Skip to main content

Article: POTUS is coming to Brisbane!

 
 
POTUS, Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive is the new femme-fuelled, political farce set to give a satirical, dramatic and enticing inside-look at American politics in its Australian premiere at Queensland Theatre’s Bille Brown Theatre from 27 July.

 

Penned by up-and-coming playwright, Selina Fillinger, the three-time Tony award nominated play is centred around a fictitious President of the United States’ (POTUS) foul-mouthed faux pas in front of the media and foreign dignitaries. It follows seven powerhouse women as they navigate misplaced hallucinogenic drugs, a sex scandal and an assassination attempt — all within 24 hours!

 

The story will be brought to life by a star-studded, all-female ensemble featuring Amy Ingram (Family Values and Netflix’s Boy Swallows Universe) who plays Stephanie, alongside Christen O’Leary (Ladies in Black, Triple X), Emily Burton (Othello, Storm Boy), Emily Liu (White China), Jodie Le Vesconte (Family Values), Wendy Mocke (Bernhardt/Hamlet, Taming of the Shrew), Paula Arundell (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and led by acclaimed director, Lee Lewis OAM

 

“Set in the White House, POTUS is a farce with seven women who are quite literally trying to piece back the American government after one swear word,” said Lee Lewis OAM.

 

“This young playwright in Fillinger has managed to write some of the most extraordinary comic lines to get us through the most devastating truths about power.”

 

While much has changed politically since Selina Fillinger first penned the satirical zingers that make POTUS so powerful, she feels that the lines find renewed meaning with each new political scandal.

 

“Unprecedented times require unprecedented courage. I started working on POTUS when I was a very scared, very sad 23-year-old woman who needed to laugh. I wrote this play to give myself joy, catharsis and courage. I hope it offers audiences the same,” says Selina.

 

The new play comes with a label of ‘not for the faint-hearted’ which Queensland Theatre Executive Director, Criena Gehrke, said it is proud to wear. “POTUS is a satire about the hypocrisy of American politics and the people that work furiously behind the scenes to hold chaos together. It’s bold and brash but makes for an incredibly timely, and equally

powerful story to bring to the stage,” said Gehrke.

 

“It’s written by a woman, directed by a woman and features a fierce all-female cast making it another outstanding piece of diverse storytelling that we’re excited to bring to the Queensland stage.”

 

After its smash-hit run on Broadway in 2022 featuring a mix of SNL and Veep alum, Queensland Theatre and production partners BDO and Board Matters proudly presents the Australian premiere of POTUS at Bille Brown Theatre, running from 27 July to 24 August. Tickets are available now at queenslandtheatre.com.au/plays/potus.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The Cemetery Club - Tugun Theatre

Written by Rett Visser Meet the Cemetery Club! Three longtime friends in their late fifties to early sixties, who are now also united by bereavement. Meeting once a month to visit the cemetery where their deceased husbands lay, their friendship and love for their husbands form the cornerstone of ‘The Cemetery Club’. As in real-life, each woman is dealing with grief differently, as every relationship is different: Doris is struggling with losing the love of her life Abe, despite it being four years since his passing, Lucille is kicking up her heels and spending the inheritance left by the unfaithful Harry, and Ida misses her Murry but realises that she doesn’t want to mourn forever. When Sam, the widower meets the ladies whilst visiting the grave of his deceased wife, a shy attraction to Ida sees cracks in the friendships begin to grow. Efficiently directed by Julie Neumann, the space was well-considered enabling the audience to feel like they were included in the conversation as the la...
1 comment
Read more

Review: Company - Phoenix Ensemble

  Written by Mark Rickell "Company, Sondheim’s sixth Broadway musical, was his breakthrough to serious credibility. It received 14 Tony Award nominations, a record at the time. It’s a minimally plotted collection of songs and stories (more like a revue than a traditional musical) about a single man, his married friends, and several girlfriends. Robert wrestles with relationships and commitment. The show’s title has multiple facets, all important to appreciating its complexity. “Company” is the opposite of solitude and loneliness. It means being surrounded by friends and loved ones. It’s also the tightly knit ensemble of actors performing a show.” - Rick Pender, Everything Sondheim Company at Phoenix Ensemble was exactly as Rick has suggested above. A tight knit, and truly excellent, ensemble of actors performing this show. Director Tammy (Sarah Linde) and assistant director Luke (O’Hagan) are responsible for the set design and the simplicity of form and function they have elected ...
Post a Comment
Read more

‘The Little Mermaid’ // Queensland Musical Theatre

  The lights dimmed, and the beat of the overture played as the audience immersed themselves under the sea in Queensland Musical Theatre’s (QMT) production of ‘The Little Mermaid’. This timeless story was brought to life at the beautiful Twelfth Night Theatre on the edge of Brisbane. Boasting a massive cast, this production was not our average community theatre show! Based on the famous Disney animated film (which was based on a Hans Christian Anderson Story) ‘The Little Mermaid’ follows Ariel as she yearns to leave her life under the sea to live on land. Add in a nasty sea witch, an overbearing father, and a handsome prince, and you have Disney’s recipe for an award-winning and top-hit show! Music by Alan Menken boasts an impressive 30 musical numbers, not to take into account the amount of musical underscore that has the band non-stop playing throughout the entire performance. There is something about Menken’s music that makes many Disney fans fall in love with their musicals. ‘T...
Post a Comment
Read more