Projects
In Repertoire
UnWrapped at Sydney Opera House
CLASS ACT On Tour
Class Act is heading to Sydney Opera House as part of UnWrapped 2024, and tickets are now on sale!
In Class Act, working class unfortunate Mish Grigor tells the story of a grotesque world of class and social mobility straight from her dirty mouth. This work addresses the unspoken rifts of the class system through a bombastic, unexpected deconstruction of My Fair Lady, albeit with less bonnets. Directed by Zoey Dawson, the performance shines a light on the unseen cost of a social glow up and navigating the entrenched poverty of an artistic career. “This deconstruction puts that great Australian unmentionable – class – front and centre” – The Age.
A satirical and almost ‘boganised’ retelling of My Fair Lady, Grigor also skillfully weaves humorous personal experiences from her childhood throughout. Grigor shares “I grew up in Western Sydney, in a working class or underclass area that is looked down upon in the landscape of Sydney.” Echoes from the past blend humiliation and hilarity, highlighting the subtle nuances of the Australian class system. Depictions of Eliza’s transformation are told through obsessive prisms of children’s games and skipping rhymes, while the ballroom scene devolves into cringeworthy memories of getting dolled up for a school formal.
Joined on stage by dancer Alice Dixon (and some experimentally arranged orchids), she breathes life into the power plays in My Fair Lady, while the choreography skillfully finds a way to summon nuances of class psychology.
For the bourgeoisie, there will be high tea. The High Tea seats are up close and personal – and limited to 12 people each evening. These tickets include unconventional hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine upon arrival. Make sure to arrive early to settle in before the great unwashed (just try not to look too smarmy when you do, it’s unbecoming).
CREDITS
Lead Artist / Performer – Mish Grigor
Performer – Alice Dixon
Designer / Dramaturg – Lara Thoms
Director / Script Dramaturg – Zoe Dawson
Lighting Designer – Jen Hector
Sound Designer – Nina Buchanan
Production Manager – Reuben Cumming
Consultant Producer – Freya Waterson
Company Coordinator – Dani Reynolds
Presented by Sydney Opera House . This project was commissioned by The Substation and made possible through the support of the Australia Council for the Arts, the City of Melbourne, and Creative Victoria. Development for Class Act was supported by The Substation and Yarra City Council’s Art Grants.
Previous Seasons 27 September–1 October 2022 at 8pm at The Substation
Hero image: Bryony Jackson
Production images: Theresa Harrison