Julie OBrien Improvises

Ask Julie O’Brien if she thought she’d ever perform in a totally non-scripted, unrehearsed show where the audience dictates the storyline and the answer would be a definite "never".

Most recently seen as Donna in Wellington Musical Theatre’s 2014 production of Mamma Mia, Julie’s career spans over thirty years. She is totally at home on the stage, but improvisation is a very different experience.

"Improv has definitely taken me out of my comfort zone", she says, "I’ve always worked with a script and a director and had weeks of rehearsal, but I’m absolutely loving this new challenge."

Julie stars as Donna in Mamma Mia.  Photo by Russell Dixon.

Born and bred in Wellington, O’Brien has worked in New York, Britain, New Zealand and Australia appearing in shows as diverse as Chess, Evita, The New Rocky Horror Show, Grease, Hairspray, Anything Goes, The Pirates of Penzance and Oliver. Julie was an original Australian cast member of ‘The Witches of Eastwick’, and received personal praise from Cameron Mackintosh when she played several performances in the role of Felicia, for which she was first understudy.

Before returning to NZ in 2005, Julie played the role of Rosie Greenwich in Leader Of The Pack, at Crown Casino, Melbourne.

In 2006, she took up the position of Course Coordinator of Musical Theatre for the Two Year Diploma course at The Wellington Performing Arts Centre (now Whitireia Performance Centre).

In Wellington, Julie has played the roles of Little Becky Two Shoes in the Downstage production of Urinetown, Mari Hoff in Stagecraft Theatre’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, and Velma von Tussle in Hairspray for Wellington Musical Theatre.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.  Photo by Jared Pallesen.

In 2012, she became a member of The Improvisors when they were contracted to undertake two of the largest training programmes ever to be run in New Zealand. "We rolled out the re-branding of Z energy to all employees in every Shell Service station throughout the country."  A year later, due to the overwhelming success of the Z Energy project, The Improvisors were asked to develop an HR programme for The Warehouse. ‘Love Your Customer' was a half-day programme for 15 – 20 participants hosted by a team of three Improvisors. It was run nationwide in 18 centres delivering to 5000 team members over ten weeks.  "It was very intense but a great experience", she says.

It wasn’t until earlier this year that O’Brien finally plucked up the courage to do Theatresports. "It’s a challenge and you definitely have to have your wits about you. The audience is primarily in charge of what we perform. We don’t know what the audience is going to throw at us, so it certainly keeps us on our toes."

Downton Aldib is different again from the format of Theatresports. Described as long form, a new episode is created at every performance. And with one show down and eight more to go, O’Brien is looking forward to seeing how it develops. "Each night, we supply the characters, the audience supplies the key plot ingredients and the result is costume drama as you’ve never seen it before and will never see again," she says. "The feedback from Sunday night’s audience was amazing. They were really engaged and after the show, people were already talking about coming back."

Julie O'Brien stars in DOWNTON AdLib, on now at Circa Theatre.

DOWNTON AdLib is on now at Circa Theatre, every Sunday night at 7pm until 27 September.  Book online at www.circa.co.nz or by phone 04 801-7992.

Proud to Celebrate 25 Years of Making You Laugh

This week on *drama on the waterfront, The Improvisors are proud to celebrate 25 Years of making you laugh!

By Tim Gordon

Tim Gordon, actor and facilitator, celebrates 25 years of The Improvisors

Harris Street. Circa Theatre. The Improvisors first show Suspect – an improvised murder mystery, is Main Bill for the International Festival of the Arts 1990. A cast of six, directed by Grant Tilly.

We were friends and colleagues who formed a company. We had no idea that the new phenomena of improvisation that had reached our shores, in the form of Theatresports, would be the basis of a business making people laugh for 25 years.


Theatresports created a unique artistic community of actors who loved the thrill and challenge of Improv. Its competitive side allowed the large National Theatresports Competitions to thrive through the 90s with teams battling wits, using the audiences’ suggestions to create the funniest scene, most satisfying story or most rounded characters – all made up on the spot.

The Improvisors in Otherwise Fine, 1989

It is scary. It is actually all made up. The audience don’t know what’s going to happen and nor do we. And for twenty five years they have loved to share the fear, applaud success and forgive  failure. Our job is to stay in the moment and to say "Yes" to every offer and that requires a great deal of trusting your fellow players.

