Butterfly Club Presents Return Season of 'Cultural Time Bomb'
Fresh from a debut, sold out season that created buzz for her ability to tackle a very delicate and topical issue, Sharni Page arrives triumphantly at Melbourne's leading cabaret venue The Butterfly Club with her satirical show 'Cultural Time Bomb'.
(PRWEB) April 29, 2007 -- After sold out performances during its debut season, actor and playwright Sharni Page is proud to announce that her daring new satirical cabaret 'Cultural Time Bomb' will be presented at The Butterfly Club for four shows only from 3rd May 2007.
Praised for the bravery of her performance and choice of subject matter, Sharni Page's 'Cultural Time Bomb' raises the issue of rape to pose questions that stir and challenge audiences without "bashing them over the head".
Incorporating new material, Page will again delve deeply into themes of violence against women through three female characters who share their harrowing experiences in a moving, yet uncompromising show.
The Butterfly Club already enjoys a reputation as one of Australia's best 'showcase' venues. This was enhanced further upon its receipt in April 2007 of a prestigious Green Room Award - Victoria's peak performing arts awards - bestowed by the Green Room Association in recognition of their contribution to cabaret.
Set from a woman's point of view, 'Cultural Time Bomb' is a confronting study that dissects and discusses Australian culture, values and beliefs. It explores life changing damage - both physical & psychological - suffered by its characters as a result of gang-rape.
The lives of two modern women are seen through the eyes of Lola - a German cabaret performer in the 1920's. During a journey set in her underground world, audience perception of the show is strongly influenced by Lola's satirical presence.
The eclectic mix of songs from all eras includes Stephen Sondheim, Charles Strouse, Cole Porter to 1920's German composer's Kurt Weill and Frederich Hollander. Rock bands No Doubt and The Tea Party also feature prominently.
Sharni Page says she is intrigued as to how sexual expression between men and women can lead to a violent, traumatic experience.
"I wanted to find out why the expression of human sexuality between women and men becomes blurred to the point where it leads to life-threatening violence", says Sharni Page. "Recent media reports on this subject seem to suggest that communication of sexuality is not only distorted - it is often dangerously misinterpreted."
A graduate of the Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts, Page stresses that while the material in 'Cultural Time Bomb' is shocking and based on fact, it is not presented as an exercise in 'male gender bashing'.
"If anything 'Cultural Time Bomb' asks whether men and women want to be accountable and responsible for their own actions and behaviours rather than use their cultural environment as an excuse", says Page.
High profile court cases in 2006 have highlighted the topic of violence against women as well as attitudes and behaviours within relationships in Australian society. Topical and highly relevant, 'Cultural Time Bomb' is a show that no Australian should miss.
Shows fostered by The Butterfly Club were also nominated in every cabaret category in the Green Room Awards for 2007, including three of the four nominees in the new category 'Emerging Cabaret Artiste'.
"We encourage performers to continue their close association with us to ensure that their shows reach full potential," said co-owner David Read.
Presented by The Butterfly Club at 204 Bank St, South Melbourne nightly at 9pm, 'Cultural Time Bomb' runs from Thursday 3rd May to Sunday 6th May 2007. Tickets at $20-$25 can be booked on (03) 9690 2000 or at the door.
MEDIA
RISKY BUSINESS PAYS OFF IN CABARET
A first solo show tackles some touchy subjects, writes Fiona Scott-Norman.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/risky-business-pays-off-in-cabaret/2007/05/03/1177788265789.html
RAPE AS A CABARET TOPIC?
Hermione Gilchrist of SBS Radio asks Sharni Page what inspired her to make a satirical show out of rape and violence against women.
http://www.radio.sbs.com.au/language.php?news=arts&language=World%20View
BOOKINGS:
'Cultural Time Bomb'
THE BUTTERFLY CLUB
204 Bank St, South Melbourne, 3205
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
(03) 9690 2000 or at the door
9pm Thursday 3rd May to Sunday 6th May 2007
PRICE $20-$25
ABOUT 'CULTURAL TIME BOMB'
Definition of Culture - "the behaviours and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic or age group".
Three women struggle with the aftermath of an unnecessary tragedy. One shared experience. Three different responses.
Lola is a world-weary German cabaret performer in the 1920's. Lola's mentality is: do what you can to get by, be at peace with your lot - that's the way life is. Acting as a conduit for the audience, Lola provides accessibility while guiding them through a very dark narrative.
Through Lola, we meet two contemporary Australian women: Anna and Sam. As a result of unspeakable acts of violence, both are emotionally detached and full of self hate.
Introverted and withdrawn, Anna uses self harm to numb a traumatic and painful memory. Meanwhile Sam has evolved into a predatory huntress - both physically aggressive and manipulative.
Through their eyes the audience is forced to confront an uneasy examination of the extreme events that lead rapists to commit crimes that leave women to deal with tragic consequences.
Topical and highly relevant, 'Cultural Time Bomb' is a show that no Australian should miss.
Lisa Sontag's clever choreography yet again hits the mark, while Nicholas McMahon has created the fabulously unimpressed Herr Klaus Perfect. Amanda Mouellic has again utilised her many theatrical directing skills to ensure a cabaret that is more like a play with music than the cliché cabaret that many of us have experienced in the past. 'Cultural Time Bomb' created great buzz during its debut season for its ability to tackle a very delicate and topical issue. Many audience members were moved to comment on Sharni Page's performance and choice of subject matter as "very brave". You decide!
An eclectic mix of songs from all eras will appeal to a wide range of people. From Broadway tunes of Stephen Sondheim and Charles Strouse to 1920's Germany courtesy of Kurt Weill and Frederich Hollander to Cole Porter's sophisticated and sometimes ribald lyrics.
The infectious ska-pop sound of No Doubt and psychedelic rock and blues of The Tea Party also feature prominently.
ABOUT SHARNI PAGE
It was as 'Lucy' in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe at age 12 when Sharni's eyes were opened to the world of performing. Diverging slightly to complete a BA in Psychology and Media, Sharni then moved to Perth to complete a BA in Musical Theatre at WAAPA in 2000. Stage credits include, 'Laura' in D'osostias, (Parallelo productions), 'Zoe' in The Gates, (MTC), 'Fougere' in The Four Twins (VCA Director's Season), 'Hermia' in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Australian Shakespeare Company), touring Australia playing trumpet and performing as the kit kat girl 'Lulu', in the Sam Mendes production of Cabaret (IMG/Fran & Barry Weissler), of which she won a Green Room award for Best Ensemble. 'Irma Leopold' in Picnic at Hanging Rock (Lux Radio Theatre), 'Lucy' in Scratching for Answers (Knockabaout Theatre), Penny Machinations (Fringe Festival 2006) and winner of most special event 2005, Camelot and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (The Production Company).
Screen credits include 'Olivia' in Blue Heelers (Channel 7), 'Alison' in Big Reef (Beyond Simpson Le Mesurier/Channel 9), as well as the feature film Emulsion and the short films The Interview (2004), Love on a Roll (2001), and Clerks (2000), not to mention dabbling in a few commercials for Coles, Holden, and McCains. Sharni has also been involved in the development of two new musicals: Dreaming the Pink Dingo (Homemade Musicals) and The Wild Blue (Homemade Musicals) as well as the new screenplay Be Near Me (Screenplay).
Sharni's writing credits include: Web of Life (a play with music), Cultural Time Bomb (cabaret), and Don't Give Up Your Day Job (a 10 minute play - Short & Sweet festival, Melbourne 2005 & Sydney 2006).
KAM
Kuber Auckland Management
Brisbane
Ph: + 61 7 3368 1700
Fax: + 61 7 3368 1711
Email: Brisbane AT KublerAuckland.com
Sydney
Ph: + 61 2 9362 8700
Fax: + 61 2 9362 8711
Email: Sydney AT KublerAuckland.com
ABOUT THE BUTTERFLY CLUB
The Butterfly Club enjoys a reputation as one of Australia's best 'showcase' venues and in April 2007 it won an award by the Green Room Association in recognition of their contribution to cabaret.
Co-owners David Read and Neville Sice said "We encourage performers to continue their close association with us to ensure that their shows reach full potential."
"We are increasingly looking beyond our venue to ensure that the talents of our performers are seen by the widest possible audience. Our touring arm - On the Wing Touring - will be on the road for at least eight weeks this year, nationally and overseas, with shows selected from our program, and our performance offerings are watched carefully by major festivals and venues around Australia who are looking to book quality cabaret acts," David Read said.
"This positions us strongly as the venue of preference for performers seeking to launch new shows and aspiring to reach audiences around the country and internationally."
Neville said The Butterfly Club works now consistently launches more than 100 new shows every year, up from 30 two years ago - each week presenting up to three different cabaret shows nightly and staging more than 500 performances every year.
Each year, The Butterfly Club participates in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival and Midsumma Festival, with its shows often comprising up to 50% of the cabaret offerings in these events. Resident performances staged at The Butterfly Club have received many festival awards in the past four years.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharni Page
Singer, Actor, Playwright, Voiceover Artist
M: 0417 017 097
e: sharni ATsharnipage.com
W: www.sharnipage.com
Sean McIntyre
Wise Words Media
Media and Communications Solutions
ABN 60 363 406 503
M: 0011 61 0413 397 441
e: sean.mcintyre AT wisewords.com.au
W: www.myspace.com/wisewordsmedia
###
See the original story at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/04/prweb522361.htm
|
