In September 2024 I performed my first one-woman show in the Sydney Fringe.
The writing process was harder than anything I’ve done before: I make visual art alone, but I have done my performing arts with a group – at shanties or choir with a heap of people to harmonise and adapt to, at improv where I have consistently worked with a troupe or with the fabulous Alistair Magee in a pair.
My impetus for the show was a move away from having to rely on others to show up – I had just done 6 months of Likewise Dinner Party, and it was hard to get 6 people consistently in the room (especially for rehearsals, but weirdly, also, for shows). So having never had ambitions to do a solo show I resolved to do one.
So what I know from writing songs is that it’s easy when I know what the song is about. The problem was I had submitted in a show description for the show. that was in April. It was based on a single song (my rewrite of Molly Malone). I called it Molly Malone vs the Patriarchy. When it came to July and i started writing that was no longer where my head was at. I took a few diversions, through my own family history and world history (what else was happening in Ireland when Molly was living? How the legend of Arthur got to that island near Mont St Michel) and ended up with this show, part singing part original part story, and overall a love story.
The show writing process went from July to September, and I had fabulous feedback on early stages from Stu Dowling, Alistair Magee, Jason Dunn, Steve Kimmens, Jane Simmons, and finally Sophie Long volunteered to direct the show. That was the best thing that happened. She had a steady hand, experience of several shows, a writer and a performer brain, and she was really the reason that this show worked out as fun as it was.
Performing the show was the best fun of all, of course. By the 3rd show it was morphing already – i can see how what it began as is not how it ends up when you do a long run. Maybe one day I’ll do a long run. I booked 3 nights, and they sold out (we even had to sneak a few extra chairs into the 3rd night).
Here is the film, recorded and edited by Jason Dunn. Who knows what happens next.
Click here for more Shanty originals from Randy Dandy Shanty Club.
