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Pōneke improv round up Fringe 2025
Welcome to 2025 (yes it’s February)! And thanks for staying subscribed while I hibernated this year and made a small person into a slightly bigger and more mobile one. Both the small ones are doing great and I’m considering a return to semi-regular programming around the middle of 2025. Between now and then I’m doing a lot of creative brainstorming and prioritising, thinking about what brings me joy, what I’d like to achieve, and what I have the capacity for. While I’m thinking about that - need a teacher? A coach? An outside eye on your upcoming improv project? A sounding board? I can’t do everything but I’d love to do a few things between now and June - just get in touch.
Here’s some newsletter nesting dolls for you - I got this from Chris Mead's newsletter:
Will Hines said recently (in his excellent Substack) that every improv community requires three kinds of show.
Community shows to allow people to practise the craft, to meet and to play with each other.
Artistic shows that seek to further the art form and broaden what improv can be.
Hit shows that are appealing to an audience of non-improvisers and locate improv in mainstream culture.
It got me thinking about how the various improv communities and ecosystems find this balance and where their members complement and contrast with each other. What's the scene like where you are? How do you see yourself/your company fitting in? Where's the gaps? And do those gaps inspire you to fill them?
snippets
Improv Week at BATS. Did you do a show there? Did you see a show? I’m hoping to try another one at BATS in June and would love to hear from people who want a spot and to really collaborate on the tech, promo, and production. Rising tides lift all ships.
Hey Fred Schneider! We used to play this game before WIT shows at The Fringe Bar when it was on the corner of Vivian and Cuba. Love to see where they come from and who. Shame it’s that guy (see Wikipedia).
Vale Tony Slattery, from UK’s Whose Line.
I am planning to move away from Substack but inertia is a problem. Watch this space.
FRINGE BABY FRINGE…
shows still to come
Abridged-erton (Make Haste Productions). 18-22 February, 7:30pm at BATS Theatre, tix from $15. Review here.
I'm Proud of You (Austin Harrison). 21-22 February, 8pm at Circus Bar, tix from $14.
Beef Wellington (Outfox Improv). 21-23 February, 7pm at two/fifty-seven, tix from $8.
Geesebumps (Outfox Improv). 21-23 February, 8:30pm at two/fifty-seven, tix from $15.
Triple Double Trouble (Improv Connection). 4-5 March, 7pm at Newtown Community Centre, tix from $12.
The Night is Always Darkest (Lia Kelly and crew). 8 March, 12am-7am at two/fiftyseven, tix koha.
improv adjacent
Touch Grass (Bethany and Logan). 21-22 February, 8pm at Te Auaha, tix from $15.
Stop The Noise. Listen To The Music. (Trent Bauman). 21-22 February, 7:30pm at The Fringe Bar, tix from $15.
Oversharer (Mo Munn). 21-22 February, 7pm at BATS Theatre, tix from $15.
Anxiety the Musical (Maria Williams). 22-23 Feb and 1-2 March, 5:30pm at Fringe at the Gryphon, tix from $18.
House of Ick (Ginge and Minge). 4-8 March, 8:30pm at BATS Theatre, tix from $20.
Egg (Sachie Mikawa). 6-8 March, 7:30pm at the Fringe Bar, tix from $15.
shows I missed (totes devo)
Solovivor (Ralph Hilaga) - Theatreview
For the First Time (Chasm Productions) - Theatreview
Dungeons and Da Vinci (Duct Taped On)
workshops
The Joy of Improvisation (Wellington Improv Troupe). Start of each term, 7:30pm-9:30pm at Wellington High, send your improv curious friends.
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 issue; let me know what I missed in the comments, and stay safe and well xx
Disclaimer: I’m a full time parent. These emails are sporadic at best. Thanks for sticking with it.
Oh, sad to hear about Tony Slattery. :(