“C’mon, see the show. It’s a masterly little comic gem.”
- 12th Night
Vancouver Fringe “Best of Fest”
Edmonton Fringe “Staff Pick”
Vancouver Fringe Sold Out Run
Edmonton Fringe Festival Official holdover selection
-The Edmonton Journal
Orlando FestN4
“Fringiest Show”
Orlando FestN4
“Staff Pick”
Edmonton Fringe Sold Out Run
Orlando FestN4
“Fringe Crush”
Written by:
Katie Yoner and Dayna Lea Hoffmann in collaboration with Joseph McManus
Produced by:
Katie Yoner and Dayna Lea Hoffmann
Directed by:
Joseph McManus
Performed by:
Dayna Lea Hoffmann and Katie Yoner
Set and Lighting Design:
Claire Sonmor
Costume Design:
Meegan Sweet
Mentorship:
Karen Hines, John Turner, Mike Kennard
Our Collective
Batrabbit Productions devises work that is spectacular, deeply personal, and heavily informed by clown. The three collective artists (Hoffmann, Yoner, and McManus) founded the collective in 2020 with the intention to challenge the gender binary and the idea of femme and non-binary bodies in comedy; a historically male-dominated artform. This initiative is at the core of Rat Academy.
All three members of the collective hold BFAs In Theatre as well as subsequent education in various clown schools across the country. Their professional skills include producing, administration, improvisation, physical theatre, playwriting, poetry, acting, music composition, stand-up, directing, singing, circus, and juggling, to name a few.
Since its inception, Batrabbit has created several professional interdisciplinary works and will continue to push the boundaries of contemporary theatre and clowning in the rehearsal process and on the stage.
Joseph McManus (They/He)
Stage Manager
Katie Yoner (She/Her)
Shrimp
Dayna Lea Hoffmann (She/Her)
Fingers
“These two clowns are in their f#@%ing element.”
Show Details
Intended for: Audiences ages 8+. Can be catered toward adult OR family audiences
Content warnings: Loud noises, cartoonish violence, some strong language
Run Time: 60mins, no intermission. Due to the nature of the show’s audience interaction, some parts of the show are improvised within time limits.
Minimum set-up/take-down time: 15 mins
Minimum Tech Rehearsal: 2 hours, preferably 3 (Includes set-up)
Touring company: 3 members (2 actors, 1 stage manager)
Tour Highlights
2022
Created by Hoffmann and Yoner during artistic residency with the Play the Fool Festival, AB
2023
Workshopped as a mainstage production with NextFest, AB
Edmonton Fringe Festival, AB
Edmonton Fringe Festival holdover Series, AB
Vancouver Fringe Festival, BC
Featured on Global News
Featured on CBC Radio
Featured in TheatreYES - The Play’s The Thing
2024
Orlando FestN4, FL
Theatre Network, AB
Pi Theatre, BC
Saskatoon Fringe
Toronto Fringe
Winnipeg Fringe
More TBA
Venue Requirements
Minimum stage size: 12'x12'
No grid hang requirements
Space on the stage left wing is large enough for our (27inx41in) rat trap to roll out, but we can further discuss if this is not possible.
It is absolutely essential that the venue – front of house, be accessible to persons in wheelchairs.
It is possible for the company to enter the performance space either through the backstage or FOH.
It is required that the audience be accessible to the performers through stairs leading into the audience, a stage rise of no more than two feet, OR black box with no rise. Actors will perform onstage as well as in the house for portions of the show.
A minimum of 1 dressing room is required for preshow prep, and the dressing room must be made available at least one hour prior to show.
Stage must be clean and safe for bare feet. Actors will perform without shoes.
Technical Specs
SOUND
- Joseph McManus to be SM, and can additionally operate sound.
- Sound operator (optional)
- Macbook can be provided by company
- All sound cues are available in Qlab 5 show file OR Qlab 4.7 show file
- Actors can perform mic’d or without amplification
- Offstage left audio source required for one cue with localized sound
LIGHTING
- Venue must provide lighting operator
- Rat Academy has a very simple and flexible lighting set-up.
- House lights and single spotlight required
- Magic sheet available upon request.
“These characters are embodied and polished to near perfection — it’s easy to forget you’re watching two humans on stage... If you haven’t yet, let Rat Academy enchant you.
- Edmonton Journal
Stage Plot
We provide all props, costume, and set pieces.
Pipe and drape with canvas (4' tall)
Pipe and drape with canvas (9' tall)
Easel with handbook
Audience
Rat trap (5"x27"x41")
Trash bins
“The hype is true! The Rat Academy provides top notch education! These two clowns are in their fucking element and completely had us humans in the palm of their little paws! Go there if you like to have fun, smile, and laugh!”
What People are saying:
“A goddamn riot. Dayna and Katie are superstars. My face hurt after this show, do not be surprised to see the rest of this run sell out and you’ll be so sad you didn’t get in to see it.”
“These are two masterful rats, expertful academic rats. Roll on your belly laughing rats. Disarmingly beautiful rats. This kicked my ass in the best way
possible.”
@the_rat_academy
“Without a doubt, this is some of the best theatre I’ve ever seen in Vancouver. I am so sad it has closed with the fringe and I can’t take more people to go see it”
“We had the absolute hilarious pleasure of seeing Rat Academy a few days ago! Oh my word go see this show before it sells out.”
To book Rat Academy at your venue, please contact: batrabbit.productions@gmail.com