Each comic has their own role – the opening player, like the fearless Canadian, Lori Dungey alongon stage, miming the environment, creating a real world for scene to take place. My role along with players like Ian Harcourt was often the number two player – the one who comes in to drive the story forward, then there were the big comic characters, Mark Wright, Geoff Dolan and Anna Kennedy – who just made people laugh; the charmers who the audiences adored, Tim Jones, Liz Mullane, and then, finally, there were the wrecking balls, Robert Pollock, Steve Wrigley, who tip the safe world upside-down and watch everyone make sense of the complication.

The Improvisors in 2014

Some scenes depend on the adroitness of language, some on the remarkable rhyming, some on songsters, they all require not only a quickness of wit, but more importantly a generosity of spirit and a graciousness in both success and failure.

From the James Cabaret, to The Paramount Theatre, up to the University Memorial Theatre, late nights at Bats and Downstage and finally we came to rest in our home at Circa Theatre.

For 25 years The Improvisors have flourished, not only through Theatre Shows but also as a successful Corporate Entertainment Company. It has been a wonderful ride and I am so pleased that on Sunday June 14th we are gathering the old guard to shake it off for a well-earned and proud Gala bash at Circa Theatre.

BOOK NOW!  www.circa.co.nz

Improv for Kids: Introducing Your Child to the Arts

This week on drama on the waterfront, find out about the benefits of introducing children to theatre from a young age (and then bring them along to Improv for Kids so they can enjoy those benefits!).

Dramatic Play for Children

Children of all ages love to pretend. As toddlers, they mimic things they see in everyday life. In preschool, they recreate familiar roles and events. By elementary school age, they act out stories, creating original plots, adapting fairy tales or children’s books. As children leave early childhood, they enter a new stage of drama that is a more formal type of play-acting—going on stage to present prepared scripts.

For young children, the theatre arts are best thought of as informal endeavors that extend the natural habits of play and learning. In prekindergarten and elementary classes, children learn the basics of structuring their “pretending” for presentation to an audience. More advanced skills—acting, directing, scene and costume design, playwriting, and stage management—come after elementary school.

In addition to creating theatre in its many forms, children benefit from seeing it. Theatre for young audiences, also known as children’s theatre, is dramatic theatre performed by professionals specifically for an audience of children.

As young children take part in drama, they gain many benefits:

• Knowledge of and skill in theater arts.
• Improved literacy skills—reading, writing, and speaking.
• Development of imagination and aesthetic awareness.
• Independent and critical thinking and increased ability to solve problems.
• Social growth and the ability to work with others.
• A healthy release of emotion.
• Fun and recreation.

Educational theatre offers parents benefits as well:

• Time spent with their child in creative moments.
• Insights into the observations, impressions, interests, fears, and humor that their child reveals.
• Opportunities to witness their child’s developmental growth.
• The chance to help their child understand some of life’s dilemmas.

CREDIT: National Endowment for the Arts and http://www.education.com/

IMPROV for KIDS!

For the last school holidays of the year come along to Circa for a show that lets kids get involved in live theatre in a way that only an Improvisor show can. Their suggestions, sound effects, even props and costumes = their show!

Every show is unique – crafted for children who are there, so whether your child is in to fairy pirates or break dancing unicorns; we can make it happen.

This is a show where you can have a giggle alongside your kids, with loads of opportunities to shout out, dance, wriggle and move and be part of the action this is pure, school holiday fun.

AGES: perfect for 4 – 12 years old  / RUNNING TIME: 45 - 55 mins

“Genuine Family Entertainment” - Capital Times

29 Sept – 11 Oct, 11AM
Circa Theatre
BOOKINGS: 04 801 7992 / www.circa.co.nz
TICKETS: $10 (each) / Groups 20+ $8 (each)

The Happy Place: What Robin Williams Means to an Improvisor

By: Aaron Alexander

Robin Williams

The shock came and the sadness lingered. The tributes have all been written, read and shared. The issues have been debated back and forth by people with wildly varying levels of basis for comment. And now, people, broadly speaking, are moving on.

But I know that from now on, every time I step on stage, I’ll remember Robin Williams.

I’m lucky enough to perform improvised comedy, which puts me in a similar relationship to Robin as to Argentinian striker Lionel Messi - we play the same game, same rules, same tools, but only one of us can make you re-evaluate the limits of human potential while doing it.

On the other hand, I reckon scoring a goal gives me the same joy as it does Messi (if not more, as he actually does it with presumably monotonous regularity). And I think I know just a little of the feeling Robin Williams had when he was in the Happy Place: on stage, with a live audience, in free flow, riding waves of laughter.

