La Boite Theatre is limbering up to present an Australian-first season of Dipika Guha’s Yoga Play, a tale of downward dog and downward profits, in collaboration with the National Theatre of Parramatta from 7 to 23 November 2024.
A stellar cast – including Brisbane stars Andrea Moor and Thomas Larkin – bring the razor-sharp comedy to life at La Boite’s iconic Roundhouse Theatre, alongside Sydney darlings Jemwel Danao, Nat Jobe and Camila Ponte-Alvarez.
Moor is Joan, a savvy businesswoman hired to revitalise a cult-ish yoga apparel company in the wake of a scandal involving its former CEO.
Yet, underneath the seemingly serene surface lies a cesspool of misconduct, plummeting sales, cultural appropriation, fat-shaming and rampant consumerism.
La Boite Artistic Director Courtney Stewart said Yoga Play was a laugh-out- loud examination of the business of peace, corporate responsibility and our love of yoga pants at any cost.
“Yoga Play drives right to the heart of La Boite’s art-making philosophy of fresh perspectives, authentic representation and considered collaboration,” Stewart said.
“It has been a wonderful experience working with Joanne Kee and her team at the National Theatre of Parramatta to stage Dipika Guha’s biting and brilliant contemporary writing in Australia for the first time.
“It’s thrilling for us to have some of the best Queensland talent on and off the stage working to bring this comedy to life.”
Yoga Play has won critical acclaim and delighted audiences across the US since its premiere in 2017 with the internationally renowned Mina Morita directing its Australian debut season.
“Dipika’s brilliance and wisdom have inspired me for over a decade of theatre-making, from her Mechanics of Love and her play Gaman to her writing on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Morita said.
“Her sharply hilarious exploration of corporate ‘authenticity’ in relationship to the spiritual foundation of yoga via yoga pants is sure to bring belly laughs.”
Yoga Play
7 to 23 November 2024
La Boite Theatre, Brisbane
www.laboite.com.au
