MK-ALPHA in association with Darebin Art Speakeasy presents

The Unspoken Word is ‘Joe’

by Zoey Dawson

NOMINATED FOR THREE GREEN ROOM AWARDS
Two X Best Female Performer + Best Director

WINNER MELBOURNE FESTIVAL DISCOVERY AWARD
Writer Zoey Dawson – Melbourne Fringe 2012

“It really is an honour to be here tonight to see what – not one of our greatest writers, just yet – but certainly one of our most emerging writers, has in store for us.”

Zoey Dawson has written a play and it’s her big night, however real life rivalries and resentments are sending things way, way off-script. But nothing’s going to stop her putting on one hell of a show.

The Unspoken Word is ‘Joe’ is a biting meta-satire of Australian theatre which Zoey would describe as dramatic and beautiful. And tender. And also really clever. She wrote it as a way of dealing with a really bad break-up – but it’s not just a break-up play. It’s about love, and loss. It’s about life.  It’s a really, really good play. It’s a portrait of a woman desperate for the approval of her peers. You should totally see it.

Following critically acclaimed, sold-out seasons at Melbourne Fringe and Brisbane Festival, The Unspoken Word is ‘Joe’ is written by Zoey Dawson and directed by Declan Greene.

Reviews

“An hilarious demolition derby… An 80 minute surprise party nightmare. Clever and childish. Unrestrained and impetuous.”
CONCRETE PLAYGROUND

“Full of wit.. Exceptional skill and attention to detail.”
CRIKEY  FOUR  STARS

“Takes fear to it’s highest level and puts it on display. This play is chaos. Savage. Mortifying. A completely fucked-up fantasy.”
AUSSIETHEATRE

“Entertaining and unpredictable. A gleefully damning satire, messing with you until the very end.”
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

“Even better than Groundhog Day… None of that fourth wall shit… Incredibly clever and way funny and the actors are brilliant.”
STAGE NOISE

“Think it sounds like trouble? You’re right. You aint seen nothing yet.  Fiendishly clever, side-splittingly funny, unlikey anything i’ve seen before.”
TIMEOUT – SYDNEY FOUR STARS

“Truly unexpected. Get theatre fucked.”
SYDNEY MCV

“Extreme, raw, confronting, explosive – Not my cup of tea.”
SYDNEY THEATRE GUIDE

“not the worst play ever written but… I just got bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Who, really, I mean, really, could give a flying fuck?”
KEVIN JACKSON’S THEATRE DIARY

“I expected a nuanced ‘noises off”. I really struggled. Too close to reality to be funny. I have to admit to a moment of confusion.”
MELBOURNE.ARTS.FASHION.COM

” meta-fiction at its cunning best… a clever piece of theatre….A sneaky play in the very best of ways”
BRISBANE TIMES

“like watching a friend get really drunk and embarrass herself. You don’t really want to watch, but you do anyway, because you can’t quite believe things could turn so bad.”
THE GUARDIAN

“Zoey Dawson doesn’t break the rule so much as bludgeon it to death and take liberties with the corpse”
THE AGE / CAMERON WOODHEAD FOUR STARS

“Hot. Sad. Tender. Clever. Emotional. That’s how the playwright describes it.”
TIMEOUT FOUR STARS / CRITICS CHOICE

“The Unpoken Word is Joe is just the cat’s pyjama… I look forward to seeing that last sentence fragment, out of context,”
ARTSHUB FOUR & A HALF STARS

“ the best piece of theatre I have seen in years...go and see this play, don’t miss it…This most marvellous piece of theatre epitomises everything I love about the form.. instantly classic.”
THEATREPEOPLE FIVE STARS

“clever, witty… unique…refreshingly honest…very,very clever… hilarious…writing is funny, poignant, reflective…hones in so precisely and poetically on emotion…  exceptional performances…moved, truly moved… Nikki Shiels never missed a beat…Not to be missed this Fringe.”
AUSTRALIAN STAGE ONLINE

“raw, clever, deceptive, meta and keeps you constantly guessing.”
THEMUSIC.COM.AU

Awards

WINNER

Melbourne Festival Discovery Award (Melbourne Fringe 2012)

GREEN ROOM AWARD NOMINATIONS

DIRECTOR
Declan Greene – The Unspoken Word is Joe (MKA/ La Mama)

FEMALE PERFORMER
Georgina Capper (performer) – The Unspoken Word Is Joe (MKA/ La Mama)

FEMALE PERFORMER
Nikki Shiels (performer) – The Unspoken Word Is Joe (MKA/La Mama)

Credits

Writer Zoey Dawson
Director Declan Greene
Designer Eugyeene Teh
Lighting Designer Romanie Harper
Sound Designer Martin Kay
Producers Corey Reynolds
Stage Mgmt Ketura Budd

Performers include Matt Hickey, Annie Last, Aaron Orzech, Nikki Shiels and Natasha Herbert

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