
Writer /
Ash Flanders
Check your emotional baggage at the door because this self-described gang of queers, singles, and divorcees is going on holiday. Hugh has organised a fabulous weekend away for his partner and their best girlfriends in Hepburn’s finest to escape a year from hell. But even deli meats, medicinal hydroponics and soaking in spring water can’t fix everything. Try as you might to float on the surface, life has a funny way of bubbling up—and over.
Writer Ash Flanders is notorious for crafting caustic comedy that makes you laugh ‘til you hurt, only this time he’s gone somewhere completely unexpected… the real world. This semi-autobiographical play is the saltiest, sweetest, and most honest look at love and friendship you’ll see.
Because when shit hits the fan it’s your chosen family who’ll clean you up—once they’ve stopped laughing. So pack an overnighter and enjoy the only safe seat on a getaway you won’t want to get away from. This Is Living!
Writer /
Ash Flanders
Director /
Matthew Lutton
Cast / 'Will'
Wil King
Cast / 'Alex'
Belinda McClory
Cast / 'Hugh'
Marcus McKenzie
Cast / 'Sharleen'
Michelle Perera
Cast / 'Jo'
Maria Theodorakis
Set & Costume Designer /
Matilda Woodroofe
Lighting Designer /
Paul Jackson
Composer & Sound Designer /
Joe Paradise Lui
Stage Manager /
Cecily Rabey
Assistant Stage Manager
Georgia Sealey
ASSOCIATE SOUND SYSTEM DESIGNER /
Gideon Cozens
VOICE ARTIST /
Eva Seymour
VOICE ARTIST /
Khisraw Jones-Shukoor
VOICE ARTIST /
Artemis Ioannides
VOICE ARTIST /
Katherine Tonkin
BESEN PLACEMENT (DIRECTING) /
Kitan Petkovski
INTERN (SET & COSTUME DESIGN) /
Chiara Wenban
INTERN (LIGHTING) /
Océane Federow-Yemm
CAMPAIGN IMAGE /
Kristian Gehradte
TRAILER /
Einwick Productions
See here for more information on accessibility for this production.
140 minutes (including a 20 minute interval)
This production contains smoke/haze, frequent coarse and derogatory language, frequent discussions of terminal illness and mortality, references to death, dying and suicide, consensual and non-consensual depictions of alcohol, drug use and smoking of herbal cigarettes, references to sexual assault, depictions of a panic attack and references to arson.
All warnings are subject to change, please check back closer to the time of performance for an updated list of potentially sensitive content.
FREQUENT COARSE AND DEROGATORY LANGUAGE
The following words are used frequently throughout the show:
Fuck, Fucking
The following derogatory terms are used on occasion throughout the show:
Slut, Bitch, Motherfucker, Fag (in the context of a cigarette)
Misgendering:
There is a scene where one character accidentally but repeatedly misgenders a non-binary drag queen. The misgendered character is not present in the scene.
FREQUENT DISCUSSION OF CANCER, TERMINAL ILLNESS AND MORTALITY
The story centres around the character of Hugh, who has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Hugh also mentions acquiring Graft Versus Host Disease. Consequently, there is frequent discussion surrounding Hugh’s illness and mortality. Mid-play Hugh is admitted into hospital – but all interactions regarding the hospital occur off stage and in the sound design of the show.
There is also mention of an unseen character named Catherine who passed away from Malignant Glioma.
REFERENCES TO DEATH, DYING AND SUICIDE
Throughout the show, there are multiple references to death, dying and suicide.
The characters often colloquially use the terms kill and murder.
There is a singular mention of a fear of a student of Jo’s committing suicide if they fail their course at university and a singular joke regarding ‘death by suicide’.
DEPICTIONS OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG CONSUMPTION — BOTH CONSENSUAL AND NON-CONSENSUAL
There are multiple occurrences where the characters depict the consumption of alcohol and being intoxicated.
There are multiple occurrences where the characters depict the consumption of medical-grade THC oil (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and are high on stage.
One character gives another character a full pipette of the THC without her consent—tricking her into thinking it is herbal medicine that will aid with the pain of a sprained ankle.
There is a mention of heroine but the consumption of it is not depicted on stage.
REFERENCES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT
There is a singular mention of the Nirvana song Rape Me.
There is a singular mention of a TV host being fired—implying it is for sexual assault allegations.
DEPICTION OF A PANIC ATTACK
In Act Two, the character of Will suffers from a panic attack on stage.
REFERENCE TO ARSON
A story is recalled by the characters in which one individual assisted another in setting a car on fire to commit insurance fraud. No individuals were harmed.
USE OF HERBAL CIGARETTES AND THEATRICAL SMOKE
Turns out a rare degenerative disease is just what you need to live a little #itsgivingblessed
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