- Description
- FAQ
- Backers
Project Description
WHAT
Bad Dad is a 5-star reviewed one-man show, written and performed by actor, comedian and bad dad, Chris Dingli.
The show has been performed in London and other cities in the UK as well as in Malta and has been an audience and critical hit in every location. It has a 100% positive review rating.
Bad Dad is a semi-autobiographical show that chronicles the trials and tribulations of becoming a first-time father. It is a gloriously funny, brutally honest account of Dingli’s experience as a father so far.
Dingli plays a multitude of characters taking the audience on a journey that includes offbeat takes on breast milk, cartoon characters, and sugary baked goods (amongst others).
As one 5 star review put it, “If you never wanted a child, go see this show. If you always wanted a child, go see this show. If you couldn’t care less about children, go see this show – you will still walk out entertained!”
“Refreshing… perfectly balanced anecdotes… touching moments…Dingli is a master of the stage” – 5 Stars, London Pub Theatre Review http://bit.ly/1X6nmUf
“Delightful… the jokes come thick and fast… Bad Dad was so good that one hopes Chris Dingli delivers a sequel very soon” – 4.5 Stars, The Reviews Hub http://bit.ly/2nhR3SS
“Hilariously memorable… had everyone in stitches from the word go… it has been a while since I laughed so much during a theatre performance” – Sunday Times http://bit.ly/2mm1Jk3
“Bad Dad proved to be one of the most side- splittingly funny and entertaining performances I have seen in a long time… not to be missed” – The Times http://bit.ly/2n2t0v8
Bad Dad premiered in Malta in November 2015 in a self-produced run at MSpace in Msida. It received audience and critical acclaim and as a result was invited to be performed in London.
In May 2016, Bad Dad performed in London at the Ye Olde Rose & Crown theatre. As a result of those performances, the show was invited to perform in Birmingham, which it did in September 2016. Meanwhile, the show enjoyed a sold-out run at The Splendid in Valletta, over 5 weeks in the summer of 2016.
In May 2017, Bad Dad will be performed at the Brighton fringe festival at the Rialto Theatre.
Audience testimonial video 01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzt70xSb1LM
Audience testimonial video 02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJoM8owWJI
More testimonials: https://www.baddadshow.com/reviews
WHERE
We’re now taking the show Stateside, to Toronto, Chicago and New York City. Over the space of a week, Bad Dad will play in 3 cities at top-class venues:
Toronto: Panasonic Theatre
The Panasonic Theatre is a live theatre owned and operated by Mirvish Productions, the largest theatrical promoter in Toronto and Canada. The Panasonic Theatre has previously hosted productions such as The Blue Man Group and We Will Rock You.
Chicago: The Second City
The Second City is possibly the world’s premier comedy club and theatre. Since its debut, The Second City has been a launching pad for comedians, actors, directors and others working in show business. Notable alumni include Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, James Belushi, John Belushi, John Candy, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Rachel Dratch, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Jeff Garlin, Ian Gomez, Bonnie Hunt, Richard Kind, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Andrea Martin, Jack McBrayer, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Catherine O’Hara, Gilda Radner, Harold Ramis, Joan Rivers, Amy Sedaris, Martin Short, George Wendt and Fred Willard, among many others.
NYC: The People’s Improv Theater
The Peoples Improv Theater is an award-winning training centre and comedy theatre in New York City, founded in 2002. The PIT is dedicated to the instruction, performance, and development of original comedy. Situated just south of Midtown Manhattan, the PIT’s original location is reborn as PIT Loft, a black box theatre that’s perfect for the show. The PIT is also home to NYC’s SOLOCOM, New York’s only solo comedy festival (which takes place in November).
WHY
We’ve come up with a bunch of awesome rewards you can claim if you support this project. Not only will you be helping one of Malta’s funniest exports to gain audience exposure in the world’s biggest markets, but you can also have some real fun in the process!
Milestone Rewards!
€4000 Milestone
When €4000 are reached, people who have pledged €50 and over will receive 2 tickets to a brand new, never-seen-before show, written and performed by Chris, exclusively for backers.
NEW — I’M FEELING GENEROUS!!!!
(27 June 2017)
We’re almost there! The Bad Dad North American Tour Campaign is 93% funded!
Because we’re so close and because I’m feeling so good about the tour (we’re confirming dates with the theatres!) I’ve decided to give my backers something extra special as a gift.
Until now, anyone who has donated €50 or more will receive two tickets to a brand new “never-seen-before” show (did anyone say Bad Dad sequel?) once we hit our goal of €4k.
I’ve decided to extend that. As from now, I’ll give 1 ticket to anyone who has donated between €20 and €50. This goes for anyone who has already donated too.
So to recap:
- If you donate or have donated €20 or more up to €50, you get 1 ticket to the new show.
- If you donate or have donated €50 or more, you get 2 tickets to the new show.
Simple really! Remember, these tickets will only become available once we hit our goal of €4000. We’ve only got €262 to go for these extra rewards to be unlocked, so spread the word and get others to support the campaign so that those tickets can be yours once we hit €4000.
