The Naked History
Jo Thomas first contacted Fiona Sprott in 1998 and so began 10 years of emailing. In 2008 the pair finally met up in Brisbane and a naked collaboration began! Fiona re-wrote her stage show and Jo put together a team to take into an intensive creative development at Metro Arts. The team of Shane Anthony, Sam Clark, Tom Raymond, Kitty Taube and Hamish Clift then took the show to the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts. This premiere season was a sell-out.
The Naked team, with new addition musician James Dobinson, has been on the road during 2010 and 2011 performing in every Australian mainland state and territory. International touring is in the planning for 2013. More on that soon! Come get Naked with us!!
From the Naked Writer
Revisiting this script ten years later has been revelatory in terms of understanding who Jezebel was then, and who she inevitably is now. Times have changed – and so must Jezebel move with the changes. It seems to me that casual sex has reached a peak of almost extreme sports status, with such notions of hooking up, the seemingly endless ways in which technology intersects with all facets of our social lives, and of course the ways in which we mediate ourselves, or a performance of ourselves to a global audience. Ten years later I understand more about how Jezebel is informed and constructed by the social and popular cultural forces around her. It was a lot more fun for Jezebel ten years ago but now new questions arise about exactly when is it time to “grow up”? If love was a complex issue back then, it is positively baffling now. Coupling is happening in a different way these days. Two remain two these days, they do not aspire to become one, and therefore a series of questions arise about negotiating the boundaries of togetherness. We used to believe sex was intimately connected to love but now women find themselves feeling amoral or confused when they want to make a deeper connection with their lovers. Do we make deep connections with anybody anymore? Or do we merely dance across the images of life via screens, seeking instant gratification? So yes, Jezebel is changed, and whilst there is still much to find amusing in her exploits, there is perhaps more to contemplate – and for that reason, this team brings to the audience an entirely new production for today. I feel very lucky to have such a talented creative team working on this production.
Fiona Sprott
Unreasonable Adults
From the Naked Director on the Stage Show
At first comical, at times extreme and occasionally deeply unsettling Jezebel leads you on a wild journey. Jo, Sam, James and I have sat with her stories in the rehearsal room and laughed, a lot. We’ve smiled as Jez has woven another complicated web of mistruths, cringed at her ill placed sense of judgment and giggled at her sexual adventures. Beneath that laughter, however, we’ve sought to understand the vulnerability behind Jezebel’s delicately constructed facade. We’ve questioned when and where she is permitted to be herself? How she should navigate the dating world? Does she only find validation in the eyes of others? And throughout we’ve marveled at the many modern tools available to snag that perfect match: speed dating, Facebook, text sex, RSVP, a private detective…
Shane Anthony
The Naked Theatre Team
- Written by Fiona Sprott
- Directed by Shane Anthony
- Performed by Sam Clark and Jo Thomas
- Live music performed by James Dobinson
- Designed by Josh McIntosh
- Lighting designed by Andrew Meadows
Publicity
The Naked Truth – Brisbane News
A stint at home with her mother led to Fiona Sprott’s latest version of her play, which examines sex and loneliness among singles.
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Naked Ambition – City News
SPEED-DATING, websites, blind dates and text messages – courting in the 21st-century is complicated.
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Sex Sells – City North News
Dating nightmares attracted the masses to the world premiere performance of playwright Fiona Sprott’s Often I Find That I Am Naked at Fortitude Valley’s Judith Wright Centre.
The Naked Truth – City News North
If you are a fan of Sex and the City and Bridget Jones, chances are you will be suitably impressed by the newest show at the Judith Wright Centre.
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Top choice – Courier Mail
A new Australian comedy showing at the Judith Wright Centre is set to appeal to fans of Sex and the City and Bridget Jones’ Diary.
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Fringe Flyer
A new black comedy about shopping, drinking, cocktails and looking for love
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Promo Flyer
Naked Truth about Aussie Singles – Q News
Anyone who’s ever dreamt of perfect love but woken up hung over and naked in a stranger’s bed is invited to laugh along at the world premiere of a new Australian comedy, Often I Find That I Am Naked by Fiona Sprott
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Theatre in review – Screenmag
How many men should you go through in the quest for love? As Jezebel says, ‘…sex equals love, equals sex equals love…’ Right?
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The Things We Do For Love – Sunday Mail
Facebook, RSVP, speed dating, a private detective – even raffling herself off in a spelling bee – single woman Jezebel has tried them all in her search for love.
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Naked truth on dating – Sunday Mail
Luscious Jo Thomas is a victim of changing sexual politics. The thirtysomething actress says the dating game is a whole new brave world once you enter the fourth decade.
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The Naked Truth – Time Off
Adam Brunes discovers the dos and don’t (but mostly don’ts) of dating with the brutally honest Jo Thomas who stars as Jezebel in Often I Find That I Am Naked
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