Power. Privilege. Problems.

Running for three shows only at the Meat Market Stables this June, The Regina Monologues is an engaging new interactive theatrescape from 24 Carrot Production’s Director/Writer, Sharmini Kumar. A celebration of some of our strongest and most powerful women across history, this premiere event features an intriguing array of stories from the past that illuminate how we live today.

Performed by a 13 strong cast of fresh and diverse actors from the local arts community, The Regina Monologues offers Melbourne’s art and history lovers the chance to immerse themselves in an evening where everyone has the potential to experience a different show. From Persephone and Queen Njinga to Princess Sophia Duleep Singh and Eleanor of Aquitaine; who will you choose to meet?

Holding court across three rooms at the same time, The Regina Monologues is a series of solo performances based on royal women from varying times and places. These are not your Disney Princesses – they’re more complicated and less virtuous, they don’t all learn lessons and they don’t all get happy endings.

A friend of mine suggested I write a piece about some of England’s early Queens, so started researching them and realised how fascinating they were. explains Sharmini Kumar.

“Then I began looking at other royal female figures throughout history, and this event is the result of that. I think I’ve had the most fun with the characters that aren’t well known; learning about them and discovering things about these women that are incredibly relatable. Also, as the pieces are running concurrently across three different rooms, the audience will have some control over which monologues they see but it’s not possible to see everything, so they’ll need to choose carefully. I really like the idea of challenging an audience to make decisions so each person has a unique experience.”

Formed by theatre and filmmaker Sharmini Kumar with a view to re-imagine and re-invigorate our most loved classics for contemporary audiences, 24 Carrot Productions has been creating new works since 2011. Past productions include 2 Gentlemen, The Complete Works of Shakespeare, The Importance of Being Ernest, Shakespeare in Therapy, The Margins of Persuasion and the ever-popular annual Austen Con.

Their latest offering, The Regina Monologues sees thirteen Queens delve into conversations about gender and power, with humour and heart. Cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, this rebooted premiere season is a prime example of Melbourne’s creative and enduring independent arts scene.

Venue: Meat Market Stables – 2 Wreckyn St, North Melbourne, VIC
Dates: 17 – 19 June, 2021
Times: Thurs – Sat, 7.30pm
Tickets: $30 Full, $25 Concession

Bookings: online only via www.24carrotproductions.com
Enquiries: 0409 501 217