Kaleidoscope Recs: the best theatre made by women and non-binary folk coming up in May/June
At last year’s Sydney Theatre Awards, only one woman was nominated for best director in a field of 10 nominees. She won. She deserved it. But there were a whole host of women not nominated who should have been. Where was Hannah Goodwin? Where was Shari Sebbens? Zindzi Okenyo? Jess Arthur? Paige Rattray?
In Sydney, most of our major institutions have men in artistic directorship positions. But women and gender-diverse creatives are creating bold, exciting new works that continue not to get the recognition they deserve.
So, here’s Lily Hayman’s list of some of that inspiring work, with all of them made by creative teams of all women and gender-diverse artists (click titles for tix):
Party Girl
A big show, about little terrors, Party Girl is set at an upper-class kids' birthday party in Bondi. So yeah… the seventh circle of hell. Exploring family and femininity, and full of original rock songs, Party Girl by Lucy Heffernan is like nothing you’ve seen before.
I first saw this show in 2019, when it was a monologue down in Wollongong. Since then it’s been to Newcastle, where it was a pub gig, and Adelaide Fringe, where it came to its final form and won ‘Best Theatre’ in the Weekly Fringe Awards. Now it’s flown into Sydney, for five nights only (this week!) at KXT. Don’t miss it.
Party Girl plays at KXT on Broadway as part of TAPE OVER from 24 — 28 May
Girl Band
Unlike a few entries on this list, GIRL BAND is not a one-woman show. Anything but, this production was created, designed and performed by a team of 24 women and non-binary artists. That is incredible.
This new play from New Ghosts' exciting IGNITE collective and the National Theatre of Parramatta is a testament to collaboration, and the championing of women-led work. It’s also excellent fun, with the very best and worst of girl bands celebrated and satirised on stage by the ‘Sensation Girls’, exploring what happens to women when they are forced to sacrifice personality for success. Catch it in its last two performances this weekend!
GIRL BAND plays at Riverside Parramatta from 18 — 27 May
Maa Ki Rasoi
We all love our mums. None of us appreciate them enough. The power they hold, and the sacrifices they make. माँ की रसोई (Maa Ki Rasoi - My Mother’s Kitchen) is an attempt to unpack which parts of a mother’s legacy a daughter takes on, and which ones she is hard-wired to reject.
Written and directed by the exciting emerging creative Pratha Nagpal, and featuring a moving performance as both mother and daughter by Madhullikaa Singh, माँ की रसोई will make you yearn for your mum’s home cooking.
माँ की रसोई (Maa Ki Rasoi - My Mother’s Kitchen) plays at KXT on Broadway as part of TAPE OVER from 31 May — 4 June
PONY
Speaking of mums, this gorgeous exploration of motherhood by Eloise Snape at Griffin was a delightfully unexpected night at the theatre. Written, directed, designed, produced and performed by women, and it shows in its nuanced portrayal of femininity.
As a woman unsure if I’m interested in motherhood, PONY pulls apart all the awful parts of pregnancy while still giving space for joy. So often we see motherhood held up on a pedestal as a pure and untouchable experience. PONY is refreshingly honest about how hard, painful and anxiety-inducing it can be, without losing the love.
PONY plays at Griffin Theatre Company from 12 May — 17 June
Come Again
The best theatre is unexpected, and this new show is going to be anything but ordinary. Playwright Alex Tutton has been working on the script for eight years, and like any good crime thriller, the waiting has only made it all the sweeter. Come Again will have a World Premiere at KXT in June, with a creative team of 9 women/non-binary artists bringing the production to life.
It’s a queer story of survival, surveillance and semen perfect for kicking off Pride month. I know it will be amazing.
COME AGAIN plays at KXT on Broadway as part of TAPE OVER from 8 — 17 June
BONUS: Jennifer Coolidge
Now, when I say theatre, I mean theatre here.
Jen Coolidge will be in conversation with Mike White (creator of White Lotus) on stage at The Sydney Opera House on June 10th. My bet is that she breaks out her dolphin character. I am sure it will be unmissable.
You can find Jen the dolphin at the Aware Super Theatre on 10 June
This Kaleidoscope Recs was generously donated by Lily.
Lily Hayman is one of those people who hang around in theatres in any capacity she is allowed to. She is currently working on various projects with Purple Tape Productions and Shopfront Arts, and developing a new concept for Operated Coin. When she's not doing all that, she's usually found watching football with her Dad.
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