All of us who improv live for moments in the Happy Place, where you’re in tune with each other and the audience, and a creative chain reaction can occur.  While we live for it, on stage Robin Williams just lived in it. He had a direct connection, an all access pass, he could see the matrix, hear the music of the spheres and conduct it from an inflatable throne in his bouncy castle in the kingdom of fools.  And he will always rule there, like a trickster god of ancient mythology.

If you watch his early work – and you must –  alongside how funny he is, you’ll notice one other thing: how much he loves the audience. He wants to connect with them as individuals, share a moment, push their buttons, do whatever it takes to tickle their fancy. In his 1978 Live at the Roxy special he arrives on stage through the audience and within minutes he’s back among them, literally climbing the walls to get to more of them. They are his material.

One of the basic principles of improv is to say ‘yes’ to everything that comes your way. Take any offer as inspiration, and build on it. Robin Williams had a boundless capacity for saying ‘yes’ to inspiration. And he could find it almost anywhere – a light fixture, an audience member’s hair, a piece of set, an awkward body position – any offer could spark a character, a voice, a line. And the speed…everyone talks about it. To work at that speed there’s simply no room for fear or self-doubt.

And most importantly, he’s so transparently, blissfully happy in those moments. Yes, I know, cocaine and so on, but that’s not what I see in his performance (even if that’s what he felt he needed to get there in those days). I see joy. And it’s his generosity with his joy that lifts us up. His is not a comedy of cynicism, the stand-up with biting observations puncturing complacency. His is the inner child given absolute permission to run free in a world of infinite possibility. Part Genie, part Peter Pan.

That joy in play, in free creation, I don’t believe it ever left him. He worked with the famous Second City improv company before he was famous. Years later, a global superstar, he could turn up backstage at a Second City gig to perform – not solo, but sharing the stage and scenes, generously, with young improvisors. You don’t do that unless, purely and simply, you Love the Work.

As we all know now, there was a darkness inside him as well. On one hand it may have given him the power to deliver dramatic performances that stunned the world with their weight and raw intensity. No one expected Mork to win an Oscar. On the other hand, it was a darkness powerful enough to overwhelm the light within him. But while we must learn from the sorrow and the tragedy, that should not be the legacy of a man who spent his life spreading happiness across the globe.

We all have our memories of Robin Williams. To those of us who are driven to walk on stage with no script and no safety net, he will simply always be the master. We’ll try to squeeze and channel just a few drops of the creative quicksilver that ran in his veins. We’ll hope that maybe one day in a scene we’ll hear his voice in our heads, Obi Wan-style, saying “Go for it. Climb up there. Do that voice. Don’t think, go with it. Just say ‘yes’, goddammit!”

I’ll always be grateful that he walked among us, that he made us laugh, and cry, and love him.

He was the Greatest of All Time.

Vale, magister ludi.

Aaron Alexander was scheduled to write a DOTW blog post about The Improvisors Go to the Movies (7pm SUNDAYS, August 10 to October 5), but following the tragic passing of Robin Williams, no other subject for a blog about comedy improvisiation seemed appropriate.

www.circa.co.nz

The Improvisors go to the Movies ... with Tim Gordon

This week on drama on the waterfront, The Improvisors Artistic Director Tim Gordon talks about their next show at Circa, The Improvisors go to the Movies, opening on Sunday 10 August.

DOTW: Many of the Improvisors work in the movie industry – what insights will this bring to the show? 
TG: Our show climaxed in a complete improv-ed movie but getting to this will mean that some scenes are set in its pre-production . All of the performers are familiar with the auditioning process, the wardrobe calls, the on-set antics of some directors and diva actors, all of this will be explored. But some of our performers are also film makers and script writers.

DOTW: What is your favourite Movie snack?
TG: Popcorn and cold coke are OK but nothing beats the chocolate covered ice creams, rolled , dipped and held frozen in their plastic bags getting harder and harder. The only time I ever seem to eat ice cream is at the movies.

DOTW: What format will The Improvisors go to the Movies take? (games, rival teams . . .)
TG: As I say, the first half is about determining the genre, the stock characters, exploring the auditioning process and the creative technicians of the movie industry, the second half is a long form movie – pulling all this together and creating an entire movie  - well, a short feature anyway.  

Tim Gordon.

DOTW: In rehearsals, what movie genre mash ups cause the most trouble/fun?
TG: The multi-million big block busters complete with months of CGI are kinda hard to re-create in Circa Theatre on a shoestring budget, but with a shared imagination and suspended disbelief  that theatre often requires it can happen.

