Hysterical

Bossy. Nag. Lazy. Quitter. Hysterical. High-maintenance. Too much.

Hysterical follows the stories of three women, at key moments in their lives, and explores how the labels that are painted on us (and that we paint on ourselves) throughout our lives shape our actions, decisions and the people we become.

Inspired by your real journal entries, performers will navigate the labyrinth of challenges women face when making their way in a world not built by or for them. From the absurd and comedic to the tender and raw, and everything in between. This is a show for anyone that’s ever felt the weight of a label dragging them down.

Following sell out shows in 2023 and a successful run at the New Zealand Improv Festival, Hysterical is an acclaimed production featuring some of Meanjin’s most talented improvisers.

Event details

• Location: The Manufacturing Warehouse at The Paint Factory
• Arrival: Please arrive between 7 – 7.15 pm allowing time to get a drink from the Paint Factory bar and make your way to the Manufacturing Room to get seated. The show will start promptly at 7.30 pm. Hysterical runs for 60 minutes.
• Post-show celebrations: This show takes place on the closing night of the Anywhere Festival – join us for festival celebrations after the show.
• Journal submission: The stories in Hysterical are inspired by your real experiences. We invite all female & non-binary identifying audience members to submit a journal entry for our performers to be inspired by.

Praise for Hysterical at New Zealand Improv Festival

“A bold, heartbreaking, heartwarming and truthful reflection of women’s lives now.” – Eleanor Collins, ellebelle

“Voyeuristic … Hopeful … [A] show with a clear message about the resilience of women…” – Ciarán Searle, Wellingtonista

“Explores the gendered subtleties of how we see ourselves and each other.” – Thalia Kehoe Rowden, Wellingtonista / Sacraparental

“The cast created characters with such depth and complexity that left such an impression… It’s astounding that these stories were made up on the spot.” – Eleanor Collins, ellebelle

Content warning

The feminism that informs this show is a wholeheartedly inclusive one. As this show is improvised, we cannot guarantee the presence or absence of specific content or themes beyond what is in the description above. The show may contain mature themes and language, but not gratuitously. The show may contain a small amount of voluntary audience interaction.