Born out of the online project with the same name, Depths of Wikipedia is the show where Annie Rauwerda tells many, many jokes in the span of an hour. Structured around a fast-paced PowerPoint about incidentally funny corners of Wikipedia, the humour is quick, effective and fresh.
While the jokes might be familiar to those who are followers of the existing Depths of Wikipedia project, it is Rauwerda’s anecdotes of existing within and engaging with members of the Wikipedia community that take the show to a whole new level. She tells us about some of Wikipedia’s most devoted editors (including some who have gotten married!) and the hard-fought battles over seemingly minor details on various Wikipedia entries. It reveals the delightfully human underbelly of a seemingly objective and clinical online encyclopedia.
Rauwerda is incredibly funny. Her comedic timing is impeccable, and her passion for her projects—Wikipedia or otherwise—is evident through every moment of her set. Through personal stories, obscure Wikipedia entries, and a brief section of audience participation, the show reveals that there are more Wikipedia editors around us than we think!
Depths of WIkipedia is hilarious and charming but, above all, incredibly earnest in its celebration of a very human project. As we hear how passionately some Wikipedia editors will fight over the inclusion (or exclusion) of pictures of dogs wearing hats on a page about dog fashion, we are also inadvertently learning of the anonymous network that keeps the site working.
We leave with a newfound sense of admiration for Wikipedia, as well as for human passion and obsession. On the English side of Wikipedia alone, there are more than 7.2m independent articles. There are 348 languages on Wikipedia, and these are communities that all exist independently.
Of course, we also leave having spent an enjoyable hour of never-ending laughter. The fact that a seemingly mundane encyclopedia could be hiding such delightful jokes in plain sight is a brilliant premise for a show and well executed by Rauwerda.
Depths of Wikipedia is running until 30 August at Cowbarn at Underbelly Bristo Square. Buy tickets here.
Image by Bryan Berlin, provided for press use.
