Dive. Poetic. Murri.
Sizzling hot concrete. Rainbow towels on half-dead grass. On a hot summer’s day, bodies of all shapes, colours and sizes journey to the public pool longing to do one thing…
swim.
Mununjali poet Ellen van Neerven is one of Australia’s finest and most awarded writers (Throat, Heat and Light). swim is their debut work for the stage.
Genderfluid protagonist E negotiates the space between the men’s and women’s change rooms. They flex in front of the cute pool attendant. As they step onto the diving blocks, the words of their Aunty come to them—and suddenly, the crystalline blue tiles give way to much deeper water.
swim is delicate and tough, honest and achingly beautiful—and it muses on everything from the sovereignty of water to gender identity and the binding strength of culture and family. Told with cheek and heart by Baad/Yawuru performer Dani Sib (Bran Nue Dae), Griffin Theatre Company is proud to premiere this work on Gadigal Land at Carriageworks before it travels to Yugambeh Country (Gold Coast) for an exclusive season on Country at BLEACH* Festival.
Don your goggles and get ready to hit the fast lane.
Want to go deeper? View the online program
Director Andrea James
Movement Director Kirk Page
Designer Romanie Harper
Lighting Designer Karen Norris
Composer & Sound Designer Brendon Boney
Video Designer Samuel James
Cultural Consultant Aunty Jenny Fraser
Cultural Consultant Lann Levinge
Cultural Consultant Aunty Maria van Neerven
Gender & Inclusivity Consultant Bayley Turner
Stage Manager Isabella Kerdijk
Production Manager Damion Holling
Senior Producer Elinor King
Associate Producer Cassie Hamilton
Associate Producer Paris Mordecai
With Sandy Greenwood, Dani Sib
Workshop Dramaturg Bryan Andy
Workshop Choreographer Yolande Brown
Workshop Performer Hannah Donnelly
Presented at Carriageworks
10 – 27 July
Venue
Carriageworks, Track 8
Previews 10 & 11 July
Opening Nights 12 & 13 July
Season 15 – 27 July
Performance Times
Monday – Friday 7pm
Saturday 1pm & 7pm
Meet The Artists Tuesday 16 July
Captioned Performance Tuesday 23 July
Trans and Gender Diverse Night Wednesday 24 July
Run Time
65 minutes (no interval)
Also presented at BLEACH* Festival 2024, Yugambeh Country (Gold Coast)
1 – 11 August
Book tickets at bleachfestival.com.au
2024 Main Season Tickets Pricing
| swim | ||
| Full | Standard | $72 |
| Preview | $62 | |
| Senior | Standard | $67 |
| Preview | $57 | |
| Concession | Standard | $55 |
| Preview | $50 | |
| Under 35 | Standard | $42 |
| Preview | $37 | |
| Mob Tix | Standard | $25 |
| Rush | Standard | $25 |
2024 Season Subscription Pricing
2 PLAYS
(swim + Flat Earthers: The Musical)
| Full | Standard | $151 |
| Preview* | $122 | |
| Senior | Standard | $141 |
| Preview* | $112 | |
| Concession | Standard | $122 |
| Preview* | $107 | |
| Under 35 | Standard | $100 |
| Preview* | $88 |
*Thursday matinée prices for Flat Earthers: The Musical
Rehearsal Images
By Brett Boardman
“Actor Dani Sib brings incredible focus to the lead role, delivering unassailable authenticity whilst having us absolutely captivated, as they explore a multitude of tangential reflections, about a life that refuses to be encapsulated in a convenient narrative.” ★★★★—Suzy Wrong, Suzy Goes See
“As the main character, non-binary Sib has created a multi-layered athletic E, bringing a mix of defiance, resilience and humour. The play is almost a one-person show and Sib’s energetic performance commanded attention throughout.” ★★★1/2—Joyce Morgan, The Sydney Morning Herald
“It’s more about the specifics than the universal which makes this near-monologue a compelling journey. There are familiar elements examined from newer angles and the whole becomes something more quixotic and interesting than the parts.” ★★★1/2—Chad Armstrong, Cultural Binge
“With its meditative visuals and some shining moments, it is overall well worth diving into swim.”—Charlotte Smee, Time Out Sydney
This production of swim contains spoken descriptions of child abuse, grooming, domestic abuse, transphobia, homophobia and racism. The play also contains references to sexism, sexual abuse, suicide, self-harm, gender dysphoria and violence. The production makes use of flashing lights, theatrical smoke and haze.
Please contact us on [email protected] or (02) 9332 1052 if you require further detail, additional specific content specifications or have any questions.
swim has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body and supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and by the NSW Government through Create NSW. This project was first developed by Moogahlin Performing Arts through the Yellamundie Festival 2019. Script development continued in 2020 by Moogahlin Performing Arts, with the support of the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Sydney. Creative developments have received generous support from Malcolm Robertson Foundation, Robert Dick and Erin Shiel and Home of the Arts (HOTA). swim has been developed with support from BlakDance and continued support from Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
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@griffintheatre