LONG, LONG AGO....
an evil force known as Batsu no Akuma (罰の悪魔) – the spirit of punishment– was feared throughout the land. Many fought with swords and bows, but none could defeat the evil spirit. That is, until they discovered its new weakness: comedy.
Using the power of laughter, comedy warriors trapped the spirit within the Batsu no Kane (罰の鐘) – the gong of punishment.
Over centuries, the spirit traveled the world waiting for the gong to be struck. Tonight the spirit of Batsu no Akuma rises again, eager to punish new victims.
BATSU! was created and has been running in New York City since 2011. It expanded to Chicago in 2016. After a hit, sold-out run at Underbelly Cowgate in the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe, BATSU! is thrilled to be a part of the inaugural programming at Underbelly Boulevard.
Jay Painter, Eric Robinson, Joe Tex (owners of the troupe, Face Off Unlimited) and Noriko Sato were founders of the show and remain partners to this day along with Brian Walters, Whit Baldwin, and Heather Shields.
These seven highly attractive visionaries make up BATSU! Moon - an enterprise dedicated to spreading BATSU! across the globe and beyond.
BATSU! is committed to providing opportunities for Asian artists, as well as promoting positive international fellowship through the fusion of food, comedy, and culture.
Meet the company
Click the names to jump to their bio.
Listen for announcements introducing tonight's cast.
Then, come back and catch 'em all!
Meet the
BATSU! moon partners
Click the names to jump to their bio.
Artistic Director
Chief Financial Officer
Director of Operations
executive producer
Nihongo in the show
Nihongo (日本語)
The Japanese Language
Batsu (罰)
Punishment. The batsu game is a Japanese style of comedy that features a series of challenges, where losers face hilarious punishments.
Arigato Gozaimasu (ありがとうございます)
Thank you very much.
Hachimaki (鉢巻)
A Japanese headband that is worn as a symbol of strength and courage. And also a signal for our Sake Shinobi to refill your glass.
Hajime (はじめ)
Begin. Your host will use this to announce the start of tonight’s challenges.
what’s that mean?
Irasshaimase (いらっしゃいませ)
Welcome!
Minasan ( 皆さん)
Everyone. You’ll hear your host use this to address the warriors and audience tonight.
Ojigi (お辞儀)
The act of bowing, often used to greet or show respect in Japan.
~san (さん)
A suffix added to the end of a name as a sign of endearment or respect.
Youi Wa E Desuka? (用意はいいですか) “Are you ready?”
Hint: the answer is hai はい！(or yes!)
Follow Us
#BATSULondon
Who’s
who
Abe
Abraham
Warrior
Abe Abraham: so good they named him one and a half times. An improviser, standup and clown, Abe has been performing across London for 5 years. Expertly trained by The Second City, The Free Association, and Gaulier alumni. Expertly unleashed by BATSU!
isabella
victorie
a.
Frauline, Ballerina
Actor, Theater Maker, Performer, Presenter. Important Roles include Penthesilea (Kleist), Portia (The Merchant of Venice), Rosalind (As You Like It). In her work as a Theatre Maker she focusses on raising awareness of psychological and socio-political topics. She is delighted to be joining the Opening Cast of BATSU! London.
nora
alexander
Warrior
Nora is a multi award-winning performance artist, theatre-maker, DJ and all-round hilarious idiot. As one third of the iconic IN BED WITH MY BROTHER, she's sold-out shows internationally and brought high-energy cult anarchy to theatres, cabarets, music festivals and international arts festivals recently including The Royal Court, Barbican and Bangface TV. She co-runs the queer silly-party-arty-donk-performance-rave collective DOOMSCROLL. As a child she won multiple gold medals for line dancing in the West Midlands, make of that what you will.
liam
arnold
Warrior
Liam is an actor and writer based in South London. His credits include "Crystal Maze LIVE Experience" (Shaftesbury Avenue), "Bareface" (Southwark Playhouse), and "Extreme Improv Comedy" (Camden Comedy Club). He is also associate artist of the award-winning theatre company 'Dangerosity'.
