We acknowledge the unceded lands of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge their sovereignty and their songlines. We pay respect to their elders and their children. We embrace and celebrate the oldest culture in the world
A Note From The Co-Creators
This incredible ensemble of artists has worked together as a family since 2019. Together, we've created two cult hit works Fuck Fabulous and Fart Fabulous (the all ages version). In rehearsal for this work, Sarah, Bec and Susie dreamt up the idea of another variety show called Fuck Christmas. The ideas started to flow and they did not stop coming, each of them equally hilarious, disturbing, dark and wondrous. All we needed was a partner brave enough to see our vision and understand its relevance.
We wanted to create a Christmas variety show that replicates the push-pull of Christmas: over-consumption, joy, excess, sharing, greed, bringing people together and pulling them apart… Christmas is a conundrum. Even from within our Fuck Christmas family we have vastly different experiences of Christmas. But regardless of how we all feel, it’s obvious that something has to change. Do we continue with excess or do we find a way to celebrate without melting the ice at the North Pole?
Initially the main themes of this work began as a provocation for what Christmas would look like if we didn't consume as much, if we made conscious choices at Christmas and unplugged ourselves from the capitalist machine. As a team, we began investigating capitalism as something broader, as a bi-product of colonialism, imperialism, patriarchy and religion.
We began to realise that the task of creating a work that would communicate so many big ideas was a mammoth undertaking. The sanctuary of variety as a form allowed us that freedom. We could create all the juxtaposing feelings of Christmas and, through solo and ensemble acts, explore the most important themes we wanted to communicate.
A core principle of the work was to reuse items from Christmases past. In the set you will see dead Christmas trees, used bon bons, remade, reused, and borrowed costumes. Romanie Harper and all the makers in wardrobe and in the workshop have worked their butts off making something beautiful and creating a wonderland out of existing materials.
It was important to us as a team to include a song of mourning. Christmas doesn't happen in a bubble, wars still rage, people still die. We included The Coventry Carol, a song to grieve loss of life to war and genocide, particularly young life.
This work was created with great heart, generosity and courage by the entire team, and we are so proud of what we've been able to create in an intense rehearsal period. Through sickness, loss, fear, and joy. The making of this show has been meta, we have been through the wringer — but that's Christmas, right?
