2nd Annual NZ Improv Festival
2 - 18 December 2004

The best of NZ improvised comedy showcases over a 3-week season.

This is your last chance of the year to see the comedy highs of 2004! Have a drink at the Covert fully licenced bar before enjoying the hilarious interactive comedy. The ideal choice for Xmas parties!

Thursday (8pm)
A Bard's Tale
the greatest plays Shakespeare never wrote!



Friday (8pm)
The Improv Bandits
NZ's #1 improvised comedy act




Saturday (8pm)
Eliminator
Directors, Improvisers, Oscars, Lemons, Nail-Biting-Tension & Pump Action Water Guns - an action-packed improv show - that has it all

Sunday (7pm)
Maestro
the ultimate comedy challenge

2004 Nz Maestro Champs
4 - 13 November 2004

The heavyweights of NZ improv comedy step up to find who is the Maestro of funny in this 2-week knockout competition.

There will be spontaneous songs, scenes, sagas all made up on the spot. The quickest wits in the country will ensure a fantastic night of improv hilarity.

If you enjoy Whose Line Is It Anyway,
you'll love Maestro!

The Improv Bandits 7th Birthday
18 - 27 November 2004

7th Birthday Celebrations

The renegades of comedy are celebrating their 7th Birthday with a raucous season. There will be "hard laughs, wild times" with special guests and the best improvised comedy in the land. Don't miss out!

"sharp, funny and full of energy. Witty entertainment, refreshing humour and lots of fun" - City Voice (NZ)

"their own electrifying style of comic release combines a Roman Colosseum's animation and the wit of a Marx Brother's movie" - Auckland What's Happening (NZ)

The Improv Bandits - no scripts, no gimmicks, no safety net! Tickets $18/$12

Fast, furious and physical improv with energy to burn, the Bandits is the original show of the Covert Theatre. With performances in Melbourne, Texas, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, a lot has been said about The Improv Bandits and here's just some of it...

"improvised comedy at its hilarious best" - Evening Post (NZ)
"the gladiators of the quick response" - Austin American-Statesman (US)
"very creative, very risky, a great way to unwind" - Stage Left Magazine (AUST)

Visit the The Improv Bandits website

Maestro - the ultimate comedy challenge Tickets $14/$10

It's crash & burn improv where the improvisers are drawn at random to perform scenes, songs and sagas that are scored by the audience. The lower scored players bow out after the opening rounds and then the cast get just plain nasty in search of being crowned Micetro (yep, that's Maestro but with a Mouse).

Unity - by Justin Kean
2 - 11 September 2004 Tickets $15

UNITY is a reality TV show.

UNITY is a story of three boys bought together by Sunny Music and WINZ Entertainment Ltd to rock the world and shorten dole lines.

UNITY is a work start programme for the underprivileged.

UNITY is all about you.

Performed live on stage this play traces the production of a documentary showcasing the lives of three boys and their case / band manager, struggling to become big time musicians.       Or not.

Tag Team
16 September - 2 October 2004 Tickets $16/$14/$12

Introducing the Covert's Brand New Show!
Tag Team is a battle of wits, strategy and brawn. And it's downright hilarious! Improvisers pair up in teams of two and go head to head against other teams live on stage. Round after round the improvisers will be challenged to different scenes to perform for your entertainment pleasure. They'll be sweating and bleeding trying to make it through the knockout competition.

Who will take out the improv heavyweight title?

Make sure you get your ringside seat to witness improv comedy at its most brutal.

A Bards Tale - Improvised Shakespeare
1 - 31 July 2004 Tickets $16/$14/$12

Oddfellows presents the greatest plays Shakespeare never wrote!
An epic Shakespearean play is created before very eyes by whom critics have called "masters of improvisation".

A Bard's Tale transports you back to The Globe, bringing all the elements of Shakespeare and make it come alive in a fresh and exciting way. Yes, this is Shakespeare you can understand. Shakespeare as it was meant to be.

