amy jane stephenson

If you happen to be in Canberra later this month (21st Nov), here’s an event you simply must attend. An array of entertainment; live music, butoh performers, the unveiling of new fashion and dancing, not to mention the amazing outfits some people wear.

There is another reason though, it’s raising funds to tour the show Six Women Standing in Front of a White Wall around Australia. I was lucky enough to perform in this performance installation at the Edinburgh International Festival, and I have seen the kind of impact it has on audiences. It must tour Australia, it carries such an beautiful message. Fly to Canberra if you must!

I’m currently performing in Polyglot Puppet Theatre’s show titled The Big Game. It’s a huge interactive board game designed for kids of all ages to get in on the action. It begins with a 30 minute performance followed by interactive play, where the children are able to get up close to the characters and challenge each other to win the game.

The Big Game has been made in collaboration with children from the Carlton high rise commission flats in Melbourne and has their creative ideas and images throughout the whole concept. It’s a fantastic show, with beautifully composed live music adding to the atmosphere.

The Age have an article about the show which can be viewed by clicking here.

It’s running until the October 26th if you want to catch the show…even better if you can’t find a babysitter.

As always with the Fringe Festival there are some shows which are little gems. Isabel Hertaeg’s cabaret all about sex is a shiny red one. Her fusion of vocal skills and comic actions are supported by extensive research into the subject matter which varies from painful love scenarios to vibrators powered by steam engines.

La Petite Mort kept me smiling and blushing throughout the piece and is the perfect night out for some pure naughty entertainment. It’s on until the October 12th at the Northcote Town Hall for those of you in Melbourne. Or check out her website: http://www.myspace.com/lapetitemorttheorgasm

Melbourne Theatre Company are currently showing this suitable, Australian play at the Fairfax Studio. It showcases the talents of just two actors, who are onstage for the entire 90 minute piece (an astounding effort).

As the round stage creeps slowly on its axis, we are drawn into the trials of long-term love with all the arguments, memories and lustful touching. We watch in all its sadness how relationships can breakdown and with it, all emotional barriers. But as we find out, this raw bearing of ones soul can lead to one fleeing from the other despite deeply caring for them.

I describe this as a ’suitable’ play, because love is something we all crave understanding and insight into. Let the stage be a place to explore and expose love in all its beauty and betrayal.