Australia/NZ dates 2011 (and some other snippets)
Dear people on the other side of the world.
These are my Australia and New Zealand dates for autumn 2011 (your autumn, that is; it’s actually spring but no point starting that argument again). The NZ dates are approximate, at the moment, but they will be finalised pretty bloody soon. I think everything else is more or less accurate. These shows should be on sale now. The Brisbane and Melbourne ones definitely are, because I risked googling myself to check. Look at this, for example. http://www.tinyurl.com/markmelbourne
Please come and see me. I’ll do jokes about relevant things like Julia Gillard and Collingwood to show I still love you even though I’ve been away a while. As well as my usual potent combination of gags, stories, rambling, audience interaction and looking like I don’t quite know what I’m doing. I’ve tended to have my best shows in Australia and I don’t see any reason to change that now, so it should be good.
There are no Adelaide shows because I’ve not quite been able to fit it in, but I’ll be back there before you know it.
Here you go:
March 4-6 Perth, Regal
March 8-13 Brisbane, Powerhouse
March 29 – April 24 Melbourne, Forum (as part of Comedy Festival)
April 25-28 Sydney, York Theatre
May 2-7 Auckland, SkyCity
May 9-14 Wellington, San Francisco Bath House
And if you insist on staying in the Northern Hemisphere, which the majority of you do, there are a few ways to see me here. Tonight (Wednesday) I’ll be on ITV1′s Comedy Annual. Over Christmas, A Child’s Christmases in Wales, a nostalgic comedy-drama film thing by me (first shown last year), will be repeated a couple of times on BBC4. On Boxing Day you can find a quiz of the year by me, Horne and Key, done in the style of We Need Answers.
Early in the New Year I’ll be limiting myself to a very few gigs so I can work on the new book(s) and the possible radio series and some other things, but I will be in the Horne Section at the Lyric Theatre on January 31. This, as you might know, is a funny event hosted by my friend and colleague Alex Horne and a jazz band. Comedians do jokes with a musical backdrop. I shall be singing a couple of songs.
Lots more things will emerge as the year goes on, assuming I am still healthy and enough people find me funny. And from the middle of the year onwards I will probably be on tour again, this time with a route dictated by the general public. Naturally, as soon as any UK dates are inked in, this blog will trumpet them long and hard (don’t forget there are still a few shows in February which officially complete this tour, and are in places like Devon and Middlesbrough).
You probably know this, but on this site you can sign up for my mailing list and very occasionally get an email about what I’m up to. And I also have a Facebook fan page which I resolve to use more faithfully in 2011. So every word of this blog will appear somewhere else soon, is what I’m saying. How very 21st century. Sorry if you feel you’ve wasted your time reading this.
Posted by Helen on March 3, 2011
How do I possibly get tickets for the Auckland show? My googlefu has failed me and I really want to go. Please don’t tell me its sold out already?
Posted by MusicalLottie on December 23, 2010
As I tweeted you, I thought you were brilliant on Comedy Annual
AND! BBC iPlayer lets me download ACCIW before it’s even been broadcast tonight – a guarantee that I won’t forget to do so later 
Hoorah!
Horne Section sounds really very cool; enjoy! If I miraculously have any money by then I shall certainly consider coming to see it.
Posted by Suzanne, aka Senior on December 23, 2010
PS What are those non-headings about??? Please don’t tell me there’s a ‘headings/titles’ phantom on the loose!!!
Posted by Suzanne, aka Senior on December 23, 2010
Totally agree with Helen … Mark was by far the best last night … only one who made me laugh out loud!
Will complete the census later tonight … (I just cut out the “try to” in an effort to become more decisive and stick to my decisions!!!)
Posted by Zoe Fell on December 23, 2010
I asked Mark about this. The quiz is not on the telly, but shall be in the Observer on Boxing Day instead. Hope that helps! x
Posted by Rachael on December 23, 2010
I loved watching ‘A child’s christmases in Wales’ last year, and I enjoyed your bit of the comedy annual thing last night too. Good work all round.
Posted by PERNILLE.SIESING on December 23, 2010
We..are.soo..exited..to..see..you!!!
Posted by Katy on December 23, 2010
Which channel is the Boxing Day awesomeness on? I cant find it in my tv guide
Posted by Lauren on December 23, 2010
Flying out of Melbourne on the 1st of April, so… see you on the 31st!
Posted by Misha on December 23, 2010
Just an update to say, i’m now with computer so i’ve sorted the tour dates myself.