A different story is told every night. There's tragedy, comedy, revenge, honour, castles, daggers and true love.

The Eliminator - There can be only one
1 - 31 July 2004 Tickets $16/$14/$12

Directors, Improvisers, Oscars, Lemons, Nail-Biting-Tension & Pump Action Water Guns - The Eliminator - an action-packed improv show - has it all.

Directors battle each other in quick-fire elimination games to see who gets to direct the next improvised scene. The audience scores each directed time-limited scene either an Oscar or Lemon depending on whether they enjoyed the scene or not. The director with the most Oscars at the end of the night wins and "eliminates" the other directors with the high-powered water gun.
The Eliminator is a high-energy show guaranteed to please.

"Most people had trouble remembering when they last laughed so much for so long." TVNZ

Barbie is Dead - 100% improvised, 100% female, 100% funny!
3 - 26 June 2004 Tickets $16/$14/$12

NZ's premier all-female improv show is back after storming the NZ Fringe in Wellington. Guaranteed to please - you've never seen comedy like this!

They start with an unrehearsed movement and then over an hour later the house lights go on and the audience leaves wondering how on earth they did that.

The free form improv, the monologues, the cleverly interwoven stories, the songs - surely that was scripted? But no. Barbie is Dead is 100% improvised, 100% female, 100% funny! Sure, and they're sexy too.

Heaven & Hell - A Wickedly Good Comedy
01 - 17 April 2004 Tickets $16/$14/$12

Ever wondered if you were just a pawn to the gods? Ever felt like there was some force that was doing their best to ruin your day? Ever been amazed at the small miracles that happen day to day?

See what God and the Devil get up to when they're bored.

Will there be peace on earth or will we all be sent to damnation?

Don't miss this brand new show!

3 People @ the Cinema - THE SILENT PLAY RETURNS
21 - 29 April 2004 Tickets $16/$14/$12

3 People @ the Cinema is off to Chicago so you have six nights only to catch the sell-out show that delighted audiences and critics alike.

Don't miss the wondrous experience as three strangers enter a cinema and wait for the movie to start. There's no dialogue as these three people begin to notice each other, interact and eventually transform their lives in hilarious ways.

"Nude-winter-swimmingly-refreshingly-nice and this kept the audience salivating for more. 3 People @ the Cinema is a play where you can hear the sound of lips forming a grin." - Lava Magazine

Warning: Contains nudity

Instant Broadway - The improvised musical
04 - 28 March 2004 Tickets $16/$14/$12

Instant Broadway returns for its third season in as many years. The talented cast takes a title for a non-existent musical suggested from the audience and then for the next hour and a half presents an entire musical made up on the spot.

Instant Broadway will amaze you as lyrics are plucked from the air combined with the off-the-cuff music and fully non-choreographed dance routines. The next Broadway hit? There's only one way to find out - be there at the Covert Theatre and enjoy all that live performance has to offer.

See Instant Broadway and go in the draw to win a Casio Keyboard Package valued around $1,000 thanks to Piano City.

Barbie is Dead
25 - 28 February 2004 Tickets $16/$14/$12

The ladies from last years hit all-women improv show, Femprov are back! Barbie is Dead performers Cath Campbell, Gillian Berry, TM Bishop and Tineke Van der Walle are preparing to head down to the Wellington Fringe Festival and this is your only chance to see them before they hit the capital. Their free-form show is like no other and leaves the audience scratching their heads wondering how did they make that up on the spot.

The Improv Bandits - no scripts, no gimmicks, no safety net!
8pm Wed 19 - Sat 22 November 2003 Tickets $15

The World Championship winning act celebrate six years of entertaining audiences all over the world at their home turf. Theyıll be performing their final shows of the year on Friday nights at 10pm in December. Catch them before they head to Miami, Florida in January.

