Winner – Best Comedian 2020, Wellington Comedy Awards

Bringing back the hit show from the 2021 NZ International Comedy Festival, Comedian and self-appointed gay icon Neil D'Bear Thornton invites you to a ring-side seat at the circus of his psyche. For your amusement and delight, he'll dive head first into the shallow pools of personal and cultural shame, swing on the flying trapeze of embarrassment, and walk the tightrope of self-revelation, all without a net. Expect death-defying feats of brutal honesty.

Neil Thornton is a smart, funny, and occasionally very angry comedian who has performed all over the world: New York City comedy clubs, nudist resorts, and the Edinburgh Fringe, not to mention all over new New Zealand, from big city gigs at The Classic to small hamlets in the middle of nowhere for confused sheep farmers. His shows "Circus of Shame," "Ursus Americanus,” "Bearly Kiwi,” “Hangry Americans” and “Cynics Guide to Enlightenment" were hit shows at the New Zealand Fringe Festival and NZ International Comedy Festivals. He makes occasional appearances on the television comedy news show "The Project" and was featured on the TV3 comedy special "After Hours."

“In Thornton’s Circus of Shame he is the ringmaster, clown, and high wire acrobat rolled into one bearish body. His authentic generosity and talent makes this an evening of high octane hilarity that will make you realise that your own inner voices and self-doubts are in very good company.” -Theatreview

Winner – Best Male Comedian, 2020 Cartel Comedy Awards

Winner – Best Industry Helper, 2018, 2019, and 2020 Wellington Comedy Awards

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"Thornton is just a master of the craft of comedy." – Theatreview

"A bold performer with intelligent material. Constantly amusing and thought-provoking." – Ruminator

"I laughed until I cried and nearly got thrown out for snorting into my beer." – The Residents

PLEASE NOTE: this work contains frank discussions of sexuality