WELCOME TO COUCH STORIES!

What are Couch Stories?
Couch Stories are personal, real-life experiences recounted on stage without notes or props - ​good old-fashioned storytelling by great local storytellers. The shows lie somewhere between improvisational theatre, ​stand-up comedy, drama and documentary. ​   
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Always engaging, Couch Stories can also be humorous and touching. Some are even enlightening. 

                 Listen to Jo on RNZ/Culture 101 in 2023
​Pictured, left to right, Jo Firestone and Ro Cambridge, creators, producers and co-hosts from 2012 to 2019. In 2021, John Pinel teamed up with Jo to co-produce and co-host. (See "Tales of a Pandemic" 2021 for photos and stories from Jo and John.)
CLICK & LISTEN TO A STORY RECORDED ​LIVE AT ONE OF THESE COUCH STORIES SHOWS:
AFTER HOURS 
Stories include the adventures of an indiscreet crocheted tea-cosy, a rookie cop on night patrol in Wellington, a Russian policeman meets the Haka and the dramatic adventures undertaken to stop the French nuclear testing.
ANYTHING GOES 
Celebrating Couch Stories sixth year, and a move to the Mainstage at the Nelson Arts Festival, this show features some of our best storytellers taking the stage again to tell a brand new story.
GAMECHANGERS
This show was part of the Inspire Festival and all of the storytellers were scientists. Game-changer stories included a tale of failed consommé, a challenging Microsoft Convention and the career significance of a childhood move from Berkeley to Salt Lake City. 
ENCOUNTERS
Stories of encounters with animals, including a bull elephant in Africa, a python riding the London underground and a cute looking little penguin which turned into an absolute fiend. 
HEAVY PETTING
Stories about pet animals, pet projects and pet peeves included tales about exhuming a cat, cannabis on Kangaroo Island, counting black bears and the challenge of "one size fits all". 
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​CALL OF THE WILD
Appropriately enough, this show took place in the great outdoors, amongst the caravans and tents at the Tahuna Beach Holiday Camp . Presented in association with The Collective Memories Project , the show featured stories about pup tent romance, what happens when you eat too many cherries, holidaying on an airstrip in the Australian outback and the challenges of climbing in Yosemite’.
CROSSROADS
Stories about significant life choices. Includes becoming a nude model, being the opening act for Boney M and living with a zoom gene to finding contentment.