If you check back on the forum and look at your city, i’ll be updating as soon as I become aware of tickets being available to save Mark from googling his own name, and the world of pain inherent in that,
http://www.markwatsonfans.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=9
Posted by Helen on December 22, 2010
All of this news is very exciting, especially the quiz. I would also like to say that I just watched the Comedy Annual and you were brilliant, honestly thought that you were by far the best.
Posted by Hannah on December 22, 2010
Shall be at one or more of the Sydney dates as I seem to do every year with Cat.
Posted by Mike on December 22, 2010
I’m pleased your’re coming to Brissie, make sure you throw in a few Anna Bligh jokes.
Posted by Someone on December 22, 2010
Awesome! about Boxing Day Quiz!! It’s now officially best thing on telly this Christmas. I know this.
Also, when I heard you and Tim would both be at Horne section I accidentally bought a ticket :]. In the front row, and all. Not sure how that’s gonna work out on a Monday night, miles away, but it officially will. (I booked a 2nd ticket, 5 minutes after I booked the 1st, deciding my brother can come keep me company. I’m not sure he understands the premise of the show, though, or even the style of comedy. But he liked MWMTWSB! So, yep, it’s official, too; am excited.)
Posted by Aislinn on December 22, 2010
Zoe gasped; I shouted YES! and threw my hands up in the air as if I had just won a boxing match or answered a really tricky question correctly.
This is why we make good friends.
Posted by Lydia on December 22, 2010
I’m looking forward to your tv stuff. I’ve told my mum about your blog and she thinks you sound nice so she wants to see more of you on tv, lol.
Posted by Ingrid on December 22, 2010
Bah! We dont get ITV1, just crappy STV instead!
Posted by Kathryn on December 22, 2010
I take issue with the last sentence. I may not be in Australia but the blog is never a waste of time.
Quiz of the year sounds amazing.
Posted by Simone on December 22, 2010
I’m as excited as Zoe about the Boxing Day quiz!!
Posted by Alot of rachels on December 22, 2010
I’m looking forward to your end of year quiz and glad a child’s Christmas in Wales is being repeated.
it’s a shame can’t make Horne section but will get to see you in Reading
Posted by Joelle on December 22, 2010
I’d just like to point out that my stalking resulted in me having front row tickets to your show.
Except that it’s not at The Astor, nor those dates.
It’s at the Regal Theatre 4th – 6th, I think. I double checked it was you. There was a picture and a quote from Stephen Fry about you.
Now, I’m hoping that I’ve not just spent $80 on tickets to a phantom show. If I have, I’m sure there’s a way to get my money back from Ticketek claiming they’ve got a show when they don’t.
Just thought you should know.
Have a nice day!
Posted by Misha on December 22, 2010
Damn you Watson, sneaking tourdates up when I don’t have the time/computing access to put them onto the forum. Consider this an open call forum based Watsonians, if anyone could do them in the style of the UK ones I’ll love you forever etc.
I’m slightly annoyed you’re at the Horne Section at the 31st, as it clashes with Gutted which I already had plans to go to. Nothing personal, but i’m siding with Ward & White this time, on the basis that there’s a reasonable chance you’ll do Horne Section again, and Gutted won’t happen again.
Silly comedy clashes, why has no-one invented a time machine? Now /that/ would be 21st century.
Posted by Zoe Fell on December 22, 2010
I genuinely gasped when you mentioned your quiz of the year alongside Key and Horne. THAT HAS ME EXCITED. Probably a bit too excited, but that’s fine.
Also also, I am excited for February as you restart your ‘Do I Know You?’ tour in Plymouth. For obvious reasons, I feel that was an excellent decision. Ahem.
But yay for Australia and that.
Posted by Joelle on December 22, 2010
Yes! I shall go stalking now to try and find tickets to the Perth shows.
Normally I try to avoid The Astor as it isn’t that great of a venue if you don’t get tickets close to the front, but I think I can make an exception for this.
I also notice you’ll be here at the same time Minchin is. What a coincidence
I’m sure you two shall have a lovely time in Perth together!
Right, stalking time!
Posted by Josh on December 22, 2010
I’m glad the title of this post got changed from “Australia/NZ dates 2001″. That wouldn’t have been of much use to anyone, really.
I’d just like to thank the Southern Hemisphere for everything they’ve done.
All of it.
Posted by Deanna on December 22, 2010
I’ll have to remember to bring a pen to the Auckland show
Posted by Tracey on December 22, 2010
Wishing you well for Australia Mark. I’ll keep a look out for you on the box here! Tracey x
Posted by Ella on December 22, 2010
Oh, I’m so excited you’re coming to Auckland!! I’m definitely coming to see you!!