Theatre Audiences Vs Hip-Hop Theatre
I have been on stage from Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 5pm since May 5th 2009, performing my self-written, autobiographical, solo hip hop theatre piece. It has been a very personal journey on this show, more than most of the other work I have done, which kind of makes sense right? Autobiographical, solo show… it’s going to be personal no matter how what. But something which I’ve really been noticing is the way my experience changes depending on the nightly makeup of the audience. Now I love everyone who supports independent theatre so these thoughts are coming from a special part of my heart but I need to be plain-speaking about these issues, so here goes…
Thought No. 1: The make up of people in my audiences changes my experience of performing the show.
The shows where it was all industry types, like opening night and the first week of stuff were really difficult. The nights that there have been family and other Artists from culturally diverse backgrounds it’s been a breeze- really fun and easy to pitch. There are a few different reasons for this that l can see: the first is that the show is written by a woman of colour for people of colour. The second is that the Sydney theatre scene is relatively white. So lets put this into an equation to break it down.
Me = Woman of colour.
My show = Written for an audience of colour.
The theatre industry that my show is part of = kinda white (by which I mean totally white with some exceptions)
Is this about Race? Yes, absolutely. But before any white, Sydney theatre-goers get offended (and remember, all my audience have a special place in my heart!) I want to say this isn’t about a disgruntled writer/director/actor, this is about my relationship with the audiences and what I’ve been experiencing.
Thought No. 2: White audiences are the outsiders in my show.
Hip-Hop music, South African culture, Lionel Richie and South Africa are my references – this means that the references, the music, the interaction the very form (not to mention the content) are new and not well understood. As a person of colour in Aussie land you always feel different and if you want to create anything on stage, print or screen there is a real pressure to ensure that the dominant culture will understand it. I think I’m reacting against that with this show. I’m exploring how to develop a show from my own perspective without being concerned about how a typical theatre audience might interpret it. As far as I’m concerned that is what independent theatre is great for… exploring new ideas and forms. I am interested in creativity, authenticity and telling my story without conforming in any way. I am not interested in sneaking around topics or sugar coating ideas in order for them to be easily digestible.
Thought No. 3: Audiences can have 2 out of 3 attributes.
Back to some math… there have been three types of audience members for me:
- those who love me and have an understanding of my experience (I love you guys!)
- those who love me but have little understanding of my experience (I love you guys too!)
- those who don’t love me and have little understanding of my experience (I even love you guys! You support new theatre, you’re awesome!)
It is very hard to perform my show to audiences that have no relationship to hip-hop culture or black culture in general (however you want to define that). A big part of my show is about making a political argument about the inherent white privilege which is part of Australia’s cultural industries, so audiences who disagree with me on that point might struggle with major parts of the production. The show is very political and very personal, it’s about race and culture but also acting-school and Lionel Richie… and it’s meant to be funny! What prompted these thoughts was the really different experiences I’ve had performing and how I think my audience had been interpreting it. More thoughts to come later so stay tuned.
Dear Candy and Sydney theatre-goers
Firstly, thank you so much for a touching, entertaining and funny night of ‘colour’. Secondly, thank you for stepping out of the comfort zone and speaking out publicly about the problems surrounding our ‘Aussie BBQ Style’ entertainment industry.
After singing, dancing and sharing your dreams and your personal experiences and thoughts, I agree – the Australian performance industries both emerging and professional, especially for artists (actors, musicians, producers and writers) should be evaluated and analysed and must be improved dramatically. It is slowly like an old granny walking with a bad back moving at a snails pace, I agree… “This is 2009, Dogs!!!” things need to change NOW!!!…’ says the American down the road…lol
Deeply understand your show and you’re beautifully written Hip ‘Hope’ lyrics for Australian performance industries. Cultural Diversity in Television, Stage and Radio should and must be represented. I do not want my nephews and nieces still feeling like they can not or will not be able to be actors or musicians when they are young or older. I know I sure did and still do feel that way. It’s sad but true Australia is sooo way behind and even then; we shouldn’t have to say that and give that as an excuse. Were all humans and have the same colour blood, we all also have big dreams and ambitions to do well in whatever passions we have. And to be excluded in opportunities within your chosen vocation because you do not fit the visual mould/or have a certain whiteness about you, is plain bland racism.
This message is a thank you letter to Candy for all her hard work and devotion to her passions. This message is also my little thought that I would like to share and hopefully my opinions do not get misunderstood. I love Australia and am Australian even if I have Chinese eyes and skinny legs, I am still Australian. I also love all the opportunities it has allowed me to have. But I also think Australia could do more, like include cultural diversity in the faces of Australians on television, through honest and fair casting.
Hip Hop theatre Rocks!!!
“I’m Australian, no really i am”
Well said NellyO.
