Poona
Roshelle Fong & Keziah Warner (VIC)
Presented in association with the Chinese Museum
Welcome to 2050. The country is witnessing one of the tightest presidential runs in history, with one-time underdog, independent party candidate Poona Li Hung, now an unlikely frontrunner.
In 1997, the controversial book, Pauline Hanson: The Truth imagined Australia in the year 2050, run by Poona, a “lesbian… of Indian and Chinese background” and… a cyborg. Roshelle Fong and Keziah Warner bring Poona to life in this necessary and timely interactive theatre work.
As a Poona staffer on the campaign trail, only you can navigate the election cycle to determine your candidate’s future. Fasten your ‘Vote Poona’ badge, collect that last-minute polling data, and brace yourself – will Poona be voted Cyborg in Chief? The fate of the nation is up to you.
Content Warnings
This production contains theatrical haze effects, dynamic sound and lighting. It also contains mature themes and some coarse language.
Mature themes: themes relating to abuse of power and privilege, themes of racism and references to racism and references to oppression.
Poona is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and the City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program.
Creative Team
Roshelle Fong – Co-Creator/Producer
Keziah Warner – Co-Creator/Assistant Director
Isabella Vadiveloo – Director
Kat Clarke – Script Consultant
Lisa Dethridge – Script Consultant
Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa – Script Consultant
Matilda Woodroofe – Set and Costume Designer
Rachel Lee – Lighting Designer
Jess Keeffe – Sound Designer
Steph Young – Stage Manager
Vy Ray – Web and Graphic Designer
Kim Lam – Can art illustrator
Cast
Emina Ashman – Umami
Cheryl Ho – Aidee
Cecilia Low – Zi Wen
Elsa Tuet-Rosenberg – Poona
Roshelle Fong is a Chinese-Australian multidisciplinary artist whose award-winning show ‘nomnomnom’ has toured globally.
Keziah Warner is a playwright whose critically acclaimed sci-fi Control premiered at Red Stitch in 2019. Poona is their fourth collaboration and first show as co-creators.