23 October – 3 November 2019
More elderly women are experiencing homelessness than ever before. In UNHOWSED these women take centre stage & shine a light on the unexplored territory of lives lived on the edge. Their real voices are strong and significant. In a series of poetic, non-linear, & true narratives, they bare the emotional baggage that comes with homelessness.
UNHOWSED is a multidisciplinary performance work about older women’s homelessness – specifically based in the City of Port Phillip. It is a very relevant and timely topic affecting increasing numbers of women. It is currently one of the fastest growing types of homelessness.
Recent census data shows that in five years the number of older woman experiencing homelessness has increased by 31 percent, Homelessness Australia last year reported the number of older women ‘couchsurfing’ increased 83 percent and the number of older women sleeping in cars rose 75 per cent in four years.
"With exquisite skill and acute perception, profound and telling experiences in these individual women’s lives are highlighted and mixed into a rich absorbing work by Director Deborah Leiser-Moore. It is a little bit like a thickly rendered semi abstract oil painting – part probing reality, part insightful impression. Not a play – a work of refined art... An inspired and enlightening piece."
STAGE WHISPERS
"With older women being one of the fastest rising group of homeless people in Australia, it’s time that everyone’s eyes opened up to the reality we are facing and UnHOWsed is a captivating way to start."
MY MELBOURNE ARTS
“Theatre doesn’t get anymore special or unique than this.“
THEATRE TRAVELS
“UnHOWsed is one of the most important works you’ll see. It’s under 60 minutes, and totally powerful. These are brave, real women, and they’re sharing a slice of themselves with the world to shed light on an experience far vaster and pervasive than the space of the stage.“
THEATRE PRESS
DURATION
60 minutes no interval
WARNINGS
Haze Effects | Coarse Language | Adult Themes
Directed by
DEBORAH LEISER-MOORE
Composer/Sound Director
NELA TRIFKOVIC
Written By
THE ENSEMBLE
Performers
CARLA MITTERLEHNER, SUSAN V.M. MCDONALD-TIMMS, JAN GREY, DIANN PATTISON, MAURYA BOURANDANIS, CATHERINE SAMSURY, KAREN CORBETT, LIZA DEZFOULI
Lighting Designer/AV
KINETIC SCREEN
Stage Manager / Production Assistant
HAYLEY LAWSON SMITH
Photo By
LOUISE CHEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Publicity
ELEANOR HOWLETT (SASSY RED PR)
