Posted by on 13 November 2004 in | 0 comments

Hello Kitty was a performance project featuring spoken word and karaoke from Asian-Australian artists. A cabaret-inspired mix of literature and power ballads, I co-produced this project with Melbourne-based organisation Footscray Community Arts Centre.

Initially conceived as a one-off event, the show debuted to a full house for the 2000 Melbourne Fringe Festival, winning the Melbourne Fringe Award for Most Successful Spoken Word Show. Over the next four years, Hello Kitty went on to play to enthusiastic crowds in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Lismore. The show was staged in theatres, a restaurant, a pub, a nightclub, and even a karaoke bar in the heart of Sydney’s Chinatown.

Featuring various line-ups from show to show, Hello Kitty showcased the work of some of Australia’s best-known Asian-Australian artists, alongside lesser-known artists. From William Yang belting out ‘I still call Australia home’ to a full house at the 2002 Gay Games Cultural Festival, to a sell-out show of mostly emerging artists taking to the Festival Club stage at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, Hello Kitty audiences sung along with and were moved by these performances. In addition to conceiving the project, I was a co-producer and occasionally gave performances too.

Learn more about my creative work

[Flyer design: Ying Gilbert; performance photos: Andrew Coogan]

Praise

Sydney Star Observer
The crowd roared their approval.
Caro Llewellyn Former Director, Sydney Writers’ Festival
It was so funny, so clever and so wonderful… I laughed so much and everyone loved it.
Annette Shun Wah Writer and TV host
The readings were varied and well-pitched… as for the karaoke – well, you just can’t go wrong! It was a sell-out success.
The Canberra Review
Andy’s rendition of ‘Stand By Your Man’ was the final and knockout song for an evening of literary talent spiked with [a] generous dose of song camp glamour… It’s a pity Hello Kitty came to Canberra for one night only!

Show history

14 October 2000
Footscray Community Arts Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne Fringe Festival

20 January 2001
Commercial Hotel, Melbourne, Australia
Midsumma Festival

23 November 2001
Grand Saigon Restaurant, Melbourne, Australia
Big West Festival

1 November 2002
Mandarin Club, Sydney, Australia
Gay Games VI Cultural Festival

24 May 2003
Festival Club, Wharf 4/5, Sydney, Australia
Sydney Writers’ Festival

23 October 2004
Star Court Theatre, Lismore, Australia
kultour multicultural arts touring program (funded by the Australia Council for the Arts)
Presented by Northern Rivers Performing Arts

13 November 2004
Cube nightclub, Canberra, Australia
kultour multicultural arts touring program (funded by the Australia Council for the Arts)
Jointly presented by Canberra Theatre Centre and ACT Writers’ Centre