IN HER DARING NEW, SATIRICAL CABARET ‘CULTURAL TIME BOMB’, SHARNI PAGE SKILFULLY PORTRAYS THREE WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF AN UNNECESSARY TRAGEDY. ONE SHARED EXPERIENCE. THREE DIFFERENT RESPONSES. Drawn from recent headlines, ‘Cultural Time Bomb’ is a daring new satirical cabaret that delves deeply into themes of violence against women. Starring actor and playwright Sharni Page, three women share their harrowing experiences in a moving, yet uncompromising show. Set from a woman’s point of view, ‘Cultural Time Bomb’ is a confronting study that dissects and discusses Australian culture, values and beliefs. It explores life changing damage – both physical & psychological – suffered by its characters as a result of gang-rape. The lives of two modern women are seen through the eyes of Lola – a German cabaret performer in the 1920’s. During a journey set in her underground world – a bluestone, dungeon-like space - audience perception of the show is strongly influenced by Lola’s satirical presence. An eclectic mix of songs from all eras includes Stephen Sondheim, Charles Strouse, Cole Porter to 1920’s German composer’s Kurt Weill and Frederich Hollander. Rock bands No Doubt and The Tea Party also feature prominently. Sharni Page says she is intrigued as to how sexual expression between men and women can lead to a violent, traumatic experience. “I wanted to find out why the expression of human sexuality between women and men becomes blurred to the point where it leads to life-threatening violence”, says Sharni Page. “Recent media reports on this subject seem to suggest that communication of sexuality is not only distorted – it is often dangerously misinterpreted.” A graduate of the Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts, Page stresses that while the material in ‘Cultural Time Bomb’ is shocking and based on fact, it is not presented as an exercise in ‘male gender bashing’. As one person raising an issue, Page says she just wants to pose questions for others to think about later. “If anything ‘Cultural Time Bomb’ asks whether men and women want to be accountable and responsible for their own actions and behaviours rather than use their cultural environment as an excuse”, says Page. High profile court cases in 2006 have highlighted the topic of violence against women as well as attitudes and behaviours within relationships in Australian society. <previous playwrighting.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0