No. /12 How Speed: The Play puts you in the driver’s seat

Natalie Bochenski, co-creator of Speed: The Movie, The Play, on turning the Keanu Reeves action classic into a live comedy show

Feeling The Need For Speed

About five years ago, myself and the other two writers, Greg Rowbotham and Dan Beeston, were kicking about ideas for shows we’d like to see. We wanted to do a no budget, no special effects version of a big movie, and Speed came up. I loved that movie as a kid – it’s a balltearer of a film. The play is such a fun thing to perform – it’s like a rollercoaster that doesn’t stop.

Finding A Bus

Of course we started wondering, “Where are we gonna get a vintage bus without having to buy or hire one?” We thought we’d have to shelve the idea. I couldn’t believe it, but three days after we had the idea I went to a local fe perfect bus was there. I felt like universe had blessed me! It turned out there is an organisation called the Queensland Omnibus & Coach Society, and we struck a deal with them to borrow the bus in return for some donation stival and the the ns.

1995

Pocahontas Pocahontas

Pocahontas was Disney’s first lead woman of colour. Sadly, they also made her a colonial apologist fantasy, based on scant historical evidence and no consultation with the Powhatan Nation.

YOU’RE THE BUS HOSTAGE

The key thing with the show is that you are a passenger – or hostage – on a bus that’s out of control. It’s stationary, but we create madness all around it – we have people running up and down the sides of the bus to give the impression it’s r lo-fi special effects. We ing audience member to be ra Bullock and ‘drive’ the bus. We love to involve the audience and make them the hero of the whole thing. People respond to the experience in an overwhelmingly positive way.

moving and othe also get a willi Sandr e o

Keanu Love

This is the year of Keanu Reeves being the “Internet’s boyfriend.” It’s so bizarre – actually it’s not, because he’s fabulous. But that wasn’t there when we started the show in 2015. We’ve had the Keanu love from the beginning! But it has exploded this year, and everyone adores him. It’s also important to note the show isn’t making fun of him or the film in any way – It’s a very loving homage. He’s such an awesome dude!

JAMES JENNINGS

SPEED: THE MOVIE, THE PLAY WILL BE ON FROM 20 - 29 SEPTEMBER AS PART OF THE SYDNEY FRINGE FESTIVAL 2019. FOR MORE, VISIT WWW. SYDNEYFRINGE.COM

2009 009

Princess Tiana

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

From the Grimms’ tale and the cultural setting of 1920s New Orleans evolved Disney’s first African-American princess. Voiced by Dreamgirls’ Anika Noni Rose, Tiana proved that black faces belong in European fairy tales.

2016 MOANA MOANA

Moana became a true queen in this Polynesian myth-based musical. Most magnificent of all is how animators gave her a realistically strong physique with which to navigate the oceans and lead her people.

Tbc

Ariel The Little

MERMAID

The casting of African-American actor/ singer Halle Bailey as Ariel was a major milestone. Ignore the smattering of racist trolls online: non-traditional casting for a key member does make a whole new world.

[ FIRST LOOK