Yes, you can buy tickets now!!

The Pink Ladies are pleased to announce that you can now buy tickets to ALL of our shows online.

If you're the kind of person who likes to buy your tickets in advance, then go forth and ticket yourself!

Our fringe shows are on sale here.

Sydney Fringe dates are at nice accessible times like:

• Thursday 16th September at 8pm
• Saturday 18th September at 8pm
• Saturday 25th September at 5pm
• Sunday 26th September at 6:30 pm 

Buy tix for Roxbury shows (every Friday night in October) here. Roxbury shows begin at 10pm every Friday night in October.

Photo: This one of our promo photos - from left to right we have Karena Thomas (in the kerchief), Louise McManus, Erin Foy (in rollers), Karina Francis and Chloe Paul. These are just some of the 13 cast who will entertain you!!

Linda Calgaro - she will rocktapus you!

Linda Calgaro has a reputation as a character player. Accents, faces and of course a memorable singing voice. Her a capella rock comedy band, Rocktapus is performing at the Sydney Fringe, and we are honoured with her presence in our cast.

What's your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? Why?

It happened during rehearsals for Tabloid Musical. Geoff Wallis, our director, encouraged the performers to explore dark characters and stories, so somehow I had to sing a song as a baby murdering nurse. I can’t remember what I sang, but I remember singing while smothering an imaginary baby with a pillow. I know - it was creepy, but discovering that I could play unlikeable, serious characters and make them watchable was amazing and actually fun! If you commit to a character, audiences are drawn in. John Knowles still won’t let me babysit his kids. Mwah-hah-ha-ha…

What's your all time favourite you witnessed but weren't in, and why?

I remember seeing Rik Brown from Impro Melbourne once do a Shakespearian monologue as a garbage collector. I love Shakespeare, so to watch someone make it up, use the language effortlessly, make the character loveable and funny, as well as tell a brilliant story, frankly, makes me want to give up and buy a Cookie Man franchise. But I soldier on.

Why do you love improvising?

Improv is Zen. You have to relinquish your own ego at every moment whilst improvising - this thing is bigger than you. I live to create emotional connections not only between characters, but especially with an audience. If I can move an audience in any way, then it’s been a good gig.

What's your favourite colour (after pink)?

It’s a tie between red and dark purple.

What's your favourite fruit and why?

Cherries are a seriously sexy fruit.

What's your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

Puppy Flood

What's your ambition for pink ladies?

To bend people’s perception of Improv - to be strong and brilliant, feminine and funny.

Favourite word?

Love.

Picture: Sophie Long comforts Linda Calgaro (in purple... because it seems to be the Pink Ladies' favourite colour after Pink!).

Jess Mallett learns from a crush...

Jess Mallett is famous in the improvising world for her ability to say just the right thing at just the right time. She has a sharp expertise in loquacious characters (see the final question to discover why!). We welcome her into our cast, and look forward to her inventive contribution to the Pink Ladies.

What's your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? why?

A simultaneously daunting and exhilarating scene that I played in Impromance with Bill Arnett from Chicago. Bill was a man oblivious to people with crushes on him, and I was the friend with a crush on him. I think it was the first time I truly understood the 'game of the scene' concept, with everything he did heightening the frustration of the situation. At one point he even patted me on the head. We played the scene for the reality, not for laughs, but the audience loved it. I had a great time in the scene, and learned a lot so it stands out in my memory. 

What's your all time favourite you witnessed but weren't in, and why?

At a Cranston cup final Simon, Jordan, and some other people improvised a scene in a fridge. I remember that I found it hilarious because of their commitment and I was quoting it for days but I don't remember the specifics. 

Why do you love improvising?

Because it allows you to exist in the moment, turn off your inner critic and just say yes to stuff. 

What's your favourite colour (after pink)?

Purple, deep regal purple, none of this namby-pamby purple, but the pure purpliest of purples.
What's your favourite fruit and why?

Tomatoes, because I hate most other fruit, but I eat these on at least a daily basis.What's your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

Ripper East (which sounds more like a set of instructions than a name).What's your ambition for pink ladies?

To rule the world... and raise heaps of cash for the Breast Cancer Network Australia.Favourite word?

Loquacious. 

Photo: Jane Simmons in a rare cranky character, being comforted by the amazing Jess Mallett.

Anne Wilson - what she did for love

Anne Wilson is doing her own one-woman show called What I did for Love in the Sydney Fringe on September 10 and 11, and we are privileged to have her as part of our cast.

What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? Why?

I performed an original song titled "Bubble Gum baby" it went like this.... "Bubble Gum Baby, I love you, Bubble Gum Baby, I like to chew, Bubble Gum Baby, Let's go on a date, so, Bubble Gum Baby, we can masticate"- They don't write lyrics like that anymore!

