Provocative and physical, Wonder Woman unearths the everyday superhero and delivers a solid punch to the gut. A double bill of dance works choreographed by NSW artists Adelina Larsson and Julie-Anne Long, in collaboration with WA performer Laura Boynes, this is an exposing, funny and intimate show that will have you furiously nodding in agreement and shouting “me too!” when it plays the Heath Ledger Theatre from August 28 – 31.
Wonder Woman is a response to issues modern feminism faces. It is a physical provocation that does not adhere to a single feminist ideology but presents a platform for multiple voices to be heard. Wonder Woman contributes to the lineage of feminist performance by responding to ongoing, contemporary issues that women have been fighting for since the 60s and 70s.
Boynes, who commissioned the works, says for her Wonder Woman “is a timely and direct response to the swell of support for recent international and national women’s marches and the #metoo & #timesup social media campaigns empowering women around the world.”
Boynes approached two female choreographers with unique movement histories, who have presented creations about and for women during their careers, to each make a short work approximately 25 minutes long. The two works play between fact and fiction and use movement with live and pre-recorded voice to move between mythical and autobiographical content, enhanced with live sound by Canberra artist Shoeb Ahmad.
Wonder Woman is no background decoration in this work, no damsel in distress. She is an autonomous, empowered, action woman, whose less visible strengths and powers are centre stage. Having the audience seated at ground level in the round will create an intimate and unique performance experience, offering multiple viewpoints for an audience of 100.
Boynes has worked as a professional dancer for 12 years both nationally and internationally and sees her solo performance in Wonder Woman as the attainment of a career goal. “The issues that underpin this work will not be resolved in the near future however it is important to present Wonder Woman while actions of protest and empowerment have cultural currency. Wonder Woman is here. Time is up.”
Wonder Woman runs August 28 – 31, 2019 at the State Theatre Centre of WA, Heath Ledger Theatre Stage. Tickets from www.ptt.wa.gov.au