DOTW: What movie are you looking forward to seeing this year?
TG: I have already loved NZ movies this year (The Dark Horse, What we do in the Shadows, Housebound, Everything We Loved), but I am particularly looking forward to The Dead Lands, complete Te Reo Maori pre-European martial arts movie. 

To book tickets for The Improvisors go to the Movies, visit www.circa.co.nz or call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992.

Theatresports 2014: half way through the season!

The NZ Comedy Festival may be over, but the glooms of winter are still being driven back by the flames of live comedy at Circa Theatre every Sunday night. The Improvisors are half-way through their season of Theatresports. It’s a format that many people will have seen – two teams of players create short improv comedy scenes as they compete to win points from the specialist judges and the audience. What keeps the whole thing fresh is new performers, new games and - above all else - the fact that every scene is driven by ideas contributed by the audience.

Over the first three nights of the season, our players have used those audience suggestions to create scenes involving everything from a Mothers’ Day celebration at an underwater hockey pool to an encounter between the Apollo moon landing crew and a Russian astronaut, from a reggae song about sausages to (possibly taking first place in the “We really didn’t see this one coming!” stakes) a scene based on an audience member’s memories of filling out a Mexican tax return.

While audience participation is the fuel of the show, it’s the players who get put on the spot, not individual members of the audience. If people want to call out ideas for a scene – excellent! If they prefer to sit back and laugh and applaud as they see fit – also excellent!

The shows are family-friendly, both in their content and in their timing – they kick off at 7:00pm and finish around 8:30pm, which makes them a realistic choice for those who have to think about work/school/just getting out of bed on Monday morning.

So – let The Improvisors help you to get through winter! Back up your flu jab with an injection of improv! Theatresports – Sunday nights at Circa at 7:00pm through to June 15.

To book tickets for Theatresports, visit www.circa.co.nz or call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992.

Theatresports: fast paced and high on entertainment

Famed sports writer Guy McGuy sat down with The Improvisors’ Deana Elvins to talk weather, the interplay between theatre and sport, and her picks for the upcoming Theatresports season at Circa.

Guy:  So.  How about that weather?

Deana: Mm… weathery

Guy: I guess that’s the advantage theatre has over sport – no weather.

Deana:  Except indoor sports of course.

Guy: Oh. Yes.  So you are the coach for The Improvisors?

Deana:  No, Guy, actually I’m a player/manager.  I’ll be competing in the upcoming season, but I also look after the corporate, professional side of things for our teams.

Guy:  Sponsorship and the like?

Deana:  Kind of… in the off-season we do shows, team building, training and a whole lot more for all sorts of companies - everyone from family businesses to New Zealand’s biggest corporations..  Check out our website www.theimprovisors.co.nz

Guy: So then who is the coach?

Deana:  I guess you could say Tim Gordon is the coach.  He’s recently had some experience coaching the All Blacks, which I’m sure will prove invaluable for the teams.

Guy: What can fans expect in the upcoming season?

Deana:  Every Sunday night from May 4 to June 15 teams will battle it out in pursuit of the Paragon Cup.  This year all teams boast a wealth of experience and we’re expecting tough games and close matches.  It’s a traditional round robin format with the top scoring teams tested in the Grand Final on June 15.

Guy: For folks who’ve never seen it before, what exactly is “Theatresports”? 

Deana:  It’s improvised comedy.  Scenes are made up on the spot to make you laugh.  This is our 7s, our T20, the short form of the game -  so it’s fast paced and high on entertainment. 

Guy:  The team that gets the most laughs wins?

Deana:  Not necessarily.  Getting laughs is important, but to win teams need to pay attention to storyline and the technical requirements of the game as well.

Guy:  Any rule changes this season?

Deana:  Nothing specific, but we have been warned that refs are going to come down hard on wimping, blocking and gagging.

Guy: ???

Deana: (laughs) Oh sorry  ‘Wimping’ means being too scared to follow an idea through, ‘blocking’ is saying no to someone else’s idea and ‘gagging’, as you probably guess, means getting a cheap laugh that doesn’t serve the story.

Guy:  Do audiences need to be familiar with these rules?

Deana:  Not at all – it’s all explained on the night.

Guy:  Great!  Now I understand that there has been some concern about the brutality of audience involvement.

Deana:  Look, I won’t deny that back in the day and in some competitions  a few people may have been traumatised by over-enthusiastic audience involvement.  But The Improvisors pride ourselves on playing a very non-aggressive form of the game.  We ask for suggestions from audience but almost never drag anyone on stage.  I guess it could happen.  But I’ve never seen it.

Guy: So where can people see the games?

