Teams of Impro legends mixed with celebrity guests go head-to-head in a battle of wits—competing for audience laughs and the judges’ scores. All in a quest to win the coveted Celebrity TheatreSports™ Cup …and support a wonderful cause, Canteen.
It’s Thank God You’re Here meets Whose Line Is It Anyway? You’ll see teams thrown in the deep end to play classic and audience-favourite TheatreSports™ games, comic scenes, songs, epic adventures and improvised musicals with a twist. See who can make the audience (and the judges) laugh loudest.
Here are just some of our celebrity guests taking up the challenge*:
Andrew Redmayne (Socceroos goalkeeper – “The Grey Wiggle”), Rob ‘Millsy’ Mills (Australian Idol, Wicked, star of stage/screen), Susan Prior (The Rover, award-winning film/theatre/TV actor), Joji Malani (aka Pei, original legendary guitarist, Gang Of Youths), Adam Spencer (maths geek, comedian, radio/TV presenter), Genevieve Hegney (Colin From Accounts, Logie winner), James Galea (award-winning magician, writer, producer), Harry Jun (comedian, cartoonist), Gary Eck (comedian, actor & writer: Happy Feet 2), Felix Williamson (Underbelly; actor/writer), Daniel Cordeaux (Thank God You’re Here; world impro champion), Elliot Ulm (Graphic Design Live; TheatreSports champion; comedian), Ryan Atkins (‘Gen Y Ry’ from Gold101.7 Jonesy & Amanda).
Directed/produced by Julie Dunsmore & Michael Gregory.
Starring TheatreSports™/Impro legends: Jacqui Bramwell, David Callan, Ewan Campbell, Kate Coates, Sophie Douglas, Murray Fahey, John Knowles, Steve Lynch, Sophea Op, Charlie Papps, Amy Tustian, Linette Voller.
Plus weird and wonderful audio challenges for the teams from: Kitty Flanagan, Amanda Keller, Rove McManus, Susie Youssef, Cameron Daddo and more.
(*Cast subject to change without notice)
“A wit-walloping, brain-scrambling, spectacle of comedic genius!” – What’s On Sydney
*Canteen supports young people (aged 12–25) when cancer turns their world upside down.
Celebrity TheatreSports™ promotes the vital work of this youth-led organisation, raising awareness of the unique challenges young people face and how Canteen has helped in navigating the impacts on their lives.
Celebrity TheatreSports – Sun 27 Sept, 4pm
Enmore Theatre, 118 Enmore Rd, Newtown
Tickets: $35–$70 plus booking fee
Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au or Enmore Theatre Ph: 9550 3666
This winter, courageous participants are set to dive into the freezing waters of St Kilda for the first-ever Christmas Cold Dip. Hosted by Jimmy O’Neill’s Whiskey & Ale House, the event aims to generate much needed funds for SACRED HEART MISSION, to support local St Kilda women and children experiencing homelessness during Melbourne’s coldest months.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, 25 July, beginning at 10am at St Kilda Beach, directly in front of the Sea Baths. This traditional Irish-style sea plunge offers a bracing challenge for those who love a cold water dip or who just want to support a great cause, after which swimmers are invited to the Acland Street home of Jimmy O’Neill’s to defrost with classic Irish winter warmer.
Wade Piva, Director of Engagement and Development, at Sacred Heart Mission said, “We think the team at Jimmy O’Neill’s are absolute legends for being willing to take a dip in the icy sea for Sacred Heart Mission. Every dollar they’ll raise will help provide nutritious meals, crisis support and housing for people who are going through hard times here in our community. Right now, we’re seeing more people facing homelessness than ever – so what they’re doing means a great deal. Thank you and stay warm!”
What is the Christmas Cold Dip? The Christmas Cold Dip is a long-standing Irish tradition, where brave swimmers gather on Christmas Day in Ireland to take a dip in the icy sea, before celebrating Christmas at home with family and friends. Since our Aussie Christmas is a little too warm, swimmers will be asked to brave St Kilda Beach in our winter for the inaugural Jimmy O’Neill’s Christmas Cold Dip which is in line with the pub’s annual Christmas in July festivities.
