| Pump Trolley Comedy |
We're going to Chicago, the city known for its wind, sports teams, and presidents.
Pump Trolley Comedy Presents: Revue w/ Graham Clark & Dave Shumka. December 1st & 2nd, China Cloud Theatre.
Pump Trolley Comedy at the Chicago SketchFest. January 6th & 7th at Stage 773, Chicago.
Pump Trolley Comedy Presents: Revue w/ Graham Clark & Dave Shumka. December 1st & 2nd, China Cloud Theatre.
Pump Trolley Comedy at the Chicago SketchFest. January 6th & 7th at Stage 773, Chicago.
N E W S
FIRST DAYS OF DECEMBER EXPECTED TO BE VERY EXCELLENT
In preparation for our Homerian journey to for the 2012 Chicago SketchFest we are proud to announce we will be throwing down two glorious nights of sketch comedy December 1st and 2nd at the China Cloud. Each night will feature some of finest sketches, new sketches, and one special guest. These will literally be the funniest shows we've ever done, so get your butts to the Downtown Eastside for some jokes, some laughs, and at least one raccoon tap dance.
Need details? Get involved in the facebook event, or check out said details below.
Pump Trolley Presents: Revue
w/ guest GRAHAM CLARK - December 1 - China Cloud Theatre - Doors 8:30, Show 9 - $5
w/ guest DAVE SHUMKA - December 2 - China Cloud Theatre - Doors 8:30, Show 9 - $5
CHA-TOWN HERE WE COME!
Stimulating news on the global level: we have been invited to showcase at the Chicago SketchFest. Don't believe us? Well, check out this website. Don't believe things you read on the internet? News flash tough guy, the internet is full of useful stuff.
We're real excited. In fact, our excitement is so real that we are holding two shows to showcase our showcase for you in a showcase setting. We will also be holding an entertaining fundraising event in the early days of January. Take that, 2012!
GIANTISM IS A REAL CONCERN FOR SOME PEOPLE
We're very excited to have been invited to perform as part of GIANTS Comedy, an innovative new show that is part of The Cultch's 2011-2012 season. We will be throwing down some new sketch in this show, and two our members (Tegan and Alex) will be participating in the show's main event: a series of competitive rap battles, and Nik has a regular gig creating imaginative food as a comedic chef - food he actually sells at the show! Needless to say a number of us are involved and would love for you to come check this baby out. The show sells out so get your tickets right. this. minute.
GIANTS II featuring RAP BATTLE - November 26 - The Cultch - Doors 9, Show 10 - $10
IT IS TIME FOR OUR TALENTS - COME SEE US AT TALENT TIME
We're real damn excited to be returning to the legendary, booze-stained stage of the Biltmore Cabaret to participate in one of our favourite shows in town, Paul Anthony's Talent Time. A typical Talent Time includes anything from very-young children singing complex Yemeni hymns to burlesque dancers singing complex Yemeni hymns. On this particular night, we will be performing a cover of the Paul Simon song "The Boxer," in the style of a complex Yemeni hymn.
But seriously, do yourself a favour and come witness an outstanding showcase of the finest talents in Vancouver's diverse community. There is no limit to how great each and every show can be and is. Plus, this show features two of our finest sketch masterpieces!
Paul Anthony's Talent Time - November 2 - Biltmore Cabaret - Show 9 - $8
PUMP TROLLEY COMEDY PRESENTS: GHOULS RUSH IN
What makes elongated fingernails so disturbing? Why has Stephen King never written long-form poetry? Could Hannibal Lector have been a productive carpenter if he'd just stayed in trade school? October 25th we answer these questions and other loosely-spooky questions in the midst of our first post-summer, full-length show. We'll have the entire cast back, jokes about things that are scary, and much, much more.
We're also excited to announce that our guest for this journey into the fearsome will be the wildly-talented Ivan Decker (a website with "laserbeams" built into the URL? YES.). Don't miss out - this is going to be exceptional:
Pump Trolley Presents: Ghouls Rush In - October 25 - China Cloud Theatre - Doors 8:30, Show 9 - $5
THE OLIO FESTIVAL IS BACK AND SO ARE WE
The Olio Festival is--just like dog taxis--one of the best things about Vancouver. Every year, a group of innovative curators bring together the finest music, art, comedy, film, and (new this year) skateboarding Vancouver and the world have to offer. This year's line up is so excellent that organizers have asked that children and the elderly not attend lest they be wow'ed to death...it's a rad festival.
We are once again involved, this time around hosting maybe the best line up of sketch comedy the city has seen in the Olio Sketch Show. Top-shelf laughs are anticipated from Bronx Cheer, Peter 'n' Chris, Knights of the Night and the entire rest of the line up, and we will be contributing some of our favourite sketches in addition to hosting. Plus, our full cast will be back in action after taking time to pursue daisy-picking and grass weaving full time all summer.
