Comedian Brings Orgy Home

Comedian Brings Orgy Home

Comedian Freya Desmarais is returning to her roots, bringing two shows in as many weeks to Wellington’s BATS Theatre.

The now Auckland-based writer and performer returns to Wellington with her shows Home and Live Orgy in August. Both have performed to notable critical and audience acclaim, with Live Orgy picking up the Social Impact Special Award at this year’s Auckland Fringe Awards.

Both shows tackle complex and challenging social issues through a comedic lens.

“Home is a comedy about depression, while Live Orgy is a comedy about consent - both of those things are usually considered pretty ‘heavy’ but I think comedy is one of the best ways to combat tough subjects like these, that are difficult to talk about,” said Desmarais.

The content of both shows has been significantly influenced by Desmarais’ life experiences.

“It is much easier to write about what you know. In the case of Home, the show is very autobiographical in that it charts my experiences with suicidal mental illness in my early 20s,” said the 26-year-old performer.

“Live Orgy is less autobiographical and takes a broader, more societal approach to my thoughts on sex education and the culture around consent and pleasure, but it’s coloured by my own sexual experiences and the knowledge I can share as a Gender and Women’s Studies graduate.”

Desmarais graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Film, Theatre and the now disestablished Gender and Women’s Studies.

The two shows have had a hand in defining Desmarais as a socially and politically conscious comedian amongst her peers, with critics in 2015 saying she is “one of the loudest and most interesting [new] voices” and “one to watch.”

ENDS

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