Whores and Weeping Women

Whores and Weeping Women editorialThe result of several years performing in Shakespeare and Musical Theatre, Whores and Weeping Women explores the archetypes of powerful and successful women across the course of history.

Whores and Weeping Women is an irreverent mash-up of contemporary music and Shakespearean text which follows the weakest of Shakespeare’s heroines to their dramatic demise.

Our contemporary role models are rock stars, but in Shakespeare’s time the Queens were tweeting selfies, just the same.

Find out what happens when Shakespeare’s misfortunate maidens are revealed through the music of Amy Winehouse, Rhianna, Florence + The Machine, and then some….. As Ophelia so deftly put it: “Oh, woe is me, to have seen what I have seen, see what I see…”

Whores and Weeping Women was born from Shakespeare’s famous monologue All The Worlds A Stage (As You Like It) which charts the seven ages of man; the infant, the whining school boy, the lover, the soldier, the justice, the pantaloon, second childishness and mere oblivion.

These roles form the basis of our study of contemporary and historical role models and serve as parables that warn, threaten and disrupt traditional interpretation of gender roles.

Whores and Weeping Women challenges women to rewrite roles available to them, both culturally and theatrically, through a contemporary interpretation of Shakespeare’s heroines.

Carla Kissane is a graduate of the Bachelor of Dramatic Arts (Acting) course at the VCA. Since graduating, she has worked extensively in theatre and music theatre, touring nationally and working with well-known companies Magnormos, Complete Works Theatre Company and the Australian Shakespeare Company, among others.

Director: Andrew Blackman  Writer / Performer: Carla Kissane  Musical Director: Andrew Patterson  Special Guest: Don Bridges  Costumes: Zoë Felice  Photography: triggerpoint photography

Whores and Weeping Women
The Butterfly Club, Carson Place, Melbourne
Season: 19 – 24 November 2013
Bookings: (03) 9663 8107 or online at www.thebutterflyclub.com

For more information, visit: www.thebutterflyclub.com for details.

Image: Carla Kissane