To grab passes for the festival, which features over a hundred acts in four days, get to the tickety-bit of the site now - that shit sells out.
THE PUMP TROLLEY COMEDY TWO YEAR EXTRAVAGANZA
Friends. Holy shit, we're two years old. The only thing older than us is almost every other thing, including many tiny people who can't read or write. Nonetheless, we're proud to have written and read as long as we have, and not only that we're throwing down a bootilicious party at our home the China Cloud. Fun things you can expect: our newest, best-est sketches ever, PT alumni spreading their funny all over the show, and a big 'ole after party.
We did it. We aged. Come celebrate and laugh with us.
PT Presents: Fuck the Summer Hello (Two-Year Birthday) - June 21 - China Cloud Theatre - Doors 8:30, Show 9 - $5
COMEDY THAT IS WASTEFUL
For the second year in a row we are very excited to be performing as part of Comedy Waste (part of the larger Music Waste festival), only this year instead of guesting as part of the sketch show we're hosting the whole damn thing. Guests include the heavy metal comedy duo Knights of the Night, Furious Angry Fun Hour, Weekend Leisure, and tons more.
This festival brings out the best in Vancouver everything, grab a $15 pass and check it out June 1st to 5th.
Comedy Waste Presents: Pump Trolley & Friends - June 3 - Biltmore Cabaret - Doors 7:30, Show 8 - Tix $5 Passes $15
PUMP TROLLEY PRESENTS SPEED STARRING ACTION STAR KEANU REEVES
On Thursday March 10th we are re-enacting a part of a certain action film involving a bus, and an elevator, and a Dennis Hopper. It's part of a fundraiser/party for the upcoming production of Steel Viper Force, the thrill-ride excitement-shower that our friends at ManHussy and Weekend Leisure are producing.
The show promises to be nothing short of sensational - there will be other re-enactments, bands, and a teaser for the film starring Tom and Devin getting punched out (BY ONE PUNCH).
Steel Viper Force: The Fundraiser - March 10 - Biltmore Cabaret - Doors 8, Show 9 - $10.
TELEVISION IS AN OUTLET FOR B-CELEBRITIES, RELIGIOUS FANATICS, AND US
When you call a show "Talent Time" you are setting a pretty clear expectation. And yet, with Paul Anthony's monthly variety show, any description feels too limiting. Talent Time regularly showcases acts like Ukelele King, exceptional children's choirs, elderly burlesque dancers, and funny types like us, and the whole thing gets broadcast on the tele. This particular line up is jammed full of goodness, and we're gonna do some real funny stuff at it. Check it.
★TALENT TIME: 2nd Annual Anti S.A.D. Beach Party!!★ - March 3 - Biltmore Cabaret - 9pm - $8.
PUMP TROLLEY PRESENTS: STOLEN HEARTS
We should preface any jokes about Valentine's Day by saying there is a very, very low percentage of the group that is even "vaguely" in any sort of romantic situation at the moment. As such, jokes about love 'n kissing 'n stuff is just right. This will be our second full show at China Cloud Theatre and we're very excited to build on the success and sexual tension of our last China Cloud excursion.
February 15 - China Cloud Theatre - Doors 8:30, Show 9:00 - $5.
This show will feature the brash charm and suave humour of Peter 'n Chris who really know how to make people laugh, in a theatre-y way, kind of like us (we hope). You will like them it's as simple as that.
See you for the love-in.
MEDICAL ALERT: RASH OF PUMP TROLLEY SHOWS CREATING IRRITATING ITCH ON CITY'S THIGH
For such a short month February is really bringing the laughter. We've been invited to perform jokes with a couple of the finest groups in Vancouver and you should really come see them.
February 20 - Neanderthal Arts Festival Launch - Vancouver East Cultural Centre - 7pm AND 9pm
We performed in the Theatre Under the Gun Festival (the other festival created by the Up in the Air Theatre) and just really enjoyed the hell out of it. They've invited us to help them launch their Neanderthal Arts Festival, and we accepted their invitation with sprite-like enthusiasm. Come help us kick this launch party in the brain with two improv sets, each inspired by a different "inspiration package."
February 23 - Furious Anger Fun Hour - Café Montmarte - 8pm
Peter 'n Chris, who are set to join us for STOLEN HEARTS (February 15) are one third of Furious Anger Fun Hour, a sketch show that makes this tiny French café look like a tiny French café with an awesome sketch show in it. We're doing some of our favourite pieces from STOLEN and we'd love to introduce you to some real good joke-makers.
