While both shows allow you to create your own meaning from what you are watching, in Dion, the exploration of love and heartbreak is also explored. "Dion is my ex girlfriend. Or everyone’s ex girlfriend. I guess we’re still exploring voyeurism and the surreal shit that happens on the streets. But this time I’m on tinder as well. And casually hooking up with strangers. And trying to work out how to be alone in the world, which, lets face it, I was before as well, it just feels more lonely now," explains writer and director of Dion and Creative Director of Gold Satino, Davina Wright. "Anyway, what better way to move on and grieve an ex than to jam three strangers in the back of your car and make them drive around with you for an hour."
"The creative process with a show such as this is a bit like a breakup. At the start, you’re all like, oh this is going to be totally fine. I’ll just go out into the world and work things out, then a couple of weeks later you cry lots, then you get angry, then you cry again. You get the drift," she says. "But it is a lot about about logistics. It’s literally Ross de Winter and I driving around in my car, looking at the streets and then trying to see how much we can get away with. Who will let us in, who watches us. We’ve been pulled over by the cops, yelled out, people are constantly trying to sell us drugs. It’s exhausting and stupid and fun. And often doesn’t feel like much of a creative process at all."
When your entire season sells out two weeks before you even open, there must be something comforting yet at the same time, terrifying about that. Clearly there is a strong audience for the theatre and experiences Gold Satino are creating. "It' even more terrifying when you sell out and you’re only midway through making a show. But yeah, I think people get excited about the adventure of the work we make, trying something different, trusting us with showing them work that isn’t going to be what they’d normally experience," she says.
Gold Satino won the 2015 Melbourne Fringe Festival Evolution Award for Suburbia, which has provided them much support in preparing Dion for this year's festival. "Winning the award also gave us space. Arts House gave us some cash dollars and a beautiful space for three weeks, which has been amazing. Also, now in all our applications we say ‘award winning’ and then lol," Wright laughs. "We really want to be like that wine no one knows about but has lots of stickers on it. In all seriousness though, Arts House are amazing, and our time in the space with them really exploded this next show and gave it legs."
One of the more interesting facets to Gold Satino (of which there are many), is that all their shows are site specific. Most recently, they presented Scrublands at La Trobe University, as well as a 2014 season of Suburbia in Frankston. However, there are two untapped sites that Wright has her heart set on working with, despite their location. "One is the Black Ranges near Stawell. It’s the most creepy glorious strange scrubland ever. And another is an old boys home on Phillip Island. Someone give me the keys to that place please. They are far away so it ultimately depends if we think we will have an audience that will travel."
With the awards and recognition for the work they're creating and a season that has sold out before it's begun, it's a pretty safe bet that people will travel. And so they should, as Gold Satino shows not only honestly explore the darker elements of the human psyche but they're also an incredibly entertaining road trip.
While the season has sold out, it is worth keeping an eye on the Melbourne Fringe Festival website for any additional shows that may be added.
FIVE QUICKIES
If you had to name your child after a vegetable what would it be?
Eggplant, Egg for short.
Which reality TV show would you most like to appear/compete on?
I can’t sing or cook and I’m not straight. So I don’t think any. Please don’t make me go on The Real L Word. I’ll be so boring. And bored.
The most irritating habit I have is all of them. I got dumped. So which should I start with? I think she hated how much I talk. And also I take really long showers. And I’m the slowest cook ever. And it takes me an hour to wash my hair and dry it. And I have some road rage issues. And I’m an intense texter. And I sometimes take a joke too far. And I don’t like capsicum. And I’m demanding.
What's a song that sums up your life?
"Love Really Hurts Without You" by Billy Ocean.
During Fringe, I really, really, really want to find a minute to nap, have a glass of wine, not take up smoking again.
Venue: Fringe Hub steps - Arts House, 521 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne, 3051
Season: 16 -25 September, 1 October | Tues - Sat 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, 10pm
Length: 60 minutes
Tickets: $31 Full | $25 Conc | $21 Cheap Tuesday
Bookings: MelbourneFringe Festival
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