Why do you love improvising?

I love that it places you entirely in the moment. I love the challenge, I love that it forces me to face my fears head on and learn to not be intimidated by trusting in the imagination to create whatever is needed. I love that I get to work alongside some of the most fun and creative and alive people that I know.

What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?

Green

What’s your favourite fruit and why?

Mango. It is just the best!

What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

Dusty Jackson

What’s your ambition for pink ladies?

To change the world!

Favourite word?

Encourage

Linette Voller - Onomotopoeia lives

Linette Voller has a quiet strangeness which kind of creeps up on you. She looks like an ordinary person until she begins to improvise, and then you see a mind with many dark corners and quirky side alleys. You can see them all within a few minutes - always changing!!

Here's a quick interview with Linette.

What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? Why?

One that sticks out for me is a song I did with 2 of my pals that I graduated from an impro course with a year before. It was just so much fun and one of those times that things just all came together.

What’s your all time favourite you witnessed but weren’t in, and why?

There have been so many that left me weeping with laughter!  One that comes to mind is a scene in Santa’s toy factory with Brent Hill and Rebecca de Unamuno. I could watch them for ages.

Why do you love improvising?

Because it stops me from over-thinking before the show and it's a delight to see where we all end up.

What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?

Red

What’s your favourite fruit and why?

Pineapple. What's not to love about such a jovial spiky fruit. It tries to keep you away, but eventually relents its sweet and tasty flesh.

What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

Midnight Milton

What’s your ambition for pink ladies?

To take over the world!!!!!  Muhahahahah. Ahem.

Seriously though, to have a great time playing and raise some money for a seriously worthwhile cause.

Favourite word?

Moist. Cos it sounds like soggy moss on a rock by a pool when you say it. Onomatopoeia for the win! 

Karena Thomas - the Canada Connection

Karena Thomas, like Chloe Paul, had her improvising introduction in Canada, one of the homes of improvisation. Karena played in Toronto, with women Cindy played with in Chicago while doing the iO Theatre Summer School Improvisation intensive. We're all connected across the vast network (via Facebook, right?).

What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? why?

The first improvised duo I ever did was a blast, i can't tell you why it just was :)

What’s your all time favourite you witnessed but weren’t in, and why?

I saw the improv duo TJ and Dave in Toronto. The best thing I have ever seen in my life to date.

Why do you love improvising?

Because being a "responsible adult" all day is overrated, and usually pretty dull.

What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?

Purple.

What’s your favourite fruit and why?

Don't ask me to make that choice.

What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

Kelly Cardiff

What’s your ambition for pink ladies?

Have fun and take the audience along for the ride!

Favourite word?

Doily

Cindy Tonkin - Directing and Producing...

Cindy Tonkin directs and produces this season. If she's very lucky, and all goes well, she may join in the playing by the time we get to the Roxbury in October. October 1 is in fact her birthday, and it's the first night that Pink Ladies is on at the Roxbury, so maybe she'll play then!!


Cindy produced Scared Scriptless Theatresports for several years when it was at the Clarence Hotel in Petersham. In 2009 and 2010 she was instrumental in bringing 2 Chicago improvisers to Sydney to Chicago-up the improv. Cindy from iO Theatre promoted the two seasons which resulted: the Jason Chin Project, and Improvactually (the product of the Bill Arnett Adventure).


Here are Cindy's questions turned on herself:

What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? why?

It was a very slow scene about a drought, a war and a relationship going bust. In 3 minutes. As a he said, she said. Tom Allen was in that scene and Tess Niemand. I will remember it forever!

What’s your all time favourite you witnessed but weren’t in, and why?

I echo Karena Thomas’ vote that TJ and Dave, who are Chicago based, are pretty damn fine. I see great improvising all the time – when the players/characters are vulnerable, when the relationships are true, and it"s more than just gagging. When the comedy comes from the characters, not the words...

Why do you love improvising?

It frees up a certain part of the brain to be playful, stop thinking and start doing, and because I never laugh so much as when I improvise. Laugh. Laugh. Laugh.

What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?

Orange.

What’s your favourite fruit and why?

Pears. I'm not allergic to them.

What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

Snuffy Holtermann.

What’s your ambition for pink ladies?

Make some lovely money for the Breast Cancer Network, because they do such excellent work for women going through the horror that is Breast Cancer. To create shows people will talk about in years to come as a great memory. To get women improvising together so people can remember that women can improvise too. To give Sydney Improv more options for how shows can work…. Not much, right?

Favourite word?

Potato.

Photo: Linette Voller on the left. Cindy Tonkin on the right. This is a scene from Improvactually.

