Only someone as bold as Campbelltown’s own award-winning actor, playwright and director Candy Bowers would use diabetes as the subject for a music theatre work.
Bowers was top girl at St Patrick’s College and went on to study acting at NIDA, before returning to premiere her AWGIE award-nominated One The Bear (2018) at Campbelltown Arts Centre.
Now she is ready to rock Type 2 diabetes at the same venue with Sweet Mama.
In this production, Bowers takes aim at Type 2 diabetes and its eradication.
Bowers has delved into the medical, scientific and socio-political nature of the greatest disease disproportionately affecting black and brown people globally, in Australia, and in her own family.
Drawing on her childhood love of sci-fi fantasy, 80s video games, afrobeat music and classic theatre training, this production is an imaginative and darkly humorous exploration of what it might take to break the cycle.
“My mother is at the pointy end of Type 2 diabetes, and family members from Australia and South Africa have been gravely affected by the disease, amplified by Covid-19,’’ says Bowers.
“The heartbreak and fear of this phenomena have moved me to create a piece that opens up dialogue and provokes radical self-love.
“I have pulled together an extraordinary international team of designers and music producers to deliver this highly ambitious vision.”
Indeed she has and they include composition/sound designer Christian Biko, who has supported the likes of Mobb Deep, Arrested Development, Coolio and Madison Avenue.
Costume designer Ntombi Moyo is best known as Sampa The Great’s personal designer, as well as recently heading the design team on Adele’s I Drink Wine (2022) music video.
Moyo has also collaborated with icons such as Rihanna, Rico Nasty, Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion.
To come back to Bowers’ Campbelltown roots, Mayor George Greiss for one is happy to see her back in town with another production.
“It’s always exciting to champion the success of artists with connections to Campbelltown, and we’re honoured to play host to such an impactful and important work,’’ he says.
“As a community, we admire Candy Bowers’ commitment to creating art that speaks to diverse audiences – a diversity that is certainly reflected amongst the people of Campbelltown.
“Works like Sweet Mama continue to solidify Campbelltown Arts Centre’s place as a top tier cultural institution nation-wide.”
Sweet Mama will hit the stage at Campbelltown Arts Centre between Wednesday, July 26 and Saturday, July 29.
Tickets for matinee, evening and school performances are available now via the C-A-C website: https://c-a-c.com.au/sweet-mama
