Ro Hutson

(image by Luke Cadden)

The STORY
Inspired by my own failings to become an astronaut, a lifelong desire to be Han Solo and a fascination with the human urge to reach for the stars - I'm bringing my new clowning show A Four-Eyed Guide to the Galaxy to Melbourne Fringe this September 2014.

It's a show for anyone who's ever dreamt of taking flight and come crashing back down to Earth. It's about DIY jetpacks, loneliness, love and dogs in space. It's a modern day Icarus tale. And it's a love letter to the Universe and our very own spaceship, Planet Earth, made with deep affection and a lot of gaffa tape and cardboard.

My dream and goal for this campaign is to raise enough funds to pay the performance bills (such as venue hire, staff wages and the wage for an amazing Auslan Interpreter for closing night!) outright – so that all revenue from ticket sales can go straight back into the show to enable it to tour nationally and have a sustainable life beyond Melbourne Fringe.


Show INFO:
A Four-Eyed Guide to the Galaxy - A physical comedy about space

A Four-Eyed Guide to the Galaxy explores space flight and the urge to place our dreams in the stars, told through storytelling, clowning and physical comedy. Drawing on a life-long love of tacky DIY sci-fi sets and an obsessive desire to grow up to be Han Solo, Rowena Hutson recreates the vastness of space out of cardboard and tinfoil, taking us into orbit to discover what happens in the great black beyond. After jiggling her way into our hearts with Shaky M, Hutson is back with an ode to everyone who has ever dreamed of the stars and come crashing back to earth.

When the spaceship is down what are we prepared to sacrifice in the name of zero gravity love?

For more info on the Melbourne Fringe season click here.

(image by Amy Penrose)

The FUNDS:
Although the performance is a solo show - I'm working with a team of collaborators who are helping me bring my tinfoil space dreams to life. Each and everyone of these people, however large or small their role on the show is, are consummate professionals and total legends. I want to raise funds to ensure all of these professionals - can be paid for the extraordinary work on the show that they do.

The Professionals
The Director - Jof (Joseph O'Farrell) of The Suitcase Royale fame 
The Graphic Designer - the always incredible Rebekah Saltmarsh
The Auslan Interpreter from the delightful legends at Auslan Stage Left  (This is SUPER important to me)

The two week venue hire includes the wage for the brilliant Venue Technician who will be operating sound and lighting during the season. If I can raise the funds to pay these artists a wage, and cover the venue hire, all Box Office revenue will be able to go towards touring the show and allowing it to have a life beyond it's first little spark at Melbourne Fringe. 

Budget Breakdown:
Venue Hire for two weeks: $2,050.00
Director wage: $500.00
Graphic Designer wage: $150.00
Auslan Interpreter: $300.00

TOTAL: $3,000.00

(image by Amy Penrose)

The CHALLENGES:
I’m incredibly lucky to have the opportunity through Melbourne Fringe to be participating in the Producers Mentorship Program. It means I have access to vocational advice from Producers who’ve been there before me. It’s simply brilliant.

However performing in, and producing your own solo show is an intensely steep learning curve. Which is why I’ve made sure to bring in people at each and every step of the way who can help me with the workload so that in the end, I can concentrate on making the best possible show. You know, that old thing…

The challenges I could easily see myself facing are mostly about being too proud to ask for help when I need it and as a consequence drowning under the production workload, as well as the challenge (but absolute must) of making the show as accessible as possible. Raising funds to be able to pay fair wages means that I can work with people at the top of their game, whose contribution can only bring more excitement and craft to the project. As well as making the show as truly accessible as possible (an issue very close to my heart and one which we championed with Shaky M also), the venue itself is wheelchair accessible and I’m truly excited to be working with Auslan Stage Left again to ensure the closing night performance is Auslan Interpreted.

Space is a terrifying and beautiful place. It sounds quite a lot like making a show. I would be honoured if you'd take my space journey with me.

Ro xoxo