Visit the The Improv Bandits website

Bare (USA)
8pm Wed 26 - Sat 29 November 2003 Tickets $15

The highly acclaimed US act has been described as an act that shun the comfort zone in search of edginess. The two-man show starts with a single audience suggestion, and from that tiny seed they grow an improvisational tornado of extraordinary characters, extraordinary situations, and usually at least one impersonation of a live animal.

Femprov - 100% improvised, 100% female, 100% funny
8pm Wed 3, 10, 17 December 2003 Tickets $15

NZıs only all-women improv troupe wowed audiences in their debut show earlier this year and now they are preparing to head down to the Wellington Fringe Festival. Their free-form show is like no other and leaves the audience scratching their heads wondering how did they make that up on the spot.

A Bard's Tale - The greatest plays Shakespeare never wrote
8pm Thursday 4, 11, 18 December 2003 Tickets $15

What if Shakespeare, the worldıs most famous playwright, were alive today ­ what kind of plays would he write? A Queen is chosen from the audience, she picks the villain and off the actors go ­ creating the magic of Shakespearean theatre.

The Eliminator - there can be only one
8pm Friday 5, 12, 19 December 2003 Tickets $15

NZıs answer to Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Quick-fire wits and rapid speed of mind is what this show is all about. With Directors battling to win scenes against their fellow actors, itıs high-energy action comedy at its best.

Instant Broadway - Every night is Opening Night
8pm Saturday 6, 13, 20 December 2003 Tickets $15

The fully improvised musical

With Chris Lam Sam on the keyboards, the talented cast of Instant Broadway make up a full length musical with song and dance before your very eyes. This show is for lovers of music and song.

Maestro - The comedy show for the whole family
7pm Sunday 7, 14, 21 December 2003 Tickets $15

From the creators of Theatresports comes Maestro, the ultimate comedy challenge that is fun for the whole family. Songs, scenes and sagas are performed on the spot with the audience scoring every scene. The lower scores are Œretiredı until there is only one performer remaining ­ the Maestro!

The Idiot's Fury
5 - 15 November 2003 Tickets $15/$12

"If we knew where we were going we would have gone"
A season of four short one-act comedy plays from the pen of James McLaughlin, one of Auckland most exciting new playwrights.

Happy Hour for Miserable Children
22 October - 1 November 2003 Tickets $15/$12

This fantastic slapstick comedy extravaganza pays homage to the silent film heroes of yesteryear then guilds their genius with the syrup of hard labour and modern spunk. Be amazed by Barnie Duncan and Trygve Wakenshaw in Theatre Beating's debut show.

A Bard's Tale - Improvised Shakespeare
8 - 18 October 2003 Tickets $15/$12

Witness the magic of Shakespeare come to life in the best tales he never - but should have written.

ONE - 1-Act comedies
17 September - 4 October 2003 Tickets $15/$12

ONEis a 1-Act comedy play festival staged at the Covert Theatre as part of this yearıs inaugural Auckland Festival (AK03). There are five short plays that make up the 90-minute production including three new NZ works from local writers.

The 2003 NZ Maestro Championship
3 - 13 September 2003 Tickets $15/$12

The Covert is home to NZıs best improv talent who will be up against each other in two weeks of pure madness. The first week is the heats to see who will be making through to the Grand Final on Saturday 13 September.

There will be songs, stories, sagas all maked up on the spot till the quickest wit in NZ is found!

Femprov - 100% Improvised, 100% Female, 100% Funny!
20 - 30 August 2003 Tickets $15/$12

Femprov create stories and characters on the spot live before the audienceıs eyes giving the funny bone a solid whack in the process. Donıt miss this kick-ass all girl improv troupe as they break barriers and deliver stunning performances that will leave you amazed.

Starring Cath Campbell, Gillian Berry, Tineke van der Walle, TM Bishop

Survivor 2003 - Who will outwit, outplay and outlast
2 July - 2 August 2003 Tickets $15/$12

Youıve seen it on TV ­ now see it live on stage
The stage is set at the Covert Theatre with four teams of four competing over 5 weeks to see who is the ultimate Survivor improviser. Competition is hot with a winner takes all $1,000 prize pack up for grabs. Teams go head to head earning points and immunity credits, which become invaluable when itıs time to vote against each other. Who will outwit, outplay and outlast them all?