Chloe Paul powders her nose

Chloe is the member of our troupe with the "most youth". She lived for a while in Canada where she learned to improvise, and the bug has bitten her hard! 


What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? Why?

Everything I did with the University of British Columbia improv team Holy!Moses The group I worked with were all such fun and generous players and we had a fantastic group mind.


What’s your all time favourite you weren’t in, and why?

I love almost all of the musical games I watch. I love seeing a team pull off a successful song.



Why do you love improvising?

Improv it a great way to centre yourself but I love it because I can be fun and spontaneous.



What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?'

Purple



What’s your favourite fruit and why?

Raspberries, because they taste good fresh and frozen



What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

Taddie Salisbury



What’s your ambition for pink ladies?

To raise money and awareness for the Breast Cancer Network of Australia as I have recently had a close family member be diagnosed with breast cancer.



Favourite word?

Dragoon



Photo: Chloe looking cool while powdering her nose. Karena Thomas in the background.

Sophie is allergic to Purple

Sophie Long is a hot property in up and coming improvisers right now. She's currently in Vampire Theatresports, plays regularly with Scared Scriptless and with Panda Smackdown. That's Sophie on the left in the photo below, comforting Linda Calgaro's sad character. Since she's allergic to purple, she had a strong dose of antihistamines straight after this scene. Here's some more on Sophie.


What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? Why?

Probably my favourite was the first ballet I did, it was a very early scene I did and I was playing with Gary, one of my all time favourite scene partners.  I turned into a goat for some reason. We got a 5 5 5 [3 judges score out of a possible 5 points each] and it was the first time I thought “Oh I might be able to do this”.' It was also a way for me to crowbar my love of dance into a stage performance.

What’s your all time favourite you weren’t in, and why?

That's a hard one, probably one of the first scenes I ever saw at the Late Show featuring the wonderful Louise McManus. She was a morgue attendant. It was hysterical yet very truthful, no gags, amazing mime. It was one of the first scenes I had seen with such a great female performer and it inspired me to give it a go. Sorry if I have embarrassed Louise with that!

Why do you love improvising?

I love being in the moment and the trust and intimacy developed with the other players and the audience. When I am on stage I can let go of all the worries and stress and just react to what is happening. With scripted acting it is a lot harder to get out of my own head. Also with improv you get to be whatever character you want, including men, animals and inanimate objects. We never get to be that silly in real life.

What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?

I finally have one, I could never answer that question. It is teal. I tried to wear purple recently after a ten year ban and I got a rash. I am allergic to purple. 

What’s your favourite fruit and why?

Mango. The question is why that would NOT be anyone's favourite. 

What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

I write under that pseudonym so it must remain private. Sorry.

What’s your ambition for pink ladies?

To have fun and give audiences a fun experience. And to raise money.  

Favourite word?

Expletive deleted.  

Louise McManus - Num Num!

Louise McManus has an off-the-wall on stage persona which gets even better when she's tired, hungry or surprised. She has been improvising for way longer than she cares to admits, and is well-remembered for scenes in the Late Show, as a mentor player at Scared Scriptless, and as a player and or judge in countless Cranston Cups.

You'll hear more about her soon, but for now, here is a photo of Louise in character.That's her on the right, in the passenger seat. Karina Francis is driving the getaway vehicle.

What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? Why?

I have been in a lot of great scenes mainly standing off stage supporting my team by my absence. I do remember being on stage with Lisa Ricketts at Belvoir where we were in a haunted house. It was a "speaking in one voice scene" where we had to be one person. It was a scream (boom boom). 

I once wore a traffic cone on my head with a bit of material flowing from it and imagined that I was a medieval damsel. I loved being a damsel. I recently played with Richard BF and Jonathan Briden in a format we made up. It went for 45 minutes, just the three of us, and was the most challenging thing I have done in improv. Then there was ... oh only one okay. 

director's note: I saw the damsel scene. It was more than a sight gag. It was a noble and exciting scene!!

What’s your all time favourite you weren’t in, and why?

I loved watching Julia Zemiro when she played. She was terrific. So gutsy, funny and versatile. Only one. Ok, the scene Julia Zemiro was in. Any of them.

Why do you love improvising?

It stops you taking yourself seriously. Everything is unexpected. You have to rely on quick wits and rat cunning. Just like my day job. You can play a multitude of characters and there are no lines to learn. 

What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?

Crimson - so different to pink, I find. 

 What’s your favourite fruit and why?

Cake. I am not sure I've tasted fruit.

What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

Matilda Weemilah. 

What’s your ambition for pink ladies?

For the audience to enjoy themselves as much as we do. 

Favourite word?

num num (oh, only one word. Then num (repeated).

