Isis Avis Loren and Caitie Murphy present:
Ballads & Ballgowns - Midsumma
"Oh Caitie! I'm glad you're here! I was hoping I could pick your brain about something....."
'Feelings Dressed Up In Couture!'
Created and Performed by Isis Avis Loren, Supported by Midsumma Festival
After screaming at me from the other side of the bar at Vau d'vile Drag Cabaret, the "Can I pick your brain?" question very swiftly turned into a "Will you stage manage my first solo show?" question from my friend Isis. It was yet another vote of confidence I was grateful for - but this one felt even more special as Ballads & Ballgowns was to be such a personal work.
'How refreshing! A solo show!' I thought to myself. Up until this point, even the smallest cast I had worked with was 10, and I wondered what I was going to do with all my excess 'herding cats' energy. I needn't have worried - there was plenty of work to be done.
As we were such a small team, my stage manager role very swiftly broadened beyond assisting with the 5 elaborate quick changes (from extravagant ballgown to extravagant ballgown), to include the co-handling of the Midsumma application process, production management, marketing, lighting design and hosting. We would meet for hours of tea and bikkies, gossip and tangential conversation, while working through our constantly growing to-do list and becoming tighter and tighter as co-workers and friends.
Isis's desire to have a spotlight with a crisp circle to stand in for the show was one challenge that had us both scratching our heads for a while, but it was MUST to the rescue as I was able to go back to my roots for help acquiring, rigging and operating a profile light (my pride and joy) - to stunning effect. I was also delighted to recruit my friend and colleague Georgie Bright to operate lighting and sound for what would be our fourth show together.
After a 3 month labour of love, tech runs rolled around and the dominos were set. We had the spotlight, the gowns, the tracks, the team - we had a show, and I was anxious to finally see it.
Sitting way back in the tech booth, distracted by playlists and faders, watching Isis on stage in half-drag, working through our first stop-and-start run, I found myself forgetting where I was and being drawn into the spectacle that Georgie aptly described as 'mesmerising'.
It's a huge testament to Isis's ability to emote in her performance and curate in her writing and design, such that even in its roughest beginnings, Ballads & Ballgowns could take its audience on a soulful journey. As an SM, it's always so rewarding to stand as the support beam and lift up a great performance, and this one was truly magic.
By the end of the show run (which sold out every night) Isis and I had become a formidable unit, having both acquired a myriad of new skills, knowledge and understanding of production processes. I remain proud as punch of our efforts.
"Good show I reckon," I said a week later when I saw her next.
"I know right..." came her reply "...I wanna do it again."
Watch this space.
Learn More
Ballads & Ballgowns was performed at Vau D'Vile Drag Cabaret to sold out audiences from May 3-5, 2021.
Full details on the first iteration can be found via the Midsumma website, or check out Instagram to be the first to know when the next instalment is announced!
Instagram:
@balladsandballgowns
@isisavisloren #balladsandballgowns2021
Images courtesy of Daniel Sutton
Instagram: @danielsuttonphoto
And Suzanne Balding
Website: shotbysuzanne.com.au
"Thankyou for making my dream come true."
My pleasure, IAL.
Gallery
Caitie Murphy - Stage Manager
Copyright © 2025 Caitie Murphy - Stage Manager - All Rights Reserved.
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