Mockingbird

An Australian – Norwegian – New Zealand Co-Production on stage at 107.

Mockingbird explores the often neglected subject of motherhood and mental health through the use of humour, mask and music. On stage at 107 for 2 nights only.

This is the most wonderful show, deeply moving, hysterically funny with a twist that takes you to the darkest of places and returns you to the light.

- Alex Bonham, What’s Good

Mockingbird is a performance based on true stories, including the writer, Lisa Brickell’s own story and that of her female ancestors, the stories of other women involved in the project and the real-life experience of women who have been admitted to psychiatric hospitals with a diagnosis of depression or psychosis after childbirth. Although names have been changed to protect the identity of the women, the stories are based on historical healthcare records from 1885 to 2001. The research for the show has been carried out by Dr Diana Jefferies and her team from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University.

The performance style is exciting; Lecoq trained Lisa Brickell brings to life multiple characters from different generations through the use of mask work and physical theatre. The internalized negative thoughts or ‘inner critic’ of the women are personified in a half masked character who is hilarious and horrible. There is no fourth wall allowing the central character, Tina, to speak directly to the audience. She is accompanied onstage by Norwegian actor and musician Siri Embla. Mockingbird is directed by Ruth Dudding who also trained at the Lecoq Theatre School in Paris and Giovanni Fusetti who was a teacher at Lecoq and has his own physical theatre school in Italy.

About the Artists

Lisa Brickell, Writer and Actor

Lisa Brickell trained in comedy, mask work and physical theatre at The Lecoq Theatre School in Paris and with Giovanni Fusetti and Antonio Fava in Italy. She also has a MA in Drama from Auckland University.

She has directed and performed in theatre, film and TV in New Zealand, Australia and other countries, including with companies such as Theatre and Beyond (UK), Komedia (UK) and Tantimutanticompanganti (Italy/ France/Brazil).

Siri Embla, Musician and Actor

Siri Embla is an international freelance multidisciplinary performance artist, actor, musician, clown and facilitator. Siri trained at WAAPA in Perth, Bårdar Akademiet in Oslo, and studied physical theatre/clowning and improvisation with world class teachers such as Al Wunder, Ira Seidenstain and Giovanni Fusetti. She currently works with Clown Doctors in NZ and in Norway.

Ruth Dudding, Co-Director

Ruth Dudding is a professional freelance director, actor and film-maker. She graduated from Toi Whakaari, in Wellington, NZ in 1982 and L’Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris in 1985 and has worked widely in the New Zealand film, TV and Theatre communities ever since. Ruth has taught at South Seas, M.I.T. and Auckland University. She has directed many films and theatre pieces, including co-directing ’13 Weeks’ a political comedy with Giovanni Fusetti.

Giovanni Fusetti, Dramaturge/ Co-director

Giovanni Fusetti is a multi-disciplinary teacher, director, dramaturge and facilitator. He trained and taught at the Lecoq Theatre School in Paris and is founding director of Kiklos Teatro and HELIKOS International School of Theatre Creation in Florence, Italy. He has worked internationally with leading theatre companies, universities and training centres, including: LISPA (London), Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre (California), Accademia Teatrale Veneta (Venice), The University of London and with John Bolton in Australia.