Lady comedy surprisingly comedic

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release

16 June 2014

Lady comedy surprisingly comedic

Taking off The Bird Suit, a new show at BATS Theatre looks to combine two mutually exclusive concepts - women and comedy.

“I called an audition for an improv show and all these women turned up. I was assuming that we’d do serious scenes about menstruation and other women’s issues just like we always do, but instead this wide variety of scenes unfolded featuring varied and interesting characters. Some were even funny. It was *super* weird,” says Christine Brooks, director of the show.

Cherie Jacobson, Programme Manager at BATS Theatre on programming this perversion of the natural order said BATS Theatre has a commitment to diversity.

“These women are really pushing the boundaries of comedy which is great because BATS is all about new work and taking risks - but we don’t actually expect Taking Off The Bird Suit to be good or funny. That’s just not the purpose of this show. It's more about letting women have a go.”

A local comedian who didn’t want to be named said that he *might* try to attend but that his standards “will definitely be lower” than for regular improv shows.

“It’s not a criticism - women and men are just good at different things, right? Actually, that reminds me, I’m working on some killer material on gender differences for my stand-up set.”

Christopher Hitchens, thought leader and deceased life expert explained that it was “a pretty big call” to put on a show like this as “it’s a biological fact” that women are not as funny as men. He wished “good luck to the little ladies” and winked that he’d be “rooting for them” beyond the grave.

Despite the fact that all the experts on comedy and women have explained why the show will fail, the childless Brooks remained hopeful, saying that she will proceed with it anyway.

“There are some really talented women in this show.”

Bookings are open now at bats.co.nz.

Featuring:

Abby Howells, Bryony Langford, Caitlin McNaughton, Cathy-Ellen Paul, Catriona Tipene, Jennifer O’Sullivan, Karen Anslow, Susan Williams, and Rose Cann.

With Tilomai Solia-Matafeo on music and Mary Little on lights.

Directed by Christine Brooks.

Profits from the show will be donated to Wellington Rape Crisis.

Taking off the Bird Suit

Dates: 24 - 28 June 2014

Venue: BATS Theatre (Out of Site)

More Info: http://bats.co.nz/shows/taking-off-the-bird-suit/

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