The best of the Fringe returns

23 May 2005

Kia ora koutou

This week at BATS ­ the best of the Fringe returns for this one only! Catch the critically acclaimed Karaoke Poetry - awarded Best Spoken Word and Best of the Fringe 2005 opening on Wednesday. Also Sheba Williams stars in The Josephine Baker Show, for three shows only.

Next at BATS ­ Young and Hungry! Opening on 17 June - check out www.bats.co.nz for more information. We will be closed from 30 May ­ 16 June for maintenance.

To book for any performance at BATS simply email book@bats.co.nz with your name, number of tickets and date you wish to attend. We will reply to confirm your booking and you can pay when you come to the show.

Love BATS x

KARAOKE POETRY Season: Wednesday 25 ­ Saturday 28 May Time: 7.30pm Tickets: $15 full price/ $12 concession and groups 10+

³In an hour Craig Ireson and crew are able to perform almost every style of poetry imaginable from T.S. Eliot to Missy Eliot in small easily digestible parts² Salient ³One of the highlights of the Fringe. Words pour outŠ and flow seductively over the audience² Capital Times

Karaoke Poetry is poetry like you have never heard, or seen, before. It features live music, pop references and cheesy video. Craig Ireson has made poetry accessible and fun while retaining the intellectual edge that has always set poetry apart as the thinking persons¹ pop music. And if poetry is the new pop then what would the karaoke booths be like? Imagine wannabe poet stars blasting Blake, Baxter and Tuwhare , banshee like, for the sodden nighthawks instead of paying an off key wayward homage to Britney, Boney M and the usual suspects. Karaoke Poetry features original poetry and song from Craig Ireson (SK8Board Poets, Word Festival) with original Karaoke Video by Johanna Sanders, (Rear Projection Window Best Visual Artist from Fringe 2004). It also features live music from Andrew Savage (Sunship) and a deliciously irreverent cameo from Ciara Mulholland (Sniper, Most Original Production, Chapman Tripp Theatre awards, 2004).

This is not an open mike night, but a raucous revising of the poetical canon by an award winning crew of genre benders. So don¹t worry; no-one will be asked to warble out ³I will always love you² or do an acapella Sam Hunt number. Karaoke Poetry is guaranteed to satisfy your curiosity, defying classification and demanding attention with its sassy stomp through popular culture.

Back by pop opera demand! Winner ŒBest Spoken Word¹ and ŒBest of the Fringe¹ 2005.

THE JOSEPHINE BAKER SHOW Season: Thursday 26 ­ Saturday 28 May Time: 9.30pm Tickets: $16 full price/$12 concession

The sellout Fringe Festival Josephine Baker Show, is doing a short season at BATS Theatre. The show has a few new surprises second time around. International performer Sheba Williams has created a show about the notorious cabaret singer Josephine Baker. In Paris she researched Josephine's phenomenal life and has produced a show with a live jazz band and glamorous, risqué costumes.

Provocative, informative and entertaining.

ENDS

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