A last brilliant hoorah from Chrissie Parrott

After a lifetime of performing and creating dance, Chrissie Parrott AO has decided to present her last mainstage work. "Now a septuagenarian, I look back and am proud and satisfied of my creations that have graced many of the theatres and festivals around the world,' she announces. "So now it’s time for the last hoorah!"

That "hoorah" will be Facade, staged at Perth's Liberty Theatre, which, like Parrott, is celebrating its 70th birthday this year. It will be presented by WA's contemporary dance company, Co3, as part of its IN.RESIDENCE program.

For over 40 years, Parrott’s works have graced the stages of Australia, Holland, France, Germany, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, and UK. A multi-disciplinary and internationally acclaimed dancemaker, Parrott is offering Façade to her many collaborators "as a gift of love and thanks for all the years of support and belief in me".

"I’ve never been afraid to ruffle a few feathers, weaving dark humour and audacious theatrical styling into this Baroque/vaudeville style variety show full of trickery and intrigue. Thank you, Raewyn Hill, Co3, and [sponsors] the Wright Burt Foundation.”

Facade was first staged in 1986 and again in 2021 and is described as her "most audacious and hilarious masterpiece". The stage is set with a 6x4 metre Baroque-style proscenium arch, hand-painted back cloths, and found objects d’art, including a plethora of decorated pointe shoes. The performers, dressed in upcycled brocade and satin costumes, showcase a series of outrageous short, snappy, vignettes that juxtapose vaudeville comedy with the realities of wealth and poverty, colonisation, and social etiquette. The music mixes French Baroque and contemporary music played live on-stage. 

The performance features dancers Matthew Morris, Georgia van Gils, Russell Thorpe, Talitha Maslin and Stefan Karlsson. Baritone Ronald MacQueen is a new addition as is Baroque cellist Krista Low, who joins Matthew Cellan Jones, a baroque specialist who plays additional live music throughout the show. Performer comedian Paul Rowe and Parrott's ongoing muse Claudia Alessi are joined by well-known Perth actor Kate Hall.

As well as a gift to her collaborators, Parrott is dedicating the work to her father. "My father was an hilarious stand-up comedian who taught me about comedy timing and to encourage people to see the lighter side of life. Facade is dedicated to this marvellous man and those wonderful memories," she says.

Facade will run from June 14 to 17. For details, go here.