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The History Boy-Wellington Fringe Festival
All of history is just stories we tell each other to understand the world, and every story is at least in part about the person doing the telling. Performed by the award-winning Matt Powell (Awkward Threesome, Soap Factory) and inspired by the imperfect recollections of performer and audience alike, The History Boy is a solo improvised theatrical experience coming to NZ Fringe at Te Auaha, 17-21 March.
The History Boy took its first steps as part of the popular Late Night Knife Fight (knifefight.nz), a monthly show at BATS providing space for new and experimental improv that has become a launchpad for acclaimed new works, including Two Dope Teens (Best Improv Nelson Fringe 2018) and The National Average (return seasons at BATS and Fringe Bar). Directed by long-time collaborator Jennifer O’Sullivan, The History Boy will invite the audience to share their knowledge of significant and/or under-told stories from our pasts, and pull their common threads together into a new story with a perspective for today.
“I love shows that exist as a collaboration between the performers and the audience,” says Powell. “For me, it’s important that the show not just be me telling the audience things from my own point of view: I want us to discover these stories together. I’ll be the only one on stage though, I won’t make anyone else do that bit.”
Matt Powell is an improvisor, director, and writer with over 20 years’ experience creating and performing shows. He has been part of The Court Jesters (Christchurch), PlayShop, and Soap Factory, and teaches with Locomotive. He has been performing in the New Zealand Fringe Festival since 2014. The History Boy is his first full-length solo show, born from a development at Late Night Knife Fight (winner: September 2019).
"Powell brings forth intricate
details and quick-witted responses that reward an
intelligent audience’s attention."
— The
Plus Ones, April 2018
THE HISTORY BOY - NZ FRINGE FESTIVAL
Dates: 6:30pm, Tuesday 17 - Saturday 21 March 2020, 50 minutes
Venue: Te Tapere Iti at Te Auaha, 60 Dixon St, Wellington
Tickets: www.fringe.co.nz
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