MC for Melbourne Knowledge Week

I have just MCed Human Habitats: High Density as part of The City of Melbourne's Melbourne Knowledge Week 2016. It was a sold-out event, with speakers from diverse fields exploring the opportunities and challenges of living in a high-density future. I love MC work because of the wide variety of industries I get to experience through it. I can say without a doubt that urban planners and architects are fun people! Here's a photo of me on the night. Hands gestures come free! #habitats16 #MKW2016

#DearDiary encore season

Due to popular demand, my one-woman existential joyride, #DearDiary is having an encore season 1st - 5th June, 7pm at The Butterfly Club. I am delighted to have been asked back and can't wait to share the show now that it's even bigger and better, following the sold-out season at Adelaide Fringe. Tickets went on sale 24 hours ago and are already disappearing! Bookings here. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

This is my 5th year in a row of performing in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival! YAY! This year, I'm doing Cliffhanger with my impro comedy group, The Big Hoo-Haa Melbourne. And for my first show of the Festival, I won Cliffhanger with my improvised Children's Musical "Stick Town." Who knew sticks could prove such a vote-worthy storyline with a comedy audience?! Here's me holding the winner's trophy, which is almost bigger than my ego! Come check us out every Tues, Thurs & Sat of the Festival, 10pm-11pm at The Butterfly Club. Book here.

Me with fellow improvisers, Rik Brown and Luke Ryan.

New Project: That's Not a Daffodil!

I have just completed a week of Creative Development for a cute little show called That's Not a Daffodil! by Jump Leads Productions, directed by Gorkem Acaroglu. It's a stylised, physical show with songs and shadow puppetry, based on the award-winning children's book by Elizabeth Honey. There are plans for this show to go on a large-scale tour next year, so watch this space! Meanwhile, here's me in the lead role of Tom, a young boy who learns an important lesson about growing a plant.

#DearDiary Critical Acclaim

Here is the final rundown of amazing reviews from #DearDiary's Adelaide Fringe 2016 season:

- ★★★★1/2 "Snelling is charming, charismatic and hilarious, pulling off this unique show with a flair that grips the audience...engaging and funny...Snelling’s performance is outstanding." - Glam Adelaide http://www.glamadelaide.com.au/main/fringe-review-deardiary/

- ★★★★ "A compelling show... An entertaining, at times deeply moving, look at the nature of the human condition... inquisitive and insightful." - The Advertiser http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/adelaide-fringe/theatre/adelaide-fringe-review-2016-deardiary/news-story/41618e680b3d6c8fc11db852f059bff5

- ★★★★"A fascinating experience...a talented and warm performer." - The Clothesline http://theclothesline.com.au/dear-diary-adelaide-fringe-review/

- ★★★★ "#DearDiary‬ is self-reflexive, clever and moving." - Rip It Up http://ripitup.com.au/festivals/adelaide-fringe-festival/adelaide-fringe-reviews/deardiary#.VuIbi8d2OYW

- "Human, honest and gritty... superbly nuanced... The audience felt, and truly was, at one with Snelling" - The Barefoot Review http://www.thebarefootreview.com.au/menu/theatre/119-2014-adelaide-reviews/1340-deardiary.html

- "Snelling’s account of the value and the virtue of keeping a diary and her engaging honesty make #DearDiary a charming and illuminating confessional... An unpretentious show told with honesty and charm by a performer who lights up the stage."  - Canberra Critics Circle 
http://ccc-canberracriticscircle.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/deardiary-adelaide-fringe-festival-2016.html?m=1

- "She is a phenomenal actor and singer, captivating the audience during the entire performance." - Fringe Review
http://fringereview.co.uk/review/adelaide-fringe/2016/deardiary/ 


The Act of Storytelling interview

I got interviewed recently by The Act of Storytelling about ‪#‎DearDiary‬. We talked about my lifelong obsession with diary-keeping and the profound effect this has had on my understanding of myself. “One of the questions my show asks is how do you measure your existence? I think I’m quite obsessed with wanting to document, in particular, feelings and thoughts. I think it’s a very existential thing. How do I know that I actually exist?” Click here for the full interview.

#DearDiary at Adelaide Fringe 2016

Following a hugely successful run at Melbourne Fringe 2015, my one-woman existential joyride, #DearDiary is about to head over to Adelaide. Tickets are already selling faster than I can write in my diary and I am pumped! Full details can be found HERE in the official, hot-off-the-press Adelaide Fringe Guide. Or, if you're more of a Facebook kinda person, the official Event is HERE.

Performing for Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Last night, I had the pleasure of performing a rather unusual role for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's Secret Symphony. For an hour prior to the concert at the State Library of Victoria, I entertained (or perhaps, freaked out!) the audience as my interactive character who recited poetry and gave away clues to a crowd piecing together the puzzle of which symphony would be performed. Here are some shots taken at the event:

#DearDiary is done!

I've just finished a dream run of my debut solo show, #DearDiary at The Butterfly Club as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival 2015. I am blown away by the extraordinary response which I have received, from complete strangers tracking me down to let me know how much the show affected them, to an Opening Night standing ovation, to the post-show foyer buzz, to the wonderful reviews. Here are links to some of the reviews:

★★★★ "Snelling has so much material to draw on, and is so skilled at getting the audience onside, that you're left wanting more." - Daily Review http://dailyreview.com.au/deardiary-review-melbourne-fringe-festival/30600

★★★★1/2 "You can't help but love Snelling's animated facial expressions and pantomime-like movements. Her style is unique, clever and charming." - Planet Arts http://www.planetartsmelb.com/122555

"It's an extraordinary show, full of heart and pathos... The writing is impeccable... It's hashtag poignant." - Aussie Theatre http://aussietheatre.com.au/reviews/melbourne-fringe-deardiary

"One of the most standout solo shows of the Melbourne Fringe Festival this year." - The Plus Ones
https://theplusones.com/melbourne/2015/09/25/fringe-review-deardiary/

"Beautifully honest and funny" - Beat http://www.beat.com.au/arts/dear-diary

"Funny and brave construction of art from life... Andi is very funny, witty and a natural clown... This is a packed 60 minutes with no false steps and very revealing." - 3MBS Radio

"A beautifully crafted work, packed with clever charm and brilliant timing." - Melbourne Press http://melbournepress.com/2015/09/28/a-snippet-of-the-fringe/

"An outstanding performance by Andi. This show is a testament to her talent and stage versatility." - Weekend Notes http://www.weekendnotes.com/dear-diary-rehashing-the-past-butterfly-club/

 

#DearDiary - Rehashing the Past. (Image by Dan A'Vard)