Deana:  If people want a great night’s entertainment, full of laughter and the spice of competition then they should come down to Circa Theatre on Sunday nights at 7pm from May 4.  Booking is advised.

To book tickets for the 2014 Theatresports season, visit www.circa.co.nz or call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992. 

HALLOWEENIES! The Improvisors Spring School Holiday Show

What if all the things that go bump in the night are just misunderstood?

To round the year off The Improvisors have a special early Halloween treat. Halloweenies presents the least scary cast of spooky misfits you are ever likely to see on stage. No screams here, just big laughs!

"Doing improvised theatre for kids is magic,” says Spooky Improvisor Ian Harcourtt. ”Our audiences get to see that their ideas are listened to and then included in what happens on stage and that makes the whole experience very different from going to a Hollywood blockbuster or watching a TV show. Kids really respond to the opportunity to tell a bunch of grown-ups what to do!"

We would love our audience to dress up with us – ghosts, Batman, fairies and lions are most welcome!  Come along to Circa 2 September School Holidays to check out the creative and interactive fun – for little and big kids!

30 Sept – 13 Oct, 11am (no show Sunday)
BOOKINGS: www.circa.co.nz or 04 801 7992
All tickets $10 (Groups 20+ $8 each)

Theatresports Freestyle: Explained

Improvisor Greg Ellis explains to drama on the waterfront the concept of Theatresports Freestyle.

Theatresports, as most people know it, is a series of short improvised games. It's the most popular type of improvisation and when people think of improv, Theatresports is the word that's always top of mind. But it's not the only improv format.

In the last couple of years The Improvisors has performed Improv Cage Match. It's a format that has been around the world of improv for years under a variety of different names. The basic idea behind the format is that there are 2 teams who can play whatever they like. The only limitation is that of time. Each team has 30 minutes of stage time. This time is divided over 3 rounds. The teams can divide this time however they like over those three rounds. So one team could play rounds of 15, 7 and 8 minutes while the other team could play 2, 20 and 8 minutes. After each round the audience is asked to vote on which team they liked more in that round. The winning team gets one point per round.

That's all very well but what sort of improv do the teams do during each round?

They do whatever they want. The idea behind this format is that teams can play to suit their strengths. They can play Theatresports games if they want but they can also create their own formats or just improvise something with no structure at all.

In the last couple of seasons we've seen improvised musicals, a fantasy movie, a gangster story and a current affairs show featuring 3 different mini-documentaries. Players love the format. It really gives them a chance to try new things and push the boundaries. It creates great play.

The format is also a great way to feature guest performers and in this season we hope to feature many of the Australian performers that will be in town for the NZ Improv Festival.

And it's had a name change. Improv Cage Match made the show sound a little sweaty, violent and low rent. Hopefully Theatresports Freestyle makes it clear what the show is all about. It's all the family fun of Theatresports (and maybe with some of the games you love) but it also features the freedom that comes when performers play with no rules at all.

- Greg Ellis

Theatresports Freestyle starts 25 August and runs every Sunday at 7pm until 13 October. To book, call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992 or visit www.circa.co.nz. 

The fantastic world of Super Heroes

The "Incredible Improv Man" tells drama on the waterfront what to expect from The Improvisors' latest school holiday show, Kids Comic Heroes!

From: The Incredible Improv Man

Zap!! Ka-pow!! Ka-blooey!! The Improvisors are back at Circa for the July school holidays with more of our special brand of interactive children’s theatre. Over the past few years, we’ve brought you shows centred on pirates, knights and princesses and unexpected twists on traditional fairy stories – now we’re turning our attention to the fantastic world of Super Heroes.

What amazing powers will our hero have? How will our super-villain plot to rule the world? Frankly, we have no idea – but that’s the point. Each show is unique, as we ask our audience to supply those key plot ingredients. Then, using our astonishing powers of leaping over tall improbabilities and flying by the seat of our pants, our super improvisors create a one-off story. Along the way, we keep our audience involved in creating sound effects, giving advice and generally helping to shape the show.

Forget the latest Hollywood blockbuster – introduce your Wonder Girls and Super Boys to the magic of improvised theatre. Imagination is the greatest super-power of them all!

Monday  15 – Friday 19 July and Monday 22 – Friday 26 July – two shows daily at 11:00am and 1:00pm

Saturday 20 and Saturday 27 July – one show only at 11:00am

Show runs for approx. 50 minutes

Warning – show may contain traces of lycra!

A history of Theatresports

Improvisor Jennifer O'Sullivan talks to drama on the waterfront about the current season of Theatresports.

