Ripping at the seams of the Union Jack with perfectly manicured nails, What’s Yours Is Mine explores ownership and ‘Australian’ values with a high camp and indulgent aesthetic – at The Butterfly Club as part of the 2016 Poppy Seed Theatre Festival from 23 November.
How much am I worth? What would you do for all my possessions? Am I the sum of all my worldly goods? What’s mine can be yours – as long as it’s not my Thermomix (the original of course).
Taking inspiration from Chekhov’s The Proposal, Hotel Now’s What’s Yours Is Mine excavates excess through centuries of pop culture: Antiques Roadshow, Pauline Hanson, The Bachelor and Ken Done. The Australian dream in 2016 seems a little bit closer to a closet full of Gorman clogs than a hard working man in a pair of thongs.
Director Yvonne Virsik explains that ownership is inescapably woven into the Australian psyche: “We’re raised with the idea that we are all entitled to, and should all be striving for, our own property, our own land, our own marriage, children, white goods and diverse range of footwear. These perceived pillars of success form an integral part of our national identity.”
“We’re encouraged to claim things, brand them as inextricably our own and emblazon them on as many digital platforms as we can manage,” says Virsik.
Established in 2013, Hotel Now is an emerging company with a reputation for immersive, challenging and gloriously entertaining works with a mission to leave an impact through an absurd lens.
Director: Yvonne Virsik Performers / Devisors: Hayden Burke, Simone French, Tom Halls Production Designer: Owen Phillips Stage Manager: Rikki-Lee Butinar Producer: Anastasia Ryan
What’s Yours is Mine
The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Lane, Melbourne
Season: 23 November – 4 December 2016
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
For more information, visit: www.poppyseedfestival.com for details.
Image: What’s Yours is Mine – photo by Jules Tahan