Karina Francis - getting into it

Karina Francis in action during
the Sydney Fringe 2010

Karina Francis is a physical player who'll knock your socks off with her ability to make you believe she really is driving a ten tonne truck, playing poker with the devil, or icing a cake (yes, improvisers can do pretty much anything!).

There'll be more on Karina later, but just check out the photo to remind you of who she really is (an international spy)!!

Lucie Booker likes Chocolate

We have enticed Lucie Booker from her trailer where she has been reading historical novels and raising a beautiful daughter with a vivid imagination. While Lucie hasn't been on stage for a while, her wit and wisdom are undiminished.  Here's a little more about her:

What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? Why?

An alphabet scene years ago with Meg Lloyd and Rebecca De Unamuno... they were both so fast and so good - I had no idea improvising could move at such a speed, I was always about 4 letters behind - but I survived!!

What’s your all time favourite you weren’t in, and why?
Any scene with Jane Simmons in it.....she'll do whatever it takes to make the scene work.

Why do you love improvising?
I love the freedom, the fun, the terror and the dodgy accents

What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?
Red

What’s your favourite fruit and why?
Mango..... Mmmm, what's not to love?

What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)
Dandy Gould.... Hmmm not great, I prefer a spoonerism of my name.... Boozie Looker

What’s your ambition for pink ladies?
Fun, great scenes and not too much lady like behaviour!

Favourite word?  
Chocolate


Photo: Lucie in Anna Karenina tribute mode!

Erin Foy - "How are you Erin?" - "I'm Erin"...

Erin Foy is relatively new on the improvisation scene (she's been formally improvising with a "licence" for about a year)*, but she has a strong acting background. Her porn name is Cuddles Cameron. Says it all really...

What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? Why?

Every scene in my grad night from my Theatresports courses, because my whole family were there and they had a blast. They were so proud, and I loved being able to give them such a happy experience! 

What’s your all time favourite you witnessed but weren’t in, and why?

Any scene with Amanda Buckley! That girl is the funniest thing ever made - her comic timing is phenomenal! I am a fan! When I first met her she said "how are you" and I said "Erin"! 

Why do you love improvising?

I love LOVE making people laugh, and I love being able to go on these crazy amazing journeys on stage with crazy amazing people! 

What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?

Blue

What’s your favourite fruit and why?

Strawberries... because they taste the least like fruit! 

What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

Cuddles Cameron

What’s your ambition for pink ladies?

To perform a series of top quality improvised shows, that have the audience begging for more. Thus resulting in LOTS and LOTS of money for the breast cancer network to help women live through the horror that is Breast Cancer. And world peace. 

Favourite word?

Microsoft 08 

*isn't life pretty much improvised really??

Our cast: Jane Simmons - who is ON HOLIDAYS!!!

Welcome to the first in a series of profiles on our cast.

From these questions you'll get a sense of the kind of drama, comedy, farce or even poetry you can expect in our pink lady shows. 

What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you were in? why?

My all time-favourite scene was a game with Steve Lynch, Gep Blake and Adam Gelin in the original 'Unlimited Soundburger' in the Theatresports Cranston Cup years ago. It was set in a prison and it just all came together as if we had all planned a little piece of the puzzle that fitted perfectly. We hadn't gone for the gags or stereotypes - we all played it for truth and against all odds, it was gold. Loved that team. Sailed all the way to the Grand Final with such joy.

(Director's note: I saw that scene. It was indeed a narrative joy. An opening scene which seemed to have too many threads to pull together which ended in a way which tied everything together - pure improvisational joy!)

What’s your all time favourite improvised scene that you witnessed but weren’t in, and why? 

Another truth scene is my favourite actually. When I first started watching Theatresports in the 90's at Belvoir. The scene was set at a grave site and was played beautifully by Monique Dykstra and Nigel Sutton. Fabulous.

Why do you love improvising? Well the flippant answer for why I love improvising would be the lack of learning lines is very attractive but the real answer is the nature of working with great ensembles and discovering narratives, characters, tilts and possibilities as you go and never knowing where you'll end up. What scares you about improv is also what thrills you!

What’s your favourite colour (after pink)?

Is there another colour apart from pink? Developing a liking for purple at the moment.

What’s your favourite fruit and why?

Banana. It'll never let you down in the potassium stakes.

What’s your porn name? (first pet + first street you ever lived in)

I recently heard the Real Estate phrase 'Sunset Clause' and I want to use that name. But using the criteria above it would be Selina Pozieres.

What’s your ambition for pink ladies?

To play with joy, risk, strength, energy and integrity- just as we would with the boys but like an all girls super group. Watch out boys. Kevin Rudd thought he was safe too...

Favourite word?

Holidays. If I could have three it would be Long Service Leave!!