Uncovering the unseen side of villains in Fringe debut VaudeVillains

Making its debut at Fringe World 2024, VaudeVillains examines the portrayal of villain and villainess characters through the ages linked to our cultures, our stories, and humanity. Get down to Air Nightclub from Saturday, January 27 to be taken a journey through dance, theatre, cabaret, and circus performances and decide for yourself—are they evil or just misjudged? BRAYDEN EDWARDS spoke with the show’s creator and director Jasmine Ryan to find out about the history of ‘villains’, and what their portrayal says about the societies that create them.

It’s great to have you at Fringe this summer with your new show, VaudeVillains! Firstly, who comes to mind first when you hear the word ‘villain’, and why?

Hmm, that is a good question. It isn’t actually a who to me; it’s a what: what are their actions? What do they want people or characters to believe about them and others?

To me, a true villain is identified by their actions; they can be a manipulator, one who seeks to control, one who is greedy at the detriment of society and others, or other acts of inhumanity.

This is a richly complex topic that spans theatre, film, history, and more. What made you want to explore it as a subject for a show?

If we look back at poems, children’s songs, and our original telling of fairytales, they were actually a lot more grim.

Let’s look at Hansel and Gretel. It was originally their mother who asked their stepfather to take them to the forest and leave them out there—to die! As we look at how the story changes through the ages or through various methods of storytelling, like books, movies, and cartoons, we can witness multiple changes to the story, such as that it was their “evil stepdad,” because what kind of mother would do that, to even Hansel and Gretel just getting lost on their own.

I wanted to not only honour the original tales but also take the audience on a journey when examining these “villains and villainess” and ask the audience, “Are they evil or just misunderstood?”

And how will you bring it to life on stage? I hear there is a mix of different types of performing arts that come together for this show?

We do have an amazing mix of performance types, styles, and people—it’s super exciting! Everything from aerial, fire, burlesque, eros and temple dancing, physical theatre, Krump, and street dancing—and I have reconceptualised the old 1900s black and white silent movie with the villain and the damsel leaning into the beautiful art that is Shibari (Japanese rope tying), and this piece, like the others, will leave you spellbound!

You must have done some research in the making of this show too. What’s something you learned about a ‘villain’ that surprised you?

I would say it’s not solely about one villain in particular, but what came to light in a very strong way was the portrayal of women in this space.

I feel this thread goes back to the Eve and Lilith archetypes and the Madonna and the Whore, essentially the Sacred or the Sullied. Women in this space are often portrayed as weak or powerless, using sexuality or seduction to conduct their evil deeds. If we turn to Greek mythology, which you will see when you come to see VaudeVillains, you will witness that women in this telling of mythos were often punished when they didn’t even commit an offence, or ‘crime’. This was always executed by other gods and goddesses. So these ‘villainess’ experience the pain of the act done unto them and then the wrath of the gods as well.

There seems to be some kind of ‘villain’ in just about every story, but it’s rarely that straight forward in real life. Why do you think there is such a disparity? Do villains make stories more interesting, or do they just make stories make more sense?

If we are talking about disparity with villains on stage and screen vs. what we may label or society may deem a villain—let’s say, a corrupt politician or a big company causing harm (physical, financial, etc.) to the community—then our emotions and ‘buy in’ run much deeper.

When we watch a villain on TV, read about them in a fictional book, or watch them on stage, there is a detachment that allows for more compassion and examination rather than being caught up in the tidal wave of the situation as it is “being done to us” versus watching it be done.

I feel that there is a deep connection to villains within our literature in the ways of ‘humanising’ ourselves, our experiences, and our compassion while also cathartically helping to heal our own traumas. I think that a ‘villain’ is born when a character’s experience or trauma is not supported. When they are not ‘heard’ which triggers the human psyche, and heart/soul sparks compassion.

Let’s look at one of our characters and stories we have examined, Maleficent. She was a powerful woodland faerie who ‘turns evil’ due to being betrayed and her heart breaking. Seeking to have this fixed, to be seen, the opposite happens, where she is ‘outcast’ and ‘rejected’, thus in turn the villain is born. Her seeking love and acceptance and being pushed away causes her to seek justice or revenge, depending on how you look at it.

Many of the ‘heroes’ we celebrate had a lot of villainous traits too. What kinds of things can warp our perception of someone?

It’s all in the telling of the story and how they are portrayed. If we look at Greek mythology again, there are many great examples of times we might ask, “Are they a villain or are they a hero?” We can look at the story of Medusa, where she is seen in contemporary tellings of her story as a monster, a villainess; however, she was a victim of Poseidon and then faced the wrath of Athena. We see her as a monster who turns people to stone, but she was made that way through the actions of others.

I always put my hand up to play villains when I was studying my theatre arts degree. To me, they always had a stronger story to tell, a story that was hidden, and an unseen truth behind their actions being swept under the rug. I guess maybe it comes down to the decision: do you seek justice or revenge?

As someone with an extensive background in arts and entertainment, how is this show different from what you have been part of before?

I think every show is unique in its own way; however, this is the first time I have presented at Fringe World in Perth, or anywhere in the world, my own original works! To have written, developed, directed, and produced VaudeVillains was at times exhausting—but also electrifying!

I have loved the beautiful collaborative process of choreography, costume development, and really calling my cast forward to have a voice, to share what is inside them, what is alive for them, and to hold a deep reverence and sacred space in the process. It has been a journey of illumination for all of us involved.

What’s next for yourself and the team? Is there anything else exciting in the pipeline we can look out for?

WORLD DOMINATION… Sorry, (*clears the throat). We are taking the show on the road; we will be doing the Australian Fringe circuit this year (sorry Adelaide, you will have to wait till ’25), and from there, we will have two other shows, joining VaudeVillains to come back for Fringe World in 2025, and then off to Europe for a delightful tour of the European Fringe circuit!

We look forward to ‘Dancing with the Shadows’, both here and overseas.

Come join us and “Surrender to the Bad Guys” at VaudeVillains, presented by The Movement Arts & Entertainment at Air Nightclub for Perth Fringe 2024!