Jan-Maree Franicevic

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Born and raised in the Wellington suburb of Petone, in the Hutt Valley, Jan-Maree proudly identifies as a Hamiltonian, the city she has
called home since 2003.

One of New Zealand’s most successful female comedians Jan-Maree began her career as a poet. Moving from spoken word to stand-up she won the Billy T award in 2001, the NZ Comedy Guild Award for "Best Female Comedian" in 2009 and in 2011 she won the Fred Award, becoming the first and is still the only female comedian to receive the NZ International Comedy Festival’s supreme award. She is something of an icon at Hamilton East watering hole The Cook, hosting a monthly comedy showcase for a whopping ten and a half years; the longest running pub comedy gig in New Zealand.

Since 2001 Jan-Maree has written for radio and television across a number of genre. She is a performance mentor, director and dramaturge with over fifteen years of experience in comedy, drama, improvisation and live theatre production. Having grown up in New Zealand’s home of quality theatre, Jan has a natural affinity for theatre, and a wealth of experience working both sides of the curtain, having held numerous roles as a production manager, stage manager, publicist and promoter.

Over the past nine years Jan-Maree has led and facilitated performance production, theatre and writing workshops for people experiencing mental illness, under the auspices of Centre 401 as preparation for the Waikato’s annual Mad Pride celebrations.

Most recently Jan-Maree has worked with Sydney-based Kiwi writer/actor Samuel Christopher new drama, The Violence of Ngaire Chambers, as a script advisor.

Jan-Maree became a reviewer for Theatreview in early 2013.

After twenty years harvesting LOLS Jan-Maree has hung up her microphone, and is living a new dream. Being retired doesn’t mean she isn’t gigging – for a good cause or good money, she will – though she is adamant she is no longer available for children’s parties.

Jan-Maree Franicevic's reviews

TALES BY THE RIVER - THE GODDESS OF FIRE

Hamilton

15/02/2014 - 23/02/2014

"Not one joke misses the mark..
THE BITCHES’ BOX

Edinburgh, Scotland, Invercargill, Hamilton, Auckland, Taranaki

21/02/2013 - 02/05/2014

"A Festival highlight..

"Adorably accurate sensational show..

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LOVE AND INFORMATION

Hamilton

08/11/2013 - 16/11/2013

"Arresting and touching..
ALLIE & BEEP

Hamilton

03/10/2013 - 05/10/2013

"Yet to realise its potential..
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Hamilton

07/09/2013 - 21/09/2013

"Inventive, inspired, sensational..
PIPPI LONGSTOCKING

Auckland

13/07/2013 - 27/07/2013

"Lovingly created tribute is thoroughly entertaining..
Tyran Parke in A LIGHT IN THE DARK

Auckland

25/05/2013 - 25/05/2013

"Sensationally good cabaret..
LAST LAUGHS 2013

Auckland

19/05/2013 - 19/05/2013

"Packed with quality: Awards announced..
RO CAMPBELL

Auckland

13/05/2013 - 18/05/2013

"A high laugh-per-minute ratio..
MARKUS BIRDMAN in LOVE LIFE AND DEATH

Auckland

13/05/2013 - 18/05/2013

"A shot in the arm of life..
THE RAW COMEDY QUEST 2013

Auckland

29/04/2013 - 12/05/2013

"High calibre acts..
THE BIG SHOW 2013

Auckland

06/05/2013 - 06/05/2013

"Cross-over threads but all round good..
GORDON SOUTHERN THE KERFUFFLE

Wellington, Auckland

30/04/2013 - 11/05/2013

"Honest humour..

"Reasonably clean, clever and thoroughly entertaining..
LATE LAUGHS 2013

Auckland, Wellington

03/05/2013 - 18/05/2013

"Hot talent offers good value nightcap..
THE 5PM PROJECT

Auckland

03/05/2013 - 03/05/2013

"Guy plus guys..
TIM BATT in TIM BATT'S UNIFIED THEORY

Auckland

27/04/2013 - 04/05/2013

"His first will not be his last..
CLASS COMEDIANS 2012 GRADUATES are UNDERAGE, ENRAGED and UNCAGED

Auckland

02/05/2013 - 04/05/2013

"Gotta love these young guns having a go..
DOLLY MIXTURE

Auckland, Wellington

21/02/2013 - 12/10/2013

"Deranged laughs..

"Falls well short of its potential..

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THE SILLY HAT SAUSAGE SIZZLE SPECTACULAR BIRTHDAY BASH BONANZA EXTRAVAGANZA

Auckland

04/03/2013 - 06/03/2013

"Brutally good masterful cabaret noir..
PRIVATISING PARTS

Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin

02/10/2012 - 17/03/2013

"Unsettling, incredibly funny and intensely personal..

"Cute, witty, sarcastic, energetic and manic..

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SALON MIKA

Auckland

14/02/2013 - 23/02/2013

"Life, love, lust, loss, longing and leaving in Mika's finest work yet..