By Noa Glow | January 2012

Sara Bynoe is one funny lady—and she thinks you are, too. As the mastermind behind Teen Angst Night, the 31-year-old writer, actor, singer, performer and producer, who also acts as den mom for the local chapter of Dance Dance Party Party (see “Fit City” in this issue), believes that “somewhere in the back of your closet gathering dust and turning yellow with age is comedic gold.”

Bynoe’s been hosting Teen Angst Night—an open mic series where everyday people read from their embarrassing old journals, recite poetry they penned after their first breakup and share their Grade 10 expository essays—since 2000 (figures; she’s also the editor of teenangstpoetry.com and blog-to-book Teen Angst: A Celebration of REALLY BAD Poetry).

“Those old journals, poems and essays you wrote as a teenager when you thought you could do no wrong would probably make you cringe at your former feelings if you were to read them today,” she says. “Now, imagine sharing them in front of an audience. That’s exactly what happens at Teen Angst.”

Continuing on her mission to “bring a little fun to Vancouver,” Bynoe also hosts Say Wha?! Readings of Deliciously Rotten Writing, which is sort of akin to a “bad-book club.” She was inspired to create the monthly show after reading a bad novel in a U.K. hostel that ended up providing hours of entertainment for her friends.

“Have you ever read a poorly written novel and thought to yourself, ‘Who publishes this crap?’ Or come across a hilariously out-of-date self-help book in a thrift store? Well, that’s what Say Wha?! is all about,” she explains. “We like to call it ‘Verbatim Comedy,’ because you can’t make this sh#t up!”

For dates, locations and details on how you can perform at either show, visit sarabynoe.com.