Too Much Hair
Butch Mermaid | Inter Arts
Overview
Too Much Hair is a new musical celebration of Aotearoa’s trans and gender nonconforming community, created and performed by gender diverse artists.
Representation matters.
You can’t be what you can’t see - and we want to celebrate the joyous, beautiful, and transformative aspects of going beyond the binary.
Live at BATS in May!
Following a development season in Ōtautahi and digital (thanks covid 🙄 ) seasons during Auckland Pride and Wellington Fringe, Too Much Hair is coming to BATS 24 May - 3 June (tickets available now!).
But first, we need your help.
We’re crowdfunding so we can pay our performers for all their rehearsal and performance time.
It’s hard enough to pay artists at the best of times, let alone in the throes of a capacity-limiting pandemic, so we’re turning to our community to help make this show happen.
Why Too Much Hair?
The title Too Much Hair is inspired by a poem by Hone Tuwhare, from an edition illustrated by Ralph Hotere. In this poem, God is described as “A faceless /hermaphrodite / in turns / displaying / much lovingness / much stern-ness / too much hair.”
Anyone who has had a drain clogged by it, or found an errant follicle in an otherwise delicious food, will be able to attest to the frustrations hair can bring.
When it comes to fashion and gender presentation, hair poses even more difficulties. Do you wear it long? Is that too feminine? What is an acceptable level of hair on various parts of one’s body? Do you shave your face, legs, or even arms? What about those pesky eyebrows?
Help us create a sense of gender euphoria.
When it comes to gender, these expectations can feel very fixed. With this show, we’re about exploding expectations about gender and giving everyone a sense of gender euphoria - the feeling of joy that happens when we connect with what is the right gender expression for us, regardless of what anyone else might say.
Thank you so much for your support!
The Too Much Hair whānau
FEATURING
Ania Upstill
William Duignan
Jthan Morgan
Felix Crossley-Pritchard
ANIA (they/they)
Ania is a graduate of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre (Professional Training Program), Ania’s work celebrates LGBTQIA+ artists with a focus on gender diversity.
In 2021, they co-created Queer ballet Sapphic Lake (BATS); Into the Bush, queer circus theatre at TAPAC in Auckland; Proud Voices, an international audio festival; and acted in Once (Court Theatre. Other performance credits include solo clown show Transhumance; In Many Hands (Brooklyn Academy of Music); Thou Shalt Not; and R+J: A Genderqueer/Female Reimagination.
WILLIAM (he/him)
William is a graduate of the Victoria University of Wellington (Masters of Arts in Creative Writing), William has been working in musical theatre since 2010.
Notable productions include: Phantom of the Opera; Grease; Kiwi Moon (Capital E), Rocky Horror Picture Show; and Once (The Court Theatre). As a writer and designer for theatre, notable projects include original musicals Boxed and WEiRdO, set design for Isaac’s Eye (Circa Theatre), and marketing design for BATS Theatre, Circa Theatre, Playmarket, Capital E, Basement Theatre, Q Theatre, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
JTHAN (she, he, ia)
Jthan, of Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Rongowhakaata and Samoan descent, is a Poneke based takatāpui artist/performer/producer. JTHAN is known on the Wellington Theatre scene for her vocals, her curly fro and big personality.
The ‘Diva with a heart of Marshmallow’ - JTHAN can often be found touring Aotearoa with Theatre for Children or performing on the waterfront at Circa Theatre as part of their annual pantomime! Recent credits include Presenting... The Tiwhas!, The Little Mermaid, CubaDupa, Story Studio Live, and Things I Know To Be True. Jthan is excited to be a part of the Too Much Hair whānau, and take up the challenge of learning to play BASS!
FELIX (he/him)
Felixis originally from North Wales and grew up in Aotearoa’s South Island. Felix Crossley-Pritchard moved to Wellington to study Stage & Screen Arts at Te Auaha in 2018, followed by further studies in the MFA Theatre course at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington.
Felix has developed a passion for music-based theatre, creating both solo and collaborative pieces ranging from physical theatre to classical dance. Too Much Hair is an exciting new venture for Felix - combining an opportunity to explore new avenues as a performer, and a celebration of music-led storytelling.
Donors
-
Selina Powell
-
Anonymous
-
Jeremy Hunt
-
Moo Butler
-
Liz Butler
You’re doing amazing work!
Project Updates
What *is* gender euphoric musical chaos, anyway?
It's a bunch of queers partying at a children's pool.
Today we released our Justin Beaver QueeRedux (ft Jthan Morgan) of 'Beauty and a Beat.' We had a truly euphoric time making this and hope you enjoy it.
Please share it far and wide, and help us spread the word about this campaign and the show. Every little bit helps!
If you don't already have your tickets, what are you waiting for‽ https://bats.co.nz/whats-on/too-much-hair/
Project Owner
