Addicted to Darcy? Lost all Sense and Sensibility? Bonkers for Big Balls? Well put down your cross-stitching and join Penny Ashton, Lori Dungey and Jamie Burgess, as they swoon, romp, and pianoforte their way through an entirely improvised Austenian Musical. Charming suitors, meddlesome mothers, tight breeches and surprisingly well-educated girls will all paint a vivid picture in song, dance and passionate handholding.
For her fifth Arts on Tour NZ Penny Ashton (Olive Copperbottom, Promise and Promiscuity, Sense and Sensibility – The Court Theatre, Hot Pink Bits) is bringing along her most accomplished improvising friend Lori Dungey (M3GAN, Lord of the Rings, Xena) and her most melodical musical maestro Jamie Burgess (Canterbury Opera, K Rd Strip, Basil Fawlty) to perambulate the NZ countryside spreading laughter and delightful bonnets as they go. An entirely improvised Austenian Musical.
Complete Sell-out Comedy Festival (2007 and 2021) and Adelaide Fringe (2010)
“Penny Ashton and Lori Dungey – two excellent improvisers who know what they’re doing.” – Dominion Post
“Austen Found: The Undiscovered Musicals of Jane Austen is the good pavlova, the one someone has taken a few goes to get just right. The brilliant version.” – Waikato Times
“Jane Austen would be turning in her grave with delight…Rollicking good fun!” – Rip It Up Adelaide
Penny Ashton
Penny Ashton is New Zealand’s own global comedienne who has been making a splash on the world stage since 2002. She has performed over 1000 solo shows and has sold out from Edinburgh to Edmonton to Tokoroa. She has represented both New Zealand in The World Cup of Theatresports in Germany, and Australasia in a Performance Poetry Slam Tournament Tour of the UK. She has also performed poetry by invitation at The Glastonbury Festival, her solo musical Promise and Promiscuity at The Jane Austen Festival in Bath and has reported from the Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas.
Penny has been a professional improviser for 22 years and was the creator of Austen Found. She is also a voice over artist, social commentator, writer, and wedding celebrant.
Lori Dungey
Lori has been an actor for over 40 years and has created, produced, and performed in over 60 devised and improvised productions. She has also worked as a solo artist with
theatre companies throughout Germany, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Currently, she is Education Director for the Theatresports Youth Program, Auckland (TYP), which runs in 21 High School/Colleges. Also, for over 20 years Lori has been an improvisation tutor for the National Youth Drama School (NYDS) that is held every year in Hawkes Bay over the Easter holidays.
Jamie Burgess
Born, raised and trained in New Zealand, Jamie now calls Melbourne home. Passionate about all aspects of performing and creating theatre, he has dipped his fingers into pretty much all the pies since graduating from NASDA a couple of decades ago. On stage he’s toured with Canterbury Opera, been to Copacabana and even been a Cat. As a resident improv-pianist he has imparted misguided musical wisdom to improve people’s improv, and as a piano bar player he has quite literally rocked all across the South Pacific Ocean. In 2020 the opportunity arrived for him to (goose) step into a role he believes he was pretty much born for… playing Basil Fawlty!
For the national itinerary visit Arts on Tour NZ (26 August–14 October) and for tickets, visit eventfinda.
ARTS ON TOUR NZ (AOTNZ), which relies on funding, organises tours of outstanding New Zealand performers to rural and smaller centres in New Zealand. They liaise with local arts councils, repertory theatres and community groups to bring the best of musical and theatrical talent to country districts.