WE ARE IN THE NEWS
Vancouver has a lot of good writing in it, and one of those good writing things is Beat Route, a magazine mostly about music but sometimes about us.
PUMP TROLLEY PRESENTS: A (NEW) HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Ok, this is it. The big one. Our first show in our new joke-zone, the China Cloud. Our first show is going to be a tour de comedy force: expect jokes about love, family, gifts, Miley Cyrus contributing to racial tension in Africa...all the usual holiday stuff. As always we'll have all-new sketches and improv, and soo many ugly sweaters.
December 14 - China Cloud Theatre- Doors 8, Show 8:30 - $5.
Joining us for the show will be Vancouver joke heroes Cam Macloed and Colin Cowan. The two men have been making audiences literally defecate on themselves laughing over the years with the Hero Show, the Olio Festival, and much more.
This is special. Like, Mr. Dressup wearing an over sized bow tie-special. See you there.
MOVING DAY: 96% OFF ALL COMEDY AND COMEDY ACCESSORIES
Today we moved into our new space. SHAZAM! The China Cloud Theatre may well be the finest place on the planet. It's pretty, it's heated, it has a beautiful stage with lights and two pianos (two pianos!), and all the Pabst Blue Ribbon you can stomach.
We brought our stuff in and did a photo shoot, meaning pretty photos of us will be everywhere real soon. This is going to be more fun than putting Tamagachis in blenders.
PUMP TROLLEY'S NEW HOME
Friends, we did it. As of December, Pump Trolley will take up residence as a regular fixture at the China Cloud Theatre. The China Cloud is THE best venue for sketch comedy in town and we're very very excited to be there, if only because now we'll have unfettered access to the fried chicken store just down the street.
The China Cloud is in a suitably hip location, don't worry. Between Keefer and Pender on Main (524 Main Street to be specific). We'll be doing shows there at least once every two months, starting with our New Home for the Holidays show December 14th. BE THERE!
PUMP TROLLEY IMPROV DEBUTS NOVEMBER 10 WITH HIP.BANG!
See, we all do a lot an improv. Nick improvises his eggs every morning. "Over awesome," he calls them. You've probably seen us improvise , if only for a bit at the end of our shows. Never like this.
We've been rehearsing hard, fine-tuning like an international symphony orchestra, and practicing a form we know you'll love. This will be the represent the formal debut of our first, solidified improv squadron made from our core eight members. On November 10th we will become Pump Trolley Improv.
Tom and Devin's make-em-up outfit Hip.Bang!will co-feature the show, bringing to bear their bear-like tendency to hunt down the most exciting improv prey and share it with their audiences. If you can't make our show in the Here Be Monsters Festival (detes below) you should make this - it's really going to be a great night. The bits you need to know are:
November 10th. Little Mountain Gallery. $5.
Doors 7:30pm. Show 8pm.
PUMP TROLLEY DOES THE UNDER THE GUN THEATRE FESTIVAL!
We just found out that we were accepted into the Here Be Monsters theatre festival, and we reacted by boiling a big pot of apple juice adding cinnamon and feeling really great. We are doing the Under the Gun portion of proceedings, which involves us creating a full piece of theatre in 48 hours. Get ready, us.
How about some details?
FRIDAY, OCT 29th, 8pm
Here's a BeyondRobson articleall about the festival.
WHAT IF WE SAID THAT WINTER IS FOR SUCKERS?
Big-boy thanks to everyone who came out to see us at the Olio Festival, the Autumn Shift Festival, the Vancouver International Improv Festival, and the Festival of Festivals Festival. We had a great time at all of them.
Our next moves are to make a beautiful for the Here Be Monsters festival and getting some special treats ready for two shows before 2011 - November 10th and in December (date TBD). One of them will be a party, and one of them will be a party that doesn't involve dancing. Stay tuned, but turn off your radio.
ALL-NEW SHOW AT THE 2010 OLIO FESTIVAL - SEPTEMBER 23RD
We liked Gastown so much that we decided to have another show down in its friendly cuccoon. As part of the Olio Festival we will be putting on an entirely fresh show at the lovely Guilt & Company (Alexander St. and Carrall St.). Highlights will include jokes about people with long fingers, the game Taboo, and mind games.
September 23 - 7pm - Guilt & Company. Show starts promptly at 7:15 so acquire a seat before then.
This festival also features the likes of Chad Vangaalen and The Very Best in addition to the funniest comedy this city has to offer. Check it out September 23-26.
PUMP TROLLEY HEROES IN THE 2010 VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL IMPROV FESTIVAL
For the second year running several Pump Trolley performers will be torching the stages of the Vancouver International Improv Festival with their improvisational stylings. Devin, Tegan, Warren, Tom, and Nicole will all be playing as part of the Cascades Ensemble on the Thursday of the festival October 5-10. The improv in this festival will blow your mind to bits so be sure to check it out.
