NZ International Comedy Festival
2010 “Reilly Comedy Award”, Variety Artists of New Zealand
2007 “Billy T Award” Nominee, NZ International Comedy Festival
2007 “Best Male Comedian”, NZ Comedy Guild Awards

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