Hard To Reach Places


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An intimate and powerfully authentic solo show that mingles theatre, clowning, music and circus.
Synopsis
Hard To Reach Places is a new solo work created and performed by Anna Lumb and directed by Rebecca Church. It premiered in the 2019 Melbourne Fringe Festival in the new Fringe Hub at Trades Hall and was well received by audiences and critics alike. In HTRP Anna reflects on her personal experiences as a women, mother and artist – exploring the challenges, conflict, humour and heartbreak that occurs on a daily basis – “all these things can be a total circus!” Anecdotes about the mundanity of the supermarket, the chaos of parenting, ageism, and difficult relationships are recounted with humour, pathos and a good dose of physical comedy and skill.
Restless, anxious and strangely liberated by having no life plan; she wonders is everyone else faking it too?
A day in a woman’s life is played out non-sequentially as she navigates the challenges of parenting, relationships, show business, visible ageing, and the unrealistic expectations she places on herself and others.
This new solo work combines circus, movement, text and sound in a darkly humorous, irreverent and personal insight into one person’s daily experiences and the chaos that ensues from some questionable life choices.
Short Review
Smart, funny and wise, Hard To Reach Places matches sublime physical skills with humour and emotional intelligence to deliver an intimate, and powerfully authentic, self-portrait, with a spectacular finale.
Cameron Woodhead, The Age
Video
Technical Information
Lighting
The Operator/Production Manager will operate all lighting from a FOH position (sound/lighting desk).
• 1x 12ch, 3 Phase dimmer rack (minimum)
• Lighting console
• Lighting Gels
• Lighting fixtures or reasonable alternatives (tbc plotting design)
Audio
The Operator/Production Manager will operate sound levels from FOH position. The operating position must be located in the same area as the lighting operation position. The performer will operate some sound from stage so a DI is requires to patch into sound system.
Venue to provide:
• 1x hand-held microphone
• 2x radio microphone headsets with appropriate belt packs
• 1x DI with all necessary cabling
• Audio Console with at least 6 channels (for mics, DI and Qlab)
Staging
The set consists of:
• Bicycle mounted on a stand
• DJ controller, foldback speaker and laptop on a desk/table
• Props/circus equipment situated in and around the stage area
Venue to provide:
• Clean, matt or low gloss black ply/masonite stage floor or similar. Floor must be smooth and in good condition for movement and choreography
• Small desk/table for laptop and controller
• Black masking if required
HTRP to provide:
• Bicycle and stand
• DJ controller, foldback speaker and laptop
• Props and circus equipment
Crew Notes
1 x House Tech (LX) to assist with venue systems, show presets and post show clean up/shut down
1 x Bump in and bump out crew
Appropriate FOH staff
Transport Notes
1 x large wagon or van with sufficient space to fit a bicycle and props
Can travel by plane
Audience & Marketing Notes
Women/men/non gender specific peoples ages 18+, mothers/parents, other women in my age bracket (40’s). The work has a broad appeal in that it explores universal themes of parenting, relationships and work/life balance which are relatable to audiences of varied ages and backgrounds; particularly but not exclusively a female audience. Anyone that has an interest in storytelling/feminism/circus should also see this work.
Selling Points
- Features circus skills, dialogue, comedy, great soundtrack
- Can be enjoyed by adults of varied ages and backgrounds, universal themes
- Empowers women, sends a positive message
- Strong female role model
- Humorous, entertaining, poignant, emotionally intelligent
- Great reviews
- Anna has performed all over the world to audiences of all ages
Community Engagement
- Q&A post show
- Workshop - hula hoops or act devising
Content Warning
Details
Genre
Audience
18+
Venue Format
Black Box preferred but reasonably flexible
Duration
45 Minutes
Available Until
Budget & Fees
What are these? Find out more.Remount: $5520.73
Weekly Sell Off: $4848.53
Per Performance: $2680