These tickets are obviously in addition to the rewards offered at each level.
P.S: I’m not saying that the extra show will be a sequel to Bad Dad, but I can tell you that it will be just as entertaining! So get your friends, family, loved ones, strangers, enemies, heroes and henchmen to support the campaign.
FINAL BONUS!
(2 July 2017) FINAL BONUS! The next 10 people who donate €25 or more to the Bad Dad crowdfunding campaign, will get a ticket to the world premiere of Balzunetta Towers (in addition to the other rewards!)
(7 July 2017)
Only 5 tickets left for opening night of Balzunetta Towers! We’ve got €125 to go until we reach our goal. Don’t forget, anyone donating €25 or over will receive a ticket to the premiere of Balzunetta Towers on top of all the other rewards already promised!
(8 July 2017)
All tickets for opening night of Balzunetta Towers have been snapped up! Thanks for supporting the campaign and see you at the premiere!
WHO
Chris is an actor, comedian and writer who is much sought-after for his scripts and performances.
After training at Webber Douglas Academy for dramatic arts in London, Chris spent a decade touring the UK before returning to Malta where he co-hosts a drive time radio show on XFM on Fridays.
His stage and film work has seen him work with some of the world’s most recognisable names including Michael Bay, Rachel Weisz, Alejandro Amenábar, John Krasinski and Linda Gray.
He has performed under the patronage of the Queen of Spain, worked with Oscar-winner Emma Thompson as executive producer, helped adapt one of Philip Pullman’s novels for the stage, and co-starred alongside supermodel Kat Torres on screen.
He has worked with multiple Academy Award winners, Carnegie medal winners, and on world renowned platforms such as the BBC, SKY and USA Network.
He has written or co-written as well as performed in a number of comedy shows, as well as a comedy TV series.
In 2010 he created Dingle Bells Malcolm Smells, a semi-improvised comedy show that spawned a series of successful sequels over the years and which could be credited with kick-starting the recent renaissance of Malta’s alternative adult comedy scene.
He is currently however, perhaps mostly known as a producer, performer and head writer of the hugely successful satirical sketch show Comedy Knights, as well as for writing, co-producing and starring in the spin-off comedy television series, Comedy Knights TV Shorts, which aired in the spring of 2015 and which spawned several viral videos.
He is very much in demand as an event host and has been Master of Ceremonies for events such as the Valletta Film Festival and the HSBC Annual Summer Concert.
His recent credits include Michael Bay’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Doctors on BBC 1, and Sinbad on SKY.
In 2016, he completed a stand-up comedy residency at Hard Rock Cafe and his headlining One Night Comedy Special stand-up show sold out in under 48 hours.
In the summer of 2016, he played Lonny in the original Maltese cast of Rock of Ages to universally rave reviews. The production went on to become Malta’s longest-running musical.
In 2015, he premiered his one-man comedy show, Bad Dad. The show played to rave reviews when it premiered in London in May 2016. It continues to visit the UK and is about to embark on a North American tour in 2017.
FORTRESS OF DINLGITUDE
Fortress of Dinglitude has extensive experience in the administration and management of various local projects, and a strong track record in collaborations with various local and international organisations. Fortress of Dinglitude has produced all of the Bad Dad performances to date in Malta, London and Birmingham and will produce the show’s upcoming trip to Brighton Fringe Festival in May 2017. Fortress of Dinglitude is also a co-producer of The Comedy Knights, the popular annual Christmas show, together with TAC Theatre.
In addition, Fortress of Dinglitude produced Darirari, a large-scale contemporary circus show commissioned by the Malta Arts Festival, as well as Shakeshorts, which premiered at ZiguZajg Festival in November 2016 and will run at Spazju Kreattiv in May 2017. Fortress of Dinglitude is also currently managing the show’s bookings for schools under the CulturePass program.
Fortress of Dinglitude is one of Malta’s prime promoters of stand-up comedy, booking shows at various locations and venues nationwide.
Jo Caruana is the owner of writemeanything.com a PR firm that works with a number of high profile clients. She is Chris Dingli’s manager and writemanything is Fortress of Dinglitude’s publicist company.
Although this will be the first tour of Bad Dad that is being implemented, Fortress of Dinglitude has successfully organised and managed several trips overseas, to the satisfaction of the Arts Council Malta.
Bad Dad’s crowdfunding campaign is supported by XFM100.2.
Project FAQ
Bad FAQ
I may be a Bad Dad, but I'm pretty good at answering questions about the show. Here are some of the most common questions I get asked...
ABOUT THE SHOW
Is the show in English?
Yes the show is 100% in English.
Can I see Bad Dad in Malta?
The only way to see the show in Malta is to get a ticket to the backer-only special performance. Otherwise your only chance to see Bad Dad is overseas.
Sounds like it may be mostly for women?
It's not! I'm a guy (or so they tell me) and so the reality is that you'll be getting things from a man's perspective. It has something for either of the sexes. Seriously, you'll love it. If you don't believe me, read the reviews. They seem to agree with me...
Do you have to be a parent to enjoy the show?
