Seen & Heard - Melbourne Fringe Festival review

We always look at performers with an air of admiration about how confident and sure of themselves they are, and while we may follow their careers for years, how well do we really know them? Created by burlesque artist Becky Lou, Seen & Heard is a show that revolves around the art of storytelling and performance that allows audiences to not only get to know the person behind the performer but also provides an opportunity for performers to expose themselves in ways they never have before. 

Becky Lou gets the evening underway with a titillating burlesque routine that then leads to her recollecting a tale about her decision to not have children and her teenage ‘pregnancy’ scare. It sets the tone well for what will be an evening of openness and engaging stories. 

Seen & Heard is very much a variety show with various guests each evening, however the artists that Becky Lou has chosen to take part in this season of the show fully commit to being authentic and honest with their stories. It is a strange feeling seeing these people become quite vulnerable with the issue or topic they have chosen to share with an audience.

Cabaret diva Mama Alto gives a touching recount of growing up somewhere between two genders and the sanctuary that they find in music. Circus artist Anna Lumb takes a humorous look at the stress and pressure of being a person with two jobs (the circus and a parent), about being an ‘in-betweener’ and how sometimes that that is exactly where you should be.
 
Electronic cabaret chanteuse Jessamae St James tells a thoughtful story about growing up in a small town and how even the smallest of moments can have a huge impact on people and never taking these for granted, while performance artist Jessica McKerlie's memories on bullying and the stigma of being gay in small town is a stirring reminder of how far we’ve still got to go to reach true equality.

Seen & Heard allows audiences to see these entertainers in a very different light. The show blurs the boundaries between performance and confessional, so that by the end of this intimate evening, there is a stronger connection between us and the performers we love to see on stage, but rarely get to hear from.

Click here for my interview with Becky Lou.


Show Information

Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne 

Season: until 1 October | Mon - Sun 10:00pm 
Length: 60 minutes 
Tickets: $32 Full | $28 Conc (use secret code word SEEN for a discounted price - online only) 
Bookings: Melbourne Fringe Festival