Candy – your show was completely touching and ridiculously inspiring to me on soooo many levels!!!!
As an actor and singer of colour in Australia – I felt like you were telling my story!!! The way you shared your life through song and dance and rhyme and theatrics – I felt like I was watching my own life unfolding on the stage. I have even heard some of the exact same things you had heard whilst trying to pave your way in the entertainment industry!!!!
I felt a sea of emotions watching your show.
Relief, Pride, Humility and Wonder to name a few. But the best feeling I had was that of finally being understood – that I was not alone in what I had experienced – that someone else was also on a similar journey!!!
I love our country and it’s people, and I love the theatre and I love the Arts and I love Hip-Hop and dance as much as I love good old ROCK!!! All these things combined are a part of who I am and how I grew up – in this beautiful country that I was blessed to find myself in from the age of six.
What you have done here is given us a voice and a hope for a future where we have a solid place in the Arts in our own country – and not just in a token cliched box somwhere off to the side.
Thankyou for your courage!
Thankyou for your story – and for your willingness and openness to share it with us all!
It was a brilliant show!
Cheers,
SHEILZ!
I would love to congratulate Candy on the birth of her baby – Who’s That Chick? is a massive achievement.
Coming from what might be described as the dominant cultural paradigm certainly affects my experience of all theatre, and I was probably more aware of this when watching Who’s That Chik? The parts of the performance I loved the most were the narrative pieces – and I think this reflects my cultural paradigm. I particularly loved Lynne Bowers’ story(ies).
Hip Hop Theatre is new to me and it was a great experience. I look forward to supporting new and creative types of theatre. Best wishes to Candy and to all those who continue to challenge the dominant cultural paradigm, especially through (and in response to) theatre in Australia.
Congradulations Candy. The Performance was brilliant. Being a performer myself, i enjoyed every moment of it and keeping an audience on there toes for an hour all by yourself, RESPECT SISTA. I’m byracial if thats how you say it when one of your parents are white and the other coloured, I’m blessed to see both sides of life. Watching the performance gave me a stronger respect and pride for my coloured side. I know with no shadow of a doubt has that performance showed Australian audience and theater goers about culture, colour and hip-hop. I may be a whole lot younger than some of the friends, family and people who comment on here, but I understand the world pretty well and what happened in the past. The future will change and your going to be part of that change Candy! All my love, your family!!
Wow i can so relate to wat Nelly0 what he said well actually i cant im a full true blue white Australian yet i still find it hard to make it in the entertainment Industry i dont know i guess cause im black? or white ?
Rick James Beeeeeeeeeatch
hi candy!
Who’s That Chik? is SO important. Its everything people living in Australia miss out on in school, on tv, in print, etc.
you clearly demonstrate how whitewashed Australian media really is (= often really REALLY boring and fake, cos there are other things going on here!!!!)
Who’s That Chik? is compelling and emotional, i was watching your show in that state of almost-gonna-cry-lump-in-throat + feeling totally uplifted and inspired and in awe of yr skills, yr smarts and HOW MUCH YOU KNOW.
its like you broke it down, you’ve made it easy to see exactly what is going on in Australia’s stages, pages and screens, and it doesn’t make sense, and its outdated and WEIRD and bland and racist.
all of my friends all over Australia want to see Who’s That Chik because Candy, you are powerful and true and it all makes sense and you GLOW out of the blandness and the lies.
Off Topic
Thought Maxine Mckews last response to you was disingenuous in the least, politically expedient in the middle but more then likely xenophobic in the extreme. On the one hand::::: I am Woman, on the other I am white woman so I dunno what the f ya talking about.. Fucking weird….
Please add video and audio to this site; of as many people that you collaborate with as possible especially the serbian lady.. Please do not use myspace, wordpress, youtube italk facebook blah fucking blah as all this does is continue the suppression of art/life to corporate media…. I dunno I say the last bit all the time create ya own website I can help do it (I’m good with drupal – mysql php apache and a kidney) but not even me kidneys care tis all about being popular…
The dog theatre http://artzmedia.net/ should not be left on a geocities site to be lost I dunno the answer but it’s like when they kicked the guys out of the studio next to the river it’s all money and footscray was shit once these people made it what it was and were then discarded…
Ahhh the insanity of my life is shining through my point is we can create a voice on the net for the western suburbs a shining mading one.. But I’m madding in
Candy I love your work and always have. I appreciate the candidness of your blog entry and hope it continues. However, it’s important to understand that a) many non-ppl of colour actually DO relate to your work, on a number of levels (diversity is not just along race lines: it includes gender, ethnicity, class, and sexuality); and b) that there are many of us working toward increasing diversity in the arts in Australia, from a multitude of communities. The value of your work being created for audiences of colour has deep value for ALL Aussies – please don’t just play to the ‘converted’ in the long frustrating struggle to create work that matters.