Taking Off The Bird Suit (NZICF 2016)
By Jennifer O'Sullivan
Project: Performance
Taking Off The Bird Suit (NZICF 2016): Support new and experienced improvisors bringing the awesome to NZ International Comedy Festival, while they support Women's Refuge!
NZ $1,080 pledged
37 people pledged
NZ $1,000 minimum target
Pledges will only be confirmed if the target is reached by: 24/04/2016 at 8:00 PM (NZST)
What is this show?
In the winter of 2014, international woman of improv Christine Brooks created and presented Taking Off The Bird Suit - an all-woman improvised show featuring a range of variously-experienced female improvisors at BATS Theatre. The name of the show comes from Margaret Atwood's 'Siren Song', a poem about a siren who wishes to take off her bird suit and have adventures other than simply being temptations for men:
Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?
Since that wonderful season (for which you can read a review here), she's toured the show and workshop internationally to various festivals (NZIF, Improvention, Würzburg), gathering fans and friends along the way.
Now, with her blessing, we're putting together a new cast for an upcoming season at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, this time led by Wellington improv babe Jennifer O'Sullivan. Exploring roles beyond the maiden, the mother, and the crone, these amazing women will present touching and hilarious spontaneous theatre. Hi-jinks and laughs a-plenty are guaranteed with this cast of smart, funny women.
"All in all, Taking off the Bird Suit is thoroughly and consistently entertaining and, most importantly, hilarious" – Word on the Street
Who is this show?
The 2016 season is directed by Jennifer O'Sullivan, and our cast is made up of both experienced players and able newcomers. We come from a range of improv and theatre backgrounds, and are excited to see the magic that happens when our styles and influences interact. The cast:
Alayne Dick
Clare Kerrison
Dianne Pulham
Harriet Hughes
Gabby Anderson
Josephine Byrnes
Maria Williams
Why is this show?
Christine was inspired to develop this show after looking at past Comedy Festival programmes and being a bit dismayed at the dearth of women there. She, and others in the cast, have experienced the benefits of being involved in all-women shows - it has made us stronger and more confident performers and we've had a lot of fun. Christine thought it would be cool to create this opportunity for some other women, and Jennifer had such a good time she wants to keep creating these opportunities!
Because this project is about doing a rad show rather than economics, we've decided that all profits from the project will be donated directly to Wellington Women's Refuge. They do excellent and vital work on a shoestring budget and we are stoked to be able to support them with Taking Off The Bird Suit.
When is this show?
6:30pm, Tuesday 10 - Saturday 14 May at BATS Theatre
Our Facebook event
The BATS Theatre page (yes, bookings are open now!)
Where is this show?
The wonderful BATS Theatre at 1 Kent Terrace on the Propeller Stage <3
How is this show?
We have a small budget, but there are inevitable expenses involved in presenting theatre. We are looking to you, our friends, family, social networks, and the wider theatre/improv community for support to assist in meeting the shortfall in our budget, which will in turn let us focus on presenting a strong, top quality show without worrying about the bottom line. Costs include:
Rehearsal space
Marketing (design, printing, and distribution)
Venue fees
We have a range of rewards to fit any budget - honestly, anything you can give will mean the world to us. If you are interested in assisting this production in a contra or non-monetary way, we'd love to hear from you! And remember, if we meet our target, all profits will be donated to Wellington Women's Refuge, so a pledge above and beyond will be going to a very, very good home.
I will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song
is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique
at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time.
We are so grateful for all of your support! We'll now be able to focus more on doing the show the best we can, and know that we'll be able to make a rad donation to Wellington Women's Refuge.
THANK YOU! We can't wait to share this show with you!
The Birds who will soon remove their Suits
Four days to go!
Hello friends! Huge thank yous for your pledges so far - you are awesome humans and we appreciate you very very much.
We are just four days from finishing this project, and we still have a wee way to go. If you have a moment, we'd love it if you could tweet or post on FB about this project to help us spread the word! We'll be doing the same, and in the mean time we're rehearsing like crazy and can't wait to show you this hilarious show!
Taking Off The Bird Suit
Pledgers 37
Karen dick
Jake Arthur
Improsaurus
"From one troupe to another, break a leg and keep up the good work!"
