THE CULTURE

The Front Row Center, NYC - 97% rating, 4.85 stars

By Holli Harms, December 2, 2022

“Believe in yourself and all that you are” is the unspoken chant that underlies the wonderful, timely, and poignant play The Culture by Aussie writer and performer Laura Jackson.

The play is set in the flat of two best mates, Katie (Jackson) and Will (Mansoor Noor), who have known each other since childhood. They are each other’s everything. Katie is a straight woman who wants to bring light, depth, and truth to the advertising world she works in. Will is a queer male who wants to create open space for those who are not yet ready to embrace and honor their individual truth. They create a podcast together, “Don’t Get Me Started,” where they are the quick-talking MCs sharing their fears and wisdom of how to live and be safe in today’s world. They are a spunky, fast-talking, take no prisoners twosome comfortable in their work environments and on their podcast, reaching out to fans to empower them with personal and emotional safety. They’ve got it down.

Until…

They don’t.

How the need for love and the desire for acceptance by a romantic partner can slowly transpire from what feels like truth to what is oppressive control and eventually abuse is the basis for the play. It is all presented with tender humor, painful honesty, and a straightforward quiet truth that not only entertains but packs a punch as well.

The play opens with a video sequence of famous women discussing their visions and beliefs about themselves –Emma Thompson, Taylor Swift, Lizzo, as well as Australian politicians. These pieces are beautiful, humbling, and infuriating, but set the evening up by focusing on the oppression of women in our society.

Jackson and Noor are perfection. They are the best of friends, the deepest of loves, and honest and present for one another. Their truthfulness on stage played so well that I will happily assume they truly have known one another since grade school.

Production designer, Tetta Askeland has created, on The Producer Club’s intimate stage, a wonderful lively apartment and podcast space as well as room enough for Jackson and Noor to skip, jump, run, and practically do cartwheels as they move their way through their stories.

Every moment of this 90-minute production drives the story forward, even the quiet and uncomfortable.

The production is damn good. So go and take a friend, a loved one, a confidante, and afterward go to The Producers Club bar, literally steps away, and have some amazing discussions about the roles of men and women in the world and society and all that this play will bring up.

Australians Important to Know for the Show:
Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Member of Australian House of Representatives Bob Katter
Aussie Former Radio Jockey Alan Jones
Lesbian Comedian Hannah Gadsby

The Culture
A New Play by Laura Jackson
November 25th – December 17th 2022
Producer’s Club – 358 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036, United States
Starring: Laura Jackson and Mansoor Noor
Director: Bethany Caputo
Producer: Carly Fisher
Production Designer: Tetta Askeland
Lighting Designer: Capri Harris
Sound Designer: Charlotte Leamon
Stage Manager: Natalie Low
Graphic Designer: Brandon Wong
Running Time: 75 Minutes

TICKETS HERE

Please be advised: The Culture contains references to: Domestic Violence, Homophobia, Eating Disorders and Physical Assault

If you, or anyone you know is in a violent relationship, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 800-799-7233

A portion of the proceeds of this production will be supporting local domestic violence charities in each city that it performs.

(In Australia one woman is killed each week at the hands of a partner, and intimate partner violence is the number one non-disease related cause of death or disability of women 15-44.)

CHECK OUT THE FRONT ROW CENTER

Weekend Notes

The Culture - Adelaide Fringe

by James Murphy

Event: 07/03/2023 - 16/03/2023

Patriarchy smashing Fringe theatre

After premiering in New York, the female-led Gadigal and Cammeraygal land based Powersuit Productions brings the social commentary of their two-hander, The Culture, to Holden Street Theatres at the Adelaide Fringe from the 7th to the 16th of March.

The Culture tells the story of woke and very single podcasters Katie (played by Laura Jackson) and LGBTIQ Will (Mina Asfour) as they battle catfishing, gaslighting and domestic abuse.

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from NIDA, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong, The Culture writer and star Laura Jackson has an immaculate creative pedigree. Alongside creative producer and tour director Carly Fisher, Jackson has assembled an all-female team, aside from costar Asfour, with everything from the direction and stage management to the sound and lighting design steered by women. With the play exploring important themes such as domestic violence, homophobia and disordered eating, Jackson says that the composition of the creative team has been important.

"Because of the subject matter, it's really great to have people in the room as we're sorting, solving and dealing with problems who understand the true context of the story," Laura says. "That's been the really lovely part of having female creators is that they can relate to my character and her experience." .

The Culture is a work that examines the existing paradigm on stage, while working to break it from side of stage..

"It's so important that we work together to sort out problems like why are the tech roles still predominantly led by men?" asks Carly "It's not always a gender thing; it may be an age thing. I've noticed within the young people coming up in the industry, it's a lot more mixed but when you look for people with a little bit more of a seasoned resume or a bit more experience, you can see the problems are there. It then looks like you're picking between gender and experience which is a really tricky situation to be in."