Instant Broadway 2003 - Every night is Opening Night Tickets $15/$12

Every night is Opening Night as NZ's top improvisers bring you an improvised musical that'll leave you amazed at their off-the-cuff brilliance. Song, dance, music and all that jazz!

Sold out in 2002 - Don't miss Instant Broadway!!

The Eliminator - there can be only one Tickets $15/$12

Yes, this is the show you've heard about. The Directors battle against each other going through elimination rounds and directing scenes that are then judged by the audience. When the smoke has cleared there can be only one, The Eliminator is declared and the other Directors are "eliminated".
Umbrellas optional.

Fastermind - Barely a Quiz Show, Almost a Game Show Tickets $12

Two teams of improvisers take to the stage in a show of verbal gymnastics and quick wits. Award winning comedian Mike Loder challenges them to answer bizarre questions and create songs, poems & scenes on the spot.
Check out the Fastermind website at www.fastermind.com

3 People @ the Cinema- The silent play that will leave you speechless! Tickets $15

Three people enter a cinema and wait for the movie to start. It never does. They become aware of each other and begin to transform their lives in hilarious and unexpected ways - all without speaking!

Starring: Catherine Campbell, Jason Webb & Wade Jackson
Directed by: James McLaughlin
Warning: Contains Nudity

Tales of War - Tickets $15/$12

A brand new theatre piece directed by World champion improviser James McLaughlin. Tales of War is an Improvised drama consisting of three people who lived at the time of WWII, enjoy the suspense and tension that is war

Check out what the NZ Herald had to say about Tales of War here - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3196969

MORE or LESS - An epic improvised play...or not. Tickets $12

Created in Calgary, Canada at the Loose Moose Theatre and now live at the Covert Theatre. The night of grandeur where improvisers attempt to enact a full length play of epic proportions. However that's if only the audience want to see MORE of it. If the audience want to see LESS then it's off to a new play with a new director.
The only show in town where the audience decide what they want to see on stage. MORE or LESS - the people have spoken!

The Lab - the comedy experiment. Tickets $2

See the creative process in action. The Lab is where Covert Theatre Agents try new work such as different improv formats, newly written sketches, devised work and much more. Each night is a total experiment with the only rule that we're not allowed to blow up the building! Witness the work in progress so you'll be able to say, "I was there at the birth!"

Soap - the ongoing saga Tickets $12

Follow your favourite characters at St Michaels mall, NZ's first Supermall and find the answers to life's really important questions.

Does Bruce have a dark secret?
Will Laura ever find true happiness?
Who is this week's celebrity guest?
What will happen to Bobby the-at-risk-youth this week?
How old IS Grandpa and how does he know Napoleon?

Instant Broadway - the next greatest musical you've never heard of Tickets $12

Instant Broadway will amaze you as lyrics are plucked from the air combined with the off-the-cuff music and fully non-choreographed dance routines.

Survivor Tickets $12

Trapped in a life-threatening situation, these Survivors must battle the elements, each other and themselves. The audience supply the conditions for the actors and from then on it's character-driven long-form improv directed by World Champion improviser Jason Webb.

A show never seen before in NZ and no show will ever be the same.

Fresh! Tickets $12

Fresh! New Works is a festival of one-act original New Zealand plays by young new writers. The four one-act plays run every night from Wednesday to Saturday and vary in length from 5 minutes to 35 minutes.

From the funny to the poignant, the plays explore such diverse themes as identity, euthanasia, and personal freedom taking the audience on a journey through hilarity, grief and confusion.

Gunner Inglorious Tickets $15/$12

The true story of Jim Henderson, a NZ veteran who was shot and left for dead in Sidi Rezegh during WWII, a solo performance by Michael Burton.