Anna GuentherPledgeMe Staff
"Love you, lady!"
Sarah Tuck
Catherine Malone
"Shake it up and have a ball girls"
Nicola Byrnes
"Good on you"
Irene Whyte
"Happy to support a great cause "
Tara Swadi
Sam Irwin
L Leigh
Adam Goodall
Caitlin McNaughton
Nell Guy
"Git it ladies!"
Caroline Hughes
Reid Workman
"yes yes yes!"
Matt Powell
Sophia Sentiment
"Take that birdsuit off and fucking burn it. You have my undying support."
"What an incredible cast! I can't wait."
Alex Rabina
Kirstin Price
"Fly you beautiful birds xx"
Followers of Taking Off The Bird Suit (NZICF 2016)
This campaign was successful and got its funding on 24/04/2016 at 8:00 PM.
Thank You Tui
NZ $5+
Thank you for your kind donation! We will sing your praises in birdsong in our programme and online.
Magpie Mail
Thank you! We will send you a personalised postcard and thank you in our programme/online.
Oracle Owl
Thank you! We have access to a wise bird council of owls. Send us your burning question and we will ask the council at one of our performances, film the response, and send it to you via YouTube. We will also thank you in our programme and online.
Autographed Albatross
Thank you! We will prepare for you a personally autographed A3 poster from Taking Off The Bird Suit, signed by the entire Bird Suit cast. We will also thank you in our programme and online.
Ringtone Ruru
Thank you! We will record for you a brand new answerphone message. Who will provide the voices? Well that's up to you. Will it be a pair of Siberian Tiger sisters? A pun-laden dinosaur? A 1930s singing movie starlet? Or something else entirely? It's up to you! We will also thank you in our programme and online.
Opening Night Osprey
Thank you! We will give you one complimentary ticket to the opening night of our season (Tuesday 10 May @ 6:30pm) and thank you in our programme/online.
Oracle Owl Live!
Thank you! We will give you one ticket to any night of our show, and on the night you attend, we will give you the opportunity to ask our wise council of owls any question (keep it clean, it's a 6:30 show!). Or, you know, impress your date by letting them ask the question! We will also sing your praises in the programme and online.
Singalong Songbird 10 May
Thank you! We will give you one ticket to our show on Tuesday 10 May, and during that performance, we will dedicate an improvised song TO YOU. Or to your date if you bring one and want to impress the heck out of them. We will also sing your praises in our programme and online.
Thank you! We will give you one ticket to our show on Saturday 14 May, and during that performance, we will dedicate an improvised song TO YOU. Or to your date if you bring one and want to impress the heck out of them. We will also sing your praises in our programme and online.
Thank you! We will give you one ticket to our show on Wednesday 11 May, and during that performance, we will dedicate an improvised song TO YOU. Or to your date if you bring one and want to impress the heck out of them. We will also sing your praises in our programme and online.
Thank you! We will give you one ticket to our show on Friday 13 May, and during that performance, we will dedicate an improvised song TO YOU. Or to your date if you bring one and want to impress the heck out of them. We will also sing your praises in our programme and online.
Thank you! We will give you one ticket to our show on Thursday 12 May, and during that performance, we will dedicate an improvised song TO YOU. Or to your date if you bring one and want to impress the heck out of them. We will also sing your praises in our programme and online.
Shoulder Rubbing Sparrow
Thank you! For this you will receive TWO tickets to any night of our season, plus a signed poster and an in-person thank you from the cast after the show! We will also thank you in our programme and online.
Improvising Ibis
This reward entitles you and up to 9 of your friends/colleagues/who-are-you-people to a private improv workshop with either Jennifer O'Sullivan or Clare Kerrison (subject to availability/requirements of group). Date and time to be agreed upon between you and Jen/Clare. We ask that you provide a workshop space, and we will bring the improv fun. Open to complete beginners (e.g. hens night, team building exercise) or more experienced improvisors looking for some specific coaching. We will also throw in a double pass for opening night, and thank you online/in our programme. Note: You must be based in Wellington to redeem this (unless you want to pay for our travel!).