This is somewhere between the 30th and 40th time that New Zealand comedian Kieran Bullock has hosted the IKEA WARS, this time to a sold-out audience. If the host doesn’t know what is going to happen, you can be sure the audience doesn’t. The basic idea for the show is two comedians, in case Esther (Australia) and Jon (Canada), battle it out to see who can build a piece of IKEA furniture the fastest. To make it a little more challenging, the contestants can choose 3 sabotages to either make it harder for their opponent or make it easier for them.

Hats off to Esther who stepped in at the last minute but still came prepared with a bag full of cheating (cheaters never prosper, and last night was no different!). What she lacked in IKEA building skills, she made up for with humour. I was weirdly invested. I found myself wanting to shout out ‘stop talking Esther! Less talking, more building’ ‘WHY! Why would you get him to sing a song, get him to help you, you are terrible at this’ and then I remembered this was supposed to be a comedy show and 100+ people hadn’t paid to just watch two adults build a trolley.

Who knew you could get so engrossed, anxious, agitated, in watching IKEA furniture being built! The concept for the show is brilliant. Different comedians each night, no one knows what sabotages they are going to choose, it is literally never the same show twice and Bullock does a brilliant job working the crowd, keeping the energy up, and getting the most from the comedians.

Such a gripping, high-energy show that had the audience fully absorbed! (I still can’t believe how much I enjoyed it, it was two people building flat packs and yet it really works!) Definitely one to watch!