Ballet Shoes and Shot Puts

Penny Ashton has been performing since before she could walk. Her mother knew she was in for trouble from the moment Penny ate her first lipstick, pulled on her first tutu and declared herself a ballerina. Just some of her dance career highlights include playing Jeremy Fisher Frog, being a What Now Dancer and dancing as a mouse who inadvertently knocked over the mouse hole in the recital causing chaos and mayhem. She briefly dabbled in shot put, winning a bronze medal at the Colgate Games in 1984, but gave that away as she thought she didn’t have the thighs for it… oh how wrong she was. Indeed Prima-ballerinhood was also eventually abandoned due to her pesky need to eat, and so Penny changed tack to completing a BA in Drama and Classics at Canterbury University. It was at University that Penny began performing comedy regularly and represented Canterbury at the NZ University Comedy Competitions in 93, 94 and 95. It was also at this point that her dad starting selling prophylactics from machines for “a buck a f**k.”

I Think you’ve got the wrong trolley

In Auckland Penny has become the full-time performer the little five-year-old in her always dreamed she’d be. She is a permanent member of the Theatresports company, is a voice over artist (anyone remember: “Natural Glow, we won’t tell if you won’t?”) has played such illustrious roles as ‘tampon girl’ in various commercials, and has even been seen in Shortland St’s corridors as Dr Margaret Cole. Just some of her varied stage appearances include Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a member of the ensemble of two seasons of The X-Folios; a fully improvised Shakespearean romp, Buttercup in HMNZS Pinafore and as a pirate and an ugly sister in the self-penned children’s show Koru Kea and his Amazing Millennium Adventure. She is also a very successful producer and publicistfilling both roles for the 2002 national tour of the smash hit Little Che.

From Edmonton to Adelaide.

Penny first performed her poetic musings in April 2002 at Auckland’s Temple Bar and the response was enormous. From there she tested poetry on a comedy audience in June 2002 and due to her success went on to stage her first solo show in November 2002. In under a year she was nominated as Best Female Comedienne at the 2002 Comedy Guild Awards, was a TV2 Billy T James Award Nominee for 2003, and performed in 2003’s Pulp Comedy TV Series. If the reviews are to be believed her second solo show, Dirty Pink, was a highlight of the 2003 TV2 International LAUGH! Festival where she was also invited to perform in The TV2 Big Comedy Gala, The Lindauer LAUGH Divas and of course The TV2 Billy T James Award Showcase.

Still basking in the rosy glow of success Pinkie headed off to North America in June and July 2003 to perform poetry, comedy and theatresports in various venues through Seattle and Canada. She was a funny talking hit cracking up audiences in Vancouver, Seattle, Montreal and finally Edmonton where she, Sully O’Sullivan and Lori Dungey were the victors of the Improvaganza International Theatresports Tournament.

In 2004 she was once again nominated for an Oddfellow's Billy T James Award with her solo show, Hot Pink Does Vegas, and she once again wowed audiences offshore. This time at the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe Festival where none other than comedy poetry legend Pam Ayres came to see Hot Pink with Penny Ashton.

In 2005 her solo show MC Hot Pink in Busty Rhymes was a critical hit in New Zealand and once again at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and she also performed a solo season in Singapore and various gigs in Australia and England.

In 2006 Pinky performed at the Christchurch Busker's Festival, The Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Gisborne Autumn Festival, The Nelson Arts Festival, at various gigs throughout the UK, as a member of the New Zealand Team at the World Theatresports Cup in Germany and in the Australasian Team in the Four Continents Slam Poetry tour of the UK.

Phew!

In 2007 there was the World Busker's Festival, the Wellington Fringe Festival, The NZ International Comedy Festival and a five centre tour of Canada, and in 2008 she did 100 shows in three countries!

All through 2009 Penny performed throughout NZ and now in 2010 she's hitting the road again. Another regional NZ tour BUT then onto Adelaide and then the Grandaddy festival of them all GLASTONBURY! The Poetry and Words tent will hopefully not succumb to a mudslide as she slips in some rhymes before seeing U2. Dolly Parton is rumoured to be perfomring. Ashton is immensely excited about this.