Here’s how it works: Register yourself OR your team with 50% of your registration fee going directly to Sacred Heart Mission – just $10 can feed one person! Get fundraising and encourage friends and family to sponsor your icy dip Brave the cold St Kilda waters on 25 July, then warm up at your home away from home, Jimmy O’Neill’s!
Zenita O’Neill, Jimmy O’Neill’s owner and St Kilda local said, “Melbourne is absolutely freezing right now and as a St. Kilda local it’s heart breaking to see the amount of women and children sleeping rough this winter. In Melbourne right now approximately 30,000 people experience homelessness on any given night, with the majority experiencing “hidden homelessness” sleeping in rooming houses, cars, or couch surfing where they can. Women over 55 represent a huge part of this number and kids under 12 make up one in seven. We wanted to do something meaningful for these people, that is also fun and honours some of the craic from home that Jimmy is renowned for! We hope lots of people get on board for this one.”
Today, we chatted with Dr Jo Prendergast for an About The Production chat about her show, Cancer and Cartwheels.
Cancer and Cartwheels is an inspiring, comedic solo show that takes audiences on a journey through Dr Jo’s breast cancer experiences, blending standup, musical numbers, and storytelling. With a mix of humor and heart, the show tackles everything from early cancer detection to menopause and health care inequalities—all wrapped up in a cartwheeling good time!
About Cancer and Cartwheels
What is this Production about?
Cancer and Cartwheels is an uplifting solo comedy show which celebrates my breast cancer survivorship and regaining my cartwheeling ability. I wrote the show during my cancer treatment as a way of coping and finding purpose. I take my experiences in funny, absurd directions via comedic skits and musical numbers and narrate via storytelling, standup comedy and use of images and video clips.
The show aims to entertain, and also to educate. I hope to increase awareness via comedy with messaging about early detection of cancer, menopause symptoms that are rarely talked about and living with the effects of cancer treatment. I also explore broader themes such as toxic positivity, body neutrality and health care inequality. Laugh and learn with an hilarious night of meaningful comedy.
What’s challenging about bringing this script to life?
The biggest challenge has been writing a script that finds the humour in my experiences as obviously cancer is inherently a tragic topic! With comedy about difficult topics, I think it’s essential to focus on our own personal experiences and not make generalised statements.
I use metaphors a lot in this show; after surgery I ended up with a perky B cup on the cancer side and on the other side, an age-appropriate semi flaccid D cup. I decided it was like I had a Millennial Boob and a Boomer Boob, so of course that required a skit of Generation Wars taking place in my bra! I noticed words that seemed inappropriate for cancer, such as it being ‘triple positive’; how uplifting is that!? I don’t think other illnesses get the ‘triple treatment’ – imagine if you were told you had triple gonorrhoea!
What sort of person is going to love this show?
My audience for this show has been diverse, from young people in their 20s who are interested in hearing my story and learning about cancer survivorship, to older folk in their 70s and 80s. The majority of my audience has been women 45-65, some of whom are breast cancer survivors and others who find the broader material about aging and menopause relatable.
There is also a health professional audience for the show, and this is likely to grow as I perform excerpts of the show at medical conferences. The health professional audience includes cancer society groups, doctors and nurses and others working in the area. While the focus of the show is my cancer survivorship story, there are also broader themes about coping with change, health care inequality, body neutrality and toxic positivity that are relatable to many people. Almost everyone’s lives have been touched by cancer, and the early detection messages are important for all to be reminded of.
What will the audience be thinking about in the car as they drive home after this show?
From what previous audiences have said, they are surprised at how much they laughed and learnt! I hope the audience leaves with a somewhat sore tummy and facial muscles from laughing so much. Also, that they takeaway some of the key health messages such as check for lumps in boobs and balls and find out your breast density. Hopefully, audiences leave with more understanding of the ongoing impact of breast cancer treatment or feeling that their own experiences have been portrayed on stage. Perhaps they may leave with a slightly lighter wallet if they decide to make a donation to the charity I am fundraising for, Breast Cancer Network Australia. And perhaps they take away a wish to try cartwheeling (no responsibility taken!).
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
To find out more, people can learn more about me at the Dr Jo Prendergast website or listen to me talking about the show here:
