2020 will be my feature length directing debut, and I couldn’t be more excited about this one. I get to work with my professional crushes Keziah Warner and Roshelle Fong! (some of you might know that I’ve worked with Keziah previously on a creative development called MEAT with Lara Kerestes where Keziah was a dramaturg).
POONA
Presented in association with the Chinese Museum as part of Next Wave Festival
Welcome to the Republic of Australia, 2050. The country is witnessing one of the tightest presidential runs in history, with one-time underdog, independent party candidate Poona Li Hung, now an unlikely frontrunner.
In 1997, the controversial book, Pauline Hanson: The Truth imagined Australia in the year 2050, run by Poona, a “lesbian… of Indian and Chinese background” and… a cyborg. Multidisciplinary artist Roshelle Fong and playwright Keziah Warner bring Poona to life in this necessary and timely immersive theatre work.
As a Poona campaign staffer on election night, it’s time to help your candidate prepare for the result, whichever way it goes. Fasten your ‘Vote Poona’ badge, collect that last-minute polling data, and brace yourself – will Australia’s new President be the hero we’ve all been waiting for?
Content Warnings
This production contains theatrical haze effects, dynamic sound and lighting. It also contains mature themes and some coarse language.
Mature themes: themes relating to abuse of power and privilege, themes of racism and references to racism and references to oppression.
During the performance, audience members will be offered canapes. Audience members do not need to consume the food on offer, and actors will endeavour to facilitate communication with audiences around dietary requirement during the course of the performance.
