PASHUN Program-theatrePUNK co.

SYNOPSIS

What do you do when Masculine, Feminine, and slight Enby energy are exacerbated in modern society?

Exploitive instances of toxic masculinity online? Relationships only lasting a minute? The tragic tale of being an oppressed straight girl in a gay world?

PASHUN is a comedically absurdist theatrical exploration exploring all of the above with a little bit of spice. Written by emerging theatre-maker Harrison Mills, PASHUN dares to mix and mash traditional ideas of love and lust with hedonistic city

CAST & CREATIVES

Creatives

Writer: Harrison Mills

Director: Joshua Price

Stage Manager: Teddy Waddingham

Lighting Design: Phoebe Quinn

Producer: El Waddingham

Cast

Conner: Keegan Bell

Lena: Rachael Woodnett

Andrew: Scott Kift

Sigma: Emma Stratton

We are going to die. All of us.

I found out when I was nine on an ipad

It was marked on the calendar. Then it was on the news

Then it was at church.

Then my friends started whispering it to one another

“We’re going to die We’re going to die”

And it made me weep. Constantly.

WRITER'S NOTE

I’m so afraid of death that I want to feel something before I go

I don’t know what that is except I want it to be tangible. A yearning for love, acceptance and freedom

To speak it and share it with someone. A passion

But that seems too civilised

if I want to feel, let It be in my image

Don’t tell me what to do or who I am.

If we should be persecuted or castrated

For how we wish to truly express ourselves

Then fuck off! Seriously, walk out of the venue right now

I don’t wish to be defined with your words, politics, or judgements

We’re going to die, why stifle me with your thoughts?

I take my yearning for feeling and fear of death

And it is PASHUN!

Made in our collective naked image.

The vessels you see before you have translated my work

And they will preach louder than this note ever will You will understand me more with this work

If you don’t try to think, but feel PASHUN!

To El, Josh, the Cast and Crew at theatrePUNK for undertaking this story Words cannot capture the level of gratitude I feel in your effort to realise this. Thank you To the audience, throw every civil norm you have as a theatrical spectator away Cheer, cry, get rowdy

Stare us in the face and love us or hate us Embrace PASHUN! You’re going to die and are sitting in a chair watching live theatre. LET LOOSE STINKY!

I don’t know if it’s better to speak or to die

Or if we’re too numb enough to find that out

With this production, we disciples will challenge that

To feel tangible PASHUN! not passion

And dance ‘til the lights out

If we feel PASHUN!, we won’t be afraid to die.

We’ll simply never want it to end

-Harrison Mills

DIRECTOR

Dear silly, thirsty, audacious, vibrant university students, this show is first and foremost for you. You're welcome! I first discovered this show ironically through the writers' hesitancy to give away any information of the draft he was working on. From the get-go I thought this show screamed of over-saturation, loud noises, energy (and hopefully glitter). Then I got to read the script, and it exploded in my face. To me, PASHUN feels like the first year of university. Each of these characters are big fish from small ponds, that are now all collectively in a bigger environment where they aren't as in control as they were in school. It's about exploration and finding your feet in an intimidating, yet absolutely ridiculous and nonsensical world where we are all just trying to get a grip of what it is to be young, energetic and horny. The way that each character deals with this situation in their own, individual ways is the anchor in which all of my vision has stemmed from. It is in this light that I decided that my direction for this show will be reactive to what the cast give me and wow, do they give a lot. By pushing the actors to give offers and make their own experiments with a script which is so fertile and full of raw ideas, has given me the exciting privilege to see how the world around each character changes depending on who's onstage. Depending on who is in the space, the air changes so drastically and dynamically, which is something that could never have been achievable if I just sat there and told the cast what they should do. Hopefully the diversity in these characters allows you to see yourself in someone (or all of them!) today and gives you a chance to laugh at how silly humans can be. How messy they can be. Because heck, this is really silly and messy.

Thank you Harrison for giving us such a rich playground and swing around on, shred and take a pen to the way that a toddler takes a crayon to a wall. Thank you to the cast. All of you have been so giving, brave and open to trying things, even when none of us have any idea where it's going. Thank you to Phoebe for all of your excitement to light these people's faces in weird and wonderful ways. And thank you finally to Teddy for ensuring I don't go insane and bringing me back to the world of tangibility.