What other people said:

"...it was lovely...I really enjoyed it." Pam Ayres

"...a cross between Lynn of Tawa and Graham Norton....bossy, shameless and hysterical.....she has the audiences belly laughing....Highly recomended." Express

“This is Antipodean Sex in the City except funnier; Hot Pink Poetry poked sly fun in a slick performance that made us laugh at our own experiences.”
bFm

“This is poetic graffiti in cabaret form at its best. She presents the acceptable face of poetry, using it as a means of creating brilliant images of life.”
John Daly-Peoples, NBR, Friday 22.11.02

"…deliciously naughty rhyme." NZOOM

"Mothers, lock up your sons. Hot Pink is in town." NZOOM

"Ashton could very well be New Zealand's answer to Renee Zellweger. After all, she has the social life of Bridget Jones and likes to sing songs from Chicago." NZOOM

"…the packed audience … enjoyed the ribald rhymes and artful alliteration - sorry, it's contagious - and warmed to Dirty Pink's obvious delight in performance at Bats." Dominion Post

"…like a sick Sex and the City episode, but funny." Dominion Post

"…the house often shook with laughter." Dominion Post

"The Hot Pink poet had the audience in the palm of her hand. Original, good audience rapport and colourful! Her set transformed the performance space into a riot of plastic flowers. Penny is a great communicator who is always willing to get out amongst the media and sell herself." Philip Tremewan - Lake Taupo Festival of the Arts

"Hot Pink was very well received by the Nelson audience. Penny is a professional and presents a funny show that has broad appeal and the poetry is great. Her presentation and personality is fantastic…" Annabel Norman - Nelson Festival of the Arts

"Penny Ashton…works the Bridget Jones subject area very well and has created an art-form out of being single. As a comedian she is warm and funny…" Waikato Times

"…infectious energy and a large dollop of oestrogen…..a full fat fix of pure talent." Wanganui Chronicle

"Terrific original poems and songs effortlessly melded…" Wanganui Chronicle

"Penny created a comic persona to MC for our "winter wonderland" event, warmed up the crowd, did the links between our management team's respective speeches, and even recited her especially penned poem on Heritage Hotels, to the delight of the audience; all without one swear word or off colour joke!

The use of Penny Ashton's MC talents, in our opinion, added a further enjoyable dimension for our guests and we would not hesitate to recommend Penny for other corporate event work." Susan Gibson - Heritage Hotels

"Ashton is the kind of comedian I really love...the type of woman you'd want to be friends with..." The Package

"What an amazing entertainer Penny Ashton is. She certainly is a cabaret poetry performer, especially with her opening song "All That Jazz". What a tremendous singer! She captivated the audience all the way." River City Press

"In confronting the ordinariness of life she has conceived some brilliant poems..." National Business Review 2004

"..enough energy onstage to push a barge up Lyttleton Harbour...the audience was in the palm of her hand." Christchurch Press

"...brilliant....Poetry to make you hungry, horny and happy.” Three Weeks - Edinburgh - 5 Stars

“…fabulous…hilarious verse…pacy, fun and entertaining…Comic verse for the Bridget Jones generation.” Hairline - Edinburgh - 4 Stars

“…ruder than a sausage sandwich…easily wins over her crowd.” The List - Edinburgh - 3 Stars

“…sexy demeanour and flirtatious smile…impressive vocal skills.” Fest Magazine - Edinburgh - 4 Stars

“…vivacious…highly entertaining…sheer charm and energy…a show and a performer that you can't help liking.” The Scotsman - Edinburgh - 3 Stars

"...this fizzing, Antipodiette powerhouse who bursts out of herself, on to the stage and into the audience is a wee treat for those of us who are fed up with same old stand up and loathe wimpy sentimental poetry... a both passionate and thoughtful performance...the rhyming pop tart can't fail on a stage in the English speaking world. If you like your women real, hot and pink but not Barbie, Penny Ashton is well worth the ticket money." edinburghguide.com - Edinburgh - 4 Stars

"...hilariously funny...amazing knack at reciting poems...incredible...this show is well worth going along to." The Daily Post - NZ

