Michele A’Court in "40 Odd Years"

Michele A’Court in
“40 Odd Years”

An autobiographical retrospective

Top comedian, Michele A’Court, celebrates her midlife crisis on stage this year with her new solo show for the ODDFELLOWS NZ International Comedy Festival.

“40 Odd Years” is an autobiographical retrospective from a NZ woman who has successfully made a career out of stand-up comedy for the past decade – from the end of her career as a children’s TV icon, through parenthood, two marriages, and an equal number of divorces.

Add to that her background as a one-time communist and current political activist, throw in the fact that Michele turns 45 this year (though she prefers to describe herself as “40 plus GST”), and you have a show especially designed for anyone who has lived, loved, laughed, and wanted to punch someone in the head.

But it’s not all about her. With whatever wisdom she’s garnered, she’ll work with the audience to find the fun bits in their own crises; to recreate some of our commonly-shared “life’s worst moments” and prove the theory that tragedy plus time, and shot of tequila, equals comedy.

“What started out as a look back at a decade of my comedy and 40 odd years of my life has turned into something else,” Michele says. “I’ve done some fascinating and entirely unscientific research into my own and other people’s age-related depression, and the stories are strangely uplifting. Instead of getting miserable about it, I think we should celebrate the midlife crisis. This show aims to do that.”

A veteran of the Melbourne, Edinburgh and Adelaide Festivals, Michele has been described as “a perceptive student of the human condition” (Daily Telegraph) whose work brings “refreshing substance as well as wit to the festival” (National Business Review).

Previous shows have garnered multiple awards, including Best Show at the NZ International Comedy Festival in 2002 for her collaboration with on- and off-stage partner, Jeremy Elwood; and Best Show Concept for her solo show in 2005. Michele has won NZ’s Best Female Comedian Award every year from 2002 to 2005.

Dates: Tues 16 – Sat 20 May, 7pm
Venue: The Transmission Room, Mayoral Drive & Queen St, Auckland City
Tickets: Adults $20, Conc/Groups 10+ $15
Bookings: Ticketek 09 309 5000

Dates: Tues 30 May – Sat 3 June, 8pm
Venue: Bats Theatre, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington City
Tickets: Adults $18, Conc./Groups 10+ $12
Bookings: BATS 04 802 4175 or book@bats.co.nz

ENDS

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