No! It's not like there are a bunch of inside jokes that you suddenly gain access to when you become a parent. It's funny for anyone, whether you have kids or not. Truth be told, apart from my own, I don't really like kids myself, so...
Are your wife and/or child in the show?
They feature heavily in the show's narrative, but they don't make a physical appearance (unless they happen to be in the audience that night!).
Is it stand-up comedy?
No, it's a one-man show. It's different to stand-up, although it contains elements of it. This show has a story, characters, and lots of many different bits and pieces that make it different to stand-up.
Is this a satirical show?
No. I know that I'm closely associated with the Comedy Knights (becasue I'm lead writer and one of the performers in that show) but this is not a satirical show. There is no politics in Bad Dad!
How long is the show?
The show runs at approximately 70 minutes without an interval. If there is an interval, it's two halves of 35 minutes each. The length of the interval depends on the venue.
What's the age certificate?
Age recommendation 12+. The show contains mild language and references.
ABOUT THE TOUR
How long is the tour?
The tour is from 20 September to 1 October 2017.
Why North America?
It is important for the show to visit major cities with strong links to live theatre and comedy, hence our first outing to London, followed by Birmingham (England’s second largest city). New York and Toronto are both logical next steps on the journey of English-speaking theatre hubs, whilst Chicago is probably the US’ most active comedy city (and no slouch at theatre either).
We have a number of international festivals in our sights (including Edinburgh, Melbourne and Montreal), however our strategy is to play in major cities before attending large festivals. The reason is to avoid getting “lost in the crowd”.
By playing in major venues and large cities, we can use this momentum and prestige to help promote the show and stand out in the overcrowded marketplace of a festival. It will also help us in securing higher profile venues at larger festivals.
Who will be going on tour?
The show travels with one performer and one technician. No entourage, family or hangers-on!
What is your schedule like?
Thursday 20 September 2017
Flight Malta - Chicago (arrive 21st Sept)
Friday 22 September 2017
Networking with Second City production team
Get-in and tech Second City, Chicago
Performance at Second City, Chicago
Saturday 23 September 2017
Performance at Second City, Chicago
Sunday 24 September 2017
Flight Chicago - Toronto
Monday 25 September 2017
Promotion for the show, Toronto
Networking with Mirvish production team
Tuesday 26 September 2017
Get-in and tech Panasonic Theatre, Toronto
Performance at Panasonic Theatre, Toronto
Wednesday 27 September 2017
Flight Toronto - NYC
Friday 29 September 2017
Get-in and tech PIT Theatre, NYC
Performance at PIT Theatre, NYC
Saturday 30 September 2017
Performance at PIT Theatre, NYC
Sunday 1 October 2017
Flight NYC - Malta (evening)
What makes you think that you can do this?
Fortress of Dinglitude (the show's production company) has extensive experience in the administration and management of various local projects, and a strong track record in collaborations with various local and international organisations. Fortress of Dinglitude has produced all of the Bad Dad performances to date in Malta, London and Birmingham and will produce the show’s upcoming trip to Brighton Fringe Festival in May 2017. Fortress of Dinglitude is also a co-producer of The Comedy Knights, the popular annual Christmas show, together with TAC Theatre.
In addition, Fortress of Dinglitude produced Darirari, a large-scale contemporary circus show commissioned by the Malta Arts Festival, as well as Shakeshorts, which premiered at ZiguZajg Festival in November 2016 and will run at Spazju Kreattiv in May 2017. Fortress of Dinglitude is also currently managing the show’s bookings for schools under the CulturePass program.
Fortress of Dinglitude is one of Malta’s prime promoters of stand-up comedy, booking shows at various locations and venues nationwide.
Jo Caruana is the owner of writemeanything.com a PR firm that works with a number of high profile clients. She is Chris Dingli’s manager and writemanything is Fortress of Dinglitude’s publicist company.
Although this will be the first tour of Bad Dad that is being implemented, Fortress of Dinglitude has successfully organised and managed several trips overseas, to the satisfaction of the Arts Council Malta.
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
What happens if you don't reach your goal?
We'll still go on tour. We'll just have to re-think it and maybe visit less cities or play in smaller venues.
What if you exceed your goal?
We'll stay in 5-star hotels! No, only joking. If we exceed out goal, we'll add more cities to the tour, such as Washington DC, Boston MA, Windsor ON, Los Angeles CA, etc.
When do I receive my reward?
Rewards will be given out when the campaign is over. Different rewards will take time to be given out, but everyone will receive what was promised. You will be updated throughout the entire process.
What's this new show you're promising?
It's a surprise! A brand new, never-seen-before show written and performed by Chris Dingli.
When is the special performance of Bad Dad?
The special performance is in the first week of May 2017. The exact date and venue are to TBC.
How else can I help?
Spread the word! We're on all main social media platforms. Get others to back the show! Thanks!
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07/07/2017€12.00
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07/07/2017€12.00
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07/07/2017€12.00
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07/07/2017€100.00
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07/03/2017€12.00
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06/27/2017€15.00
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06/18/2017€12.00
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06/09/2017€12.00
