What Did She Think?

What: KillJoy - Destroy The Fantasy When: 24 January - 3 February 2018 Where: Melba Spiegeltent Created by: Mahla Bird, Amy Broomstick, and Cat Scobie Directed by: Maude Davey Performed by: Mahla Bird, Amy Broomstick, Rin McCardle, Zak Pidd, Cat Scobie, and Jade Stevens Cat Scobie, Mahla Bird and Amy Broomstick - photo by Kira Puru Ladies, this is our time. We are no longer sitting in the kitchen ironing whilst the big strong men are out earning our keep. We are taking up our space in the community - the whole community. So why the heck are shows like KillJoy - Destroy the Fantasy still considered Fringe? In the iconic tradition of artists such as Finucane & Smith, KillJoy is a trio of smart, sexy, talented people who deny a binary existence and are loud and proud about it.  They have a vision for tomorrow and it is a vision of freedom for all humanity. The catch? You have to tear up the old notions, systems and establishments to bring in the new. I find it intri

What: Bent Bollywood When: 25 January - 3 February 2018 Where: Brunswick Mechanics Institute Choreographed and performed by: Raina Peterson and Govind Pillai Sound by: Adrian van Raay Govind Pillai and Raina Peterson In 2015 I was honoured to witness a glorious demonstration of classical Indian dance at the Footscray Arts Centre called In Plain Sanskrit. At the time I was mesmerised as Raina Peterson, Govind Pillai and a Carnatic orchestra introduced me to the ideas, techniques, and beauty of the traditional dance forms of Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam. Little did I know less than three years later I would be once again enchanted and inspired by these two magical performers as they combine their honour of tradition whilst breaking down the tropes to be reinterpreted in a new world in Bent Bollywood . Performed as part of Midsumma Festival and in the wake of the plebiscite and all that has followed, these two amazing artists bring us the apt and essential reintroduction

What: Twelfth Night When 18 - 28 January 2018 Where: Fairfield Amphitheatre Written by: William Shakespeare Directed by: Jack Wilkinson Performed by: Jack Hawkins, Vincent Kos, Grace Maddern, Laura Majzoub, Jake Matricardi, Jacob Mills, Tim Ian McMullin, Joel Norman-Hade, Madeline Pratt, Sean Sully, and Chloe Towan. Masks by: Tessa Wallis Madeline Pratt, Laura Majzoub, and Joel Norman-Hade - photo by Matthew Howat The first time I ever saw Twelfth Night it was in an amphitheatre in Perth on a glorious summer evening. To this day I still remember it as one of the best shows I have ever seen. You can imagine how delighted and excited I was to be invited to the same show in another amphitheatre on a rare hot and glorious evening in Melbourne. I wasn't disappointed. I love Twelfth Night . It is my favourite Shakespeare comedy and people don't perform it nearly often enough. Add to this, Commedia dell'Arte and I was in an ecstasy of theatre perfection. Finally, i