“...a whirlwind, energetic show...clever, fresh and genuinely entertaining." The New Zealand Herald 2005

"...her cascade of jokes and one-liners was as explosive and dazzling as Guy Fawkes." National Business Review 20.05.05

"This lady likes her breasts. In fact, she likes them so much she’s made a rap about them. And why not when you’re this funny? ....an evening of extreme amusement. Not for the misogynists out there, who would quiver at the sight of such a ballsy female, this is a perfect night out for anyone who loves women....plus, anyone who can get two seemingly straight laced men thrusting at each other on stage is worth a look." Three Weeks - Edinburgh 2005 - Five Stars

"....a potty-mouthed Pam Ayres." Metro - Edinburgh 2005 - Four Stars

"MC Hot Pink Busty Ryhmes grabs the audience by the collar and stuffs their faces down her cleavage for a hour of fun and rap-poetry. Her Double D cup runneth over! The grateful audience shakes the Pleasance Hut with it's roar of approval." VERSEVEND - Edinburgh 2005 - Four Stars

"...a gutsy, busty entertainment babe." edinburghguide.com - Edinburgh 2005 - Four

"...astonishingly good...pink or blue she's hot." The Adelaide Advertiser - 2006

"..I found myself lap-dancing on a table for eight strangers..." Sunday Mail - Adelaide 2006

"...hysterical from beginning to end...a wild ride." Rip It Up - Adelaide 2006

"...one of the most engaging, warm yet rude shows of the Fringe." DB Magazine - Adelaide 2006

"Poetry has never been as funny....the pink lady had the crowd in hysterics....Perhaps the highlight of the night was when she dragged the poor Mayor up to the stage for the finale...." The Gisborne Herald - 2006

"She was funny, charmingly friendly and warm - just the person you'd want to cheer you up if you needed a good laugh at life......Pure class."  The Nelson Mail - Hot Pink Does Vegas 2006

"Clever and larger than life, Penny was just hilarious. Side splittingly and irreverently funny, she got the whole room involved, and her bra-cup head-fitting skit is a lasting memory. Bring her back!" Participant Local Government Conference Nelson 2006

FOR HOT PINK BITS - History of the Sex Industry!

“… Hot Pink Bits is cheerfully irreligious, and delightfully disrespectful of politicians, celebrities and many other desperate wannabes. The full spectrum of perversion is delicately sampled, with a wit that is sharp without ever being cruel.” Scoop Review, Wellington February 2007.

“…this polished and confidently performed show takes an irreverent look at sex that is far from dirty and very, very funny.” Dominion Post, Wellington February 2007.

“Ashton was a ball of confident energy; singing, dancing, mincing and prancing her way around the stage and up into the audience…” Lumiere, Wellington February 2007

“…a sumptuous and carefully selected buffet of juicy material...It's just really refreshing to see someone having such a ball broaching every imaginable angle of sex-for-sale without a hint of shyness, or resorting crass gags. Obviously the audience weren't that squeamish or they wouldn't have come to an act called Hot Pink Bits, but anyone that was a bit timid at first was put at ease by the end of the show by Ashton's warm, enveloping, gutsy and fun manner.” Theatreview, Auckland May 2007

“…see this show..” BLOGTO, Toronto July 2007

“… delightfully sleazy …Ashton is as warm and self-deprecating as she is bold -- and hilariously sexy.” 4 1/2 Stars - Winnipeg Sun, Winnipeg July 2007

“Hilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious! Some audience members were laughing so hard that they were in tears. A true gem, this show may certainly be the best comedy at the Fringe this year.” UMFM Winnipeg July 2007

“The writing snaps like a garter belt strap, and Ashton's energy never gets flaccid.” 4 1/2 Stars Saskatoon Star Phoenix, August 2007

“Honestly, I am just so grateful that I was able to see this seasoned performer at work! Penny Ashton is probably the most intelligent, sharp-witted comedian at the Fringe this year!” CBC Saskatoon, August 2007

“…a veritable hoot.” 4 Stars The Edmonton Journal, August 2007

“…an extremely talented and hilarious New Zealand comedienne with a tight show … that left the audience in tears.” 4 Stars See Magazine, Edmonton, August 2007