whit
baldwin
Warrior, Jaquo, Ballerinbro, Pirate, Creative Team
Whit serves as the BATSU! NYC Company manager. A member of the BATSU! Moon team, he has been performing in the show since February 2011. His unparalleled ability to split his pants during performances has earned him the nickname, "Pants Watch." May you be lucky enough to be at one of these performances! He is followed by at least 2 famous people on Twitter. Father to Betty and Husband to Jenny. Everything he does is for his girls.
Jacqui
bardelang
Host
Jacqui Bardelang is an actor, director and drag king known as Sigi Moonlight. A regular on the London cabaret scene, Jacqui has performed all over from Shakespeare's Globe to Glastonbury Music Festival and has been featured on Netflix and BBC3. Credits include: Baldur's Gate 3, The Nevers, Modest, Mulan Rouge.
ena
begovic
Cowgirl, Shinobi
Ena is an award-winning Croatian actress and dancer based in London. Outside of BATSU!, her recent accomplishments include producing and staring in her own offie nominated one woman show ‘Bloody Influencers’ and being cast in the upcoming Netflix series Fool Me Once.
drummond
bowskill
Warrior, Jaquo, Pirate
A veteran of the late night London stage (scene), Drummond is excited to bring his talent for titillation to BATSU! A passionate Shakespeare fan, you may have seen one of his 7 Bottoms or even his Brutus.Drummond has appeared on The Bill, The life and times of Henry Pratt and numerous adverts, more recently he's been seen hosting Cirque Le Soir events and the Laguanitas Beer Circus in London, Cannes and Monaco, and taking players on a psychedelic journey through the crystal maze. Father of two 'real characters', when he's not pushing the limits of decency on stage at night, Drummond can also be found making dreams come true as London's premiere Father Christmas
TYSON
BRADLEY
Warrior
Tyson Bradley is an improviser, stand-up comedian, and actor from Vancouver, Canada based in London for the past several years. He brings high energy and quick wit to every performance!
Cameron
Carnegie-Brown
Warrior
Cameron Carnegie-Brown is an actor and model from a place known famously for its puddings. Cameron has performed internationally with White Horse theatre and is currently signed with The Dreamers MGMT. Cameron was honoured to join BATSU! with so many talented performers. He’s going to try and prove he’s not just a pretty face because you can laugh at it too…
Mr.
Chicken
Mr. Chicken
Scholars disagree on when Mr. Chicken hatched. Legend says he flew the coop early in the Edo Era, while others believe it was the early 1980s. By early 2010 Mr. Chicken was scrambling to find his place in NYC pecking away at fowl jobs like hosting karaoke nights and singing telegrams. It felt like the sky was falling. Beginning to feel lost, like an uninformed traveler, he rolled into BATSU! NYC, found his flock, and never looked back.
Look for his upcoming memoir in bookstores everywhere, “Go Cluck Yourself: The Inspiring Tale of a Big Chicken Making it in an Even Bigger City.” Although The Times panned it, saying the book was “A Yolk,” they did say that, “With all its pictures and large print type, at least it will be over easy."
Lawrence
“trev“
cole
Warrior
Lawrence 'Trev' Cole is a comedian, musician and actor from the midlands. Following a sell out run of his show House of Life at the Edinburgh Fringe, Trev is delighted to be joining the BATSU! family back on an Underbelly stage again!
Anastasiia
demianenko
Lighting Designer
Anastasia is a Ukrainian-Georgian LX Technician who moved around their whole life. Most recently departing from bonnie Scotland where they rediscovered the passion for theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Anastasia’s family thinks they are something of a DJ but with lights and endearingly call their role in BATSU! as “Shine and Punishment”.
