The zombie apocalypse has arrived. TikTok is the primary method of communication. Sheree and Tash, AKA '@BLKBUNKERBTCHES' are documenting their survival online – this is 'Eat Slay Zombie' at Brisbane's La Boite Theatre.
Created by Githabul-Migunberri-Yugumbeh woman Alinta McGrady, in collaboration with Samoan-Australian artist Lisa Fa’alafi, 'Eat Slay Zombie' draws on familiar elements from our own world, blending live performance, music, movement and visual design. . . Exploring how Sheree and Tash navigate a world that is actively trying to kill them.
Ahead of its Brisbane run, we chat to 'Eat Slay Zombie' Playwright Alinta McGrady.
What inspired you to write a show like this?
I love watching shows that are multi-disciplinary. So not only just straight theatre, but music and dance and I love comedy as well. So creating a work that I would want to go and see in the theatre was really important to me. Also, creating characters like two strong Black women who knew how to fight and kick ass. I definitely wanted to write something that embodied that.
Zombie apocalypses, TikTok, a bowling alley. It all sounds like a bit of fun, but there’s definitely some important messaging here. Why write it for this setting?
A zombie apocalypse seems like it was a cool setting that really reflected what it feels like to be a Black woman living in so-called Australia.
You’ve co-directed the work with Lisa Fa’alafi. What has it been like to work with her?
Yes, co-working with Lisa is an absolute dream. I've worked with Lisa previously with Polytoxic productions and also performed in and toured 'Hot Brown Honey', and I'm always deeply inspired by the work that she creates for Indigenous women all around the world and giving voice to them. And so it made sense that she would be a part of this journey and bring this work in particular to light. I also feel like we work so well together in the sense that Lisa's very 'attention to detail', and I feel that I'm very 'big picture' sometimes. So we complement each other in that way. And I learn so much from her every single time we work together.
Its beginnings are in Playlab Theatre/the QPAC First Nations Programming Unit. Talk a bit about its journey from inception to now being presented at La Boite Theatre.
So, 'Eat Slay Zombie' was birthed through the Sparks programme, run by PlayLab Theatre and QPAC. Shout out to Alex Bayliss and Lara Croydon for being facilitators of that. They did an amazing job with that programme. It was such a huge learning curve, learning how to write a play. It's definitely come a long way from those early days to now. It's really nice to reflect on and see the journey that these characters have developed into.
And why is La Boite such a perfect space for ‘Eat Slay Zombie’?
La Boite is the perfect space for 'Eat Slay Zombie' because it is big and we are going bigger and better this time for this next season, which is really exciting. La Boite's theatre helps with upscaling and the vision of making it large.
What’s the greatest reward you’d say you’ve taken away from the creative experience of putting ‘Eat Slay Zombie’ together?
I'd say it's making connections with people and working with some really amazing creatives and just awesome humans. I really take that seriously in the sense that I am very particular on who I would like to work with. This time it's been such a dream, with everyone. All the creatives, all the cast involved. And I love being in the rehearsal space and having a big laugh. We laugh a lot and I find the laughs really rewarding and that's what makes me want to keep being in the space and keep doing what we're doing.
What about the biggest challenge?
I think it would be because there are so many components to this play. . . We've got the TikTok. We've got music, we've got dance, elements, it's not just a straight up play with just text. There are many moving parts. And so that is always a big challenge working in that kind of multi art-form way.
How are you hoping audiences respond to the work?
I really hope they come and they have a really good laugh, but are also able to see the layers in this show. This show is about relationships. It's about friendship. It's about First Nations people and how we exist in this space. I hope this evokes conversation.
'Eat Slay Zombie' plays La Boite Theatre (Brisbane) 14-30 May.