“Up there with the Rimutaka Mountains as one of New Zealand’s greatest natural resources.” The Edmonton Sun. August 2007

“…she's a bumping, grinding dynamo on stage who's onto something: Mother Nature is one kinky gal.” Vancouver Courier, September 2007

“Ashton is a great cabaret performer with plenty of energy to lead us all in some decidedly silly games.” Vancouver Sun, September 2007

Australian Tour Reviews 2008

 “Sex. Penis. Vagina.” 4 Stars Adelaide Advertiser

“This show is hot, horny and hilarious. It is the funniest show this reviewer has seen so far in the Fringe. It will be very hard to top.” 5 Stars Adelaide Theatre Guide

“…wonderfully shameless.” The Age

“Ashton is irresistibly charismatic, her humour is infectious and her razor sharp wit incisive and exceedingly saucy.” Adelaide Independent Weekly

“Her naughty ditties are sung beautifully…” Arts Hub

“the entire audience was applauding and cheering wildly…” The Groggy Squirrel

Back to NZ for 09

“…brilliant…” Otago Daily Times March 09

“A sure sign a comedian is good is when you’re hitting yourself uncontrollably in an attempt to shift the gut-cramp pain induced by laughter.” Southland Express March 09

"Ashton is an engaging performer who simultaneously put the audience at ease while demonstrating just what a corset can do for a gal. " Waikato Times

FOR BUSTY RHYMES with MC HOT PINK - CANADA 2008

"MC Hot Pink A Kiwi comedienne extraordinaire! Resplendent in a hot pink gown, pink heels, pink sparkly eyeshadow and fiery red hair, MC Hot Pink will make you laugh and make you think. She's classy, sassy, raunchy and downright rude........ Hot Pink and Bootyful!" Plank Magazine Vancouver

Globetrotting Fringe favourite Penny Ashton (aka MC Hot Pink) blazes fire across the stage in all her big-breasted glory in this racy one-woman show. A genre-busting performance poet, singer, dancer and savagely funny raconteuse specialising in tales of relationships and inevitable heartbreak, she confronts, pummels and overcomes over and over again. At the same time, Penny never forgets that she’s a lady, even when discussing her huge “norks” or the multi-species dating scene in her particular corner of New Zealand. She educates as she gyrates, putting bad men in their place without sinking to their level. She loves men, but she does have a lot of advice for them. In less talented and more earnest hands, her messages could alienate, but at the performance I attended, she charmed our pants off whether she was exposing her vulnerabilities in measured tones or dancing up a butt-slapping hip-hop storm. The finale alone is worth the price of admission." 4 Stars - Barry Bristman, See Magazine.

"She’s a funny, bawdy babe in a full-length pink ballgown with a great singing voice." Pat Donnelly – Montreal Gazette

"Ashton's super-sassy high-energy rhymes should still have everyone tickled, well, Pink." Lindsey Ward – Winnipeg Sun

Penny Ashton has really big boobs. So big, in fact, her G-cup bra fits over her head. It's easy to remember her lovely lady lumps - but so much more fun to experience her live show and alter-egos MC Hot Pink and Busty Rhymes... " Cassandra Kyle, TheStarPhoenix.com - 4 Stars

"As you may have gathered, sex is the game here in this raucous, high energy and often hilarious view of the procreative urge. Ashton's potty mouth could blister paint, her metaphors are graphic but the aim is to entertain. She is a funny lady and, despite her down-and-dirty delivery, is so resolutely disarming that it is hard to take exception. ... Apparently the word "roots," associated with a sportswear logo in Canada means something quite different in New Zealand, leading to much merriment Down Under when our entire Olympic team wore Roots shirts.....In my notes, I wrote, "This is not a show to bring your mother-in-law to," but because of some scheduling problems, I brought mine. She's 90 years old. She told me later that she was laughing so hard she couldn't get her breath. Perhaps that is a measure of just how saucy and just downright comic this Down Under import is. --- Colin MacLean, Edmonton Sun - 4 Stars

Lyttelton Harbourlight Audience Says "HELLO!" June 07