If you're looking to get an early start on tax receipts for the 2010 tax return let the festival help you on this page.
BIRTHDAYS AND VICTORIES ARE EXCELLENT!
Thanks to all of you who came out to our one-year anniversary show at Little Mountain or the Victory Square Block Party (we contributed the classic trio of comedy: babies, street gangs, and breasts). We had a whole lot of fun at both.
If you managed to forget your brain for a day and miss either show, a couple newvideos surfaced from the birthday show, and a few photos were collected at Victory Square. Enjoy!
PUMP TROLLEY'S BIGGEST SHOW EVER - AUGUST 18TH
In our 365 days of existence we have done a whopping 25+ all-new shows for audiences all over Vancouver. SO MANY DICK JOKES. We're pulling out all the stops when we celebrate one year of doing shows August 18th at Little Mountain Gallery, 8pm.
Every member of Pump Trolley will appear in the show! We will be pulling out all the stops in a full night of all-new comedy in a beautiful theatre space - Little Mountain Gallery. There will be vegan-friendly cake, streamers, beers, massive sketches, and laughter. Lo, the laughter will be more delicious than the cake!
Come celebrate with us, bring presents.
August 18 - Little Mountain Gallery - 8pm - $5.
CRIMINALS - THURSDAY, JULY 29TH
We're not afraid of crime, criminals, or children dressed in stripes. Neither should you be - come check out our COPS N ROBBERS show the last Thursday of July.
The fantastic Garrett Quinton guests, we take on the seedy underbelly of Vancouver garage sale-ing, and everyone who comes to the show gets a free war bond.
IMPENDING. BIRTHDAY. WARNING-->AUGUST 18TH.
We have wrinkles in places you can't imagine. Steady yourself, our one-year anniversary is coming! THAT'S CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION!
And celebrate we will. Members Alex Hudson will be back. Richard Lam will continue to be back. The comedy will just be something else. For now, plan to be at Little Mountain Studios for our birthday show, August 18th (easy to remember cause it's happiness' birthday too).
IMPROV, CHECK.
There are a couple terrific shows coming up featuring improvisers from the Pump Trolley collective. Improv's great, everyone. Make sure to get some of this stuff in your life.
JUNE 14 - Hip.Bang! featuring Lorax & Sister Act!
Tom, Devin (Hip.Bang!), Nima, Tim and Ben (Lorax) are performing in their respective improv troupes as is the fantastic Sister Act! Three improv sets you will wholeheartedly approve of. 8pm. $5. Little Mountain Gallery.
JUNE 17 - Rosa Parks Improv Presents: A la Carte
Nik and Tegan debuted "Dinner" at the Young and Spontaneous festival in April and yeah, it's delicious. Nicole and the rest of the fantastic Rosa Parks Improv will also perform. 7pm. $5. Carousel Theatre.
DISCORDER? MORE LIKE DISS-CORDER, AM I RIGHT?
Actually, there were no disses. But Discorder did run a lil' article about us as part of their Comedy Issue. Check it.
PUMP TROLLEY AT MUSIC WASTE!
We have been cordially invited to share some sketchy comedy as part of the upcoming MUSIC WASTE Festival and we've mint cordially accepted. Please come and see our joke scenes on Thursday June 3rd at the beautiful China Cloud Theatre. There are lots of other hot groups performing including our own hip.bang!, and that's just the comedy night! Check out all the rad music, art and comedy going on June 2nd - 5th.
[update: this was a real great show. if you didn't get in, thanks for trying.]
GUNS AND ROSES SHOW MAY 22!
Welcome to the jungle Vancouver.
We're all the way back from a soul-searching, soulful, soul-journey that reminded us to tell jokes. So we are returning to the Cottage Bistro on May 27th with our friends at Mashed Poetics, who will be providing the full album performance as well as outstanding spoken word poetry.
NEW SKETCHES, PLEASING IMPROV, AND LOADS OF REFERENCES TO HOW HAPPY YOU USED TO BE.
This is the triple threat of entertainment relating to guns and or roses, friends. New sketches, outstanding improv, and skads of references to how happy you used to be. We'd love to have you. $3 for comedy, $8 for the whole paradise city.
INTERVIEW! PRETTY PICTURES! SKEWED MAGAZINE IS BEAUTIFUL!
The interviewwe did with Skewed Magazine just came out, and you should really check it out. Devin, Devon, and Ben chatted with the magazine and they're also the first group we've ever shared our writing room with. Make sure you check out the whole magazine, it's real nice.
