Co-produced by Force Majeure and NIDA Created by Eliza Scott and Danielle Micich Directed by Danielle Micich NIDA Theatres, Space 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 31st, October 8.00pm 29th, October, 1.00pm 1st, November, 1.00pm 2nd, November 8.00pm Running Time: 70 mins, no interval An IT worker, a killer whale and Arnold Schwarzenegger walk into a chat room. IT worker Luke encounters a glitch he can’t explain. It gives him this feeling – like when the kid touches E.T.’s finger – what’s that feeling called? The glitch opens Luke’s world into Reddit threads and wormholes and drives him into an impossible transformation. Through live performance, video installation and sound, Eugene explores the power of expressing who you are – be it online, AFK or in those inexplicable moments like when that word is on the tip of your tongue – and then the rush when you find what that feeling really is. This co-production with one of Australia’s most celebrated dance theatre companies is co-created and performed by Eliza Scott, an interdisciplinary artist working across performance, drag, sound and film, and co-created and directed by Force Majeure Artistic Director Danielle Micich.
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EUGENE
CREATORS’ NOTE Eugene is a newly devised solo movement theatre work from Force Majeure and NIDA. I am drawn to working with generous artists who are willing to explore their lived experience and un-pack their personal history. This process of investigation is confronting and challenging. It allows you to gain access to the heart of a subject which makes for powerful storytelling. What has kept our curiosity alive during this process is the desire to maintain the sense of authentic self while telling a fictional story. The work has been influenced by pop culture, meme culture and Drag culture. Collaborating with Video Designer Xanthe Dobbie to create our changing realities with such vibrant imagery brought new energy to the process. The designs were made in real-time and recreated for the stage. It is rewarding to work alongside the NIDA production students to devise a new contemporary work. It has been a great exchange of artistic knowledge and encouraging to see who will be making within the industry soon. It has been a real joy to work with these students. - Danielle Micich – Force Majeure Artistic Director & CEO The process for creating Eugene has been filled with great rigour, learning and most importantly, trust. Though there is only one performer on the stage, there have been many hands, brains and hearts all building this work, and it would not be possible without everyone in the team. We wanted to create an intimate piece, one that pulls the audience in all directions, and for them to walk away having new, funny and unlikely conversations around gender, identity and how we present ourselves in the world. I want to thank Danielle, Force Majeure and NIDA for creating a safe space that allows deep exploration, fearlessness and collaboration to give this seed of an idea life. - Eliza Scott – Force Majeure
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THE COMPANY CAST Performer
Eliza Scott**
Director/Co-Creator
Danielle Micich**
Co-Creator/Original Concept & Text/Co-Composer
Eliza Scott**
Contributing Devisor/Dramaturg Adriane Daff** Designer
Jessi Seymour
Video Designer
Xanthe Dobbie**
Lighting Designer/ Video Systems Supervisor
McLane Catterall
Sound Designer/Co-Composer/ Jessica Pizzinga Systems Supervisor Producer (FM)
Charlotte Barrett**
Production Stage Manager
Timothy McNaught
Deputy Stage Manager Jordan Magnus-McCarthy Assistant Stage Manager
Yasmin Breeze
Construction Manager
Nick Day*
Video System Technician
India Lively
Head Electrician
Bernadett Lőrincz
Technical Assistants
Ethan Coombes Arwen Davidson Abby Dinger Carol Gonzales Naomi O’Connor Sherydan Simson Julianna Stankiewicz
* Staff ** Guest
Thank you to Laura Hart (Drag Consultant), Carriageworks, Bangarra, Susie Henderson
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