Brutal Canon for Bloodthirsty Children

Launching onto a makeshift stage, Ms Fortune weaved a web of mystery at CarriageWorks’ Sydney Children’s festival. Liesel Badorrek of Loose Canon Arts was in her element performing in front of attentive children and their exhausted parents pining for a cuppa at the end of the school holidays. Her comrade Johnny Nasser bounced seamlessly between three characters – brothers seduced by fortune teller Connie Flosserini (Liesel) in their fairytale show How to Read Tea Leaves. Fortune arrived on Loose Canon’s doorstep last year in a festival invitation from CarriageWorks. “It was hairy when we first began… we welcomed people to the festival and performed three times a day.” Badorrek recalls. According to Executive Producer Lorretta Busby Loose Canon Arts “were part of the glue that held the festival together.” MCs Johnny Nasser and Leisel Badorrek delivered 15 minute shows for the festival 10-4pm daily. The dynamic pair combine humorous physical theatre and storytelling with minimalistic props, costumes and set design. “It’s hard to be talking heads in front of kids… they’ll be picking their nose and flickin’ it at you in no time.” Loose Canon Arts began in 1998 and now based in Darlinghurst have performed together for children in Australia and overseas for six years. They dabble in a range of theatre from Shakespeare to original works. Badorrek seeks out the comedy in each piece and believe there’s “a common denominator” in what people find funny regardless of their background or experience. She was teaching in Singapore and began touring after noticing the absence of live theatre in schools. This year Loose Canon Arts visited the United Arab Emirates, Bali, Oman and Singapore. “We’re mindful of people having a positive experience of Western theatre… you don’t want to offend anyone…” Badorrek began. “Or get beheaded, I’d hate that,” Nasser said. Loose Canon’s brutal stories and dark humour appeal to “bloodthirsty” kids but they can’t please everyone. Badorrek said one mother pulled her giggling little girl away from their Circus Home Surgery Show, a taste of their upcoming cabaret Monkeyshines. She said some parents want to protect their children so the actors censor their content to please conservative schools. Nasser describes this version as “our boring show”. They also educate children about the importance of being in an audience because if young people are only used to television entertainment they may not know how to respond in a theatrical context. Providing a glimpse of the secret to their fortune and infectious enthusiasm, Liesel suggests: “No day’s a good day to get up and think the audience is going to bag me today – life’s too short for that… you gotta come out punchin’!” If you want to hear more from Johnny and Liesel catch them in How to Read Tea Leaves at the Famous Spiegeltent – Gorgeous!, November 15. They’re performing MonkeyShines in the Kids at the House program at the Opera House, 12-31 December. For more information visit: www.sydneychildrensfestival.com and www.loosecanonarts.com.au Contact: Vanessa Kewan (0417557989 or vkew4996@usyd.edu.au)