The Second Issue
Another weekly round up of what's happening in the world of Pōneke improv for Monday 15 August
We’re back with another week of improv updates from the capital! I’ve had some really lovely feedback from the community about this thing and I am so grateful - kia ora and ngā mihi to the beautiful first wave of subscribers. I would love to bring as many Pōneke improvisors in as I can - I don’t know about you but I would love to divest my attention from Facebook and be able to find out what’s happening without visiting that place.
This week’s round up features a few events outside my usual improv theatre view - dance and theatre and board appointments, oh my! In my own improv land: I’ve been doing lots of different workshops and coaching, and I had a brilliant time guesting with PopRox on Friday night - lots of laughter, singing and joy, highly recommend - they’re today’s imProfile and they have another show next month. I’ve also got Fringe improv plans in motion and for the first time in ages have other people doing the producing. It is bliss.
A reminder that this newsletter uses Substack which means you can either sign up and get it as an email, or download the app on iOS and get it there. Let me know if you’ve tried the app or checked out other subs - I’m a fan of Dracula Daily and Austin Kleon among others.
imProfile: POPROX
Who they are: PopRox started in 2021, first at Roxy Cinema and now in their new home at Atea Bar at Te Auaha. Starring professional comedians Austin Harrison, Nina Hogg, Jonny Paul, Isaac Thomas, Pippa Drakeford, Dylan Hutton, Tara McEntee and Jed Davies.
What they do: A monthly show at Te Auaha, They present “an immersive & unique monthly cabaret comedy show with humour, music and heart set in a stylish and relaxed bar in the heart of Wellington's creative district”.
The vibe: “We love to immerse the audience into the world of our show by creating the comedy with and around our audience. The audience can contribute ideas to our scenes if they like or they can sit back on a couch, wander up to the bar for a drink or simply enjoy a bit of silliness. We perform a mixture of grounded scene work with a bit of goofy games sprinkled in to change things up.” Also you might win a free drink!
Get involved: By joining their audience - next show is 23 September, on sale now.
Stay updated: Follow them on Facebook for all the hot gossip.
Help me profile all the improv companies and ensembles in Pōneke!
Send me your group’s info and you’ll feature in a future post.
coming up this week…
shows
Trojan War (A Slightly Isolated Dog). 16-20 August, 7:30pm at BATS Theatre, tix $20-$40. The team that made Don Juan and Jekyll & Hyde present another mostly scripted show with (as I understand it) a sprinkling of spontaneity.
workshops
Wellington Improv Troupe: WIT runs Tuesday training open to both members and non-members. This week the session is led by Susan Williams, teaching accessibility in improv. Tues 16 August, 6pm-8pm at Te Auaha (L5 room 3/4). $5 suggested koha.
On sale now: Musical Improv (3 weeks from 26 Sept) and Improv Theatre 101 (8 weeks from 17 October) with me at Locomotive. Thistle Hall, $70-85 and $180-220 respectively. I promise not to mention them every week. Earlybird price available for both, and there are full and partial scholarships available for marginalised improvisors(-to-be) - just get in touch.
Something different: Java Dance runs a free improv dance class every Tuesday for artists, 9-10.30am at Toi Poneke Dance Studio. All updates are posted on this group. Supported by Creative NZ, Toi Pōneke and Wellington City Council.
other links and stuff
Yesterday was the first anniversary of the publication of Improvise Freely by the inimitable Patti Stiles. If you like reading improv books I recommend you read that one! I even got quoted in one of their social posts celebrating :)
I’m signed up to Shaun Kinley’s newsletter for The Improvisation School and I’m fascinated by this post he shared about the game various known as Bang, Mafioso, Splat, and others. It’s so great how such a simple game can teach you so much about performance and focus and more…
Volunteer for the BATS board: “BATS Theatre, New Zealand’s leading developmental theatre, is part way through an exciting multi-year period of strategic development. We are seeking three board members to join the BATS Board of Directors.”
Help me collate all the upcoming improv and improv-adjacent events and useful news - tell me about yours! Deadline is Saturday, I put this together on Sunday.
let’s talk…
Here’s a prompt for the comments: what’s your favourite place to perform improv, and what do you love about it? What makes it work? What would you tweak?
Right now mine is The Dome at BATS. I love that the audience is seated all in one block, and that no one is further than 5 rows away from the stage. I love the wide playing space, and the interesting columns on the walls behind the curtains. And I love the dome itself - always a delight to see it lit up during a performance!
Mā te wā,
Jen