With nearly every second meme, TikTok, 90’s, or noughties pop culture reference, it's clear that every gen Z and millennial loves bathing in the zoopa-doopa-nickelodeon-slime-no-hat-no-play filled comfort of childhood nostalgia. The latest revue from UTS’ Comedy Revue and Performance society (CRAP) promises to do all that and more.
Co-directors Ellen Christina and Phillipa Kennedy-Spencer bonded over their mutual love for 2000’s pop culture in 2019, which inspired the theme of this year's revue: ‘Kids Choice Awards’, (the slime-covered, B-list celebrity kids awards show that many late 90’s and early 2000’s kids will remember). This revue will allow you to reminisce on the good old days and revel in references to the iconic Nickelodeon awards show.
While researching, Ellen discovered there was no record of the Kids' Choice Awards Australia on Youtube or streaming services, which inspired the perfect plot.
“It’s like we are bringing back the Kids' Choice Awards Australia,” said Ellen.
Playing on every type of comedy possible, the revue includes over 50 sketches, parodies, and even videography. No matter your age, background or taste, there's bound to be something that’ll tickle your funny bone.
“We really wanted to play on certain shticks and memories that are a little bit more timeless, that people will get,” said co-director Ellen Christina. Some of the sketches, however, play to more niche humour.
“Some (sketches) feel like an inside joke, and you feel really seen in how you interpret humour and what you found interesting as a child… I think it’s nice that we can bring that out in this show, as well as commenting on things now and even mixing the two in some cases”, said Ellen.
The cast and crew have worked tirelessly over the last three months devising, writing, and creating the show from the ground up. Many of the cast members double as costume designers, producers, writers, and everything in between to get the show to where it is — a bright, colourful, and hilarious piece of theatre.
Cast member, producer, and CRAP society member since 2020, Heathcliff Ryan, speaks highly of the society and wants the audience to walk away with feelings of “inspired love” for the kind of comedy CRAP produces.
“One big part of our society is that we are all about inclusion and being a safe space,” said Heathcliff. “We want to show people that we can create a really funny show without punching down”.
Heathcliff praised his cast members, dubbing them some of the funniest people he’s ever met and ensuring anyone who comes to the show will have a lot of fun.
“It’s bright colours, it’s big characters, it’s satire to the absurd… it’s like kids’ TV,” says Heathcliff.
UTS CRAP Kids Choice Awards Revue promises to be a two hour fun-filled extravaganza, showing at Darling Square from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 6 August.
Who doesn’t love a mix of flamboyance, comedy, and nostalgia? Don’t miss out on this fun evening. Tickets and more information via the link below.