About
HotHouse Theatre in association with Write Around the Murray presents a Griffin Theatre Company production
Sizzling hot concrete. Rainbow towels on half-dead grass. On a hot summer’s day, bodies of all shapes, colours and sizes journey to the public pool longing to do one thing … swim.
Mununjali poet Ellen van Neerven is one of Australia’s finest and most awarded writers (Throat, Heat and Light). swim is their debut work for the stage.
Genderfluid protagonist E negotiates the space between the men’s and women’s change rooms. They flex in front of the cute pool attendant. As they step onto the diving blocks, the words of their Aunty come to them – and suddenly, the crystalline blue tiles give way to much deeper water.
swim is delicate and tough, honest and achingly beautiful – and it muses on everything from the sovereignty of water to gender identity and the binding strength of culture and family.
Told with cheek and heart by Baad/Yawuru performer Dani Sibosado (Bran Nue Dae), HotHouse Theatre is proud to present this Griffin Theatre Company production direct from its premiere season.
Don your goggles and get ready to hit the fast lane.
Event InfoRMATION
70 minutes, no interval
Thur 12 September, 6.15pm | La Trobe Conversation
Fri 13 September | Meet the Artists (post-show Q&A)
Sat 14 September, 2pm | Audio Description & Tactile Tour
Tue 10 September, 7.30pm
Wed 11 September, 6.30pm
Thur 12 September 11am & 7.30pm
Fri 13 September, 7.30pm
Sat 14 September, 3pm
SPECIAL EVENT
IN CONVERSATION WITH ELLEN VAN NEERVEN
HotHouse Theatre in association with Write Around the Murray and La Trobe University present a special La Trobe Conversation
In Conversation with Ellen van Neerven.
Ellen van Neerven (they/them) is an award-winning writer of Mununjali, Yugambeh and Dutch heritage. They have authored two poetry collections, Throat and Comfort Food, one work of fiction, Heat and Light, and a memoir called Personal Score. Throat won three categories at the 2021 NSW Premiers Literary Awards including Book of the Year, the Kenneth Slessor Prize and the Multicultural Award. swim is Ellen’s debut work for the stage.
Join us at HotHouse Theatre for a fascinating pre-show, In Conversation event with Ellen van Neerven, as they delve into writing across form – poetry to fiction to playwriting, and unpacking themes in their new work – water sovereignty, gender identity, and the binding strength of culture and family. Stay on at HotHouse after the discussion, grab a drink and dive in, to experience this exclusive world premiere production for yourself.
In Conversation with Ellen van Neerven is free to attend, but you must book in.
Tickets to see the production are booked separately.
ARTISTS & CREATIVES
WRITER
Ellen van Neerven
DIRECTOR
Andrea James
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR
Kirk Page
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER
Romanie Harper
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Karen Norris
COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGNER
Brendan Boney
VIDEO DESIGNER
Sam James
CULTURAL CONSULTANT
Lann Levinge
GENDER DIVERSITY CONSULTANT
Bayley Turner
PERFORMER
Dani Sibosado
PERFORMER
Sandy Greenwood
CONTENT WARNING
CONTENT ADVICE
Suitable for audiences 15yrs+
The playscript contains references across themes of sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, gender dysphoria, sexual, child, and domestic abuse, self harm and violence. Content descriptions in script can be discussed, further detail provided and any questions answered by contacting HotHouse Theatre on 02 6021 7433.
PRODUCTION PARTNERS
MEDIA
SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Thursday 12 September 2024
11am – 12:45pm
HotHouse’s Butter Factory Theatre, Gateway Island
Schools are invited to attend a matinee performance of this world premiere production at 11am. Following the performance, students will be invited to remain in the theatre where multi award winning poet and playwright, Ellen van Neerven will join the cast on stage for an intimate and enlightening discussion around the development of the work. Hear Ellen discuss the writing process, from poetry to playwriting, and unpacking the themes and ideas in the work both in writing and in production.
WRITER
Ellen van Neerven
DIRECTOR
Andrea James
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR
Kirk Page
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER
Romanie Harper
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Karen Norris
COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGNER
Brendan Boney
VIDEO DESIGNER
Sam James
CULTURAL CONSULTANT
Lann Levinge
GENDER DIVERSITY CONSULTANT
Bayley Turner
PERFORMER
Dani Sibosado
PERFORMER
Sandy Greenwood
SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Thursday 12 September 2024
11am – 12:45pm
HotHouse’s Butter Factory Theatre, Gateway Island
Schools are invited to attend a matinee performance of this world premiere production at 11am. Following the performance, students will be invited to remain in the theatre where multi award winning poet and playwright, Ellen van Neerven will join the cast on stage for an intimate and enlightening discussion around the development of the work. Hear Ellen discuss the writing process, from poetry to playwriting, and unpacking the themes and ideas in the work both in writing and in production.
To book your school’s attendance please click here.