MARKUS BIRDMAN in Happily Ever After
25/04/2014 - 03/05/2014
San Francisco Bathhouse, 171 Cuba St, Wellington
06/05/2014 - 10/05/2014
NZ International Comedy Festival 2014
Production Details
IN TIME OUT UK’S ‘TOP 10 COMEDIANS IN 2013’
He charmed audiences at the 2013 NZ Fest with his very personal solo show , LOVE, LIFE and DEATH as well as star turns in THE BIG SHOW & 5 STAR COMEDY TOUR… so we invited him back for more! As part of the 2014 NZ International Comedy Festival, Markus Birdman returns with Happily Ever After in Auckland (25 April – 3 May) and Wellington (6 – 10 May). Last year he talked about the stroke he had. It was very therapeutic for Markus, and many people agreed it made for a very thought provoking, moving and yet joyful show.
“By the close of this hugely enjoyable, sharply structured hour I was feeling glad to be alive –vowing to grab life by the balls and determined to live long enough to see Birdman again next year.” SCOTSMAN
This year Markus is talking about the split with his partner of fourteen years. He hopes it will be equally therapeutic for him, and as thought provoking, moving and joyful for audiences as last year’s show was. He hopes so. He could do with a laugh!
“Birdman packs his show with more affection, positivity and healthiness than you’re ever likely to find in any pharmacy. It’s thought provoking, endearing and it tackles some difficult subjects head on. Genuine loveliness, that is hard to explain and even harder to capture. Fortunately for us, Birdman has captured this superbly. Funnily positive and positively funny.” SKINNY
Markus Birdman is one of the leading comics on the UK and international live circuit. He regularly headlines the world famous Comedy Store and has performed sell out solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, the Adelaide Fringe and the Melbourne Comedy Festival. He has delighted audiences from China to Mumbai, from Singapore to Sweden (in fairness he died on his backside in Germany). He has appeared on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio Wales and on BBC and ITV television shows in the UK as well as regular appearances on Paramount TV’s Comedy Central and Live at the Comedy Store. He has filmed comedy specials for Scandinavian TV (Kanal 5), and another in Holland (Vara TV).
“Birdman is the all-round package; witty, controversial, hip, topical and silly. A master of timing and physical comedy, he made me laugh so hard it hurt” BBC
As part of the 2014 NZ International Comedy Festival in cahoots with Old Mout Cider, grab some mates and join us for a great night of laughs from 24 April – 18 May. For the full Comedy Fest show line-up head to comedyfestival.co.nz
MARKUS BIRDMAN – Happily Ever After
AUCKLAND
Dates: Fri 25, Sat 26 Apr, Mon 28 Apr – Sat 3 May, 8:30pm
Venue: The Classic, 321 Queen St
Tickets: $20 – $30 Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) // ticketek.co.nz
WELLINGTON
Dates: Tues 6 – Sat 10 May, 8:30pm
Venue: San Fran, 171 Cuba St Tickets: $20 – $26
Bookings: 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) // ticketek.co.nz
See also the ‘5 Star Comedy Preview’ (Wed 23 Apr, 8pm) At SKYCITY Theatre
Theatre , Stand-up comedy ,
Chatty yet scatty conversational wit peppered with pathos
Review by Kate Ward-Smythe 26th Apr 2014
I wonder what sort of hour I am in for when ‘Tender’ by alternative rock band Blur is the chosen walk-on music. A curious song-choice by Markus Birdman, given its reflective melancholy lyrics and mood.
However when he reveals the motivation for his show, I realise how perfect the song choice is. I admire Markus for making the brave decision to devise his new show based around the demise of his relationship with the mother of his child; his partner of 14 years.
With the material being so real and raw, there is a danger that the audience will feel uncomfortable if the comedian appears too venerable, or starts sharing just a wee but too much with the group…
But Markus balances his relationship processing with enough contrasting material, such as swearing; parenting his daughter; the UK’s recent decision to legalise same-sex marriages and his father’s reaction (his dad’s a vicar), to keep the laughs close to hand.
Sometimes his perspective is familiar. Like other British comedians, he points out that women always win arguments because we can recall great detail from the past. Etc. And that he doesn’t understand us: men are simple but women are complex. Etc.
By contrast his digs at priests and church are so good he gets a deserving round of applause. His gags about Liverpool and Berlin are fun, plus I very much enjoy his retelling of conversations with, and observations from, his daughter. He does a brief recap of his 2013 stroke-inspired show as well, which has me laughing out loud.
An added visual bonus is a fabulous backdrop, which is a cross between a cartoon version of The Pirates of the Caribbean and homage to Mexican ‘day of the dead’ art.
Overall, while there are plenty of chortles, there’s no denying Markus’ chatty yet scatty conversational wit is peppered with a healthy dose of self-therapy.
Even though there are moments that are almost downbeat in Markus’ hour, I’d still recommend his show, simply because he is a talented story-teller, who swears like a trouper; is rude, crude yet funny; and he offers not only great laughs, but also some pathos and insight.
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