A Piece For An Odd Place & The Want

A Piece For An Odd Place opens this evening, an experimental piece that includes elements of live music, puppetry, performance and strip. The puppetry is especially impressive, particularly when the clothes come flying off the protagonist, who continues to dance long after she leaves the stage naked.

The Want bursts open with Bikini Kill’s Rebel Girl, which is met with riotous applause. Live performance is broken up with footage of Patti Smith, Kathleen Hannah and Suzi Quatro, giving us a rapidfire history lesson in feminist punk music from the ‘70s to the ‘90s.

A performance of Patti Smith’s Because The Night is sombre and delicate, and shows a slightly more vulnerable side of the performers. These moments are brilliantly juxtaposed with humour, as the puppetry returns with a pair of foam lips dragging on a cigarette and speaking the lyrics of Magic Dirt’s She Riff with a five-packs-a-day raspiness.

Guest appearances from Bracode’s Rebekah Zechner for a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s She Bop, and the incredible electric guitar skills of Penny Ikinger, gave an Australian context to the global phenomenon of female punk performance.

The show closes with another guest appearance from the 50ft Queenie Choir paying homage to the modern day riot grrrls, Pussy Riot, with wild dance moves and colourful balaclavas to boot.

The Want is an invigorating, inspiring, patriarchy-smashing good time that balances strong performance and message with humour and experimentation. If you love female punk rock, or are keen to learn more about its past, this is one history lesson you shouldn’t miss.

La Mama Courthouse (finished)