Ask The Fan Brigade: Auckland Women's Refuge Fundraiser Share a night of wild melodies and comedy hoopla to champion the cause!

Auckland Women's Refuge is delighted to partner with The Fan Brigade and New Zealand International Comedy Festival to present “Ask The Fan Brigade: A One-Hour Musical Comedy Advice Column Talk Show”.

Award-winning stars will tickle funny bones as complimentary bonbons, savouries and treats bewitch the senses!

The fundraiser launches The Fan Brigade’s show for the NZ International Comedy Festival with stellar host Justine Smith (NZ Comedy Guild's Best MC 2015). Lauded by industry peers and admirers, the comedy duo blazed across screens on TV3’s comedy special AotearoHA: Rising Stars and 7 Days.

Plucking a ukulele for wild melodies and mischief is more than just funny - the duo roar for the vulnerable and voiceless casualties of domestic violence. The Fan Brigade is famed for igniting conversations on the gritty stuff of life to expose the injustices and absurdities of our existence (and pandas). Our world is a better place with their voices for change.

Don’t miss laughs and action for our local community!

Pounce on the $30 Eventfinda tickets to Ask The Fan Brigade on Monday 9th May from 7:15 pm at the legendary Classic Comedy and Bar!

Tickling funny bones and spoiling palates is a tiptop fundraising formula: all ticket proceeds are dedicated to the local shelters and advocacy services operated by Auckland Women’s Refuge. Adults and children in dangerous home situations are supported through emergency accommodation, welfare advocacy, counselling, national helplines, community outreach and training programmes that engage with other essential networks (such as law enforcement, health facilities, employment agencies and housing providers). The fundraiser is a call-out for heroes for support the delivery of these critical services.

The promoters gratefully acknowledge support from the NZ International Comedy Festival, The Classic Comedy and Bar, Eventfinda, Bird on a Wire, Bloom Cupcakes, Lush, Red Badge Group, L’Oréal, Auckland Copy Shop and MiNDFOOD.

Background on award-winning duo

Rising stars The Fan Brigade are taking New Zealand comedy by storm, and have social media to thank for it.

The musical duo, comprised of Huntly resident Livi Mitchell and Henderson native Amanda Kennedy, followed each other on Twitter by chance in 2014. After meeting in person, and a few wines later, the pair wrote a comedy love song that immortalized a mutual crush (former weather presenter Tamati Coffey).

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The meeting ignited a career lauded by industry peers and legions of fans: national television and theatres revel in performances that secured a ‘Best Newcomer’ award from the NZ Comedy Guild in 2014.

“Most people I know don't really get Twitter or think it's a waste of time”, says Mitchell, and Kennedy agrees. “But scratch the surface and there's a really thriving comedy scene within Twitter itself. The 140- character format forces you to be succinct, to say what you mean with fewer words. It's a great intro to writing comedy material.”

The Fan Brigade’s performance on TV3’s comedy special AotearoHA: Rising Stars sparked rave reviews on Twitter.

“We’ve had a huge response on Twitter from women who saw the TV show,” says Kennedy. “Men love us too, but for women it’s not always the norm to watch a comedy show and have the act on stage really truly on women’s side, talking about life from women's perspective – even when it's grim as.”

“There are so many incredibly funny women in New Zealand comedy, but we’re still outnumbered at least five to one.”

Justine Smith unites with the duo to deliver razor sharp wit and biting commentary as host of the fundraiser. The leading light in comedy has won a bunch of impressive awards, such as the NZ Comedy Guild Awards for Best Female Comedian and Best MC (2015) as well as the Billy T Award. Her talents illuminated theatres and television screens in the roles of performer or writer (Comedy Gala, AotearoHA, A Night At The Classic, Pulp Comedy, Divas, The Jono Project, Short Poppies, 7Days).

Join these stellar comedians at the fundraiser, there’s no doubt they’ll tweet up a storm about it!

Show: Ask the Fan Brigade

Date: Monday 9 May 2016

Show starts: 7:15pm

Venue: The Classic Studio, Level 1, 321 Queen St, Auckland Tickets: Adults $30 (R18) Bookings: www.eventfinda.co.nz

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