Showko Showfukutei

Showko Showfukutei (笑福亭 笑子, Shōfukutei Shōko) is a Japanese comedian, ventriloquist, professional rakugo performer (Japanese traditional comedy), actor,[1] and speaker based in Melbourne. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo,[2] Osaka, Singapore[3] and regularly performs internationally, including the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Showko was a finalist on Australia's Got Talent in 2016, and in 2019 released an Amazon Prime Video called Absolutely Normal in the US and UK.[4] Her stage show is a combination of stand-up comedy and ventriloquism.

Showko Showfukutei

笑福亭笑子
Born
Kobe, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • Ventriloquist
  • Rakugo Performer
OrganizationKamigata Rakugo Association
FamilyShowfukutei
Websiteshowkocomedy.com

Showko regularly performs rakugo (Japanese traditional comedy) and she is a member of the Kamigata Rakugo Association (上方落語協会).

Career

Showko did her rakugo training with Rakugo Master Shōfukutei Kakushow[5] to become a professional rakugo performer. Showko Showfukutei is a stage name awarded to her after completing a three-year Rakugo apprenticeship and she is the only fully trained professional rakugo performer living outside of Japan.

Showko has written, produced and performed her own shows[6][7] at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Brighton Fringe (UK), Avignon Festival (France), Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sushi Dictator,[8][9] The Butterfly Club,[10] Melbourne Fringe Festival[11],, The Athenaeum Theatre and was directed by Heath McIvor for her latest show Absolutely Normal[12] at the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival at the Malthouse Theatre and the Adelaide Fringe receiving 5 star review.[13]

Showko has appeared on a Japanese TV show Gooto Chikyu bin (グッと地球便)[14] documenting her life and career, TV Tokyo Sekai Naze Sokoninihonjin (世界なぜそこに日本人海外で超有名人スペシャル).[15] NHK Tsurube no Kazokini Kampai (鶴瓶の家族に乾杯),[16] Singapore (Channel NewsAsia: “Primetime Morning”) and Australia on Australia's Got Talent 2016 as a finalist, ABC TV for the "International Women's Day Debate"[17] as well as being interviewed on ABC National Radio with John Faine.[18]

Radio

Prior to becoming a comedian, Showko was a radio presenter and DJ with regular programs for Radio Osaka, FM Uji, Yes FM and Beach Station FM in Japan, and FM96.3 at MediaCorp Singapore.

References
  1. "IMDB - Showko Showfukutei". IMDb.
  2. "Japanese entertainer getting laughs and friends overseas with English performances".
  3. "Japanese Rakugo Performer Showko".
  4. "IMDB - Absolutely Normal". IMDb.
  5. Rakugo Master “Kakushow Showfukutei
  6. "New Zealand Japan Festival" (PDF).
  7. "Japan Art Directory in Australia".
  8. Shanahan, Brittany (28 March 2014). "Herald Sun Showko in Sushi Dictator ★★★★½". Herald Sun.
  9. Katherine Phelps
  10. "REVIEW: Showko's JAPANESE PUPPET RAGUKO". 16 June 2012.
  11. "Melbourne Fringe – Absolutely Normal". 28 September 2017.
  12. "Showko - Absolutely Normal - Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2018".
  13. "Glam Adelaide - Absolutely Normal ★★★★★". 16 March 2019.
  14. “Good Chikyu bin"
  15. "世界ナゼそこに？日本人～知られざる波瀾万丈伝～：テレビ東京". www.tv-tokyo.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-09-28.
  16. "鶴瓶の家族に乾杯".
  17. "ABC Radio presents a special Debate for International Women's Day: That Motherhood Is Overrated?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 February 2017.
  18. "What Makes You Laugh? Join Jon Faine for a special Conversation Hour Live". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 March 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.