Lismore City Hall | Friday 28 Sept, Sat 29 Sept, Wed 3 Oct till Sat 6 Oct | 7.30pm | $20–49
Women of Wildskin
Carrying on from the hallmarks of NORPA’s original works, the company presents Wildskin, an all-female ensemble of riotous physical performers delivering a cracking good tale, in a dark night of daring theatre. Four of the five women of Wildskin, Viviane Frehner (dancer), Katia Molino (actor), Olivia Porter (acrobat), and Nicci Wilks (actor) spoke with The Echo.
Tell me: are you a ‘wild woman’? Why?
Viviane: Hmmm, complex issue… some aspects of me are wild, some are tame, and in many areas I wish I were wilder. I am a wild woman in the sense that I left my country, my family, my friends, and my dance network and career for love by moving to a country that I had never visited before.
Katia: I think of myself more as a ‘domesticated animal’.
Olivia: I would like to think so but in reality I’m not. Or maybe I am. I’m probably a little wilder than some but nowhere near as wild as others. I’m wild on the dancefloor with a few drinks under my belt.
Nicci: Depends on the situation! Sometimes I have to suppress my ‘wildness’ to fit into societal expectations.
How did you find who you are and what you do?
Viviane: Moving to Australia has triggered a journey inwards automatically. Being stripped of your old identity in a country you have never been before has been hard but such a blessing in disguise for my self-development. But also as said before, I’m only at the start of a lifelong discovery I guess.
Katia: Luckily I have a certified extract of my birth certificate, so I know who I am. What I do varies from day to day.
Olivia: I like to say my career found me. When I packed my bag of juggling balls the other day I looked at them and thought, wow, I’ve made a career out of these things, that’s pretty wild!
Nicci: Don’t know if I’ve found who I am yet. Currently I’m here in Lismore working on Wildskin; yesterday I was at the Australian Clown Doctor Conference; tomorrow I’m hanging at the beach with my dog, learning how to cook Katia’s ragout and practising the harmonica!
What should we expect from Wildskin? What is your personal highlight?
Viviane: Expect a fun and entertaining show in a unique format with lots of talent in it. I am humbled to work with such an amazing cast. I won’t tell more; it’s a secret till opening night.
Katia: Expect a great ride. My personal highlight is when I’m driving.
Olivia: It’s definitely going to be an interesting ride. The show is still under construction so it’s hard to give you any expectations, plus I might ruin it for you. My personal highlight is definitely getting to put on different skins (far from my own and my comfort!)
Nicci: Expect the unexpected. My personal highlight is the shoes that Dan wears.
Wildskin is directed by Julian Louis. www.norpa.org.au. or 1300 066 772
