"Who's that chik?"

We’re coming to the Melbourne Fringe

candybo — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:53:25 +0000

The south side of Australia is going to get some love in September, ‘Who’s That Chik?’ is playing the Fringe Festival. We have a fancy new flyer, check it out.

Download the Melbourne Fringe Flyer PDF

Theatre Audiences Vs Hip-Hop Theatre

candybo — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:24:01 +0000

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.

Candy B, Creative Sydney Catalyst

candybo — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:56:26 +0000

Creative Sydney is a festival celebrating the wealth and diversity of the city’s creative talents from May 27- June 12. In its inaugural year, Creative Sydney will feature a provocative talks program and event series at the Museum of Contemporary Art and The Roxy, Paramatta, as well as the launch of Creative Catalysts – a list of Sydney’s creative pioneers.

So it seems that I’ve been selected to accelerate the creative chemical soup which is the Sydney arts scence. I can’t wait. More details on the Creative Sydney website.

Oh No They Didn’t!

candybo — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:36:49 +0000

It’s nothing new that newspapers be frontin’ yo, but does the SM-Hate really want this beef? Look, you got soldiers, we got soldiers… why you want to hate on playa?

Some times you just gotta brush that ish off. I guess they got one thing right:

the soundtrack [...] is busy and inventive and the Dizee Rascal-style Blasian [...] is a hit

Daily Telegraph Article

candybo — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:39:59 +0000

Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph (Sydney tabloid) had a review of the show. You can download the full article as a PDF.

“The sassy performer who opens her one-woman show at the Old Fitzroy Theatre this week has been one half of hip-hop duo Sista She, playing for a decade to adoring crowds from venues such as the Sydney Opera House and Big Day Out to the Edinburgh Fringe Festivay.”

I love it when the Daily Telegraph uses “sassy” in their reviews.

“Who’s That Chik?” New Trailer!

laurascrivano — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:14:02 +0000

Check it out…get excited…we open this week!!

Thanks to PreviewPlay for the trailer.

Southern Courier Article

candybo — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:53:47 +0000

There’s a new article about the show in the Southern Courier’s Central Magazine. We’ve got a PDF of the article if you’d like the full lowdown.

1 + 3 VIP Ticket deal

candybo — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:10:39 +0000

So usually VIP tickets are given to the media and “important” theatre industry types but for this show we want to do something a little different. I am looking for patrons to buy a ticket for themselves and 3 tickets for young people who might not otherwise get a chance to see my show… that’s 1 ticket for you and 3 for the kids. Total cost $100.

I am currently working as the Youth Engagement Officer for Powerhouse Youth Theatre in Fairfield and connecting with young people across the West (including Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Campbelltown). I want to get 60 kids into the show (that’s just one full house). That means we need 20 patrons!

Maybe you’re an organisation, a business or just someone who has some spare Kevin money but we need your help. Each patron will be featured on the website (unless you don’t want to be) and receive a special thank you poster signed by the cast and crew.

To become a patron get in touch with our Producer, Saskia:

mobile 0400 534 362
email heyladyproductions@gmail.com

Interculturalism and Creativity in 21C

candybo — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:26:31 +0000

Last year the British Council released a report titled Interculturalism and Creativity in the 21st Century. It’s an interesting look at where are and cultural and religious diversity intersect in modern cities.

This will be the century of the city. For the first time, over half the world’s population now live in cities. In East Asia alone, the World Bank estimates that another 2,000,000 people are living in cities every month. This presents a big challenge for policy-makers and urban dwellers everywhere. Put simply: how do we ensure that our cities develop into diverse, creative and entrepreneurial environments where global citizens can thrive

Here’s a link to the PDF report.

I Rise

laurascrivano — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:17:14 +0000

Maya Angelou is an American autobiographer and poet. She’s an amazing writer and an inspiration for artists everywhere. Her poem I RISE is after the jump.

I RISE

by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise