Press Release

23 January 2004

GORILLA TAKES ON KING KONG AT COMEDY FESTIVAL!

Gorilla Theatre hits New Zealand for the first time at the International Comedy Festival in May and is threatening to overshadow the production of Peter Jackson’s movie spectacular King Kong.

“Many people think the best director in town is Peter Jackson, but he’s not even in the competition” says the Wellington Improvisation Troupe’s show producer Simon Smith. “Gorilla is going to be bigger than Kong.”

“Gorilla is an international class heavyweight improvised comedy show that has never been performed in New Zealand before. In this format, it’s the directors of scenes that are put on the spot and have to fight for their right to stay on stage” explains Smith.

Gorilla Theatre stars four of WIT’s leading improvisers and the troupe’s resident gorilla. The improvisers take turns to either direct or perform in songs, stories and scenes - only without a script. “It’s the directors of the scenes that compete to entertain the audience. At the end of each scene, the audience decides if the scene was successful or not” explains Smith. “Only one director can go home with the gorilla. Of course there will be tears - she’s a special girl.”

Gorilla is an advanced improvisation format designed and licensed by improvising legend Keith Johnstone, the father of Theatresports. Smith pauses. “WIT is founded on Keith’s creative philosophy. We are passionate about telling stories, and we were absolutely gutted that none of us were selected to direct King Kong. Gorilla will outclass Kong. The fact that the players like eating bananas is only incidental”.

WIT won the New Zealand Fringe Festival 2003 Best Comedy Award and has just produced an all-female show ‘Diva Fever’ in January and their flagship show Battle of WITs in February to full houses. “The comedy will be on a scale not seen since the last show from the WIT, certainly not since mid-February” explains Smith. “People with heart conditions or allergies to simian hair need to be aware of the risk.”

No gorillas are harmed during performance.

When: 6.30pm Tuesday 4th - Saturday 8th May
How long: This is a one hour show
How much: $15 waged / $12 unwaged or group booking.
Where: BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace, Wellington.
Bookings: book@bats.co.nz, phone (04) 802-4175, or door sales.
Website: wit.org.nz

Imagery and Electronic copies:
Accompanying photographs & graphics (in various formats) and an electronic version of this press release can be downloaded in the media section of the WIT.org.nz website. Visit http://wit.org.nz/mediaPromos/

Contact:
Communications Manager, Nicky Hill (0212373567) comms@wit.org.nz