MADAME

 
 

Madame: The Story of Joseph Farrugia is a whirlwind journey through the extraordinary life and times of adult entertainment trailblazer Joseph Farrugia aka Madame Josephine, long-time creative director and host of famous Adelaide strip club Crazy Horse Revue/Madame Josephine’s.


Generated from hours of interviews with Joseph, in this show dance theatre meets documentary biopic.


Madame is presented by Vitalstatsitix in association with the South Australian State Theatre Company.







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    Photos: Ben McGee

 



“The three excellent performers briskly move the                    narrative between them like a baton.... the movement is intriguingly mannered and stylised. Exaggerated hand gestures accompany the naturalistic narrative, and often one performer lip-synchs another. Each of these strategies shifts the audience off its axis, dislodging expectations and creating a warp in the documentary realism.


Madame is also a terrific entertainment: boisterous and gaudy at times, reflective and moving at others.”


The Australian

“Madame lifts the curtain on gritty glamour, and the opening-night audience loved it.”


In Daily

Made in collaboration with the performers:


Trevor Stuart


Kialea-Nadine

Williams


Chris Scherer 

Creators / directors:

Ross Ganf, Ingrid Weisfelt & Vincent Crowley

Interview:

Ross Ganf with Joseph Farrugia

Text:

Joshua Tyler, Ross Ganf & Roslyn Oades

Dramaturgy:

Joshua Tyler

Set & lighting design:

Geoff Cobham

Sound design:

Luke Smiles/motion laboratories

Costumes:

Kelly Jones & STCSA Wardrobe

Wigs & makeup:

Jana Davies

Images: Ben McGee & archival material

on loan from Joseph Farrugia

Creative producer:

Emma Webb

Production and  Stage manager:

Emma O’Neill

Operators:

Chris Petridis & Luke Smiles

Dresser:

Jana Davies

Documentation:

Jennifer Greer Holmes, Heath Britton & Ben McGee

Torque Show would like to give a special thanks to Emma Webb and the fantastic team at Vitalstatistix who have supported this show right from the very beginning. Our thanks also go to the many colleagues and artists who have contributed to the development of this work over a number of years: Rob and Geordie Brookman and all the staff of State Theatre Company; the artists who have contributed to the development of this work including Chelsea Evans, Margot John, Venettia Miller, Steve Mouzakis, Gabrielle Nankivell, Geoff Revell and Tim Standing; Slingsby, Windmill & the State Theatre Company production team and the City of Burnside.


 

“Madame is a beguiling contradiction. It’s ground-breaking yet simple, it’s documentary mixed with dance, it is memorable theatre, it’s…difficult to describe…just go see it.”

Stage  Whispers

watch MADAME here