Experimental

Enemies of Grooviness Eat Sh!t

A rock n roll, poetry, performance art collision on making and moving through the trouble.

  • Dates 17 - 21 Oct
  • Time 8:30pm (90 minutes)
  • Venue Arts House
$35.00
Sessions & Tickets View Comments
A surreal image of performance artist Betty Grumble with many arms, legs and heads, tossing her hair around wildly. She is a caucasian woman in her 30s and in the image she is awash with purple light while wearing a white and silver custom jumpsuit in a cowboy style. The many limbed effect is created with multiple exposures layered on the one image, giving the effect of frenzied movement.

Image Credit: Joseph Mayers

  • Performed by: Betty Grumble

  • Created by: Emma Maye Gibson

  • Presented by: Arts House and Melbourne Fringe

“Grumble does not belong to me, she belongs to the universe. Like the fractal landscape of a flower, like a drag face on the bum of a caterpillar. She has held me, and at this threshold of maturation, I let her become and unbecome me. Thank You Body!” – Emma Maye Gibson (aka Betty Grumble).

After a decade of playing within her spiritual access point and avatar, Betty Grumble performance artist Emma Maye Gibson re-emerges, bringing her latest offering, Enemies Of Grooviness Eat Sh!t, back to the stage as a mantric wish.

Across the season, Gibson returns Grumble from whence she came, performing an unfurling of the eco-feminist seeping carapace that gave her a way to heal, feel and defy the damn enemies of grooviness that keep her, them, you, all of us down.

Conjured as an antidote to the ever-present cultures of violence and ecocide, Enemies of Grooviness Eat Sh!t is poetry, a tribute, a rock n roll performance art collision, love scene and revenge fantasy. An unshaming dance and chance to allow ourselves to be seen, it is a sensual, surreal and sublime experience of an all singing, dancing, howling and loving cabaret du Sex Clown.

Let's have fun.


Creator: Emma Maye Gibson
Performers: Betty Grumble & Megana Holliday
Dramaturg / Art Doula: Victoria Spence
Original Dramaturgical Team: Dr Vivienne Linsley, Charlotte Farrell & Dr Annie Sprinkle
Care Consultant: Stella Delight
Sound Design: Betty Grumble & stereogamous
Pussy Print Flag: Ms Saffaa
Costume Design: Matthew Stegh / Haus of Helmutti
Lighting Design & Operator: Alex Torney
Producer: Performing Lines

Enemies of Grooviness Eat Sh!t is produced by Performing Lines. This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW; the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body; and was originally supported by The Red Rattler Theatre. This project received Cash to Create through the Fringe Fund, with thanks to the Pulse Giving Circle.

About Betty Grumble

Emma Maye Gibson (AKA Betty Grumble) is a Sydney based performance artist.
Largely through the avatar/war mask/love letter/critter of Betty Grumble she engages her body as a medicinal site of performative catharsis, often in a genre smash of ritual physical theatre, cabaret, performance art and multi-media. She is a proud ecosexual and believes in the spiritual powers of live space. She has her Masters in Fine Arts/Arse and has presented work at Dark Mofo, The Sydney Opera House, Sydney WorldPride, Glastonbury, Edinburgh Fringe, Perth & Adelaide Fringes, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Belvoir St Theatre, The Bearded Tit, Vivid Sydney, Brisbane Festival, Darwin Festival, Berlin Fringe and beyond. She believes in the flesh riot and is currently engaged in developing a new work under the guidance of mentor Annie Sprinkle in her world-saving trilogy of performance ceremony.

artshouse.com.au

  • Duration: 90 minutes

  • Age suitability: R18+

  • Event warnings: Contains Strobe Lights And Sustained Bright Lights, Haze Effects, Full Frontal Nudity, Frequent Coarse Language, Both Sudden And Sustained Loud Noises, Some Infrequent/Low Pressure Audience Interaction.

  • Content warnings: Violence, Sexual Assault Or Abuse, Domestic Violence, Sexual References, Death.

Post-show Artist Talk: Wed 18 October for all ticket holders
Auslan Interpreted Performance Wed 18 October, 8.30pm
Please note: If Melbourne Fringe's ticket allocation is exhausted, please try visiting the venue website.
  • Arts House
    521 Queensberry St, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051

    Wheelchair Access

    Arts House is wheelchair accessible.

    Assistance Animals
    Guide dogs and assistance animals are welcome at Arts House.

    Assistive Listening
    We have assistive listening system available to help amplify or enhance the sound quality of an event. There is no additional charge for this service, simply ask staff for assistance on arrival.

    Meet & Assist
    If you require a meet and assist service please email or call Arts House and we can arrange this for you.
    Phone (03) 9322 3720; text 0447 570 178; or email artshouse@melbourne.vic.gov.au.

    Verbal Map & Access Information about Building
    We have created a Verbal map to assist blind and low vision navigation throughout the building. You can also download Arts House Building Document which contains detailed information on amenities, access, navigation, parking and drop-off.
    https://www.artshouse.com.au/visit-arts-house/#getting-to-arts-house

    Quiet Space
    Arts House has a dedicated Quiet Space located on Ground Level near reception and opposite the accessible bathroom. It is suitable as a chill out space, prayer or parenting space and features a range of seating options, dimmable lights, sensory and stimming objects. Anyone is welcome to access the Quiet Space during venue operating hours and events.

    Getting to Arts House - Tram
    Route 57 (high floor trams only) Stop 12, North Melbourne Town Hall.
    Please note, this is not a wheelchair accessible tram

    Walk
    Arts House is 2.5km from Flinders Street Station, approximately 35 minute walk and 850m from Queen Victoria Markets, approximately 11 minute walk

    Train
    Arts House is 1.1km from North Melbourne Train Station, approximately 16 minute walk or 1.2km from Flagstaff Station, approximately 15 minute walk

    Car
    There is limited paid on-street parking on Queensberry and Errol Streets. There are two accessible on-street car parking spaces on Queensberry Street (150m to our accessible Errol Street entrance) for holders of a Parking Permit for people with Disabilities.

    Get directions See all events at this venue See detailed venue & access information

  • Full: $35.00

  • Concession: $20.00

  • Blak Tix: $10.00

Sponsors

Sessions: In Person Events

A single $5.50 transaction fee applies to your booking.

Date Time Venue

Tuesday, 17 October 2023

8:30pm

Arts House

Sold Out
 Past Event

Wednesday, 18 October 2023

8:30pm

Arts House

 Past Event

Thursday, 19 October 2023

8:30pm

Arts House

 Past Event

Friday, 20 October 2023

8:30pm

Arts House

Sold Out
 Past Event

Saturday, 21 October 2023

8:30pm

Arts House

Sold Out
 Past Event

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