Abby Howells

Last updated
Dr Abby Howells
Born
Abigail Mai Howells [1]

1990or1991(age 33–34)
Dunedin, New Zealand
Alma mater University of Otago (PhD, theatre studies)
Victoria University of Wellington (MA, creative writing)
Occupations
Awards Billy T Award (2023)

Dr Abigail Mai Howells is a New Zealand comedian, actor, and writer. She was the winner of the Billy T Award in 2023.

Contents

Early life and education

Howells grew up in Dunedin, New Zealand. [2] She received a bachelor of arts in film and media studies from the University of Otago, and a masters in creative writing from Victoria University of Wellington's International Institute of Modern Letters in 2014. At Victoria, she wrote the screenplay Standing Up, which won the Brad McGann Award. [3]

Howells completed a PhD in theatre studies from the University of Otago; [4] her thesis, titled "Performing Prison: How Is Life on the Inside Portrayed to the Outside World?", [1] explored how incarcerated women are portrayed in film and television. [5]

Career

After starting stand-up in her 20s, Howells quit comedy for seven years after sexual harassment from another comedian. [2] [6]

Howells was a founding member of Discharge, a female comedy collective. [7] [3] She served as head writer for the group, penning the shows What is This? Woman's Hour? (2012), [8] Benedict Cumberbatch Must Die (2014), [9] and 28 Days: A Period Piece (2015). [3] [10]

She presented her solo show Glocknid: Dwarf Warrior in 2014, which won the Best Newcomer Award at the 2015 Wellington International Comedy Festival. [3] [11] She portrayed Beatrix in Trick of the Light Theatre's Beards Beards Beards, which toured the United Kingdom. [10] Her play Attila the Hun was part of the 2017 Young and Hungry Festival. [3] Howells acted in Fold by Jo Randerson in 2018, and The Bald Soprano in 2019. [12] [13]

Howells's show HarleQueen won the Director's Award at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in 2021. [2] In 2023 at the NZICF, she wrote and performed La Soupco, which is "based on a screenplay Howells wrote when she was 11 years old ... a post-World War II nautical-themed romance set in Spain for little reason, where the characters don't have names". [14] For the show, Howells won the Billy T Award. [2] [4] [6] [11] [15] The New Zealand Herald wrote that La Soupco "strikes a wonderful balance between a theatrical concept and traditional stand-up". [14]

In 2024, Howells and Angella Dravid formed an improv group called The Improfessionals and performed at the NZICF. [16]

On television, Howells has appeared on 7 Days, Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee , and Taskmaster New Zealand .

She has cited Blackadder and Jerry Seinfeld as influences. [4]

Personal life

Howells is open about being autistic. [17]

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References

  1. 1 2 Howells, Abigail Mai (2021). Performing Prison: How Is Life on the Inside Portrayed to the Outside World? (PhD thesis). OUR Archive, University of Otago.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Thomas, Grace (30 May 2023). "Comedian Abby Howells takes home prestigious Billy T Award". 1News.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Howells, Abby (14 September 2018). "Loose Canons: Abby Howells". The Pantograph Punch.
  4. 1 2 3 Stills, Ethan (30 May 2023). "'Exciting' award win after industry harassment". Otago Daily Times.
  5. ↑ Fox, Rebecca (21 March 2019). "Empowering women inspiring". Otago Daily Times.
  6. 1 2 Bevan, Darren (29 May 2023). "Guy Montgomery and Abby Howells win top prizes at 2023 NZ International Comedy Festival". Newshub.
  7. ↑ Stone, Elsie (17 February 2016). "Meet the Female Comedy Collective Bringing Period Jokes to the Mainstream". Catalogue Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 Mar 2016.
  8. ↑ McBryde, Angus. "What Is This, Women's Hour? (2012)".
  9. ↑ "28 Days: A Period Piece". Theatreview.
  10. 1 2 McKee, Hannah (19 March 2015). "Abby Howells faces up to young roles". Stuff.co.nz.
  11. 1 2 Daly, Lara (15 May 2023). "Hey Abby Howells, I like your retro-inspired hair". Ensemble.
  12. ↑ "Entitled narcissists target of absurdist satirical 'Fold'". Otago Daily Times. 1 March 2018.
  13. ↑ Black, Eleanor (19 May 2019). "At home with a Dunedin theatre couple". Stuff.co.nz.
  14. 1 2 Sills, Ethan (25 May 2023). "Billy T 2023 nominees reviewed: Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "Billy T' Billy: Brynley Stent hands the yellow towel to 2023 comedy award winner Abby Howells". NZ Herald. 31 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "Abby Howells & Angella Dravid - The Improfessionals". New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  17. ↑ Hanton, James (13 August 2022). "HarleQueen". The Wee Review.
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