In preparation for our Homerian journey to for the 2012 Chicago SketchFest we are proud to announce we will be throwing down two glorious nights of sketch comedy December 1st and 2nd at the China Cloud. Each night will feature some of finest sketches, new sketches, and one special guest. These will literally be the funniest shows we've ever done, so get your butts to the Downtown Eastside for some jokes, some laughs, and at least one raccoon tap dance.
Need details? Get involved in the facebook event, or check out said details below.
Pump Trolley Presents: Revue
w/ guest GRAHAM CLARK - December 1 - China Cloud Theatre - Doors 8:30, Show 9 - $5
w/ guest DAVE SHUMKA - December 2 - China Cloud Theatre - Doors 8:30, Show 9 - $5
CHA-TOWN HERE WE COME!
Stimulating news on the global level: we have been invited to showcase at the Chicago SketchFest. Don't believe us? Well, check out this website. Don't believe things you read on the internet? News flash tough guy, the internet is full of useful stuff.
We're real excited. In fact, our excitement is so real that we are holding two shows to showcase our showcase for you in a showcase setting. We will also be holding an entertaining fundraising event in the early days of January. Take that, 2012!
GIANTISM IS A REAL CONCERN FOR SOME PEOPLE
We're very excited to have been invited to perform as part of GIANTS Comedy, an innovative new show that is part of The Cultch's 2011-2012 season. We will be throwing down some new sketch in this show, and two our members (Tegan and Alex) will be participating in the show's main event: a series of competitive rap battles, and Nik has a regular gig creating imaginative food as a comedic chef - food he actually sells at the show! Needless to say a number of us are involved and would love for you to come check this baby out. The show sells out so get your tickets right. this. minute.
GIANTS II featuring RAP BATTLE - November 26 - The Cultch - Doors 9, Show 10 - $10
IT IS TIME FOR OUR TALENTS - COME SEE US AT TALENT TIME
We're real damn excited to be returning to the legendary, booze-stained stage of the Biltmore Cabaret to participate in one of our favourite shows in town, Paul Anthony's Talent Time. A typical Talent Time includes anything from very-young children singing complex Yemeni hymns to burlesque dancers singing complex Yemeni hymns. On this particular night, we will be performing a cover of the Paul Simon song "The Boxer," in the style of a complex Yemeni hymn.
But seriously, do yourself a favour and come witness an outstanding showcase of the finest talents in Vancouver's diverse community. There is no limit to how great each and every show can be and is. Plus, this show features two of our finest sketch masterpieces!
Paul Anthony's Talent Time - November 2 - Biltmore Cabaret - Show 9 - $8
PUMP TROLLEY COMEDY PRESENTS: GHOULS RUSH IN
What makes elongated fingernails so disturbing? Why has Stephen King never written long-form poetry? Could Hannibal Lector have been a productive carpenter if he'd just stayed in trade school? October 25th we answer these questions and other loosely-spooky questions in the midst of our first post-summer, full-length show. We'll have the entire cast back, jokes about things that are scary, and much, much more.
We're also excited to announce that our guest for this journey into the fearsome will be the wildly-talented Ivan Decker (a website with "laserbeams" built into the URL? YES.). Don't miss out - this is going to be exceptional:
Pump Trolley Presents: Ghouls Rush In - October 25 - China Cloud Theatre - Doors 8:30, Show 9 - $5
THE OLIO FESTIVAL IS BACK AND SO ARE WE
The Olio Festival is--just like dog taxis--one of the best things about Vancouver. Every year, a group of innovative curators bring together the finest music, art, comedy, film, and (new this year) skateboarding Vancouver and the world have to offer. This year's line up is so excellent that organizers have asked that children and the elderly not attend lest they be wow'ed to death...it's a rad festival.
We are once again involved, this time around hosting maybe the best line up of sketch comedy the city has seen in the Olio Sketch Show. Top-shelf laughs are anticipated from Bronx Cheer, Peter 'n' Chris, Knights of the Night and the entire rest of the line up, and we will be contributing some of our favourite sketches in addition to hosting. Plus, our full cast will be back in action after taking time to pursue daisy-picking and grass weaving full time all summer.
To grab passes for the festival, which features over a hundred acts in four days, get to the tickety-bit of the site now - that shit sells out.
THE PUMP TROLLEY COMEDY TWO YEAR EXTRAVAGANZA
Friends. Holy shit, we're two years old. The only thing older than us is almost every other thing, including many tiny people who can't read or write. Nonetheless, we're proud to have written and read as long as we have, and not only that we're throwing down a bootilicious party at our home the China Cloud. Fun things you can expect: our newest, best-est sketches ever, PT alumni spreading their funny all over the show, and a big 'ole after party.
We did it. We aged. Come celebrate and laugh with us.
