Eloise Maree and Scott Wings are lynchpins of two of Brisbane’s exciting arts collectives.
Eloise is the artistic producer of Velvet Helmet, an underground cabaret event. Scott represents Ruckus Slam, the eclectic live poetry and performance ensemble.
They have teamed together to host Velvet Helmet presents… Best After Party Ever! And here, they interview each other ahead of the show that also doubles as the official after party for Brisbane Powerhouse’s Wonderland Festival.
Eloise: Scott, you have travelled the world learning your craft and performing, what is so exciting about Brisbane that makes you keep returning?
Scott: To be honest it's the weather! From spoken word to theatre there's a lot to explore in Brisbane that is untapped because there is an underlying assumption that culture doesn't really exist here. So we do what we want! Working with Velvet Helmet has been an experience that's for sure. It's taught us that there are always bigger fish to fry and there is always room to improve. And it's challenged us to work in an environment we're not familiar with. So you can bet we'll take this experience and run with it into the future.
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Scott: How did you go about programming so many fantastic acts Eloise? Did you Facebook stalk everyone or what? Bribery? Blackmail? Was it a Wonderland (Brisbane Powerhouse) team-up? It's almost a miracle you've got so many artists in the one room.
Eloise: That's very flattering! Quite a bit of Facebook stalking, actually. You've got to appeal to the artists’ interests somehow! Also Velvet Helmet works hard as a company to make sure we understand what artists want to get out of their practice, no matter what stage they're at, and offer them the chance to explore this in a supportive environment. It's what keeps them coming back I guess.
Scott: Velvet Helmet is all about giving artists a go and also giving audiences a place to see amazing acts. BUT payment is always an issue. How do you go about making sure artists are paid properly and fairly while also giving audiences an accessible event? And by accessible I mean cheap….
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Eloise: Oh, well I’m sure Ruckus grapple with that too! Actually, every company in Australia does, and it's a real shame we don't see more investment into artists careers in Australia. So we aim to stay really transparent with what we can offer and it becomes a family tree in the sense that if the artists bring it we can water their roots with the golden fertiliser. That’s money, not, erm…We want it to stay cheap so low-socio-economic audiences can still see high-quality performance. Thus the forest grows... Something like that…
Scott: And yeah Ruckus deals with the payment thing a lot too. Hell, on rare occasions people even ask why they should pay! And then they see the acts and go "whoa". Unless they're massive idiots of course. It's so great to be able to pay artists in an artistic landscape that offers only what we can cut out of the stone that is artistry.
Scott: If the apocalypse happened and you survived, which member or performer from Velvet Helmet would you eat?
Eloise: Ok! Great question. I would definitely go for a tasty one... Hard to choose because they're all pretty scrumptious, but I'm gonna say Tim Byrnes cause he's a mime artist and would stay silent through the feast.
Scott: Say you take a picture (in your mind’s eye right now) of what the after party looks like. It can only fit in so much detail and so much space. But it's the best picture to represent the after party... What's in the picture?
Eloise: You walk into a magical space that lives and breathes with the party. Each room is alive with its own ego - and as you approach the front bar you are already absorbed in laughing with a gentleman who's free styling the best puns you've ever heard. You drift into the cabaret room of fantasy, surrounded by smoke and candlelight and acrobats with legs that reach the ceiling. Some strange occurrences happen that you can't quite describe involving a flash mob and bubbles, then you are writing love letters, guided by poets in the bar. In essence, you have the damnedest time of the year... Then our twerking DJ brings it home with booty on the dance floor that transforms into a jungle. Argh. Just get along!
Velvet Helmet presents… Best After Party Ever at the New Globe Theatre 20 December.