GREGORY
FUNG
Mr. Wrestler
Ex-Scientist Greg is an Actor, Comedian, and Painter. You can catch him in the Marvel Universe in Doctor Strange 2 and in some of your favourite commercials. Whatever he is up to, Greg strives to inspire and spread positivity through all his work and isn’t afraid to share his peculiar take on the world with you all!
Luke
gannon
Warrior
Luke Gannon is a comedian, actor, writer and improviser who recently moved to London from the Midlands. Previous credits include Breaking the News, NewsJack and is (hyper)active on both the live comedy circuit and Tiktok.
Josh
Goergen
Warrior, Company Manager
A multitalented performer, Josh has experience in musical theater, stand-up comedy, vocal performance, and improv. He has been a cast member of BATSU! NYC for almost 10 years, and is thrilled to bring this crazy, special show across the sea!
alexander
halsall
Warrior
Alexander is a London based actor, creature performer and improv do'er. He acts in Film, TV & like he knows what he's doing. You can see him in Jeepers Creepers Reborn, ITV2's Apocalypse Wow & Wood Green McDonald's most Friday nights. He seeks to honour his ancestors in BATSU! Hai!
maisie
hayden
Warrior
Maisie Hayden is a Canadian-American writer, comedian and actor living in London. When she’s not working on her new weekly Substack newsletter, Letter from Me (coming this autumn), Maisie can be found workshopping her one-woman stand-up theatre show Problem Child, which is set to debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
PIKA
hoop
Co-Host, Dancer
Pika is a Brighton based Japanese hula hoop performer/flow artist. She uses multiple hoops, LED hoops, veil fans and unique props like an umbrella and heart shaped hoop. She is energetic, cheeky and does crazy hula hooping! You will be entertained with her hooptastic performance!
David
Hoskin
Warrior, Jaquo, Pirate
David is a physical performer, writer and comic. He is co-founder of physical theatre/comedy company Very Horrible Play and is an alumni of Ecole Philippe Gaulier. A regular on the alternative comedy circuit, he can be seen in his critically acclaimed mime and physical comedy solo show "Hølìdåÿ" at fringe festivals in 2024.
Shane
“shayshay”
konno
Host
ShayShay is a non-binary writer, director, drag artist, and co-founder of The Bitten Peach, a queer Asian artist collective. Originally hailing from California, ShayShay has lived in London for the last ten years working across cabaret and theatre.
michael
kunze
Warrior
Michael Kunze is an award-winning comic actor, writer, director and improviser, and a co-founder of Blue Heart Theatre. His work has appeared at Soho Theatre, Pleasance London, and the Southwark Playhouse, among others. As an improviser, he performs regularly around the UK. For more info see website, linked below.
Cameron
lee-allen
Shinobi
Cameron is a professional dancer based in london, graduated in 2017 from central school of ballet. Performed in shows such as Gingerline’s The Grand Expedition, Persona Collective’s Halfway House and Renaissance Dance Theatre’s Dance Film Aberthol. He is excited to be performing in BATSU! with a few tricks up his sleeve.
Masaya
mimura
Mr. Wrestler, Shinobi
Masaya is a Japanese Actor based in London, raised in Manchester and Aichi, Japan. Known for Giri/Haji (BBC Two/Netflix Drama Series) and Huel adverts. Highly skilled in Weight Training, showcasing his Exceptional Physique on the BATSU! stage!
jay
painter
Warrior, Director
Sensei Jay is honored to impart the ancient comedy art of Batsu-do to the Warriors of London. As FOU Artistic Director he co-created and directed BATSU! (NYC, Chicago, Edinburgh, London), Goon River and NADS (Times Square Arts Center), A Whole ’Nother Level (US tour), Two Gentlemen of Verona (NYC, Secret Theatre), among others. Other New York directing credits include work at Aquila Theatre, Gym at Judson, NYU Kimmel Center, and Alvin Ailey Dance Center.