PT Presents: Fuck the Summer Hello (Two-Year Birthday) - June 21 - China Cloud Theatre - Doors 8:30, Show 9 - $5
COMEDY THAT IS WASTEFUL
For the second year in a row we are very excited to be performing as part of Comedy Waste (part of the larger Music Waste festival), only this year instead of guesting as part of the sketch show we're hosting the whole damn thing. Guests include the heavy metal comedy duo Knights of the Night, Furious Angry Fun Hour, Weekend Leisure, and tons more.
This festival brings out the best in Vancouver everything, grab a $15 pass and check it out June 1st to 5th.
Comedy Waste Presents: Pump Trolley & Friends - June 3 - Biltmore Cabaret - Doors 7:30, Show 8 - Tix $5 Passes $15
PUMP TROLLEY PRESENTS SPEED STARRING ACTION STAR KEANU REEVES
On Thursday March 10th we are re-enacting a part of a certain action film involving a bus, and an elevator, and a Dennis Hopper. It's part of a fundraiser/party for the upcoming production of Steel Viper Force, the thrill-ride excitement-shower that our friends at ManHussy and Weekend Leisure are producing.
The show promises to be nothing short of sensational - there will be other re-enactments, bands, and a teaser for the film starring Tom and Devin getting punched out (BY ONE PUNCH).
Steel Viper Force: The Fundraiser - March 10 - Biltmore Cabaret - Doors 8, Show 9 - $10.
TELEVISION IS AN OUTLET FOR B-CELEBRITIES, RELIGIOUS FANATICS, AND US
When you call a show "Talent Time" you are setting a pretty clear expectation. And yet, with Paul Anthony's monthly variety show, any description feels too limiting. Talent Time regularly showcases acts like Ukelele King, exceptional children's choirs, elderly burlesque dancers, and funny types like us, and the whole thing gets broadcast on the tele. This particular line up is jammed full of goodness, and we're gonna do some real funny stuff at it. Check it.
★TALENT TIME: 2nd Annual Anti S.A.D. Beach Party!!★ - March 3 - Biltmore Cabaret - 9pm - $8.
PUMP TROLLEY PRESENTS: STOLEN HEARTS
We should preface any jokes about Valentine's Day by saying there is a very, very low percentage of the group that is even "vaguely" in any sort of romantic situation at the moment. As such, jokes about love 'n kissing 'n stuff is just right. This will be our second full show at China Cloud Theatre and we're very excited to build on the success and sexual tension of our last China Cloud excursion.
February 15 - China Cloud Theatre - Doors 8:30, Show 9:00 - $5.
This show will feature the brash charm and suave humour of Peter 'n Chris who really know how to make people laugh, in a theatre-y way, kind of like us (we hope). You will like them it's as simple as that.
See you for the love-in.
MEDICAL ALERT: RASH OF PUMP TROLLEY SHOWS CREATING IRRITATING ITCH ON CITY'S THIGH
For such a short month February is really bringing the laughter. We've been invited to perform jokes with a couple of the finest groups in Vancouver and you should really come see them.
February 20 - Neanderthal Arts Festival Launch - Vancouver East Cultural Centre - 7pm AND 9pm
We performed in the Theatre Under the Gun Festival (the other festival created by the Up in the Air Theatre) and just really enjoyed the hell out of it. They've invited us to help them launch their Neanderthal Arts Festival, and we accepted their invitation with sprite-like enthusiasm. Come help us kick this launch party in the brain with two improv sets, each inspired by a different "inspiration package."
February 23 - Furious Anger Fun Hour - Café Montmarte - 8pm
Peter 'n Chris, who are set to join us for STOLEN HEARTS (February 15) are one third of Furious Anger Fun Hour, a sketch show that makes this tiny French café look like a tiny French café with an awesome sketch show in it. We're doing some of our favourite pieces from STOLEN and we'd love to introduce you to some real good joke-makers.
WE ARE IN THE NEWS
Vancouver has a lot of good writing in it, and one of those good writing things is Beat Route, a magazine mostly about music but sometimes about us.
PUMP TROLLEY PRESENTS: A (NEW) HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Ok, this is it. The big one. Our first show in our new joke-zone, the China Cloud. Our first show is going to be a tour de comedy force: expect jokes about love, family, gifts, Miley Cyrus contributing to racial tension in Africa...all the usual holiday stuff. As always we'll have all-new sketches and improv, and soo many ugly sweaters.
December 14 - China Cloud Theatre- Doors 8, Show 8:30 - $5.
Joining us for the show will be Vancouver joke heroes Cam Macloed and Colin Cowan. The two men have been making audiences literally defecate on themselves laughing over the years with the Hero Show, the Olio Festival, and much more.
This is special. Like, Mr. Dressup wearing an over sized bow tie-special. See you there.
