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Med Revue, the eldest of the three major revues, has been held annually since ]. Law Revue has been held annually since ] and CSE Revue since ]. Although each revue claims a school or faculty as its home, each is more or less open to students from other disciplines, and indeed from other universities. Med and Law revue are ostensibly held for the purposes of raising money for ]. Med Revue, the eldest of the three major revues, has been held annually since ]. Law Revue has been held annually since ] and CSE Revue since ]. Although each revue claims a school or faculty as its home, each is more or less open to students from other disciplines, and indeed from other universities. Med and Law revue are ostensibly held for the purposes of raising money for ].

⚫ ==="Best of" Revues===

Historically, UNSW Med Revue has held a "Best of" show approximately once every five years. The first, ''A Fabulous Set of Steak Knives'', was held in 1990, and covered material from the years 1984-1989. The second "Best of" was called ''Heart Rate High: the Bex Years of Our Lives'', was held in 1996, and covered 1990-1995. The third, ''Comedy for the Chemical Generation'' was held in 2001 and covered material from 1996-2000.

In 2006, a "Best of Med and Law Revue" will be held, covering material from both Med and Law Revues. Most material is to be drawn from Revues since 2000, however to celebrate 30 years of Revue at UNSW, some older material will also be performed, from as far back as 1975. The show, ''Law & Orderlies'', will be performed from 21-25 March 2006 at the Figtree Theatre, where "Best of" shows have been held since the 1995 show.


===UNSW Medical Revue=== ===UNSW Medical Revue===


The UNSW Medical Revue, known as Med Revue, began in 1975 with a show called ''Rumpleforeskin''. A substantial number of students assert that the phallic theme of the title relates to the general personality of the actors, while a smaller body of critics believe it to be related to an unfortunate lack of genital endowment. Originally the domain of medical students only, the revue is now produced principally by students from other faculties. Nonetheless, Med Revues have continued to poke fun at medical topics. The UNSW Medical Revue, known as Med Revue, began in 1975 with a show called ''Rumpleforeskin''. Originally the domain of medical students only, the revue is now produced principally by students from other faculties. Nonetheless, Med Revues have continued to poke fun at medical topics.


Med Revue was originally held in the Physics Theatre, before moving to the nearby ] in 1992. In 1999, the show was held in the university union's ] building, an innovation the tech crew have undertaken never to repeat. It is predicted that future revue locations will be situated in more suitable areas, such as the bus bay, where most of the audience find themselves within ten minutes of the show's opening, or the sick bay, where a significant number of students find themselves at the completion of the show. Whether this phenomenon pertains to the poor quality of the acting or the poor quality of the script has long been a controversial topic among audience members (known as "victims" in some circles). Med Revue was originally held in the Physics Theatre, before moving to the nearby ] in 1992. In 1999, the show was held in the university union's ] building, an innovation the tech crew have undertaken never to repeat.


Med Revue rehearsals begin in March. The show plays for one week in May, which most students consider to be one week too long. Med Revue rehearsals begin in March. The show plays for one week in May.


===UNSW Law Revue=== ===UNSW Law Revue===


Law Revue began a year after Med Revue with ''The Assault and Battery Powered Show'' in ]. At present it is held in the ]. An ostensibly cynical yet astute and erudite part of the student body has categorised the annual revue as a "showboat for pathological 'celebrity' exhibitionists within the law school." The shows proponents acknowledge this, yet counter argue that all funds raised go towards charity. Further, those in favour of the event contend that the revue cultivates a sense of community within the law school, especially amongst heavy drinkers. Law Revue began a year after Med Revue with ''The Assault and Battery Powered Show'' in ]. At present it is held in the ].


In addition to material that speaks to the student experience, Law Revue contains a great deal of legal and political satire, as well as a high proportion of television and celebrity parodies. In addition to material that speaks to the student experience, Law Revue contains a great deal of legal and political satire, as well as a high proportion of television and celebrity parodies.


Where other revues try their best to avoid politics, Law Revue embraces the subject. In recent years, Law Revue has been a vehicle for opposition to ], wars in ] and ], and ] -- appearing to some more outraged than funny. Where other revues try their best to avoid politics, Law Revue embraces the subject. In recent years, Law Revue has been a vehicle for opposition to ], wars in ] and ], and ].


In 2002, with a cast of 58, Law Revue sold out three of its four nights and was seen by over 3000 people. It has enjoyed respectable audience figures since. ''Illegally Bombed'', the 2002 Law Revue, enjoyed the largest audiences of any revue at UNSW, selling out three of its four nights and being seen by over 3000 people.


