Curriculum Relevance:
Culture, Identity, Race and Diversity.
‘AWKward’ follows two mates, one Indigenous and one white Australian, through a maze of social interactions, highlighting the awkwardness that emerges from differences in culture, race, and personal experiences. The show is a vibrant, comic performance that dives into the complexities of friendship in contemporary Australia.
Developed in New York City (July 2024) by Australian theatre-makers Mitch King and Dave Houston, AWKward artfully blends humour with social commentary. Mitch King, an Indigenous dancer, musician, and actor from the Bundjalung nation, brings his cultural heritage to life on stage, while Dave Houston, an actor and comic of Anglo-Celtic descent, adds his comedic flair. Together, they create a dynamic performance, seamlessly shifting between serious and playful scenes, often using theatre and video footage to address deeper issues.
The shows Directer is Craig Mathewson, an accomplished writer and director who specialises in cross-cultural theatre with Indigenous artists. Mathewson has directed nine productions that have toured major festivals and reached thousands of Indigenous audiences across Australia’s remote communities.
AWKward is a uniquely engaging show. Shifting perceived boundaries between art and reality, script and improv, humour and discomfort, it keeps young audiences captive through its short vignettes and ever-changing characters and situations. It asks them to consider why and how we laugh at certain situations, whether cringey, confronting or boundary-pushing, and how we might see hints of our own relationships and experiences in society mirrored back at us.
Simone Museth, Head Teacher CAPAL, Drama Teacher, Byron Bay High School 9/09/2024.
Through the performers' clever imagination, electric chemistry, and compelling comic delivery, AWKward captivates audiences while addressing pressing social themes - with plenty of humour to keep you laughing.
Sol Kjök,The Mothership, New York City, 18/07/2024.
Price: $11.00 per student ($10 Plus $1.00 GST)
OR $1,320.00 Whichever is the greater.
Suitable: Year 7 to Year 12. Most suitable for years 8 to 12.
Times: Show: 55 minutes. Set up: 45 minutes. Pack up: 30 minutes.
Requires an indoor performing area 4m deep x 5m wide.
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