White Line Fever
Matt Aitken (WA) & Lyndon Blue (VIC)
Auslan interpreted performance Wed 27 May
The crisp air on your face as you enter the stadium. The prickling of your skin as pre-game nerves settle in. The stirring of the sun-kissed day-drunk crowd. The intoxicating spell of the grandstand, jammed with screaming devotees. The coin toss, the white maggot’s whistle, a set shot after the siren, the silence of anticipation.
White Line Fever is a series of training sessions for AFL supporters of all creeds to embrace the deep energies of fandom and harness the “fire in the belly”. Artists Matt Aitken, Lyndon Blue, and the White Line Fever coaching team will usher you through the most magical moments of recent footy history to relive the rituals and ecstasy of our national game.Expect devotional drills, rivalry rites, and whiteboard magnetism to purge toxic pigskin energies and lift long-held curses.
Content Warnings
This production contains theatrical haze effects, dynamic sound and lighting. It also contains mature themes and some coarse language.
Audiences should note there will be an open flame during the final performance on Saturday May 30.
Devised and performed by Matt Aitken and Lyndon Blue
Producer – Julia Suddenly
Dramaturge– Dan Koop
Cultural & Historical Consultants- Troy Bennell, Cassie Lynch
Lighting, SFX + Set Designers – Tszuj (Carla Zimbler and Mikaela Stafford)
Auxiliary Performer – Elliott Gee
Special thanks to Mareene Aitken, Lindsay Blue, and Jamie Lewis.
Matt Aitken is a West Australian artist and educator working in social practice, video & dodgy graphic design. Drawing from his background in Cultural Anthropology and DIY music, Matt’s practice uses collaboration, friendship and humour to investigate local and national identity. He’s made work for International Art Space (IaS), Perth Festival, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA) and the Museum of Water. Matt is currently investigating river canoeing, romantic geography and suburban mythology.
Lyndon Blue is a musician, writer and artist from Boorloo (Perth), currently based in Naarm/Birraranga (Melbourne). They work across diverse mediums, drawing on pop, vernacular and esoteric traditions. Lyndon’s work often deals with chance-driven aesthetic intrigue, ‘magic’ evocations and ritual, and art as a tool for disrupting the status quo. Lyndon has presented work at the Art Gallery of WA, PICA, Cool Change Contemporary and Hobiennale. Previously, Blue was Performance Curator at Success Arts Space (Fremantle).