One of the finest examples of independent Australian theatre in years.
The Guardian
Virginia, a woman, waits. A door opens. A man, Marty, enters. They talk, they laugh, it’s awkward, it’s funny, it’s tense. They have a drink and eat and dance together. He leaves. Then she does it all over again, and again, 100 times for a full 24 hours.
None of the 100 different men, drawn from across the local community, will have met or rehearsed with her. While each random actor changes the meaning of the scene, it’s what they have in common that stays with you: whether you stay for one hour or 24, the relentless performance of gendered power becomes deeply etched in your mind.
Created by an all-female-identifying and non-binary team who capture and mix the action live from multiple cameras, The Second Woman is a brilliant, binge-worthy spectacle, inspired by the 1977 John Cassavetes film Opening Night.
Through the repetition of this intimate exchange, The Second Woman explores the generic and gendered conventions of emotionality, as well as the affective and relational nature of gender identity.