The Beijing Broads Boom, Boom…and Bloom!

Dear reader, there is nothing I love more than the subversion of a word, preferably by those subjected to its original, unpalatable meaning. Case in point: the Beijing Broads! A revolving door of boisterously fun women who never fail to conquer us with their wittiness and capacity to reinvent themselves. As a rooted Beijinger (ahem), it’s been nothing short of a pleasure to see them evolve and refine their craft throughout the years. I truly await their shows every few months…

…And there’s no time like the present! Yes, the Beijing Broads are back! On Mar 23, 7.30pm, they shall take over the JinShang Yuan (金尚源) stage to present Boom, Boom, Bloom, a brand new improv and playback show. Mind you, they will not be alone in this thrilling première – Laurel Burns, theatre queen extraordinaire from Middle Kingdom Creatives, is listed as their guest star. And just in case this wasn’t enough to make you run for your tickets? They’re donating all proceeds to the charity Green Ivy. Having fun while doing good? Count me in.

Anyhow, I figured it would be best to hear it all from one of these badass women, aka Sai, herself. Read below for our little chat!

Hi Sai! Make it short but extra sweet – what can we expect from Boom, Boom, Bloom? Some very springlike vibes I am getting…
Yeah, you know, we were thinking about how spring is such a time for growth. Quite literally – it’s not just flowers that bloom. Everything around us is sprouting back from a long sleep, so we wanted to use this as a premise to connect with our audience in fresh ways. What adventures are springing up this season? What are we hoping for this spring?

Sounds bloomin’ exciting. By the way, remind me who’s in the team right now. Any new additions? I am curious about any recent exciting updates about your troupe…
No additions thus far but we did have two very successful workshops. We’re hoping to introduce you to a few new faces in our next show.

How do you feel about having Laurel on board? She really is a force of nature, isn’t she?
Who doesn’t love Laurel? She is a literal theatre genius with her incredibly successful Drunk Shakespeare series and so much more. She is always cooking something new for the people. We are beyond thrilled to have her warm energy show up amongst us on stage.

Lovely. Improv shows like yours tend to include a certain degree of interaction with the spectators. What can we, your captive audience, expect in that department?
Absolutely! You see, the amazing thing about our shows is really the vulnerability that comes with them. This is because aside from the comedic improv side of it all, we also do playback. This involves encouraging the audience to share their true stories. At the end of the day, our experience proves that every single time, someone from the audience comes up after the show to say something along the lines of: “I feel seen, thank you for that.”

This is not the first time that you generously donate all your proceeds to charity, however some people may not be acquainted with Green Ivy. Care to share a bit about their mission?
Gladly so! We have always been, and continue to be, 100 percent non-profit. From the women, for the women – that’s our motto. This time we are raising funds for Green Ivy, a Shenzhen-based NGO that gives migrant women workers a chance at a better, more productive and fulfilling life. Here is a link to their latest article.

Your generosity truly makes a difference, and might even be a factor weighing in for any potential broad (hehe) wishing to join your ranks. Are you open to new recruits? Generally, what’s the best way to stay updated about your adventures?
Funny that you should ask! We are actually, currently, actively (yes, three adverbs in one row) looking for women with experience to come play with us. So if that’s you, please scan the QR code below to join our groups for updates and upcoming show dates.

The Beijing Broad's Boom, Boom, Bloom! is taking place on Saturday, Mar 23 from 7.30-9.30pm at JinShang Yuan. Tickets are RMB 68/person and can be booked via the QR code in the poster.

JinShangYuan
20 Xinyuanli West, Chaoyang District
朝阳区新源里西20号

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Images courtesy of the Beijing Broads