My Stories, Your Emails (2010) program

MALTHOUSE THEATRE PRESENTS

MY STORIES YOUR EMAILS CREATED AND PERFORMED BY URSULA MARTINEZ BECKETT THEATRE 23 MARCH - 3 APRIL 2010

PRESENTS

MY STORIES YOUR EMAILS CREATOR AND PERFORMER URSULA MARTINEZ DIRECTOR MARK WHITELAW PRODUCTION MANAGER CHRIS COPLAND BECKETT THEATRE, CUB MALTHOUSE 23 MARCH - 3 APRIL 2010 ORIGINALLY COMMISSIONED BY BARBICANBITE10, LONDON AND QUEER UP NORTH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, MANCHESTER WARNING: MAY CONTAIN REALLY BORING NUDITY

A NOTE FROM URSULA MARTINEZ

In August 2006, my infamous magic striptease act ended up on the internet without my consent. Since then, I have received thousands of emails from fans all over the world.

Some of the emails are utterly charming, others are misguided and delusional, placing me on a sexual pedestal and stripping me of my ordinariness as a human being.

My Stories Your Emails is partly about the disparity between how I perceive myself and the world around me, and how the world perceives the iconised internet ‘celebrity’ Ursula Martinez.

However, I would argue that the show is hardly about me at all. It is really an exploration and celebration of people, ordinary lives and everyday interaction. It is about how we construct our identities by the stories and anecdotes we choose to remember. It is about how we judge others and come to conclusions about them from limited information (for example a Facebook profile or a lonely hearts ad). Through both the stories and the emails, the show touches on a number of contemporary and timeless issues such as sex, loneliness, relationships, prejudice, human failure, families, miscommunication... It is also about how the internet can totally mess with people’s grasp on reality!

I would like to thank: Genevieve Closuit, Simon Casson, Hugo Glendinning, Jonathan Best, Toni Racklin, Stephen Armstrong, my family, Arthur, Mila and Monica, and all the strangers who sent me extraordinary emails.

URSULA MARTINEZ PERFORMER

Ursula Martinez studied French and Theatre at Lancaster University and began her career in contemporary theatre, working with experimental companies such as Insomniac Productions, The Glee Club and Forced Entertainment. In the mid 90’s she started performing solo on the London club/cabaret circuit, quickly making a name for herself.

A few years later Martinez combined her experimental theatre background with her cabaret experience. Working with collaborator Mark Whitelaw she produced A Family Outing, which was a huge success at the 1998 Edinburgh Festival. Two years later Martinez and Whitelaw created Show Off, followed by OAP. Together with A Family Outing these three shows completed a trilogy of work entitled Me Me Me! which Martinez presented at The Barbican as part of B.I.T.E 06. Her last theatre show Office Party was a collaboration with writer/comedian Christopher Green and premiered at The Barbican in December 2007.

Martinez is an associate artist with Duckie, with whom she co-created the smash-hit Olivier Award winning show C’est Duckie!

She is also an original cast member of the internationally acclaimed Olivier Award winning circus/variety phenomena La Clique.

MARK WHITELAW DIRECTOR

Mark Whitelaw is a writer, director, and dramaturge. He graduated in Theatre from Crewe and Alsager College in 1987 with a first class honors degree. He then formed The Glee Club Performance Company with whom he created 14 national and international touring shows. As well as his work with The Glee Club, Mark has collaborated with numerous international theatre companies, dance companies and solo artists, including Peter Zegveld (Holland), Mem Morrison, The People Show, Norddans (Sweden), Bedlam Dance Company, H2 Dance, Penny Collinson & Company, Shamshad Khan, New Art Club, Little Wonder and most recently Lip Service. He has also directed several projects for Duckie, including the international awardwinning C’est Duckie!

SPECIAL FREE EVENT IN CONVERSATION: URSULA MARTINEZ AND KATE CRAWFORD Presented by Malthouse Theatre for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with generous support from the British Council.

Thursday, April 1 at 6pm, Beckett Theatre, the CUB Malthouse.

Ursula Martinez will co-present a discussion around the themes of this work with Dr. Kate Crawford, Associate Professor based in the Journalism and Media Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. Kate specialises in the cultural implications of new social media platforms, particularly the internet and mobile phones, and her research interests include contemporary art practice and the intersection between arts and technology.

PLEASE NOTE: Places are subject to availability. RSVP essential. Email: RSVP@malthousetheatre.com.au

Image credit: Cover: Ursula Martinez on YouTube (screen captures). This page: Photographer Hugo Glendinning. Pictured Ursula Martinez

MALTHOUSE THEATRE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES ITS SUPPORTERS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MICHAEL KANTOR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER STEPHEN ARMSTRONG INTERIM BUSINESS MANAGER EMMA CALVERLEY MALTHOUSE THEATRE at the CUB Malthouse 113 Sturt Street Southbank VIC 3006 Box Office +61 3 9685 5111 Administration +61 3 9685 5100 Facsimile +61 3 9685 5112 Email admin@malthousetheatre.com.au Web www.malthousetheatre.com.au

PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT PARTNERS MALTHOUSE THEATRE IS SUPPORTED

BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE AUSTRALIA COUNCIL, ITS ARTS FUNDING AND ADVISORY BODY.

MAJOR PARTNER