"I want people to know I am not a joke." - David Rose
Pōneke improv roundup 3 April 2023
I have this though bouncing in my head which I don’t have time to expand right now but the short of it is: There is enough badmouthing of improv in popular culture and by people in other art forms, and I would love for us to not contribute to that overall vibe and to speak well of ourselves and what we do. Let’s not be our own bullies. Send me your arguments for and against so I can make it a more full piece…
snippets
I’ve been reading Pirate Robot Ninja: An Improv Fable by Billy Merritt and Will Hines on my kindle. It’s so charming and exactly what I need right now, so much so that I looked up buying the paperback so I can pick it up and flick through it when I need to. I’m not sure I can justify $60+ for a paperback though, so digital it will stay!
I like this blog from Chris Mead: Finding your improv home.
Me and Liz Butler won the latest LNKF with our duo Mad-lib, but can’t headline as Liz won’t be in town, but THEN we got programmed in Jukebox at Auckland Improv Festival and now I’m going up for two nights midweek and I’m gonna perform at the Covert Theatre and that is pretty exciting! We are on the Thursday night.
coming up…
special events
Get Into Your Body with Anděl Sudik. Tuesday 18 April, 7pm - 9pm at Toi Pōneke, registration from $25. “Anděl Sudik is a director, improviser, actor and writer based in L.A. and Chicago (and right now Scotland!) known for her explosive energy onstage and in the classroom as well as her experiential teaching style. We all have bodies. They are incredible things and yet we spend a lot of time not moving them. Rooted in physical theatre and play, we will get out of our heads and into our bodies. Because we are all in different bodies that will mean something different to all of us so we will meet ourselves where we are and practice the joy of body autonomy. Come give voice to that thing you live inside all the time.” Hosted by Locomotive.
Taking Care of the "Now" with Jonathan Pitts. Sunday 23 April, 10am - 5pm at Toi Pōneke, registration from $180. “Award-winning international improviser, Jonathan Pitts offers a one-time workshop on how to truly take care of the current moment, so every scene in the future can be brilliant! Deep listening, responding, and becoming fully invested... let's dive in NOW!” Hosted by Improv Connection.
shows
Graduation Showcase (Improv Connection). Monday 3 April, 7:30pm at The Pow Wow Room, tix from $5.
Caboose at Summer Improv (Locomotive). Thursday 6 April, 6:30pm at Te Auaha, tix from $10. Locomotive’s long-form improv ensemble has a new name: Caboose! It’s just so fun to say.
workshops
April Koha Taster Workshop (Improv Connection). Tues 11th April, 6:30pm - 8:30pm at St Paul's Lutheran Church. Register and bring koha, dip your toes into their style :)
Fundamentals of Improv (Improv Connection). Tuesdays from 18 April, 6-9pm at St Paul's Lutheran Church, registration from $339.
Improv Theatre 101: Learn the Tools (Locomotive). Mondays from 1 May, 7pm at Thistle Hall, registration from $160. Earlybird prices available til 1 April. class led by Jennifer O’Sullivan (that’s me). Tell your improv curious friends!
WIT Tuesdays (Wellington Improv Troupe). 6-8pm, Te Auaha, various teachers. Drop in, koha. Check the most recent newsletter (at the link) for info on this week’s session.
Improv Movement Class (Java Dance). 9-10.30am Tuesdays, Toi Pōneke in the Dance Studio. Join the FB group to stay in the loop.
Help me collate all the upcoming improv and improv-adjacent events and useful news - tell me about yours!
ka kite anō
That’s all for this week; let me know what I missed in the comments, and stay safe and well xx