Poona

Roshelle Fong & Keziah Warner (VIC)

  • 50% visual content
  • Wheelchair access
  • Blaktix

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.

Sponsored by:

  • Chinese Museum
  • City of Melbourne
  • Australia Council

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.