Really Interesting Women

The Podcast

Ep. 157 Meow Meow

It would be fair to say that few performers can command attention quite like Meow Meow. She has been described as a post-post-modern diva who has hypnotised, inspired, and terrified audiences globally with unique creations and sell-out seasons from New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and Berlin’s Bar Jeder Vernunft to London’s West End and the Sydney Opera House.

In fact, her influence on contemporary cabaret extends beyond her individual performances to her role in reshaping the genre itself.

In further fact, the late great David Bowie once said of my guest, ‘Certain artists you just never miss; when they come into town, you go and see them’.

She’s currently in rehearsals for her show, ‘Meow Meow’s The Red Shoes.’ Opening in Belvoir Theatre in Sydney on 4 October and then in Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne from 19 November. I couldn’t put it any better than the Artistic Director, Eamon Flack....’Here’s a treat. If you’ve seen Meow’s other great takes like The Little Mermaid or Little Match Girl you’ll know there’s sophisticated silliness and seductive allure, combined with astonishing renderings of some great songs, old and new. Meow sells out wherever she goes, from Carnegie Hall to Spiegeltents around the world – I’m sure the Belvoir stage will be a perfect fit for her newest extravaganza.’

Head to the link in my bio for our conversation.

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Really Interesting Women

The podcast

Ep. 156 Chika Ikogwe

In the evolving landscape of Australian entertainment, few actors embody the multicultural spirit and artistic versatility of contemporary Australia like Chika Ikogwe. Chika stands out as a trailblazer in Australia's entertainment industry.

She’s celebrated for her dynamic acting talent, writing prowess, and unwavering advocacy for diversity and representation.

Born in Nigeria, Chika moved to Australia at a young age and had to navigate, at times, very challenging circumstances. After graduating high school, she enrolled at Victorian College of the Arts before transitioning to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) program at NIDA, Australia’s premier performing arts institution.

What followed was a string of successful theatre shows and numerous awards and accolades including the winner of 'Best Newcomer' at the Sydney Theatre Awards in 2019 and the recipient of the 2020 ATYP Rose Byrne Emerging Female Leader in the Arts scholarship. She went on to play a starring role in the Emmy award winning tv series Heartbreak High and, more recently, has worked with Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth in a major film.

Chika’s journey from a four-year-old immigrant to an award-winning actor and writer embodies the successful integration of diverse cultural perspectives into mainstream Australian arts. But there’s still a long way to go.

To listen to our conversation, head to the link in my bio, or wherever you find your podcasts.

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

Follow the link to leave a review....and tell your friends
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/really-interesting-women/id1526764849

Really Interesting Women

The podcast

Ep. 155 Tara Morice

Tara Morice has built a remarkable acting career over 3 decades that spans film, television, and stage.

She graduated from the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1987. And in 1988 was able to find work in a play that had some success and 4 years later that play was adapted into a film and everyone, and I literally mean everyone, will know her from her iconic role as Fran in Baz Luhrmann's "Strictly Ballroom".

The story of how Tara got the role is fascinating and a lesson in perseverance. Once she got the role (the day before shooting started) she was phenomenal. As was the movie. Strictly Ballroom premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to a seven-minute standing ovation and was sold to over eighty countries. She became (and I hate the expression) ‘an overnight sensation’ nominated for, amongst many other things, a British Academy Award.

But that whirlwind of celebrity can come at the cost of typecasting and my guest’s strength and resilience ensured that despite those significant challenges, she is an actor who continues to evolve and take on diverse projects that showcase her range and enduring appeal in the Australian entertainment landscape.

She is currently performing in the enormously succesful musical Menopause the Musical which has been seen by over 17 million people worldwide and is an outrageous success. Do yourself a favour! You can get tickets from:

https://menopausethemusical.com.au/tickets/sydney/

It's touring Australian so head to the website and you'll find what you need.

We had a fabulous chat. And that's what it felt like. More a chat than an interview. I heard Strictly Ballroom stories I never knew and found out a lot about the fabulous work she's been doing recently.

Head to the link in my bio to have a listen to this episode.

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

Follow the link to leave a review....and tell your friends
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/really-interesting-women/id1526764849