This show is over – though we remember it fondly. Puppets vs People ran as a late night show on the 6th, 7th and 14th of December, as part of the 2012 Christmas Cracker season. Overall, the puppets won.
The ultimate showdown, “Puppets Vs People” is an improvised comedy battle between puppets and humans to prove who is funnier. Scenes are created live on stage using ideas straight from the audience. Continue reading
4 – 7 December 2012, Gryphon Theatre
Micetro is a raucous evening of spontaneity that mixes beloved improv games, charismatic humility, and audience suggestions to create a unique night of entertainment that will never be seen again. Catch a mix of Wellington’s newest improvisors plus WIT’s favourite veterans as they face off in this nightly gladiatorial contest!
From an improvised pantomime to misbehaving puppets; from heartwarming fundraising to the end of civilisation itself! This December, WIT presents ‘A Christmas Cracker’ – two weeks of improvised theatre that promises comedy, charitable Christmas cheer, pantomime horses and more surprises than a leaked Ministry document.
From the people that brought you The Last Saloon, The Wishing Tree and The Young and the WITless VI, and featuring performances from both new members and old hats, this is a season not to be missed. Season passes and individual performance tickets available.
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Photographer Ali Little
Duets ran as part of the 2012 Christmas Cracker Season at Gryphon Theatre, 4-7 December
“The imaginative range of situations and characters created, and the well-structured scenarios they conjured up, were particularly impressive.” Theatreview.org
Two improvisors. One stage. No limits. Each night, three pairs will take to the stage with only each other to rely on, and no limits to where the improv takes them. A different trio of storytelling duets every show
Performers: Christine Brooks & Barry Miskimmin, Geoff Simmons & Lyndon Hood, Jen O’Sullivan & Steven Youngblood, Ali Little & Tai Samaeli, Wiremu Tuhiwai & Tane Upjohn-Beatson
Music: Tane Upjohn-Beatson
Producer/Creative lead: Jennifer O’Sullivan
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11-14 December 2012, Gryphon Theatre
Witness the English Christmastime family tradition as you’ve never seen it before, and never will again! All your favourite pantomime characters – the hero, the Dame, the villain, the talking horse, all in an enchanting setting, but with a twist – it’s all made up on the spot. Warning: contains songs, crossdressing, and a cow.
From an improvised pantomime to misbehaving puppets; from heartwarming fundraising to the end of civilisation itself! This December, WIT presents ‘A Christmas Cracker’ – two weeks of improvised theatre that promises comedy, charitable Christmas cheer, pantomime horses and more surprises than a leaked Ministry document.
From the people that brought you The Last Saloon, The Wishing Tree and The Young and the WITless VI, and featuring performances from both new members and old hats, this is a season not to be missed.
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MEDIA RELEASE: For immediate release
A Christmas Cracker
4 – 7 and 11 – 14 December at the Gryphon Theatre
Wellington Improv Troupe has a whole lot of silliness planned for this upcoming silly season. From an improvised pantomime to misbehaving puppets; from heartwarming fundraising to the end of civilisation itself! This December, Wellington Improvisation Troupe presents A Christmas Cracker – two weeks of improvised theatre that promises comedy, charitable Christmas cheer, pantomime horses and more surprises than a leaked Ministry document.
Running at Gryphon Theatre on 4-7 and 11-14 December, WIT presents its first bumper season of shows to celebrate the holidays. From the people that brought you The Last Saloon, The Wishing Tree and The Young and the WITless VI, and performances from both new members and old hats, this is a season not to be missed.
“This season has something for everyone” says creative lead Geoff Simmons, “We go right from the silly family fun of Pantomime to the black comedy spoof of the end of the world in Apocalimpro. If the Mayans are right at least we will all go out laughing”.
Week one features a mix of old and new; first up at 7pm, Micetro, WIT’s competitive format that pits improvisor against improvisor, enthusiasm against experience and wit against wit, with a cast of WIT regulars and our latest batch of graduates from our beginner training classes (CEC Wellington). At 8:30pm Duets makes its debut. A show of partnerships, where for 20 minutes each duo has only each other and the stage for inspiration. Each show will feature a different trio of duos. And finally, at 10pm Thursday and Friday, Puppets vs People takes to the stage, with an array of mischievous and downright naughty puppets playing off against WITsters in this late night show. Scenes are created live on stage using ideas straight from the audience. Join us for WIT’s first foray into puppetry – a show that humorously explores what it means to be human. Not suitable for children, unless your children are already cynical reprobates, inured to bad language and worse behaviour.
Week two is another mix of magic. Introducing Panto, with all your favourite characters – the hero, the Dame, the villain, the talking horse, all in an enchanting setting, but with a twist – it’s all made up on the spot. And to celebrate the long awaited End of the World on 21 December, the second slot brings you Apocalimpro, which will show how the End will begin in a sleepy Kiwi town. This dark show promises a completely different end of the world every night. Puppets vs People pops up again on the Friday, and the whole Thursday is devoted to Impro Unwrapped, an international goodwill project that invites audience members to bring along a gift to put under the on-stage Christmas Tree. Gifts are then selected at random, unwrapped and become the inspiration for a Christmas story. At the end of the night, all gifts are rewrapped and donated to the St Vincent de Paul Society, along with all the ticket proceeds of the show.
