‘Run Girl Run’ is an acclaimed theatrical show from Melbourne that’s part of Fringe World 2014. The show had a sell-out season in Melbourne and picked up a stack of awards.
Run Girl Run turns up the heat on modern Australia’s relationship with gender expression. Performed entirely on treadmills, the Grit Theatre ensemble is in constant motion for the whole show.
Who is performing in your show?
Clare Phillips, she studied at The National Theatre and joined Grit Theatre in 2010. Clare enjoys wine, expensive shoes and kale. Laura Hughes who studied at the VCA and co–founded Grit Theatre in 2009. Laura enjoys menswear, Beyonce and dachshunds and myself, Tom Browne, I studied at the VCA and co–founded Grit Theatre with Laura. Personally I enjoy manicures, VB and Oprah’s instagram account.
Your show is performed on treadmills for over an hour, what challenges has this presented?
As three people who always skipped P.E to do drama club, it presents a lot of thigh pain and asthma related challenges. Also, the fact that they are super high-powered gym machines has meant a lot of crossing fingers and hoping nothing short circuits.
Has there been any treadmill disasters?
There have been a few near-misses but we have hit our stride now. That said, we still often feel like Bill Murray in the elliptical trainer scene from Lost in Translation.
The show has got some great reviews, with some critics predicting the show would be picked up a major company, have any big offers come through?
We don’t kiss and tell. But let’s just say we are excited about the future of this work.
How did you develop this show?
There was an intense research phase. We surveyed a big cross-section of people about gender expression and also used a lot of our own experience. Then we worked on the physical side, and using the treadmills to say what we needed to say. Last, we started running and eating disgusting ‘bulking’ meals and buying out Melbourne’s entire Ventolin inhaler supply. And here we are!
‘Run Girl Run’ is at the PICA Performance Space at 9:30pm from Tuesday January 28 until Saturday 1st February. Grab tickets at Fringe World.
