Produced by Theatre iNQ
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Performance Dates and Times
Wed 9 Oct - 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Thu 10 Oct - 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (AUSLAN)
Fri 11 Oct - 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Prices
Adult - $35
Concession/Student - $30
Group (4) - $120
Companion - Free
Show Description
Meet Tracey Gordon. She’s 14, bursting with hormones and the recklessness of youth. The more she learns about the world, the less she understands. Friendship, sex, school, periods, raves, tampons, white boys, God, money – Tracey will say and do anything she wants. But deep down, she is a child, lost in a world that doesn’t seem to have a place for her.
Written by multi-award winning actress/writer Michaela Coel, Chewing Gum Dreams is a fierce one-woman roller-coaster ride of a show! Directed by Terri Brabon and featuring Faduma Ali.
2024 NAFA Review
Faduma Ali delivers a captivating and emotionally charged performance in her portrayal of Tracey Gordon in this one-woman show, directed by TheatreiNQ’s Terri Brabon. Reprising this role after a run of shows in 2023, Ali returns with this dynamic performance in the city where her acting career began and flourished in the Bridge Project. The show, written by British actress, filmmaker and poet, Michaela Coel offers a striking portrayal of a street-wise but vulnerable 14-year-old girl navigating the complexities of adolescence, relationships, and rejection.
The structure of the play is smartly broken into a series of monologues and dialogues, with Ali effortlessly shifting between characters—her portrayal of both Tracey and other characters she interacts with is nothing short of impressive. Her ability to embody multiple personalities while maintaining the raw authenticity of Tracey's character keeps the audience engaged throughout the performance.
The minimalist design of the set - a bus stop in London's Hackney - serves as a brilliant metaphor for the transient and unpredictable nature of Tracey's journey. Despite the simplicity of the set, it is cleverly transformed into various locations such as a bedroom, classroom, and a friend's front door, showing how much can be achieved with a single prop when coupled with a talented performer and sharp direction.
Ali captures Tracey's street-smart exterior, but also brings to life her underlying vulnerability. The character’s quick wit, sass, and resilience mask a deeper struggle to navigate life’s hard lessons—lessons that come faster than they should for a young girl of her age.
Brabon’s direction is tight and focused, allowing Ali’s talent to shine without distraction. The emotional depth and range Ali displays as she shifts between humorous and heartbreaking moments reflect Coel’s skillful writing, bringing authenticity to this coming-of-age story.
- Andrew Snee
General Show Information
MA15+ | 60 Minutes | Curated
Acknowledgements
Chewing Gum Dreams was first performed by the Yard Theatre in association with the Bush Theatre on 17th July 2012. By arrangement with Maison Two Ltd.
Image Credit: Sonia Warrell - Hello Muse.
Accessibility
Please check our website here for details.
Presented by North Australian Festival of Arts