Law Revue rehearsals begin in late July. The show plays for one week in August. Law Revue rehearsals begin in late July. The show plays for one week in August.
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In 2002, the two major revues were joined by a third, established by students in the (CSE). The first show, appropriately enough, was entitled ''Minority Revue''. CSE Revue is held in the smaller ] (less than a quarter of the audience capacity of the ]), and so the show plays for two weeks rather than one, and prospective cast members must audition in order to take part due to the limited dressing room space. For the most part, CSE Revue steers clear of material about politics. In 2002, the two major revues were joined by a third, established by students in the (CSE). The first show, appropriately enough, was entitled ''Minority Revue''. CSE Revue is held in the smaller ] (less than a quarter of the audience capacity of the ]), and so the show plays for two weeks rather than one, and prospective cast members must audition in order to take part due to the limited dressing room space. For the most part, CSE Revue steers clear of material about politics.


⚫ The revue has a strong focus on video production values and significant use of ]. In recent times some of the people and resources from the CSE Revue Video/VFX teams have been recruited by Med and Law Revues to help with the production of their videos, and in 2003/2004 some were recruited by the university's to produce a televison advertisement.
A cynical portion of the student body wonders whether anyone actually attends the revue.


⚫ Production-wise CSE Revue is highly structured compared to its Med and Law counterparts. Aside from the directors and producers there is an organisational (Orgs) team which consists of heads of smaller teams which cover all aspects of the show and it's production, such as scripts, tech, web administration, promotions, sales and social. Most decisions governing the running of the revue are made at the Orgs level.
⚫ The revue has a strong focus on video production values and significant use of ]. In recent times some of the people and resources from the CSE Revue Video/VFX teams have been recruited by Med and Law revues to help with the production of their videos, and in 2003/2004 some were recruited by the university's to produce a televison advertisement.

⚫ Production-wise CSE Revue is highly structured compared to it's Med and Law counterparts. Aside from the directors and producers there is an organisational (Orgs) team which consists of heads of smaller teams which cover all aspects of the show and it's production, such as scripts, tech, web administration, promotions, sales and social. Most decisions governing the running of the revue are made at the Orgs level.


CSE Revue enjoys the support of a number of tech firms, including software giant ], and Australian firms such as Whitesmiths, NICTA and Gelato UNSW. CSE Revue enjoys the support of a number of tech firms, including software giant ], and Australian firms such as Whitesmiths, NICTA and Gelato UNSW.


CSE Revue recruit members during O'week (late February/early March) with rehearsals beginning in July. The show runs for two weeks in September. CSE Revue recruit members during O-week (late February/early March) with rehearsals beginning in July. The show runs for two weeks in September.

===UNSW Arts Revue===
In 2006, members of ] are planning to put on an Arts Revue, to be held in early August 2006.

⚫ ==="Best of" Revues===

"Best of" revues typically combine selected material from previous shows, sometimes updated or adapted to take into account the intervening period of time. A "Best of" show, featuring material from both Med Revues and Law Revues from the years 1984-1989, was held in the Bondi Pavilion in 1990. The show was called ''A Fabulous Set of Steak Knives''. A "Best of" called ''Heart Rate High: the Bex Years of Our Lives'' was held at the Figtree Theatre in 1996, but covered material from Med Revues only from 1990-1995. In 1998, a show was put on by revuers off-campus called ''Dead Fish are Fun'', which featured some material from past Law and Med Revues, as well as original material. In 2001, a "Best of" show called ''Comedy for the Chemical Generation'' was held at the Figtree theatre covering material from Med Revues 1996-2000. This was sometimes dubbed "Best of Med III", despite the fact that the first "Best of" covered both shows.

In 2006, ''Law & Orderlies'', a "Best of" show covering both Med and Law Revue, was held at the Figtree Theatre. The bulk of material was drawn from Revues from 2000-2005, however the show also featured sketches from Med Revue 1975, Law Revue 1989, and Law Revue 1998.