MOVING DAY: 96% OFF ALL COMEDY AND COMEDY ACCESSORIES
Today we moved into our new space. SHAZAM! The China Cloud Theatre may well be the finest place on the planet. It's pretty, it's heated, it has a beautiful stage with lights and two pianos (two pianos!), and all the Pabst Blue Ribbon you can stomach.
We brought our stuff in and did a photo shoot, meaning pretty photos of us will be everywhere real soon. This is going to be more fun than putting Tamagachis in blenders.
PUMP TROLLEY'S NEW HOME
Friends, we did it. As of December, Pump Trolley will take up residence as a regular fixture at the China Cloud Theatre. The China Cloud is THE best venue for sketch comedy in town and we're very very excited to be there, if only because now we'll have unfettered access to the fried chicken store just down the street.
The China Cloud is in a suitably hip location, don't worry. Between Keefer and Pender on Main (524 Main Street to be specific). We'll be doing shows there at least once every two months, starting with our New Home for the Holidays show December 14th. BE THERE!
PUMP TROLLEY IMPROV DEBUTS NOVEMBER 10 WITH HIP.BANG!
See, we all do a lot an improv. Nick improvises his eggs every morning. "Over awesome," he calls them. You've probably seen us improvise , if only for a bit at the end of our shows. Never like this.
We've been rehearsing hard, fine-tuning like an international symphony orchestra, and practicing a form we know you'll love. This will be the represent the formal debut of our first, solidified improv squadron made from our core eight members. On November 10th we will become Pump Trolley Improv.
Tom and Devin's make-em-up outfit Hip.Bang!will co-feature the show, bringing to bear their bear-like tendency to hunt down the most exciting improv prey and share it with their audiences. If you can't make our show in the Here Be Monsters Festival (detes below) you should make this - it's really going to be a great night. The bits you need to know are:
November 10th. Little Mountain Gallery. $5.
Doors 7:30pm. Show 8pm.
PUMP TROLLEY DOES THE UNDER THE GUN THEATRE FESTIVAL!
We just found out that we were accepted into the Here Be Monsters theatre festival, and we reacted by boiling a big pot of apple juice adding cinnamon and feeling really great. We are doing the Under the Gun portion of proceedings, which involves us creating a full piece of theatre in 48 hours. Get ready, us.
How about some details?
FRIDAY, OCT 29th, 8pm
Here's a BeyondRobson articleall about the festival.
WHAT IF WE SAID THAT WINTER IS FOR SUCKERS?
Big-boy thanks to everyone who came out to see us at the Olio Festival, the Autumn Shift Festival, the Vancouver International Improv Festival, and the Festival of Festivals Festival. We had a great time at all of them.
Our next moves are to make a beautiful for the Here Be Monsters festival and getting some special treats ready for two shows before 2011 - November 10th and in December (date TBD). One of them will be a party, and one of them will be a party that doesn't involve dancing. Stay tuned, but turn off your radio.
ALL-NEW SHOW AT THE 2010 OLIO FESTIVAL - SEPTEMBER 23RD
We liked Gastown so much that we decided to have another show down in its friendly cuccoon. As part of the Olio Festival we will be putting on an entirely fresh show at the lovely Guilt & Company (Alexander St. and Carrall St.). Highlights will include jokes about people with long fingers, the game Taboo, and mind games.
September 23 - 7pm - Guilt & Company. Show starts promptly at 7:15 so acquire a seat before then.
This festival also features the likes of Chad Vangaalen and The Very Best in addition to the funniest comedy this city has to offer. Check it out September 23-26.
PUMP TROLLEY HEROES IN THE 2010 VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL IMPROV FESTIVAL
For the second year running several Pump Trolley performers will be torching the stages of the Vancouver International Improv Festival with their improvisational stylings. Devin, Tegan, Warren, Tom, and Nicole will all be playing as part of the Cascades Ensemble on the Thursday of the festival October 5-10. The improv in this festival will blow your mind to bits so be sure to check it out.
If you're looking to get an early start on tax receipts for the 2010 tax return let the festival help you on this page.
BIRTHDAYS AND VICTORIES ARE EXCELLENT!
Thanks to all of you who came out to our one-year anniversary show at Little Mountain or the Victory Square Block Party (we contributed the classic trio of comedy: babies, street gangs, and breasts). We had a whole lot of fun at both.
If you managed to forget your brain for a day and miss either show, a couple newvideos surfaced from the birthday show, and a few photos were collected at Victory Square. Enjoy!
PUMP TROLLEY'S BIGGEST SHOW EVER - AUGUST 18TH
In our 365 days of existence we have done a whopping 25+ all-new shows for audiences all over Vancouver. SO MANY DICK JOKES. We're pulling out all the stops when we celebrate one year of doing shows August 18th at Little Mountain Gallery, 8pm.
