Director and performer, Candy B, says her new work Hot Brown Honey Burlesque will "go further than most people expect”. Madeleine Joy-Warde sits down with her before Friday's show at the Lighthouse Theatre in Festival Park.
"It’s probably a bit naughtier, a bit stickier and a bit messier than anything else I do."
In the knowledge that Candy has a tight rehearsal schedule, I show up early for our interview at the theatre. I look around outside and find myself thinking how beautiful it must seem at night – with all the lights hanging in the trees and people milling about.
Candy tells me later the space "actually feels quite intimate".
When Candy Bowers, AKA Candy B, walks in right on time, there is no mistaking her. She has an aura of confidence that comes with being an award-winning writer, hip hop artist, educator, director, arts worker and social activist.
As we sit at one of the tables inside the largely deserted Browns Mart, we introduce ourselves. Slowly, I find myself becoming a little less nervous (though only a little). When we really get into the interview, I see just how warm and welcoming Candy is.
While we chat, she lets slip a little bit of a song and tells me about a duet from the show that she performs with Ben Graetz – who just happens to be sitting behind us. Candy says "he’s dressed as a girl and I’m dressed as a boy and we do a reverse strip".
While we chat, she lets slip a little bit of a song and tells me about a duet from the show that she performs with Ben Graetz – who just happens to be sitting behind us. Candy says "he’s dressed as a girl and I’m dressed as a boy and we do a reverse strip".
I feel privileged to see this glimpse into the layers of her show and to spend time chatting with such an amazing woman, one who says that she's excited "to entertain everyone during this festival party".
Madeleine: Is there anything specific you wish people knew about you or the show?
Candy: There will be lots of surprises, so I don’t want to give anything away, but we’re working with some NT artists, such as Ben Graetz and Jason De Santos. These guys have been doing lots of art, like Cabaret Drag Queen crossover theatre, and that’s a very exciting element to this work.
The collaborative element is a big artistic springboard. In every way we’re breaking open aspects of this show: the concept of burlesque, the concept of collaboration, the concept of theatre and music – as well as and our personal cultures, Aboriginal culture, African culture, Polynesian culture, and also [delving into] what it is to be in this crazy country called Australia. All of that’s up for grabs in the show.
The collaborative element is a big artistic springboard. In every way we’re breaking open aspects of this show: the concept of burlesque, the concept of collaboration, the concept of theatre and music – as well as and our personal cultures, Aboriginal culture, African culture, Polynesian culture, and also [delving into] what it is to be in this crazy country called Australia. All of that’s up for grabs in the show.
Madeleine: So what we are going to see here in Darwin is different to what somebody else might see in another city, because of the collaboration with local artists?
Candy: Yeah, we pick up local artists wherever the show tours, although this will be the main stage premiere for this show.
Madeleine: What would people would be surprised to know about you?
Candy: I feel like I got introduced to DarwinlLast year because I did my show ‘Australian Booty’ and I feel like that audience will be surprised with a lot of things in the ‘Hot Brown’ show.
It’s probably a bit naughtier, a bit stickier and a bit messier than anything else I do. I think they wouldn't be surprised to know I’ve got a really dark sense of humour, and that I like to push boundaries.
It’s probably a bit naughtier, a bit stickier and a bit messier than anything else I do. I think they wouldn't be surprised to know I’ve got a really dark sense of humour, and that I like to push boundaries.
Madeleine: What’s it like working on a show like this with your sister?
Candy: It’s been really interesting because we’ve worked together on so many other things. Busty was really the one who said, "Hey, I don’t see a lot of brown women at these burlesque events, why don’t we do something?"
Me and Lisa were a bit like, "Burlesque? Are you serious?" She performs a lot more in this show than in any other show, because I said, "Well you’re the one that wanted to do it so get out there".
That’s a big thing for her, too. I’m the director, Busty is the musical director and Lisa Fa’alafi is the choreographer. I’m directing her [Busty] to do more, so that’s new. We’re really trying to... expand the concepts of body, beauty, sexuality and stuff like that . I guess we don’t see so much diversity in the Burlesque scene, we don’t see really diverse black bodies, which you're going to see in this show.
Me and Lisa were a bit like, "Burlesque? Are you serious?" She performs a lot more in this show than in any other show, because I said, "Well you’re the one that wanted to do it so get out there".
That’s a big thing for her, too. I’m the director, Busty is the musical director and Lisa Fa’alafi is the choreographer. I’m directing her [Busty] to do more, so that’s new. We’re really trying to... expand the concepts of body, beauty, sexuality and stuff like that . I guess we don’t see so much diversity in the Burlesque scene, we don’t see really diverse black bodies, which you're going to see in this show.
Madeleine: I didn’t actually have tickets but after talking to you I’m pretty keen to come along. [Candy laughs]. What's the best or worst thing to happen since you started working on the show?
Candy: Trying to get all the artists in one space has been really hard work. We’ve done everything via satellite until this moment, so that’s got to be the most difficult thing: not all being in a room together.
The most exciting thing to date is working on the costumes. I’ve got a pretty big ‘Lion King’ number in the show. [We both laugh]. So I have been talking to my friend working on this funny, comic, Lion King outfit... thinking, "Should it be fur or should it be sequins? Sequins, brown sequins." I think, probably more so with than other Burlesque show, people are going to laugh.
The most exciting thing to date is working on the costumes. I’ve got a pretty big ‘Lion King’ number in the show. [We both laugh]. So I have been talking to my friend working on this funny, comic, Lion King outfit... thinking, "Should it be fur or should it be sequins? Sequins, brown sequins." I think, probably more so with than other Burlesque show, people are going to laugh.
Madeleine: So you have comedy wrapped into the show as well?
Candy: Absolutely!
Madeleine: What or who inspires you?
Candy: That’s so interesting. From a really young age I knew I wanted to be a performer and I got into NIDA when I was 19. I’ve just always been interested in telling stories, making people laugh, but having a bit of consciousness around that. Like our kids show, there is consciousness around it. So in a way this is a bit of a testing ground here in Darwin, I mean its brand new, really I’m s***ing myself in some ways. The most inspiring thing though is when I do shows and bunches of young women, and old women actually, come and say, "Please keep going, I really like having this alternative idea of femininity, sexuality, womanhood, sisterhood and all of that."
Madeleine: I was going to ask you, 'If you weren’t doing what you do, is there anything you would be doing instead?' But it doesn’t sound like you would be doing anything else!
Candy: It’s a hard one because I was actually sewing these crazy costumes, I’ve got five costume changes of course, and I’m just the host. We brought so much luggage, they were just like "Oh, oh, is that a tail?" and I’m like, "Shhhhh!" Yeah, like, I guess... what was the question sorry?
Madeleine: Is there anything you would do instead?
Candy: Oh god, I’d probably be a little bit of a frustrated teacher, like a drama, English or primary school teacher... but a bit frustrated.
A far cry from the classroom, ‘Hot Brown Honey Burlesque’ will serve up a saucy mixed dish of dance, poetry, comedy, striptease and song opening this Friday the 23rd of July at the Lighthouse.
When
Fri Aug 23 - Sun Aug 25 11pm
Where
Tickets
All Tickets $25
Bookings
Attention
Limited Seating
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