==List of University of New South Wales Revues== ==List of University of New South Wales Revues==
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| ] | ]
| Stool Wards Episode Poo: Attack Of The Colons | Stool Wards Episode Poo: Attack Of The Colons
| Illegally Bombed/Detention Island | Illegally Bombed (featuring Detention Island)
| Minority Revue | Minority Revue
|- |-
| ] | ]
| Medicator | Medicator
| Dude Where's Bob Carr? | Dude, Where's Bob Carr?
| style="border:0px"| | style="border:0px"|
|- |-
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| ] | ]
| Presumed Impotent | Presumed Impotent
| QC Hammer: "You Can't Judge This!" | QC Hammer: U Can't Judge This!
| style="border:0px"| | style="border:0px"|
|- |-
| ] | ]
| Zen Cabbage | Zen Cabbage
⚫ | Sex, Bribes and Magistrates
⚫ | Simply Inadmissible
| style="border:0px"| | style="border:0px"|
|- |-
| ] | ]
| Satanic Nurses | The Satanic Nurses
⚫ | Simply Inadmissible
⚫ | Sex, Bribes and Magistrates
| style="border:0px"| | style="border:0px"|
|- |-
| ] | ]
| Gastro Boy | Gastro Boy
| Witless For the Prosecution | Witless for the Prosecution
| style="border:0px"| | style="border:0px"|
|- |-
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| ] | ]
| A Wet Summer Night's Dream | A Wet Summer Night's Dream
| A Penny for your torts | A Penny for your Torts
| style="border:0px"| | style="border:0px"|
|- |-
| ] | ]
| My Brilliant Diahorrea | My Brilliant Diahorrea
| Evicta: Featuring "Don't Lie for me on Subpoena" | Evicta: featuring "Don't Lie for me on Subpoena"
| style="border:0px"| | style="border:0px"|
|- |-
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|- |-
| ] | ]
| Pandemonia | Pandemonia, or Thanks for the Mammary!
| The Assault and Battery Operated Show | The Assault and Battery Operated Show
| style="border:0px"| | style="border:0px"|

Revision as of 09:14, 1 April 2006

Sydney's University of New South Wales plays host to numerous comedy revues each year. Of these, the largest are Med Revue, Law Revue and CSE Revue. Each revue features comedy sketches, songs and videos written and performed by students, usually commenting satirically on current affairs, dating and student life.


Style and structure

Revues are performed by a cast of between 15 and 60 people, with a live band. The cast is supported by a large group of writers, technical crew, video crew, choreographers, costumers and front of house.

The revues follow a standard format with little variation. The show is given a parody title, typically taken from a recently-released film. In some cases, the title sets an overarching theme for the show, but since the shows are written by many authors the theme is not reflected in all of the material.

The show will typically begin with a full-cast dance and musical number in which the words to a popular song are changed for the purposes of satire (in the tradition of "Weird Al" Yankovic). From here, the show will consist principally of short comedy sketches on subjects such as study, dating, national politics and parodies of television programmes. Musical numbers bookend the interval and close the show. Other segments include choral and a cappella numbers, dances, a band number and short videotaped segments. In between items, one-liners are delivered as voice-overs.

The role of video has steadily increased in recent years. The 2001 Med Revue, Medicator, was the first revue to dedicate substantial time and resources to video segments. The 2003 CSE Revue began with a video sketch based on the film The Matrix, incorporating sophisticated CGI effects.

In most revues, structured audience interaction is minimal. Revues typically run between two and three hours' duration.

Operationally, each of the three revues is a club affiliated to the UNSW Student Guild and subject to the latter's oversight. Revues retain their institutional memory through 'old revuers', participants who come back year after year. Former directors are often invited back to perform voice-overs and critique shows before they go to stage.

Revues

Med Revue, the eldest of the three major revues, has been held annually since 1975. Law Revue has been held annually since 1976 and CSE Revue since 2002. Although each revue claims a school or faculty as its home, each is more or less open to students from other disciplines, and indeed from other universities. Med and Law revue are ostensibly held for the purposes of raising money for charity.

UNSW Medical Revue

The UNSW Medical Revue, known as Med Revue, began in 1975 with a show called Rumpleforeskin. Originally the domain of medical students only, the revue is now produced principally by students from other faculties. Nonetheless, Med Revues have continued to poke fun at medical topics.

Med Revue was originally held in the Physics Theatre, before moving to the nearby Science Theatre in 1992. In 1999, the show was held in the university union's Roundhouse building, an innovation the tech crew have undertaken never to repeat.

Med Revue rehearsals begin in March. The show plays for one week in May.

UNSW Law Revue

Law Revue began a year after Med Revue with The Assault and Battery Powered Show in 1976. At present it is held in the Science Theatre.

In addition to material that speaks to the student experience, Law Revue contains a great deal of legal and political satire, as well as a high proportion of television and celebrity parodies.

Where other revues try their best to avoid politics, Law Revue embraces the subject. In recent years, Law Revue has been a vehicle for opposition to mandatory detention, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and voluntary student unionism.

Illegally Bombed, the 2002 Law Revue, enjoyed the largest audiences of any revue at UNSW, selling out three of its four nights and being seen by over 3000 people.

Law Revue rehearsals begin in late July. The show plays for one week in August.

UNSW Computer Science and Engineering Revue

In 2002, the two major revues were joined by a third, established by students in the School of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE). The first show, appropriately enough, was entitled Minority Revue. CSE Revue is held in the smaller Fig Tree Theatre (less than a quarter of the audience capacity of the Science Theatre), and so the show plays for two weeks rather than one, and prospective cast members must audition in order to take part due to the limited dressing room space. For the most part, CSE Revue steers clear of material about politics.