Every member of Pump Trolley will appear in the show! We will be pulling out all the stops in a full night of all-new comedy in a beautiful theatre space - Little Mountain Gallery. There will be vegan-friendly cake, streamers, beers, massive sketches, and laughter. Lo, the laughter will be more delicious than the cake!
Come celebrate with us, bring presents.
August 18 - Little Mountain Gallery - 8pm - $5.
CRIMINALS - THURSDAY, JULY 29TH
We're not afraid of crime, criminals, or children dressed in stripes. Neither should you be - come check out our COPS N ROBBERS show the last Thursday of July.
The fantastic Garrett Quinton guests, we take on the seedy underbelly of Vancouver garage sale-ing, and everyone who comes to the show gets a free war bond.
IMPENDING. BIRTHDAY. WARNING-->AUGUST 18TH.
We have wrinkles in places you can't imagine. Steady yourself, our one-year anniversary is coming! THAT'S CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION!
And celebrate we will. Members Alex Hudson will be back. Richard Lam will continue to be back. The comedy will just be something else. For now, plan to be at Little Mountain Studios for our birthday show, August 18th (easy to remember cause it's happiness' birthday too).
IMPROV, CHECK.
There are a couple terrific shows coming up featuring improvisers from the Pump Trolley collective. Improv's great, everyone. Make sure to get some of this stuff in your life.
JUNE 14 - Hip.Bang! featuring Lorax & Sister Act!
Tom, Devin (Hip.Bang!), Nima, Tim and Ben (Lorax) are performing in their respective improv troupes as is the fantastic Sister Act! Three improv sets you will wholeheartedly approve of. 8pm. $5. Little Mountain Gallery.
JUNE 17 - Rosa Parks Improv Presents: A la Carte
Nik and Tegan debuted "Dinner" at the Young and Spontaneous festival in April and yeah, it's delicious. Nicole and the rest of the fantastic Rosa Parks Improv will also perform. 7pm. $5. Carousel Theatre.
DISCORDER? MORE LIKE DISS-CORDER, AM I RIGHT?
Actually, there were no disses. But Discorder did run a lil' article about us as part of their Comedy Issue. Check it.
PUMP TROLLEY AT MUSIC WASTE!
We have been cordially invited to share some sketchy comedy as part of the upcoming MUSIC WASTE Festival and we've mint cordially accepted. Please come and see our joke scenes on Thursday June 3rd at the beautiful China Cloud Theatre. There are lots of other hot groups performing including our own hip.bang!, and that's just the comedy night! Check out all the rad music, art and comedy going on June 2nd - 5th.
[update: this was a real great show. if you didn't get in, thanks for trying.]
GUNS AND ROSES SHOW MAY 22!
Welcome to the jungle Vancouver.
We're all the way back from a soul-searching, soulful, soul-journey that reminded us to tell jokes. So we are returning to the Cottage Bistro on May 27th with our friends at Mashed Poetics, who will be providing the full album performance as well as outstanding spoken word poetry.
NEW SKETCHES, PLEASING IMPROV, AND LOADS OF REFERENCES TO HOW HAPPY YOU USED TO BE.
This is the triple threat of entertainment relating to guns and or roses, friends. New sketches, outstanding improv, and skads of references to how happy you used to be. We'd love to have you. $3 for comedy, $8 for the whole paradise city.
INTERVIEW! PRETTY PICTURES! SKEWED MAGAZINE IS BEAUTIFUL!
The interviewwe did with Skewed Magazine just came out, and you should really check it out. Devin, Devon, and Ben chatted with the magazine and they're also the first group we've ever shared our writing room with. Make sure you check out the whole magazine, it's real nice.
Our Identity
Pump Trolley Comedy is a collective of eight improvisers, comedians, and tapestry weavers that performs comedy of all kinds in all the funny spots in Vancouver.
Pump Trolley Comedy celebrated one year of all-new shows July 2010.
Nowadays you can find us at our home at the China Cloud Theatre, 524 Main Street.
THE COLLECTIVE IS:
Warren Bates
Nik Bunting
Nick Harvey-Cheetham
Tom Hill
Alex Hudson
Ember Konopaki
Devin Mackenzie
Tegan Verheul
+ guests both recurring and exotic.
Pump Trolley Comedy celebrated one year of all-new shows July 2010.
Nowadays you can find us at our home at the China Cloud Theatre, 524 Main Street.
THE COLLECTIVE IS:
Warren Bates
Nik Bunting
Nick Harvey-Cheetham
Tom Hill
Alex Hudson
Ember Konopaki
Devin Mackenzie
Tegan Verheul
+ guests both recurring and exotic.
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