Solo Flight

In 2015 I swore I'd never do another outdoor solo show. 

I had just performed at a major event on the opposite side of the oval from Jessica Mauboy.

10,000 people were there and yet I was behind a basketball court and bicycle powered karaoke.

There was no foot traffic.

I finally got an audience of 7 people, (3 of which were my parents and toddler) while I could hear the thousands not so far away.

And there was no-one onstage with me.

Sometimes all I need is to share those moments with someone so that we can laugh at the absurdity of it. But I felt like I'd failed, and swore to never do it again.

Until Fairbridge festival called and asked me to perform from a beautiful tree (yes it was tested by an arborist!) 

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And so I tried something new.... 

In outdoor work, the audiences are so transient, that the general rule is to be big, and throw all the spectacle at them so that they can't turn away. 
But I wanted to be more like a folk singer. I wanted to share my stories first and then show them my art  while wearing my heart on my sleeve. 

Oh and it had to be funny too. I am a dag by nature, and if I was going to do a solo show, it had to be fun. 

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I don't rely on well known music to get people in, I rely on connection, heart, comedy and choreography that has taken me 2 decades to create. 

I start by asking the audience to save their applause until the end of each act so that they can immerse themselves in the stories and choreography.

I perform a tissu act about being a strong women who sometimes needs to be carried. 

I perform diabolo to heavy rock, and yes there is headbanging.

I get changed onstage with a *magic act.

I share stories which are honest and vulnerable.  I believe that they hit home because people have laughed with me first. 

And I perform my signature dance trapeze choreography to moving piano music.

And it works.
By golly it works.

Mums get teary because they feel seen. Kids are in awe, and appreciate that it’s so different to any other circus show they’ve experienced. The men applaud the journey of it all, and a few have even cried (in a good way)

I am so proud of this show, and how it can move people, even when it’s performed outdoors. 

And it's taken me to amazing places like Margaret River Heart, Mullaloo foreshore for Joondalup Festival, Dampier foreshore for Red Earth Arts Festival, Fremantle International Street Arts Festival, Wild Village Festival, plus touring regionally, including cattle stations in the Gascoyne Region, and many, many more. 

I now love performing this solo work, and want to take it far and wide to connect more communities through laughter, art, heart... and sharing sunsets with neighbours. 

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