bruised
Delivery
Creative Direction
Production
Branding & Social Media
Year
2024
About
bruised (2024) was a circus variety show that invited artists to interrogate their relationships with performing in a one-night only showcase. It asked its performers and audience the simple question – “who are you when the curtain closes?”
The goal of bruised was to create a safe and supportive environment that displayed the ethical practices that its creator wanted to see in the wider performing arts industry.
Performing to a sold-out venue at The Vanguard Newtown last May, bruised featured debut acts from a diverse lineup of performers. The show received tremendous feedback, and went on to encourage other productions that shared its values, including Playground (2025).
Cast
Tabitha Katz – lyra
Quench – hammock
Eva Berlin – pole
Dia Spice – dance
Scarlett Black – chair
Mercury Absurd – pole
Maddie Belle – lyra
Whiplash – burlesque
Little Lottie Lou- burlesque
“It was fucking incredible. I think as a show, it needs to come back and be done again. It is so incredible as a concept, and I was so stoked to be a part of it.”
-Whiplash (she/her)
There was a feeling with bruised of it being bigger and more important and not just a variety night. It had a direction, it had a goal. It was clear in that goal. It was also curated. And I think that in itself held it separately to me because a lot of the time, curation excludes me.
I don’t fit into a lot of categories for people. And to find a show that was curated to specifically ask for my acts and my opinions made it stand out. I keep running into, in the industry, a lot of shows where curation casting specifically wants femininity and wants conventional beauty and wants conventional women. And I can’t express all of myself if I want to be cast.
And here was a show that specifically asked for me and then specifically asked for my opinion on that, which I think did set it aside, it did make it seem more important.
– Mercury Absurd (they/them)
