Prepare to feel inspired as SedX delivers a range of absurdly motivational speeches to NZ Improv fest 2015. Hosted by the sneans-wearing, ultra-marathon-running, award-winning novel-writing enigma that is Gavin Foohey (Jonny Paul), this show sees an eclectic array of characters take the stage in a spin-off of the popular TedX talks.

The premise of the show is that topics are suggested by the audience and a slideshow of images, again contributed by the audience, will serve as visual references for the speaker. 

Foohey himself is lovably conceited, using every opportunity he can to reference his ultra-marathon running and book-writing in a bid to inspire the audience with his slick talking, pun-laden speeches. From the get go he challenges the audience to use these speeches to climb their own “Mount Cleverest” or “Mount Dontkillamanjaro”, likening the plethora of motivational speakers to a “Farmers’ sale for your mind”.

This proves to be strangely accurate as the opening two speakers manifest in the form of a shaman by the name of Kale Hebber (Ryan Knighton) who enlightens the audience on the history of laughter and Dr Courtken Balk (James Cain), a professor in maths, philosophy and chaos theory who pontificates deeply on the beauty of the pencil. Both characters approach theories of time and space from very different angles, and amongst the hilarity manage to stumble upon the occasional pearl of wisdom. 

Next up is Isabella Fernande (Stevie Hancox-Monk), an Italian megalomaniacal scientist who video conferences in for the occasion to speak about the great nation of Canada. Speaking in energetic Italian sounding gibberish, complete with lavish gestures, her passionate rant about her affinity with Canadian people is translated for us English speakers by Sam Irwin, a tech support man on the SedX circuit. 

Danish architect Főndler Nordvqist (Matt Powell) provides the most inspiring speech of the night when he recounts his year with Matt Damon, which turns out to be a deep philosophical exploration of himself through spending time with a man who wears so many different masks.

Following him is Warren Handle (Jed Davies), who tragically lost his whole right side in an orca attack, yet thanks to modern technology has bounced back to weave his survivor story into a speech which convincingly debunks five common myths about apples. 

Finally, we are treated to a live performance by week-before-last-week’s X-Factor contestant, Chapstick (Rose Cann), a sassy British pop singer. Dedicating her track to an audience member who urges her to act like Kim Kardashian and to heed her Mum’s advice of ‘what would Yeezy do?’ Chapstick gets the whole crowd on their feet dancing. With an energetic b-boy dance style and improvised lyrics that wouldn’t be out of place in a Top 40 list, it’s a great conclusion to a night of weird and whacky motivational speakers from all walks of life and all schools of philosophy.  

George Fenn does great tech work and also crowd support, while Uther Dean’s lighting and Oliver Devlin’s music create a very real SedX environment, allowing a great environment for the performers to flex their improv muscles.

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