Theatresports 2011

Theatresports 2011

A Message from the Wellington Improv Heavyweight Champion 2010

Many people would be filled with dread if they were told they had to get up on stage with no script and entertain an audience. But there are a small (some might call slightly crazy) group of us who get a real kick out of it. 

Never seen Theatresports before? You don’t know what you’re missing! A quick explanation - teams of up to 3 or 4 players improvise scenes within a chosen game structure. At the beginning of every game the team will ask the audience for a couple of ‘ask fors’ to get the scene underway.

As with any sport there are an agreed set of principles and rules you must adhere to. Disregard them at your peril! And at the end of each scene the audience and judges will score it out of 5. 

The team with the most points at the end of the night wins, but the player who accumulates the most points over the course of the entire season takes the championship title. 

With Winter just around the corner…oh who am I kidding, already here, there’s no better way to top off your weekend than to kick back on a Sunday night in toasty Circa watching some great improvised comedy.  Maybe I’m a little biased, but the truth is I always have a blast when I’m on stage with the guys. And the only time I don’t is when I get challenged to do a scene in rhyming couplets. Quite honestly, rhyming couplets are my kryptonite. Come along, you’ll see what I mean!

Richard Falkner won the title in 2009, I took it off him in 2010, who will take it out in 2011? One thing's for sure, I'm not giving up my title, or the real fake gold heavyweight championship belt, without a fight.

- Anna Kennedy

Part of the NZ International Comedy Festival 2011, Theatresports kicks off on Sunday, 8 May at 7:30pm and runs every Sunday until the Grand Finale on 10 Juily. Tickets are available now, so call the Circa Box Office at 801-7992 or go online at www.circa.co.nz to book today!

Theatresports – a view from inside the creative chaos!

By: The Improvisors

We’re now six weeks into what is shaping up to be a classic season of Theatresports in Circa Two. Wellington’s finest Improvisors are duking it out for the Wellington Heavyweight Improv Belt – it’s just like pro wrestling, but with less likelihood of bruising, marginally less grunting, and a great deal more hyperbole. Also, Theatresports is funnier than pro wrestling, even though nobody is wearing spandex.

As it stands, Ian Harcourt, Kenny King and Anna Kennedy are in pole position on the league table, testament to their consistent hilariousness and superior improv chops. They’re strong contenders to enter the Final, where the season’s top performers have the chance to claim the Belt for their own.

Theatresports 2010

Nevertheless, the season has been characterised by a punishing return to physical comedy. Specialists like Pete Doile, who, with Buster Keaton-like acuity, is able to turn his lithe-yet-hulking body into a stick insect or a meerkat with equal facility have excelled; the gauntlet has been thrown down to players to get out there and look silly on the stage.

Also making his mark on the season is rising Improvisors star, Ralph Howell. His style takes something from Improvisors veterans like Nic Gorman and Tim Jones, and adds a refreshing spritzer. Also, because he is younger, he is better to look at.

Of note have been guest appearances by Improvisors alumni such as comedian Steve Wrigley, and WIT’s Simon Smith.

If you’ve haven’t come down yet, don’t miss out on one of Wellington’s funniest nights out. If you’ve already been, drop by again – because the show is entirely improvised, it’s never the same twice!

The 2010 season of Theatresports is on Sundays at 7:30 pm in Circa Two until 27 June.