-Joshua Price

HARRISON MILLS-PLAYWRIGHT

Harrison Mills is a Meanjin-based theatre maker and time traveller who specialises in the immediate and intimate qualities of live performance Whether writing, performing, or directing, he is someone whose love of pushing boundaries is matched only by his passionate love of storytelling that hits you right in the gut no matter what

Previously, Harrison has worked with Vena Cava Productions, Anywhere Festival, Crea Arena, and Backbone Youth Arts He claims PASHUN horrifically scars audiences for life because, yes, it’s that life altering, and no theatrical experience will compare in their lifetime He knows this because he time travels

JOSHUA PRICE-DIRECTOR

Joshua Price is a Brisbane/Meanjin based theatre and film director, actor and writer. Experienced in traditional performance processes and collaborative generation and devising alike, he enjoys the need to mold into different shapes depending on different projects' needs. Alongside theatre and film, Josh also has a passion for music and loves to incorporate music into everything he does creatively, whether it's inspiration for a script, making a playlist to get into character or it's soundtracking a high energy and elaborate scene transition. He strives to create authentic storytelling through exploration and experimentation, unafraid to get things wrong and is heavily driven by the opportunity to provoke imagination and a range of thoughts and emotions in audiences, leaving an effect that lasts long after they leave a theatre.

EL WADDINGHAM - DI

TEDDY WADDINGHAM-STAGE MANAGER

Teddy is a newcomer to the realm of theatre production and they are just happy to be here! Teddy is PASHUNate about using their finely-honed skills of making colourful google docs to support the magical creatives right here in the brisbane theatre scene Teddy has recently worked in the position of stage manager for Underground Theatre Company in their production of The Friday Night effect, and they are honoured to be involved as stage manager once again for Theatrepunk’s PASHUN! Teddy is currently studying studying a bachelor of arts at UQ, majoring in film and journalism (minoring in Drama, too!)

At the intersection of violence and camp, antiquity and presence is El Waddingham, an emerging theatre artist from Meanjin An electrifying drag performer, poet, director and dancer, They’ve worked with Queensland Theatre, QPAC, La Boite, The Farm, PIP Theatre, Australasian Dance Collective and ATYP, as a performer and creative El’s drag show, HOMILY, will complete a national tour in 2023 with Brown’s Mart, Theatre Works and Sydney Fringe A proud queer artist, they describe their work as a slap in the face with a palm full of biodegradable glitter El is currently the artistic director of theatrePUNK co, and in their second year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting & Dance) at QUT They want to empower a generation of artists to overthrow limiting power structures and to create the art that they want to create

PHOEBE QUINN-LIGHTING DESIGNER

Phoebe Quinn (she/her) is an emerging Meanjin based actor, writer and theatre-maker, with a passion for bold stories and colourful characters She is particularly passionate about telling queer and female stories, and strives to make theatre an invigorating, accessible experience for all

CARYS MAGUIRE - STAGE MAN

Phoebe has had the opportunity to work with several of Brisbane’s best emerging independent theatre companies including Inscape Assembly and All Entertainment, and is so excited to get to work with TheatrePunk on this wonderful production!

EL WADDINGHAM-PRODUCER

Carys Maguire is an emerging artist from Meanjin/Brisbane who is passionate about all things creative. Currently she is in her second year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama) at QUT with the main goal of expanding their skill set in areas beyond performing She has worked as cast and crew at places such as QPAC, Metro Arts, Pip Theatre and the Brisbane Powerhouse

At the intersection of violence and camp, antiquity and presence is El Waddingham, an emerging theatre artist from Meanjin. An electrifying drag performer, playwright, director and dancer, They’ve worked with Queensland Theatre, QPAC, La Boite, The Farm, PIP Theatre, Australasian Dance Collective and ATYP, as a performer and Creative. El’s drag show, HOMILY, will complete a national tour in 2023 with Brown’s Mart, Theatre Works and Sydney Fringe. El is currently the artistic director of theatrePUNK co, and in their second year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting & Dance) at QUT. They want to empower a generation of artists to overthrow limiting power structures and to create the art that they want to create.

