Interview: Clowning Around At Hanging Rock

Pointy Finger’s Laurie Luxe on Nitwit At Hanging Rock

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a type of movies that for some folks nonetheless sends a little bit shiver down the backbone. This 1975 movie was based mostly on the true life thriller of a bunch of schoolgirls and a instructor, a thriller that has by no means been solved.

But we suspect Nitwit at Hanging Rock might not fairly be the identical horror, a lot to our aid! For one factor, Pointy Finger, who’re bringing their present to VAULT Festival on 11 and 12 March (tickets right here), are basing the present on the unique e-book and never the movie. And secondly, properly, have a look at that title, it’s clearly not taking itself fairly as critically as the unique materials!

To discover out extra, we caught up with the author, performer and designer, Laurie Luxe, to seek out out extra.

You are a crew of Australian clowns from that may we assume this isn’t going to be fairly the horror story we keep in mind from the movie?

Well, it’s a horror of kinds. This is a crew of three clowns making an attempt to inform a really prolonged and tragic thriller, which options an absurd variety of characters and segments, all in 45 minutes. 

And coming from Australia, is that this thriller one that’s well-known within the nation?

Most positively. I’m from Victoria and as a baby I keep in mind visiting Hanging Rock and being completely terrified – notably that my watch would cease, which my mom all the time warned me about. This is a well-known signature within the movie, and I do know individuals who swear it occurred to them at Hanging Rock. 

What made you wish to tackle this story in your personal distinctive method?

I started experimenting with a Picnic at Hanging Rock schoolgirl costume I discovered by probability. I then researched the novel and lore across the story – the deeper you dive, the stranger it will get! Who wouldn’t wish to dive in?

Having to play with one thing so mysterious and atmospheric is all the time nice fodder for clown. The humour comes fairly naturally. 

What is it that makes this story one that also will get talked about even in any case this time?

People nonetheless imagine it.  The creator had been to a boarding college close to Hanging Rock, and facets of the e-book could possibly be based mostly on one thing – however most likely to not components the place folks mysteriously disappeared.

There’s loads of proof to recommend the story didn’t occur and was a hoax of kinds. The creator had staged hoaxes earlier than in her youth, and she or he was usually acquired fairly imprecise (and even pissed off) every time requested in regards to the fact round Picnic. No recorded historical past from the time mentions the occasion, which is fairly odd for the unexplained disappearance of a bunch of rich schoolgirls. However, the story was written far later, and most of the people didn’t contemplate trying into these facets. I like to think about Picnic at Hanging Rock as an early Blair Witch Project. 

Your forged are from all around the globe, what has introduced you all collectively for this present?

It’s principally an Australian and UK crew, although a few of our Australians are based mostly in France. We all met on the similar clown college!

You’re telling the story via numerous types, what can we count on then from the present?

We’ve acquired a real Aussie bush band, huge drag numbers, tonnes of queer romance, real frights, puppetry and extra. It’s the entire shebang. As staged by clowns.

The present is being labelled as a Work In Progress, does that imply that is simply the beginning and we are able to count on it to be again later within the 12 months?

Most positively. This is a 45-minute exhibiting and our goals are to additional develop this over time in fairly a giant method – aiming in the direction of an extended, larger-scale manufacturing. This first trial must be loads of enjoyable. I like the power you get with clown when you’ve room to play in new methods and discover issues with an viewers. The threat of a flop additionally lends the proper rigidity – and the get better from a flop usually will get essentially the most laughs.

And we actually couldn’t finish with out asking you what you suppose actually occurred to those that went lacking? Do you’ve any sinister theories about it?

Well, the unique novel contained a chapter which explains the thriller completely, however Joan Lindsay’s editor satisfied her to take away it. This was most likely clever as a result of the story is way extra plausible with out it – and also you’re left with a permanent thriller. The secret ending, is nonetheless, glorious. It was printed – on her directions – after her demise. It’s extremely surreal, weird, and – frankly – implausible. No adaptation has ever been silly sufficient to sort out it – till now.

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Thanks to Laurie for locating time to speak to us. You can catch Nitwit at Hanging Rock on 11 and 12 March at VAULT Festival, 5.55pm each days. Tickets and additional data right here.