Back when I was in third form (remember forms?) at Upper Hutt College, I responded to a school notice inviting anyone interested in playing something called Theatresports to meet in the library at lunchtime. I didn’t know what Theatresports was, but being the ridiculous, overcommitted overachiever I was, it sounded to me like a) something else to add to my school CV and b) something a lot less sweaty than netball but just as competitive.
Fast forward five years and I am in my last year of high school. I have competed and played in Theatresports - the energetic, hilarious, sometimes touching, always surprising improvised theatre show - every year since that fateful school notice. I am in the Wellington team, being taken on tour by Steve Wrigley and Sully O’Sullivan to Hawkes Bay. I have dropped most of my sports and I am growing the reputation of being one of those weird theatre kids. And I am utterly smitten.
Fast forward yet another ten years and we’re at the present day. I’ve improvised with companies and players in Wellington, Melbourne, Canberra and London, and my affair with the unwritten word has been my passion for 17 years. And here I am, playing Theatresports with the people who introduced me to it all. I’m rather chuffed to be honest.
The Improvisors have been performing Theatresports at Circa for over 20 years and it’s still going strong, and this season is no different. Its longevity rests on the fact that each and every single show is always going to be different, with new games and players mixing it up with old favourites and performing legends. Check us out every Sunday til 7 July at Circa, and watch theatre history get created on the spot!

Jennifer O’Sullivan 

To book, call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992 or visit www.circa.co.nz.

The Improvisors' present Comic Heroes

Wonder Woman! Superman! The X Men! Spider Man! What do they all have in common? Yes,yes, apart from their amazing super-powers .... ? It’s obvious – not one of them is a Kiwi!

The Improvisors take on the challenge of plugging this gap in the NZ workforce in their 2013 International Comedy Festival show at Circa.

What special powers will our heroes possess? What challenge (anywhere on the spectrum from world-threatening to mildly inconvenient) will they be called on to solve?  Will they be able to see what they’re doing with their masks on?

Frankly, we don’t know – but that’s the point. Each night you, the audience, will come up with a fresh set of answers to these and other questions and we, The Improvisors, will make up a brand-new 90-minute show that will be driven by your suggestions. Drama, comedy, action and special effects that will take at least some of your breath away!

Don’t miss this chance to see some of Wellington’s top improv comedians! Five nights only from Tuesday 30 April to Saturday 4 May at 7:30pm.

To book, visit www.circa.co.nz or call 801-7992.

The Improvisors' Theatresports for Kids!

Two teams. One match. The judges: YOU!

How often do you watch a sports match, wishing you could decide the outcome? Watch a movie, wishing you could have helped make it, because you had heaps of better ideas? Well, wish no more, because we’re bringing the power to YOU!

Want to see a scene about puppies? We can do that. Prefer a story about a gallant knight and his horse and their adventure to find treasure? You’re the boss! Every time one of our Theatresports teams gets up on stage, they’ll come to you for ideas and suggestions that will determine what kind of stories you see. And it doesn’t stop there - we’ll also come to you afterwards for your judgement and score. You decide the winner... you decide the loser... you decide the whole game! How cool is that? It’s the best of two worlds - theatre and sports - and you are the master of both!

For too long the power of entertainment has rested outside of the audience. For too long have you been subjected to stories that you’ve heard before, that you’ve seen before, that you already know the ending of. No more will you be expected to sit quietly in your seat, a passive spectator. This school holidays, drag your ma and pa along and help the Improvisors create the show that YOU want to see.

THEATRESPORTS FOR KIDS!

22 April – 4 May
11am and 1pm Mon – Fri, 11am only Sat, no show Sun 

The Improvisors have created a theatresports show especially for kids – just like Who’s Line is it Anyway - Theatresports for Kids is a show for 8-12 year olds that brings all the theatresports games of our family favourite Sunday shows to the School Holidays! No previous experience is required to join in the show – just enthusiasm, imagination and a sense of fun. And it’s not compulsory to join the show – our shyer audience members are welcome to watch the stories unfold and laugh! Why should grown-ups have all the fun?

To book, call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992 or visit www.circa.co.nz.

Fairy Godfathers don’t do spells! ... or do they?

Fairy Godmother extraordinaire Peach Blossom (aka Improvisor Jennifer O'Sullivan) takes drama on the waterfront on a tour and tells us all about her wily assistant, the Fairy Godfather Rose Petal. Was he trying to order his own wand? Do Fairy Godfathers do spells? Find out in Fairy Godfather, on now during the School Holidays in Circa Two.

