Developed and receiving a rave review premiere season during some of Australia’s (and the world’s) most chaotic political times, Gone Girls returns for a limited season at Melbourne’s Gasworks Arts Park from 28 July 2022.
Written and performed by Patrick Livesey and Annabel Larcombe, Gone Girls is a dragged-up, camped-up, and very well-dressed-up ode to Women in Power, bipartisan wine nights, and yes, that speech.
Tearing through the halls of Parliament (and the last decade of Australian politics) Julia Gillard and Julie Bishop are back and teaming up to take down the Patriarchy. The Boys Club better be ready.
Hailed as “a cheeky yet decidedly clever comic take on the two mightiest women of Australian politics in our time” (The Advertiser) and with glowing reviews from previous audience members including Penny Wong’s staff, Gone Girls is the hour of politics you’ve never seen before and always needed.
A fast-paced, quick witted drag-fantasy that works incredibly hard to destroy everything you thought you knew about these two leading ladies of Australian politics.
“I’d wanted to play Julia Gillard for a while so my first conception of the show was that desire,” explains creator Patrick Livesey. “It all stemmed from a deep respect for her and what she had achieved, and an unabashed fury that she wasn’t given proper recognition as being one of our best prime ministers. The underlying catalyst was a desire to right the wrongs.”
“The art of drag is a huge inspiration with the show, in particular that special combination of joy, reverence and tongue-in-cheek-ness that makes it a genuinely thrilling artform.”
“Even though we’re tackling real people and real issues and touching upon some genuinely uncomfortable aspects of our political history, drag helps us keep an eye on what is most important – and that is nothing and everything.”
“We’re making it fun for people. The show also inspired one woman in Adelaide to run for politics. So there’s that!” said Livesey.
Running for six shows only and with multiple four and five star reviews already on the board, Gone Girls is quickly shaping up to be a wildly entertaining, hot ticket season on the Melbourne Arts Calendar. Not to be missed!
Creator: Patrick Livesey | Writers and Performers: Patrick Livesey, Annabel Larcombe | Co-Director: Wil King | Sound Design: Tom Backhaus
Gone Girls
Gasworks Arts Park, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park
Season: 28 July – 6 August 2022
Information and Bookings: www.gasworks.org.au
Image: Annabel Larcombe and Patrick Livesey feature in Gone Girls – photo by Cielo Croci