Teilo
Reese
Warrior
After graduating with an unemployable degree from Durham University and coming off a (sometimes) sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with The Durham Revue sketch comedy troupe, Teilo abandoned his family’s simple life in the Dales of Yorkshire to try and make it in the big city.
eric
robinson
Warrior, Creative Team
Eric is one of the creators of BATSU! and founders of Face Off Unlimited. An entertainer of 20+ years, Eric has exercised his craft across stage and screen, in the US and abroad, and from cruise ships to virtual reality. He also moonlights (daytimes) as a corporate communications coach He is partner to Ashley, dad to Lincoln and Kain - and stepdad to Stanley.
Aya
Saotome
Co-Host, Dancer
Aya is a Movement artist and choreographer working in magical world dance theatre and space design. From the stage, site-specific, film and at home through the art of feng shui. She also loves comedy!
noriko
sato
Co-Host, Creative Team
120% Japanese! I'm high on life! I love BATSU! Please don't tell my parents!
ケーキとバスケットボールとアイスクリームが大好きです!!
Heather
shields
Executive Producer
Heather Shields is a Tony-nominated producer and general manager. Her Broadway producing credits include The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (Tony nomination), A Christmas Carol (record breaking 5 out of 5 Tony wins), Bandstand, and the upcoming My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?). She was also a co-producer on the Off-Broadway hit Puffs! (Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic). She co-founded The Business of Broadway in 2019.
Jack
st. leger
Warrior
Jack St Leger is a queer actor-mover-maker, born in Sheffield to English-South African parents. Jack has moved around his whole life giving him an international viewpoint, cross-cultural links, and attachment issues. Jack is ready to punish and be punished and that’s down to being the son of a priest.
SANJ
SURATI
Warrior, Mr. Wrestler
Known for his piercing eyes, his uncanny wit and his booming charm, Sanj Surati is a stand-up comedian, improviser and actor from London, England. Sanj is officially part of the MCU, is a beat boxer for an improv hip hop crew called Track 96 and is a trustee at the English Touring Theatre.
Joe
tex
Warrior, Production Manager
As an original Warrior, Joe has appeared in hundreds of performances, enduring thousands of painful and ridiculous punishments. Joe serves as the Director of Operations and is a Partner at Face Off Unlimited, as well as being one of the creators of BATSU!. Tex is a voice actor (represented by DDO) who has appeared on TV in a few projects you likely haven't seen, like Brainchild (NETFLIX) and Brain Games (Nat Geo). As a recent cancer survivor, he is simply grateful to be here and is beyond thrilled to bring BATSU! to London! Joe sends his love to his beautiful wife, Linda, and their son, Henry.
Brian
walters
Host, Creative Team
Brian “Bu-chan” Walters is a half Japanese/half American Host/Actor who has been working in Japan and America for 25 years. He’s been hosting BATSU! NYC since 2012. @MrBrianWalters
Sarah
Andre
White
Warrior
Sarah is a Nottingham-born comedy actor and musician. After training at BAFTA-winning The Television Workshop, Sarah's CV boasts projects with Ben Elton, Hatrick, BBC Comedy and extensive drama credits. She joined BATSU! to drink sake and kick ass. And she's just finished her sake.
cameron
wight
Warrior
Cameron is an Actor/Musician who's incredibly excited to be apart of the BATSU! cast, looking to explore improvisation in a fun and engaging way, entertaining audiences as well as getting to know his fellow cast members to really bring these warriors to life.
KELSEY
YUHARA
Co-Host
Kelsey Yuhara is a multi-disciplinary artist working in immersive and site-responsive performance, theatre and improvisation who holds a BA in Theatre from Whitman College and an MA in Site-Specific Performance from Mountview. You may also see her improvising with CSI and Comediasians and concocting various other performance and live events @yuharakn
Lorraine
yu
Co-Host, Dancer, Shinobi
Lorraine Yu is an actor and capoeirista based in Brighton. She has been exploring life outside of Hong Kong since early 2020 and is very, very excited about getting down on the BATSU! stage.