NZ Duo Bring Back the Art of Great Sketch Comedy

MEDIA RELEASE
27 November 2006

NZ Duo Bring The Art Of Great Sketch Comedy Back To The Stage

Lauren Jackson & Jackie van Beek in association with STAMP at THE EDGE® presents
HELLCAT AND JEEKS

In the time honoured style that created comedy legends French & Saunders, Laurel & Hardy and Abbott & Costello; female duo HELLCAT and JEEKS gear up to unleash their hilarious brand of sketch comedy on Auckland audiences for a limited season at The Herald Theatre in February 2007.

Following a six month writing process, HELLCAT and JEEKS has confirmed 2007 seasons in Christchurch, Auckland and The Melbourne Comedy Festival - with more centres to be announced in the New Year.

Hellcat is a self-diagnosed Star in the Making. Jeeks is a Social Pariah...on a good day. Long-time acquaintances, no-time friends, this unlikely pair are thrown together when Hellcat’s comedy partner walks off the show. Desperate to complete the tour, Hellcat sends out a cry for help. Jeeks is the only one to raise her hand. HELLCAT and JEEKS have now joined forces. It’s an absolute disaster!

Two of the brightest stars in New Zealand Theatre, Lauren Jackson and Jackie van Beek have drawn on their experience in writing and performing to bring these amazing characters to life. Lauren began her career playing the lead in the NZ feature film ‘Alex’. In 2004 she represented NZ at the ‘40th International Young Theatre Practitioners’ Forum’ in Berlin, while in 2005 she was named ‘Chapman Tripp Most Outstanding New Playwright of the Year Award’ for her play ‘Exchange’. Jackie van Beek has numerous credits in TV and radio and has written a number of plays including the comedy, ‘Space Migrant’ commissioned and staged by Ohio Northern University. Jackie has spent 2006 touring devised show, ‘My Brother and I are Pornstars,’ with actor / writer Jon Brugh. They have played throughout NZ, in Melbourne and at the Edinburgh Fringe. They have been invited to London’s Soho theatre in April 2007.

HELLCAT AND JEEKS is one of the only female comedy duos to emerge from NZ since the eighties phenomenon of The Topp Twins. The comedy scene is largely the domain of male performers and the industry is constantly on the look out for more female acts that are able to make audiences laugh without stooping to ‘my time of the month jokes’. Armed with their distinctive brand of humour and script writing ability, HELLCAT and JEEKS make a timely entrance onto the comedy stage giving NZ their long awaited new female comedy duo. HELLCAT and JEEKS plans to tour to the UK in 2008.

From 19th century chit-chat to 20th century fist fights. From coalmine disasters to soothing musical interludes HELLCAT and JEEKS uses mime, song, dance, poetry and ventriloquism to deliver 60 hilarious minutes of great sketch comedy.

HELLCAT and JEEKS plays at The Herald Theatre THE EDGE®
Wed Feb 7 - Sat Feb 10, 2007. All performances are at 8pm.
Tickets: $20-$25 plus booking fees. Book at TICKETEK 09 307 5000 or www.ticketek.co.nz

HELLCAT and JEEKS also plays:
WORLD BUSKERS FESTIVAL Christchurch from 18 – 22 January 2007 at the Repertory Theatre
For more info visit www.worldbuskersfestival.com

THE 2007 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL
April 2007 (season dates TBC). For more info visit: www.comedyfestival.com.au

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