Words: Caitlin Todd
Image: Michelle Hyslop

4 stars

From stolen pink flamingos to near-death experiences at the hands of a sleepwalking partner, award-winning Kiwi comedian Eli Matthewson transforms the absurd and alarming into a gloriously funny hour at this year’s Fringe.

Night Terror takes its name from a real-life incident involving Matthewson’s partner waking mid-sleep and mistaking him for an intruder; cue accidental strangling and a perfect setup for this cleverly crafted show. But it’s not all nocturnal panic: what follows is a fast-paced, sharply observed set that jumps between awkward celebrity encounters (his drama school training proving unexpectedly useful during an Ed Sheeran interview), to the bizarre rituals of modern relationships.

Matthewson excels at pulling humour from the relatable, drawing on his move from New Zealand to the UK, his navigation of British quirks and hilarious observations of who you become in an art gallery. There’s a brilliant thread of nostalgia too, as he recalls buying his first CD (with questionable pictures included) and imagines the afterlife as a never-ending video of people talking bad about you.

The audience at The Wee Coo were in stitches from start to finish. His storytelling is confident, tightly written, and delivered with the slick timing of a seasoned performer – no surprise, given his accolades, including the Fred Award (NZ International Comedy Festival, 2021) and Best Comedy (Dunedin Fringe, 2024).

Eli Matthewson may be bringing night terrors to the Fringe, but this show is nothing short of a dream. Smart, silly, and thoroughly entertaining.

Eli Matthewson: Night Terror
The Wee Coo at Underbelly, George Square
20:50
30th July- 24th August (not 11th )