BearTiger Productions in association with bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company, proudly present the launch of Australia’s only American led theatre company, The Americas. With an aim to share multifaceted stories of the U.S. experience with Australian audiences, The Americas also commits themselves to being inclusive of Diversity both onstage and behind it. And that is evident in their opening season of L-O-V-E playing tonight until August 31 at KXT on Broadway, Sydney.
“I’ll always praise my mother to whom this would never be possible, without: a Black girl from Apartheid South Africa introduced me to Shakespeare and this work is infused with her compassion, knowledge, commitment to excellence, and love of the art. I could not have dreamt this – even if I tried.” – Kai Paynter, Creator & Director.
‘L-O-V-E, created & directed by NY artist Kai Paynter [Best Director winner at 2024 Short+Sweet Sydney] showcases nine short plays, eight written by NY-based playwright Allan Staples [Recipient of the American Theatre Co-op award for best one-act play]. His plays explore the dynamics of love and relationships in modern America. The ninth play, Alyssa’s World, written by Kai, recounts a child’s perspective on love, weaving together all eight plays. The show addresses relatable themes including culture & communication; social & political implications; health, death & bodily autonomy; black and queer love.‘
The show features a Diverse ensemble cast, lead by women, including Indigenous Australian & African-American Actor, Shakira Clanton and 2023 Australia’s The Voice sensation, Gezel Bardossi. What stands out, is that this Diversity extends behind the scenes and into a culturally-diverse crew, something that can oftentimes be rare.
“As an Indigenous African American woman, this show holds significant meaning for me on multiple levels. It celebrates relationships and love in its purest form, without succumbing to stereotypical portrayals based on cultural backgrounds. The script and incredible direction focus on the essence of the story itself, rather than conforming to predefined cultural narratives. This approach allows for a more genuine exploration of relatable themes—whether they be joyful, poignant, or humorous—making the show resonate deeply with its audience.” – Shakira Clanton, Actor.
When stories feature culturally-diverse experiences, knowing that they are also being directed, handled and told by others of similar backgrounds – not only ensures care for those stories, but ensures that they are told as authentically and truthfully as possible. It also gives these characters the opportunity to shine in ways that go beyond traditional stereotypes.
“I believe it’s crucial to move beyond the stereotypical frameworks that often confine us. It is my hope that through our work, we can contribute to a broader, more inclusive representation in the arts, allowing new narratives and faces to emerge regardless of cultural background or gender.”
shakira clanton, actor
L-O-V-E smartly weaves together unique and familiar stories of the rollercoaster that is – love. At times it can amalgamate into tragedy, throw us into a vulnerable mess of confusion, force us to open previously buried wounds, yet it can also gift us with something to hold on to and believe in when faced with the hard moments of life.
“The process of building this company and show – from sourcing cast & crew to producing – has been deeply meaningful for me as a Black/biracial woman. I’ve had the distinct honour of retelling Allan Staples’ stories from my lived and varied cultural experience; I can’t tell you what it means to give that voice, to be seen! I might say that it’s been healing, transformative but those words only scratch the surface.”
Kai Paynter, creator/director
Catch tickets to the show before this limited season sells out here:
https://events.humanitixhttps://events.humanitix.com/the-americas-l-o-ve.com/the-americas-l-o-ve
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BearTiger Productions: https://beartigerproductions.com/
The Americas: https://theamericas.beartigerproductions.com/
Rehearsal Photos by HollyMae Steane-Price & Tony Ling
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Published by Sangeetha Gowda & Marshall-Weishuai Yuan ~
Diversity Australia Magazine 