Lilikoi Kaos Bent Burlesque Bend Interview

Lilikoi Kaos Bent Burlesque Bend Interview

Joining 2014's fantastic Midsumma programme, the notorious Imogen Kelly returns with The Benders, back with an all-new adults-only show - BEND - the consolidated creative juices of three years of Bent Burlesque.

This isn't burlesque as you know it; BEND is a considered evisceration of all things pretty, fluffy and sweet. Satirical, sexy and outrageously hilarious, this is where burlesque meets art whilst having a back street dalliance with the immoral side of feminine humour.

Voted No. 4 in the world's Top 50 burlesque artists, Imogen Kelly, also Australia's Queen of Burlesque and World Queen of Burlesque 2012, heads an all-star cast from the performance underbelly of Australia and past Bent Burlesque offenders, including Lillian Starr, Glita Supernova, Betty Grumble, and this year's special guest Lilikoi Kaos of 'Sideshow" fame and splendour!

BEND is two action-packed hours of gratuitous, highly skilled ribald performances, showcasing Australia's best 'vajazzle razzlers" in a wild, shocking and delightful evening of twisted tease, erratic erotica, carnal 'carnivalia" and grotesque burlesque.

Bend
Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 1st, 2014
Wonderland Spiegeltent, 120 Pearl River Road, Docklands
Doors at 7.30/ show 8.30pm
Tickets to BEND are $35 ($30 concession or $27.50 for group bookings of six or more) and available to purchase on line at: http://midsumma.org.au/program/performing-arts/bend/book

Interview with Lilikoi Kaos

Lilikoi Kaos is an original performer working across circus, sideshow, physical theatre, comedy, and burlesque. As a second-generation contemporary circus performer she grew up travelling the world as part of an international community of innovative artists. Drawing inspiration from around the globe, her performing style is both unique and skilful. She has dazzled hundreds of audiences, performing in intimate cabarets, Udderbelly in London, the Circus Oz big top, the main stages of music festivals, Crown Palladium, and international circus festivals.

Along with performing, Lilikoi writes, produces and directs and has formed a number of ground-breaking companies. In 2011 she was selected by London's Roundhouse to produce a circus performance, Concentrics, making use of Ron Arad's installation, Curtain Call. In 2010 the Byron Bay Bluesfest hired her to curate and debut Kaos Kreepshow. For the inaugural season of Circus Works at Theatre Works in 2009 she was part of the all female circus group Parasouls for whom she wrote, directed, and performed in a show examining notions of perfection, ideas of oddity, and women's roles through history. She also formed circus/sideshow group Opposable Thumbs (with Gordo Gamsby and Manx) and was integral to the creation of Australia's first youth run youth circus Trick for whom she directed and performed in the show that won the 2006 Melbourne Fringe -Best Circus Show' , -Best Family Show' and -ACAPTA' awards.

Lilikoi has also collaborated on projects and videos with other companies and artists including: Carnival Cinema, The League of Sideshow Superstars, Cirlesque, the Meat Packers Union, Good Kissing Carrion, Die Roten Punkte, Rottica, Fools Like Us, and others.

Question: How would you describe BEND?

Lilikoi Kaos: Alternative, intelligent, hilarious, queer, outstanding, unique.

Question: Why should those who've never seen a burlesque performance choose BEND for their first?

Lilikoi Kaos: It's unique and unusual. Crème de la Crème of abstract thinkers and performers and they will be hard pressed to find another line up so full of groundbreaking talent.


Question: What should audiences expect from BEND?

Lilikoi Kaos: To leave wet.


Question: What role do you play in BEND?

Lilikoi Kaos: I always play Lilikoi Kaos. Who has various faces and personalities, but is always -The Princess of Circus, Sideshow & Vaudeville' (TimeOut UK). I'll be bringing the twisted, high skill, explosive, sexy and unique sideshow/circus skills and will be lucky enough to be girt by burlesque powerhouses.

 

 

Question:  Could you talk us through the preparation that goes into a show, such as this?

 

Lilikoi Kaos:   All the performers in this show are incredibly strong entertainers in their own right. They have built up their chops all over the world from dingy underground queer events to massive stadium gigs. We come in with our own acts and ideas, then Imogen puts them into a cohesive running order. This show will have some crowd favorites and some new/never seen acts.

 

Question:  How long have you been performing?

 

Lilikoi Kaos:   My mother is an Hawaiian Circus Performer Single Mum, so my brother and I grew up traveling and performing with her. I was inspired by an incredible community of fascinating and amazing performers who nurtured and took care of me, a huge circus family. I was also lucky enough to be one of the first second generation -contemporary' circus performers so there weren't many other kids. The performers talked and interacted with me as a human, not a child and so I was privy to incredible artistic conversations which have had a huge impact on how I perform and what I perform. So, I have been performing on and off my whole life. I have a photo of me walking on stage (with some assistance) in a tutu to be in a trick with my mum when I was 5months old.

 

 

Question: Can you tell us about your hoola hoop act?

 

Lilikoi Kaos:  I could… but physical performance is better when it's seen than when it's retold…ie come, I promise it won't disappoint.

 

 

Question: Who or what inspires you?

Lilikoi Kaos: Oh I have a lot of inspirations but I'll talk about the Australian ones and particularly the ones I work with now. Imogen Kelly was a big inspiration for me. I watched her talking about burlesque at the first 'Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association" Conference, were I was also invited to chat. The way Imogen held that room and entertained by recounting her huge knowledge while stripping was pure brilliance. I was already interested in the abstract, sexual and alternative, growing up in the circus industry made sideshow and burlesque seem a little more rebellious…so I pursued that quite young. Other inspirations that I work with now are the Moira Finucane and Azaria Universe who I work with in Finucane and Smith shows, most recently Glory Box. Both of this women are incredible, inspiring, talented, intelligent, alternative, Australian performance icons and it's an honour to get to share the stage with them. Last year we took Glory Box to Buenos Aires to be part of its International Arts festival FIBA which was mind blowing. They had never seen anything like us. Australia has the privilege of a lot of incredible alternative performers coming from here and when we go to other countries they are blown away by the difference and excitement we bring.

Question: What's it like working with Imogen Kelly?

Lilikoi Kaos: It is always great to work with people you respect. She is incredibly creative and encourages others to keep raising the bar.

Question: What's next for you?

Lilikoi Kaos: Oh it's a big year, filled with exciting adventures and new collaborations. Straight after BEND I go to Jakarta for 4 days, then to Sydney for -LOVE ME' and teaching, then WA for Fringe World, straight on to Adelaide Fringe with Moira Finucane doing a 2 week season of Glory Box the same version of the show we took to Buenos Aires last ….and that's just Feb and March.


For more information visit: www.lilikoikaos.com

Interview by Brooke Hunter