Writer Performer
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'CATCH 22 YEARS'
The development of this autobiographical show is a first for Katie O’Brien who has historically inhabited characters for entertainment value or made satirical political work (The Muffia). Katie has been developing a show that will enable her to transmute from her performed alter egos, in particular - Trishelle, (a mesmerising bouffon character described as a “beautiful hot mess” by Bryony Kimmings) into other versions of herself until she is liberated on stage dropping all character. Trishelle is very drunk and Katie becomes increasingly present. The show explores what addiction means to audiences and the morphing meaning for Katie during her live transformation. We learn about Katie’s experience of being “an addict” but also how she exists in the strange space of being 21 years clean and sober but only 37 years old, meaning she gave up alcohol before she was even legally allowed to purchase it. The interaction during the show engages with ideas about addiction through the prism of 12 step fellowships, modern psychology and Katie’s current self exploration into the unknown, one being, an experiment of removing herself from both the rhetoric and bosom of 12 step community and modern day psychology. How will she survive, will she “relapse and die”? Is she still “powerless”?. This lead to an examination of the history behind the term “disease” in 12 step and how western culture is quick to pathologize and encourage self-diagnosis. Since she was a child Katie has labelled herself inside out with “illnesses” or issues and now refuses to label herself. She has returned to the drawing board to ask what it is all about: our lives, our labels, our dreams, our identities and desires. Katie offers a discussion with the audience about the impact of her quest to empower herself and how she is coming to terms with who she is and what she is reaching for in life. Sharing her thoughts and theories and engaging the audience to tell her what it is they strive for, what is their dangling carrot? Do you feel like they can’t have that carrot because of beliefs or labels? Creating a space for the audience to reflect on what they believe about themselves and why? The show asks what can we do about it and can we change limiting beliefs? It is performed and presented with fun, humor, pathos, story, song and interaction. This show is a big leap for Katie, revealing a secret she has kept from most people in her life for a long time: she is 21 years clean and she is challenging herself as a “recovering addict”, artist, performer and theatre maker. She is ready to risk her anonymity and bare all, from stories of crack cocaine to finding a connection in a yoga class. Most people are very familiar with the stories of addiction breaking a human but a Katie wants to share her journey of being powerless and powerful after she put down the obvious bad habits. |
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REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS
"GonZo is an intense beast...a fun hour of absurd tragedies, sexual innuendo, audience interaction, sing-a-longs...you should definitely check her out." ★★★★ SHORTCOM
"Katie Bridget O’Brien, a graduate of Philippe Gaulier’s Parisian clown school, & it shows. She’s incredibly adept at making us laugh. Watching Gonzo is like having a right good soak in a bubble-bath, for a good hour or so of warmth & fluffiness. This lady is a stylish talent, & like all the best comedy storytellers has the ability to transport us into an unshakable reality of hilarity."
Laughs: ★ ★★★★ Material: ★★★★ Delivery: ★★★★★ Mumble Comedy
"in a hilarious selection ceremony guided by her finger and the spirit within that finger, even in its bizarreness she puts her audience at ease and everyone plays along even if baffled at first, she brought a woman up to heal her of an std via the healing power of song ...the story is cleverly delivered... the skill to deal with an audience regardless of their reactions is a great talent, where on the fringe can you see a rebirthing and an std healing?" ★★★★ Comedy Coroner
"Character comedy at it’s very best – brave, committed, brilliantly performed and – most importantly – completely hilarious!"
★★★★★ To Do List
"O'Brien's performance defies both logic and explanation.... there's definitely something captivating about the way O'Brien brings these vivid characters to life." The List
...''This show is beyond twisted and side-splittingly funny...a tantamount to a work of genius.' ★★★★★ EVERYTHING THEATRE
‘the girl's got balls...skill and charm to nab a podium position...One to watch’ LONDON IS FUNNY
"Highlights include the untapped talent of...the inimitable Mrs Medlow played by Katie Bridget O'Brien.." ‘Reply to PO: Box 49’
Claire Travers Smith - The Telegraph
The Bareback Banshees (Edinburgh Sketch Show 2010)
'Their combination of random comedy and wildly eccentric characters had me crying with laughter at one point...This show was a real gem to find...something to catch if you love a bit of very stupid and random comedy.' New Current
"Irreverent and absolutely hilarious. These ladies are wrong in the mind - in a good way." Paul Foot
The Muffia feminist performance art
'If the girls from The Muffia were your mates you would be pissing yourself. Their show is made up of the kind of skits, rants and songs that are bloody hysterical...Smack the Pony-esque tirade on contemporary culture.' The Muffia (Edinburgh Fringe satirical sketch show) The Skinny
PICK OF THE FRINGE - Edinburgh Reporter
50 Unmissable shows at the Fringe – TO DO LIST 2016
To Do List '39 Unmissable Shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2014'
Freestival Hot 5 EdFringe Leftfield Loons
Three Minute Broadway Baby interview about 2014 Edfringe show
CHORTLE - TOP 10 LOONIES COMING TO EDINBURGH FRINGE 2014
Being Erica Blog 22nd May 2015
Best lines - “...laughing uncontrollably at a nonsensical one liner response from the dark lady herself... by the end we still weren't totally sure what we'd sat through, but were bloody glad we did. I'd not laughed that hard in a ~long time!”
Interview with 20 something - April 2015
http://twentysomethinglondon.com/april-fools-comedy-show-dark-lady-queen-of-hoxton-east-london/
Art
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Performance Art
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The Muffia is a performance art group which expresses its political critique and ideas through live art performances, theatre, street interventions, presentations and workshops. It aims to provoke a questioning of cultural norms on the themes of gender, identity, ethnicity, and the body.
We began in 2008 by taking our practice to the streets of London and Manchester. This was the easiest way to access audiences that don’t normally interact with live art. Performances have since been presented in theatres and various performance spaces and specifically for feminist conferences and festivals. The Muffia has also featured in The Guardian and on BBC radio.
'The Muffia: TIGHT WOMEN' Edinburgh Fringe, 2009
'If the girls from The Muffia were your mates you would be pissing yourself. Their show is made up of the kind of skits, rants and songs that are bloody hysterical...Smack the Pony-esque tirade on contemporary culture.' The Skinny
We began in 2008 by taking our practice to the streets of London and Manchester. This was the easiest way to access audiences that don’t normally interact with live art. Performances have since been presented in theatres and various performance spaces and specifically for feminist conferences and festivals. The Muffia has also featured in The Guardian and on BBC radio.
'The Muffia: TIGHT WOMEN' Edinburgh Fringe, 2009
'If the girls from The Muffia were your mates you would be pissing yourself. Their show is made up of the kind of skits, rants and songs that are bloody hysterical...Smack the Pony-esque tirade on contemporary culture.' The Skinny