Welcome, welcome my dears! Welcome.
Welcome to the home of famed Fairy Godmother, the very lovely and magical Peach Blossom -aka, me! It is so lovely to welcome you here, to my glittery lair. I do love guests.
You may remember me from such fables as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Pinnochio. I weave my magical way through many such tales, spreading goodwill and enchantment wherever I go with my magical wand. You should have seen the dire straights Cinderella was in before I turned up and gave her the once-over! And poor Sleeping Beauty - the girl could barely get out of bed BEFORE she pricked her finger on that spinning wheel!
Anyhoo. Glad you could join me. Like I said I do love showing people around my home. Just keep an eye out for that adorable man, my personal assistant Rose Petal. He’s a Fairy Godfather - means well, but as we all know, Fairy Godfathers don’t do spells! He’s more of a pleasant person to keep around, than a helpful Harry.
He gets a bit cranky sometimes. Honestly, I suspect he may get a bit bored, what with being an assistant to someone with a magic wand! But really, it’s just so easy for me to wave my wand and get the washing done, or the lawn mowed. He has plenty of time to relax, and it is nice to have someone who can answer the door while I’m out visiting my god children. Though, would you believe it - the other day, I caught him on the phone pretending to be me! He said he was trying to order me a new wand as my current wand was ‘on the fritz’, or so he claimed... My wand has been fine, so I wonder what he was up to? He can’t have been getting his own one, because of course, as we all know, Fairy Godfathers don’t do spells!
Yes yes, that painting on the wall is indeed beautiful. Gifted to me by Pinocchio after he became a real boy and got a real job. Made his father very proud, he did. I think Rose Petal wishes he had the connections I do with the people of the land of fairy tales. But it’s a bit hard for him to be of any use to people, since we all know Fairy Godfathers don’t do spells!
It was very lovely to have you here in my home. Do drop in on me when I am visiting at Circa Theatre during your school holidays. I have some lovely stories to share with you, and I may even need your help to tell them! See you soon...

Fairy Godfather starts today and runs until 13 October in Circa Two, with shows at 11am and 1pm Monday through Friday and 11am Saturday. Tickets are just $10 per person. To book, call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992 or go online www.circa.co.nz.

Improv Cage Match: Half way through the season, and it's on like Donkey ... Kong

A word from Improv Cage Match competitor, Kenny "The Kong" King:

Oooohhh Yeeeaaahh!! It's here and its on!! We're half way through the season of Improv Cage Match and I've got a few words for some of my 'competitors'. Mostly, DON'T BOTHER! You pencil necks really think you're funnier than me? You will soon see that Kenny "The Kong" King will reign supreme! Let's take you apart one at a time, shall we? 

Firstly, that scrawny wing-nut "Howling" Ian Harcourt. I've seen more funny on an Inland Revenue refund form! Your time has come and gone, old man. It's time to roll over and let the new generation show you how it's done. Your old school is LAME!! 

As for that buddy of yours "Gargantuan" Greg Ellis. The only thing gargantuan about this clown is how much of a clown he really is. And I don't mean that in a good way! Go back to teaching theatresports games to 13 year old girls, cause that's where you belong!! 

And on your way you can take Richard "Flying Fists" Faulkner with you. He makes a morgue look like Comedy Central. Last week he tried to do as many games as he could inside the squared circle and nearly killed everyone with boredom! 

Oh, and I see Deana Elvins has come crawling back after taking time out to have some babies. You're out of practice, lady, and out of your depth! 

Well, that about takes care of the "Old Guard", now what about the young bucks who think they can front up and usurp my rightful position as King of Cage Match. Jimmy "O, Dear" O'Donovan, I believe, is still pooping yellow and I'm pretty sure I heard him crying for his mummy after we last met. Do us all a favour, kid, and just stay home. 

Jonothan "Pretty Boy" Price, do you really want me to rearrange those pretty comedy values you hold so dear? Cause that's what's going to happen if you keep pushing, boy! 

Gareth "The Rage" Ruck, and "The Tank" Pete Doile, you guys don't even warrant a mention! 

I know my loyal "Konginators" will be rolling up to Circa every Sunday night at 7.30pm until the 7th October to watch me, their hero, annihilate this so called competition and become the true King of Cage Match. I'm sure there are also a legion of fans out there who want to support me, Kenny "The Kong" King but just don't know how. It's easy, just rock up to Circa and purchase a ticket. If you want, you can make banners, signs or just through money at me. So if you want a night to remember come along and watch me tear these pretenders a new one. A word of warning though, if you want to sit in the front row you may want to wear a rain coat as some people have come away splattered with my talent. It tastes awesome but it may stain clothes!

