Otto & Astrid’s Haus Party is headed to Edinburgh Fringe!

The infamous Haus Party is back! Otto & Astrid (from Die Roten Punkte), Berlin’s prince and princess of art rock and Europop host a raucous evening of the very best musical comedy, circus and variety acts. Past guests include; Frisky & Mannish, Bridget Everett, Paul Foot, David O’Doherty and Le Gateau Chocolat. ‘All you really need to know is this: they’re hilarious’ (CBC Canada). ‘Otto and Astrid take rock to a new level with this wild cabaret’ (Herald Sun, Melbourne). ‘Pitch perfect pop parody. Too much fun!’ (Scotsman).

Tickets and info here!

Jim & Barb are taking ‘The Anniversary’ to Edinburgh!

August 3 – 28th!

Jim and Barb are no ordinary elderly couple. Leave your preconceptions at the door and expect the unexpected. The Anniversary is a physical comedy house party from hell! From the creators of the multi award-winning Otto and Astrid – Die Roten Punkte comes a brand-new murderously funny comedy farce. Hold onto your hats for the most absurd and hilarious tailspin of a party like you’ve never seen before. ‘They’re hilarious!’ ***** (CBC.ca). ‘Wild… high energy!’ **** (Herald Sun). ‘It’s a class act… intensely funny!’ **** (Age).

Tickets and info here.

‘The Anniversary’ Returns to Melbourne in 2022!

Jim and Barb are back!

The Anniversary is returning to the Melbourne stage, this time at the Malthouse Theatre.

31st March – 17th April, and tickets are on sale NOW!

Head here for more details and bookings.

Ever been to a rock concert at 10am in the morning?! Join Otto & Astrid at the Castlemaine State Festival on March 28 for some A.M. ANTICS as they thunder through their back catalogue.

More info and tickets here!

“The Anniversary” promo video by Lou Wall

Live theatre is back. And genius Lou Wall helped us celebrate our homecoming with this equally genius video. Opening at Melbourne’s fortyfivedownstairs, Feb 10-21st 2021. Tickets here:

“The Anniversary” promo video by Ducky Creative

A huge thank you to Jeff Achtem and Tim Sneddon from Ducky Creative for this golden representation of Jim & Barb’s golden anniversary.

“The Anniversary” in The Age!

Fifty years on and utterly fed up with hubby: what could be funnier? 

 

With some old couples, you wonder what the story is. They bicker, they exchange cruel taunts. But no matter how bad things get, they stay in unbreakable union.

“There’s a thing with that generation – they just kept going and going,” muses performer and writer Daniel Tobias. “There’s no way they’re going to leave each other. They still love each other.”

Clare Bartholomew and Daniel Tobias, as Jim and Barb in The Anniversary.
Clare Bartholomew and Daniel Tobias, as Jim and Barb in The Anniversary.CREDIT:SIMON SCHULTER

Clare Bartholomew, his writing and acting partner, agrees.

“We were talking about our own grandparents, about how they both used to argue a lot. We wondered why they stayed together.” FULL ARTICLE HERE

“The Anniversary” is BACK in 2021

You’re invited to Jim & Barb’s golden wedding anniversary!

After 50 years of marriage, these Baby Boomers from Balwyn annoy one another so much… they literally want to kill each other. Meanwhile, Greta Thunberg is on the TV telling them that the world is on fire and it’s all their fault.

Their comedic dissent into the disappointing abyss of unfulfilled dreams and a mounting fear of ‘what’s outside’ is layered with precision timing, nonsensical absurdity and deadpan delivery.

The Anniversary was due to premiere at Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre in March 2020, but was postponed due to COVID. Now it is BACK with dates for February 2021 at Melbourne’s Fortyfive Downstairs.

Tickets on sale here.

The Anniversary’s Jim & Barb host Carols By Candlelight online.

You’re invited to Jim & Barb’s golden wedding anniversary!

Carols by Candlelight has become a tradition in the City of Whittlesea, but this year we’re doing it in an entirely different way, using technology to bring all our voices and faces together.

Featuring harpist Michael Johnson, Didgeridoo player and Kuku Nyunkal man Sean Ryan and our very own community choir, all hosted by our resident MCs Jim and Barb, direct from their loungeroom in Wollert. The choir this year have worked hard rehearsing online and have recorded all the carols from their homes. These videos have been edited together to re-create all your favourite songs digitally. Even Santa has sent in a video message from the North Pole, especially for us. This spectacular Livestream event will kick start your Christmas season – don’t miss it!

Carols 2020 is livestreaming on Friday 11 December at 7.30pm.

Get together with family and friends and celebrate the festive season in style.

More info here.

Jim & Barb from “The Anniversary” for Melbourne Fringe’s “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know”

Remember at the start of lockdown we said we’d make sourdough, learn Spanish, and knit next winter’s wardrobe? Let’s be honest – we didn’t get as far as we’d hoped. But don’t worry, because we’ve invited some of Melbourne’s adventurous creatives to give you all the upskilling you need.

For five minutes each day of the Festival, in partnership with Up Banking, a different Fringe artist will teach you something new. Some will be fun, some will be frivolous, some will be important and inspiring. Tune into the Melbourne Fringe Facebook page daily at 1pm for these virtual tutorials and grow yourself without the pains.

Jim & Barb, from our show “The Anniversary” got involved with a lesson in reverse parking.

You can watch it on the Melbourne Fringe Facebook page here.