Community Program for The Hate Race
Labrish
Malthouse Theatre presents Labrish, the community program for the season of The Hate Race, a theatrical adaptation of Maxine Beneba Clarke’s bestselling memoir, starring Zahra Newman and accompanied by musician Kuda Mapeza.
An exploration of the complexities of race and the search for belonging, Maxine’s story exposes the realities of growing up the child of Black migrants in a predominantly white society.
Labrish is an activation of workshops and musical spoken word events surrounded by community elevation, mental health resources and access to discounted tickets. It is designed for people who identify as African diasporic, First Peoples, people of colour and underrepresented creatives.
How do we Labrish? We Listen by sitting in quiet reflection. We Learn by growing our creative practice. We Labrish by gathering to share stories. We do it all for healing and joy.
Produced by Amarantha Robinson, Labrish features two creative workshops, two spoken word events, an on-site Black Arts notice board, a quiet space and wellbeing resources, discounted ticket offers and ticket giveaways. All program events are free to attend. Labrish runs alongside The Hate Race, from 23 February to 17 March 2024, at Malthouse. Created in partnership with MAV (Multicultural Arts Victoria), Pola Practice and the Jamaican Music and Food Festival.
Come Listen, Learn and Labrish.
Creative Workshops
Facilitated by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Writer of The Hate Race memoir and production
This free in-person writing workshop is designed for 18 to 30-year-old BIPOC folx. Maxine shares tips and tools for memoir writing, for stage or for page. Come learn how to tell, structure, edit and expand non-fiction stories about your own life.
Bring a short piece of nonfiction writing you have been working on and a copy of your favourite non-fiction text, if you are able.
Each registered participant gets access to a $20 ticket to the performance of The Hate Race that immediately follows the workshop.
This workshop takes place in person at Malthouse, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank.
Saturday 24 February, 4.30 – 5.30pm, with a performance of The Hate Race at 7pm. Refreshments provided.
Facilitated by Tariro Mavondo
Co-Director of The Hate Race
This free in-person creative workshop is designed for young BIPOC artists, creatives, poets, spoken word artists, actors, performers, content creators, comedians, storytellers, singers, entertainers, public speakers, MCs, and podcast hosts.
This workshop will help you be heard effectively in performance spaces, giving yourself permission for the full spectrum of your personality to: shine as a performer, hold an audience, lead with authenticity and give your words breadth & dynamism.
You’ll be learning from theatrical methods such as Meisner, Howard Fine, Tamalpa Institute, Alexander Technique and more.
Wear loose comfortable clothing you can move in. Bring one or two texts you want to get performance-ready, a writing device / notebook, and a bottle of water.
Each registered participant gets access to a $20 ticket to the performance of The Hate Race, immediately following the workshop.
This workshop takes place in-person at Malthouse, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank.
Saturday 2 March, 10.30am – 12.30pm, with a performance of The Hate Race at 1.30pm. Refreshments provided.
Spoken Word Events
On Saturday 9 March and Saturday 16 March, from 3 – 6.30pm, there will be Spoken Word performances, food, and music at Malthouse.
Performances by celebrated local spoken word artists including, Denise Chapman, Guido Melo, Magan Magan, Thabani Tshuma, Faris Fakhreldin and Cainne. Curated by Shyaire Ganglani.
Readings of excerpts from the anthology, Growing Up African in Australia, by the writers.
Music provided by the Jamaican Music & Food Festival (JMFF).
Jamaican Food on sale, provided by Boss Man Food.
Labrish Spoken Word Events are free to attend.
$40 discounted tickets (Code: LABRISH), will be available for the performances of The Hate Race on these nights.
Peace Pod
Located at Malthouse, this is a quiet space just for you. Outfitted with meditations, reflective activities, soft furnishings and sensory toys, this is your nook to be still and process whatever arises. The Peace Pod is open one hour before and after every The Hate Race performance.
Curated by our mental health partner, Pola Practice.
Black Arts Notice Board
Are you a Black (African diasporic) artist with a creative event coming up this year? Do you have a play, an exhibition opening, a book launch, a performance that you want the community to know about? Share it on the Labrish Notice Board, located in the foyer of Malthouse during The Hate Race season.
Tell us about your event and it may get featured on the board. Submission link in bio.
The Labrish program is produced by Community Engagement Lead, Amarantha Robinson.
Amarantha is a Jamaican producer and performance artist whose show Oshun, plays at La Mama Theatre, 28 February to 3 March.
As part of the Labrish program Amarantha and La Mama are offering two free tickets to Oshun for the performance of the night of Friday 1 March.
Oshun is a colourful, vibrant one-woman performance with dance, soul songs and live drumming, that takes you in the kingdom of the Yoruba (West African) Orishas (gods). Inspired by a myth from the Yoruba oral tradition, it tells how young Oshun, the goddess of love, femininity and sensuality rails against ridicule and crippling self-doubt to prove to the other Orishas (deities) that her powers are in fact potent. The play is an exuberant, transcendent performance by Jamaican dancer and storyteller, Amarantha. She is accompanied by percussionist Adrian Hearn, who plays the Batá drums, a double-headed hourglass drum used for traditional and religious activities among the Yoruba people.
To enter simply email marketing@lamama.com.au with the subject line MALTHOUSE OSHUN GIVEAWAY by Friday 23 February.
The Labrish program is created in partnership with the Jamaican Music and Food Festival, Pola Practice and MAV (Multicultural Arts Victoria).