Photo left to right – Richard “Flying Fists” Faulkner, “The Tank” Pete Doile, “Howling” Ian Harcourt, Thom “The Thumb” , Kenny “The Kong” King and “Gargantuan” Greg Ellis

Improv Cage Match is every Sunday night at 7.30pm until 7 October, to book call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992 or go online www.circa.co.nz.

Improv Cage Match: Get in Training to Laugh

By Greg Ellis

Being part of the audience for Improv Cage Match is a brutal experience. You never know when the laughter is going to hit you but it will – fast and hard. You need to be in tip top physical shape to make it through a gruelling night of comedy and come out unscathed. So here’s some simple training tips that you can use to get yourself ready for the season:

Laughing the wrong way can cause serious damage: split sides, wet pants, bruised funny bones – so it's best to start your laughter training now. Start slow with some gentle laughter and build up to the real thing. Watch one of those funny commercial shows to start with barely any laughter at all, work your way up through an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond and slowly build up your exposure to funny material until you are genuinely laughing. When you’re at that point its time for endurance. Start with a single belly laugh and gradually increase the reps until you can laugh with uncontrolled abandon for up to 5 minutes at a time. Remember to breathe through the laugh – don’t suffocate yourself.

Now you’re ready to go. Make sure you ARE prepared. The performers are putting their dignity on the line. Don’t risk yours!

Improv Cage Match opens on 19 August and runs every Sunday at 7.30pm until 7 October. To book, call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992 or go online www.circa.co.nz.

The 3 Bears ... and Goldilocks: Trouble in Fairyland

Break In Gives Bears Paws For Thought

A recent break in has prompted the Three Bears family to move away from Fairyland.

On Wednesday last week the family returned to their Woods, Fairyland address to find their house in disaray after a home invasion. Although nothing was taken, they discovered their cooling porridge had been eaten and Baby Bear's chair was broken. Further investigation revealed a sleeping human child in Baby Bear's bed upstairs. On awakening, the child screamed and fled through the bedroom window and was last seen running deeper into the the woods in the direction of Old Mother Hubbard's shoe.

Fairyland police sergeant, Abner Twinkletoes, says there appears to be no motivation for the intrusion.

"There appears to be no motivation for the intrusion other than the wanton destruction of a chair and, perhaps, extreme laziness or fatigue," he said.

"I no longer feel safe in my own home," Mother Bear was quoted as saying. "What has Fairyland come to, when a bear can't just take an early morning walk in the woods without their home being violated?"

"Rrrooooaaaaaarrrr rrr argh grrr!!!!" said Father Bear, clearly upset.

The perpetrator of this heinous crime is still at large. She is described as a human girl of about 10-12 years of age, of slight build and with long, blonde hair. It is not known if she is dangerous but police have advised against approaching her. Anyone with information can contact Sergeant Twinkletoes on 0800 CATCH HER or leave details at the Fairyland Police Department.

Find out if Sergeant Twinkletoes catches the perpetrator and how the Bears family copes in the aftermath of their home invasion, when The Improvisors bring you their latest school holiday show The 3 Bears ... and Goldilocks, 2-14 July in Circa Two. To book, call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992 or go online at http://www.circa.co.nz/.

THEATRESPORTS 2012

Theatresports 2012

By Improvisor Ian Harcourt

The Improvisors latest season of Theatresports is drawing to a close with the Grand Finale in Circa One at 7:00pm on Sunday 1^st July.

Over the last nine weeks, teams of improv comedians have been battling every Sunday night to win the “audience favourite” vote. The shows’ new earlier start-time of 7:00pm seems to have been a popular change, making the shows more family-friendly, more student-friendly and generally more anyone-who-has-to-get-up-early-on-Monday-morning-friendly. Each night a large share of the audience have been people who have never experienced the comedy treat that is Theatresports before. And those who have seen the show before know that because everything is made up on the spot, every night will be completely different.

During the season we’ve seen the true romance story of a couple from the audience presented in dance, a love song dedicated to Basmati rice and an inflatable plastic cow doubling as a Star Wars stormtrooper’s helmet!! This is what happens when the show is driven by audience suggestions.

The Grand Finale is always one of the most popular shows in the season, so if you are planning on attending it’s worth booking your seats – and sooner rather than later.

Tickets are available for the Theatresports Grand Finale on Sunday, 1 July - to book, call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992 or go online at www.circa.co.nz.