The revue has a strong focus on video production values and significant use of CGI. In recent times some of the people and resources from the CSE Revue Video/VFX teams have been recruited by Med and Law Revues to help with the production of their videos, and in 2003/2004 some were recruited by the university's School of Computer Science and Engineering to produce a televison advertisement.

Production-wise CSE Revue is highly structured compared to its Med and Law counterparts. Aside from the directors and producers there is an organisational (Orgs) team which consists of heads of smaller teams which cover all aspects of the show and it's production, such as scripts, tech, web administration, promotions, sales and social. Most decisions governing the running of the revue are made at the Orgs level.

CSE Revue enjoys the support of a number of tech firms, including software giant Microsoft, and Australian firms such as Whitesmiths, NICTA and Gelato UNSW.

CSE Revue recruit members during O-week (late February/early March) with rehearsals beginning in July. The show runs for two weeks in September.

UNSW Arts Revue

In 2006, members of Studio Four are planning to put on an Arts Revue, to be held in early August 2006.

"Best of" Revues

"Best of" revues typically combine selected material from previous shows, sometimes updated or adapted to take into account the intervening period of time. A "Best of" show, featuring material from both Med Revues and Law Revues from the years 1984-1989, was held in the Bondi Pavilion in 1990. The show was called A Fabulous Set of Steak Knives. A "Best of" called Heart Rate High: the Bex Years of Our Lives was held at the Figtree Theatre in 1996, but covered material from Med Revues only from 1990-1995. In 1998, a show was put on by revuers off-campus called Dead Fish are Fun, which featured some material from past Law and Med Revues, as well as original material. In 2001, a "Best of" show called Comedy for the Chemical Generation was held at the Figtree theatre covering material from Med Revues 1996-2000. This was sometimes dubbed "Best of Med III", despite the fact that the first "Best of" covered both shows.

In 2006, Law & Orderlies, a "Best of" show covering both Med and Law Revue, was held at the Figtree Theatre. The bulk of material was drawn from Revues from 2000-2005, however the show also featured sketches from Med Revue 1975, Law Revue 1989, and Law Revue 1998.

List of University of New South Wales Revues

University of New South Wales Revues
Year Med Revue Title Law Revue Title CSE Revue Title
2006 TBA TBA TBA
2005 Mary's Poppin The Chronicles of Canberra: The Liar, The Bitch & The Xenophobe Sin CSE
2004 The Cat With The Fat Iraqi Horror Picture Show Star Key and Hash
2003 8 Inch Midget John's Diary Revue Reloaded
2002 Stool Wards Episode Poo: Attack Of The Colons Illegally Bombed (featuring Detention Island) Minority Revue
2001 Medicator Dude, Where's Bob Carr?
2000 American Booty Bored of the Rings
1999 Pre-Millennium Tension The Last Judgment
1998 South Cark Godzillaw
1997 12 Junkies So Sue Me Street
1996 Glitter Coalition: Impossible
1995 The Symptoms Bombe Perignon
1994 All the President's Phlegm Faheywatch
1993 Missing In Traction Juristic Perk
1992 Herniator 2 Republic Enemy
1991 Presumed Impotent QC Hammer: U Can't Judge This!
1990 Zen Cabbage Sex, Bribes and Magistrates
1989 The Satanic Nurses Simply Inadmissible
1988 Gastro Boy Witless for the Prosecution
1987 Dark Side Of The Toast Police State Your Business or Rollover Trimbole
1986 Twilight Moan The Good, The Bad and The Unsworth
1985 All Crotches Great & Small Gone With the Breise
1984 Doctopussy Rebel without a Clause
1983 ET: The Extra Testicle Commission Impossible
1982 Merry Maladies: What's up Doc? If They Could Sue Me Now
1981 A Wet Summer Night's Dream A Penny for your Torts
1980 My Brilliant Diahorrea Evicta: featuring "Don't Lie for me on Subpoena"
1979 The Sound of Mucus Justice You Like It
1978 Gross Encounters of the Turd Kind Don't Give me the Writz
1977 It's Epidemic! As Crime Goes Bi
1976 Pandemonia, or Thanks for the Mammary! The Assault and Battery Operated Show
1975 Rumpleforeskin

Other sketch comedy shows on campus

Other revues at the university are held from time to time: students from New College, the Faculty of the Built Environment and the university's Buddhist club organise smaller-scale shows. Sketch comedy shows have also been hosted by the New South Wales University Theatrical Society (NUTS), the UNSW comedy club Studio Four, and other groups. A rival medical-student revue called Med Show was established in 2001 by former Med Revuer Neil Jeyasingham, and has been held annually since.

External links

Category: