World famous in Wellington, MR FUNGUS is the creation of comedian and actor Fergus Aitken, who recently MC’d week 1 of Wellington City Council’s Gardens Magic series.
For the past (nearly) two decades, Fergus has programmed and hosted the Buskers Pitch for the Newtown Festival.
Currently celebrating 40 years as a performer, Fergus is a character performer, stand-up comedian and corporate entertainer.
His varied performing career started in 1984, with Robert Bennett’s Wellington-based Mime International. After touring to an arts festival in Moscow and villages in Northern Poland, Fergus spent several years living and training in the UK, developing a highly interactive street performing style with visual comedy and mimicry, at London’s Covent Garden, and also at numerous festivals in UK and Europe.
Returning to Wellington to perform MR FUNGUS in the 1990 NZ International Arts Festival, Fergus then programmed one NZ’s first major international street entertainer’s events, Lotto World Buskers, as part of the 1992 Festival.
Fergus has played mime characters at Edinburgh Fringe, the Chelsea Arts Ball, Glastonbury Festival, and London’s famous Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum. He won an award for comedy at the Rotterdam Straatfestival… MR FUNGUS has played in numerous TV commercials, as guest juggler with the NZSO and more… from the World of Wearable Art to Sweetwaters, Golden Shears to MCing main stages at Cubdupa… even several appearances at the glorious Upper Hutt Carnival.
In 2023, MR FUNGUS AND FRIENDS achieved a sold-out season with a brand new, devised family theatre show MR FUNGUS DREAMS at Wellington’s Circa Theatre.
Fergus is a teacher of physical theatre and mime, regularly working at performing arts schools and giving public workshops around the motu.
"The wonderful dead-pan humour made me, as an 83-year-old, laugh as much as the numerous children near me…"
Audience member, Circa Theatre 2021
"Engaged, smart and skilled physical humour for all ages… a real gem…"
Theatreview
"Manic physicality… Knicker-wettingly funny… Right up there with the best…"
THEATREVIEW
"One of Wellington’s most highly regarded headline comedians…"
SCOTT BLANKS, THE CLASSIC COMEDY CLUB, AUCKLAND
"My friend laughed so hard, she got hiccups! Be warned…"
DOMINION POST