The piece, directed by Bethany Caputo, who worked with Bruce Willis on Broadway, explores weighty themes but does so with levity.

"The story is told through the really tight bond of two best friends so everything that you hear is told through the vehicle of their banter, their light comedic jokes and just the way that they are with each other," Laura says. "It's heavy themes with a light touch. It starts off warm and funny and as the story unravels, the ending does pack a punch."

The Culture touches down in Adelaide at Holden Street for Fringe before touring the extensively in 2023.

Why? Female led dramedy with bite

When: 7th-16th March

Website: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/the-culture-af2023

Where: Holden Street Theatres

Cost: $25-$35

Check Out Weekend Notes

The Culture: A modern tale of friendship and love

by Tony Richards | 7 February 2023 |

After a successful debut run in New York, Sydney-based theatre company, Powersuit Productions is bringing their brand-new Australian work The Culture home this year, to tour across Australia and New Zealand.

Upcoming playwright, Laura Jackson has penned a touching and relevant two-hander play called The Culture. The play is a story about deep and enduring friendship, and the pitfalls… and sometimes dangers of finding love in a modern world.

Set in Sydney Australia, the play follows the story of best friends Katie and Will, played by Laura Jackson and Mina Asfour, who are roommates, childhood friends, podcast hosts and very single. The Culture tackles their search for romantic love and demonstrates that sometimes even those with the strongest convictions can lose themselves easily in complex new relationships.

Their two very different experiences as a gay man and a straight white woman take them through falling in love, the complexities of handling domestic violence with a loved one and ultimately test their friendship. The warmth and intimate banter between two best friends welcome audiences into Will and Katie’s living room and into an important wider conversation.

“Will and Katie are inseparable, Or so they thought,” Jackson said,

“When Katie draws away from Will, caught in the web of a toxic relationship, Will has to put aside his own hurt and draw on the history and the love between them to bring her safely home.

“We’re not afraid to tackle some tough issues including domestic violence, homophobia, and disordered eating, but at its heart, this is a story about friendship. About support. About looking out for the people we love.

“We’re also addressing important themes with a light touch. Expect lots of laughs, a few surprises, and an ending that packs a punch.”

Critically acclaimed in New York, the production was praised for being “A spunky, fast-talking, take no prisoners twosome…Wonderful, timely, and poignant.” (The Front Row Centre, NYC)

The tour will begin at the New Zealand Fringe Festival in Wellington from February 28 to March 4 and then continue back on home ground in Australia as part of Holden Street Theatres’ curated Adelaide Fringe Festival season. Hobart, Sydney and Melbourne dates have also been announced, with the production suggesting more dates will be released for late 2023 and 2024 in due course.

True to Powersuit Productions’ mission, The Culture features an exciting and strong lineup of female-identifying creatives at the helm of this production, including Jackson, Carly Fisher as Creative Producer and Tour Director, Natalie Low as Stage Manager, Capri Harris as Lighting Designer, Charlotte Leamon as Sound Designer and Catherine Fargher as Dramaturg.

For more information go here.

Check out gay nation

Powersuit Productions’ The Culture playing in Hobart at Peacock Theatre, Salamanca Place

Featured online | Friday, 28th April, 2023

The hilarious yet heartbreaking theatre show which already has critically acclaimed reviews internationally has opened in Hobart this week.

The hilarious yet heartbreaking theatre show which already has critically acclaimed reviews internationally has opened in Hobart this week. Sydney based theatre company Powersuit Production is showcasing upcoming playwright Laura Jackson’s new work The Culture which follows best friends and roommates Katie and Will in their search for romantic love.

“Will and Katie are inseparable or so they thought,” Ms Jackson said. “When Katie draws away from Will, caught in the web of a toxic relationship, Will has to put aside his own hurt, and draw on the history and the love between them to bring her safely home.” Ms Jackson who plays Katie alongside actor Mina Asfour who plays Will, highlight the complexities of relationships and abuse. The show takes audiences through two very different experiences in the atmospheric Peacock Theatre. Will is navigating love as a gay man who has faced homophobia and violence in the past while Katie is about to endeavour into the dating world. It explores the complexities of handling domestic violence and its devastating consequences.

“We’re not afraid to tackle some tough issues including domestic violence, homophobia, and disordered eating, but at its heart this is a story about friendship. About support. About looking out for the people we love,” Ms Jackson said. “We’re also addressing important themes with a light touch. Expect lots of laughs, a few surprises, and an ending that packs a punch.” The Culture will be playing at Peacock Theatre in Salamanca Place until Saturday with tickets starting from $30.

This article first appeared in Regional News, Issue #189 - Published 14 February, 2023. You can read the full issue HERE