Tickets are available now through Eventfinder.co.nz – catch just one show, or settle in for a night of frivolity with our 2 and 3 show passes!
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Presented by Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT), Wellington’s not-for-profit, community-based improvisational theatre group. WIT performs and teaches the skills of improvisational theatre at community venues around the Wellington region.
WELLINGTON
Week 1
Micetro 4-7 Dec @ 7pm
Duets 4-7 Dec @ 8:30pm
Puppets vs People 6-7 Dec @ 10pm
Week 2
Panto 11-12, 14 Dec @ 7pm
Apocalimpro 11-12, 14 Dec @ 8:30pm
Impro Unwrapped 13 Dec @ 8pm
Puppets vs People 14 Dec @ 10pm
Venue: Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee Street
20th to 24th November, 2012
Returning to BATS Theatre, The Wishing Tree is New Zealand’s magical season of improvised theatre.
According to an ancient Japanese myth, there is one enchanting night where wishes come true. In honour of this myth, some of New Zealand’s finest improv artists conjure up stories inspired by the wishes of the audience.
Together we explore the unchartered territory of our dreams. Be careful what you wish for…
Created by Rama Nicolas, The Wishing Tree has been performed across Europe, the US and Australia and is presented in New Zealand by WIT. Book now – the last season at BATS sold out!
“The intimacy and ambience was enchanting…” – Theatreview
“…considerable theatrical bravery.” – The Dominion Post
“Elegant and touching…you must go and experience the show for yourself.” – Salient
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Photographer Ali Little
It is 1982, and Roseneath University is kicking off its 99th year as a elite beacon of academic excellence atop Mt Victoria. Still recovering from a tumultuous year of student protests and the scandalous departure of the previous vice chancellor, the staff and students of Rosey U are looking forward to a fresh start. And with new management, new challenges and new relationships await!
From the players who brought you Love Possibly, Micetro, and CSI Wainui, comes the return of Wellington’s best and only Improvised Soap Opera – The Young and the WITless. Follow the lives of the staff and students of Roseneath University as WIT weaves a tale of drama, melodrama and mischief with nine shows in nine weeks at The Fringe Bar; every episode totally improvised, every twist and turn a surprise.
And while the performers live in a world where cell phones are a dream of the future, the audience are encouraged to participate by live-tweeting the show. Share photos, quotes, and memorable moments with the hashtag #WITlessSoap.
Drawing on both NZ’s soap tradition (Shortland St, Gloss, Palmolive) and WIT’s own improvisation pedigree The Young and the WITless VI will make you laugh, cry, and feel every emotion a poignant stare into the middle distance can muster.
The Young and The WITless VI
Directed by Jennifer O’Sullivan
Featuring: Christine Brooks, Nicola Pauling, Steven Youngblood, Kate Wilson, Lyndon Hood, Barry Miskimmin, Danni Taylor, Matt Hutton, Wiremu Tuhiwai, and Simon Smith
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Photographer: Ali Little
Welcome to the unwritten frontier, where everyone is wild at heart, and every stranger brings a story. WIT’s latest show seeks to evoke the Wild West, exploring character without limits and comedy where no laws apply. Playing with the darker, rougher side to the International Comedy Festival it opens at the venerable BATS Theatre on 15 May 2012 at 6:30pm.
The actors find the comedy in the rich characters and foreboding atmosphere of tension that the Western genre provides. This show will truly be a journey into uncharted, unscripted territory, and the audience is invited along for the ride.
Divas and the Beast ran as part of the 2012 Fringe
Festival, February 23 – 26 at BATS Theatre, and featured WIT’s Improv Divas.
Theatreview.org described the show as “a good concept well executed”.
Troublesome neighbours? Difficult spouses? Offensive bosses? Never fear! The Improv Divas (NZ’s only all woman improv act) are here with a brand new show that takes on the hassles of modern life and offers purely improvised solutions.
Taking inspiration from the magazine columns & TV style ‘Agony Aunt’ programmes of old, Divas and the Beast serve up performances to both educate and delight the audience.
Let the Improv Divas take on your beast. No problem too big, too small or too taboo.
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The Long Weekend is an improvised story which will reveal the truth of the relationships between five old friends as they reunite for a long weekend away from home.
Each night the characters, relationships, and the New Zealand location will be different.
Each night we will find out more about the people onstage than they knew themselves.
Reuniting: Christine Brooks, Brandon Brooks, Nicola Hill, Merrilee McCoy, Paul Sullivan
Date/Time
Date(s) – 13/10/2011
9:30 pm – 10:30 pm
NZIF 2011 at BATS Theatre
There was also a Flint Podcast episode about the show.