This is Carys’ first time working with theatrePUNK co and she is so excited for audiences to see the beautiful show that is PALLAS SISTER RISING

KEEGAN BELL-CONNER

Meanjin based actor and creator Rachael Woodnett is stumbling her way back on stage for her second theatrePUNK co show of the year, Rachael is thrilled to be part of the team bringing Harrison Mills' Pashun to life and can't wait to arouse and excite audiences with uncomfortable characters and all too familar stories. In the past three years, alongside studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, majoring in Drama, Rachael has been lucky enough to work in the Meanjin theatre scene on independant work, with Vena Cava Productions and at Anywhere Theatre Festival and is pumped to continue this streak with Pashun

RACHAEL WOODNETT-LENA

Meanjin based actor and creator Rachael Woodnett is stumbling her way back on stage for her second theatrePUNK.co show of the year, Rachael is thrilled to be part of the team bringing Harrison Mills' Pashun to life and can't wait to arouse and excite audiences with uncomfortable characters and all too familar stories In the past three years, alongside studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, majoring in Drama, Rachael has been lucky enough to work in the Meanjin theatre scene on independant work, with Vena Cava Productions and at Anywhere Theatre Festival and is pumped to continue this streak with Pashun

EL WADDINGHAM - DI

EMMA STRATTON-SIGMA

A fun and funky mashup of all things exuberant, political and ‘over the top’, Emma Stratton is an upcoming multidisciplinary theatre and film maker in their second year of the Bachelor of Creative Industries (Drama & Film). As a queer performer, writer and drag artist, they aim to bring to life characters and stories unafraid to poke and prod audiences, driven by love of the intimate and raw connection that live performance fosters Most recently, Emma’s performed with companies such as Javeenbah Theatre, Brisbane Arts Theatre and at Venacava’s 2022 Fresh Blood festival and is ecstatic to join the PASHUN cast!

SCOTT KIFT-ANDREW

Growing up completely obsessed with film and theatre, Scott Kift is a motivated Brisbane/Meanjin performer and creative who is striving to produce art that will hook audiences as much as his favourite works have throughout his life. Working recently with the likes of Queensland Theatre and Vena Cava, and highly keen for upcoming work with theatrePUNK co, he is inspired to learn from industry professionals and take on a multitude of contrasting works to broaden his skillset Scott is currently undertaking his first year in a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama) at QUT and is excited to continue to learn and grow as an artist over the next few years.

Teesh Slade (Naticia / Ticia) is an emerging Meanjin performer studying a Bachelor of Secondary Education / Fine Arts Drama at QUT She has a pashun both for meaningless absurdism and the fire of contemporary drama. Teesh recently performed in Nice To Meet You as part of QUT Vena Cava’s Freshblood Festival at PIP Theatre and cannot wait to bring Emma to life in Harrison Mill’s Pashun She is drawn to the complexity of feminine and racial representation onstage and the power that theatre has in offering a hand to audiences and making them feel seen Teesh obviously cannot WAIT to teach the legendary, renowned Pashun to her high school drama students in years time.

NATICIA SLADE-EMMA ZARA CHANDLER-TIFF

Through absurdness and a love of exploring people’s deepest flaws through art comes Zara Chandler A Meanjin director, actor and writer Zara’s passion comes from figuring out how people tick, whether it’s a character she’s delving into to perform or characters she’s trying to write In the past they have worked with companies such as NIDA, Milne Productions, Anywhere Festival and Observatory Theatre

EL WADDINGHAM - DI

Since graduating from her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama) in 2022, Zara aims to, through her work, show the multifaceted nature of human beings, with her love of absurd theatre, making people question the characters and story that use unfolded before them

CULLYN BECKTON-KAI

Destructive, scornful, and just short of insane makes Cullyn Beckton (they/them), a writer, actor, producer; who dreams of entering the arts scene with a bang and leaving the world behind them thoroughly confused. Cullyn has been writing and producing an original work titled, The Flower Does Not Exist, for Vena Cava's Freshblood festival that is the culmination of their sick mind. They sincerely hope to leave audiences completely dazed. Pashun marks Cullyn's second project with theatrePUNK co. and coincidentally Harrison Mills and they could not be more thrilled to bring this edgey and queer world to life

CARYS MAGUIRE - STAGE

EWAN ROBERTSON-RORY

When the hurlyburly’s done, is when Meanjin born and raised, theatre-maker and actor, Ewan Robertson, will stop his artistic rampage With roles this year on, and beyond, the stage in; 2am: The extended cut, Speaking in Tongues, and TheatrePUNK’s BARRIERS. A closely held mission of exciting, intriguing, and downright confusing art, drives him, and his practice Pushing him to the brink of, absurdism, comedy, and his very own sanity, Brisbane’s independent theatre has always been home to this one of kind creative With training from a myriad of renowned companies and now QUT, Ewan is ready to continue living, laughing, and fucking off, in Harrison Mill’s PASHUN.