A hybrid scripted/improvised one-woman show is headed to the Potato Shed.
Australian-born Canadian Rachelle Lachland Goulter, whose background in live improvised comedy, lends itself to this interactive performance, titled Every Brilliant Thing.
Directed by Nicholas Brooke, Every Brilliant Thing follows one woman’s pursuit in creating a comprehensive list of everything wonderful about life for her depressed mother.
The acclaimed interactive comedy about family, love, loss, and hope charts the story of this list from the woman’s childhood through adulthood and is built upon through the highs and lows of her life.
However, the woman is never alone in this endeavour as the story becomes a communal experience with audience members playing a very active role in crafting the story in heart-warming and, at times, hilarious ways.
The show is a product of Geelong Contemporary Theatre, a relatively new group on the live performance scene whose mission is to create striking and relevant theatre with an ethos of sharing stories for today.
“While the show explores the depths of mental health challenges, it does so respectfully and in an, at times, comedic way,” Ms Goulter said.
“Performed in the round, there’s a lot of audience involvement, and while the play is scripted it does rely on a lot of interaction.
“This is a great time to have a performance that asks, ‘what things are worth living for?’, so hopefully people will come out and continue to show their support for live art.”
Performing at the Potato Shed, Drysdale, Every Brilliant Thing is on September 15 and 16 at 7.30pm and September 23 at 1pm and 7.30pm.
Tickets: tickets.geelongaustralia.com.au/event/every-brilliant-thing-2023
