Media Release, 26 February 2006
Barbarian Productions Presents Jo Randerson’s Skazzle Dazzle
Jo Randerson, instigator of such strange and wonderful offerings as the recent ‘Absolutely Positively Walking’ tours – a
hit in this year’s Fringe – and ‘Cracks in the Garden’ (Best Comedy, Melbourne Fringe) returns to BATS with her
spectacular solo show ‘Jo Randerson’s Skazzle Dazzle’.
This non-stop variety-style theatre-comedy show features stand-up, song, dance, puppetry and wig-work. “Skazzle-Dazzle”
is an old Danish performance tradition (Skasle-dasle), and Randerson is one of its key exponents outside of Denmark. Her
extremely brave and highly original work has seen her recently tour to La Villette Theatre, Paris, and the 2005 Prague
and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.
Randerson’s unique blend of comedy and theatre, hope and downright disaster has brought her many dedicated fans
throughout NZ. Critics find her work almost impossible to label, settling for comments such as “had me laughing all the
way home” (Scotsman, 2005).
“Jo Randerson’s Skazzle Dazzle” has been re-worked for this return Wellington season, with Auckland-based Director Ben
Crowder directing the show. After Wellington the show will travel to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where
Randerson’s unique and unpredictable humour will also feature at ‘Upfront 12’, the annual showcase of the best female
comedians in the festival.
BILLY T JAMES COMEDY AWARD NOMINEE, NEW ZEALAND, 2005
GOLDEN GIBBO AWARD JOINT-WINNER, MELBOURNE, 2004
BEST COMEDY AWARD WINNER, MELBOURNE FRINGE, 2003
‘She strips humour down to its bare bones; so bare it simply shouldn't be funny any more… despite being completely
devoid of romance, her humour is foolproof. She's shrewd wit on a stick.’ The Package, 2005
ENDS