Being Prey at NZ Fringe

How does it feel to be eaten alive? Most of us don’t know, but Gabrielle Raz-Liebman will give you a fair idea of it in Being Prey at NZ Fringe 2022.

In her New Zealand debut as writer, director and performer, Raz-Liebman stars as Hero — a budding academic who is conducting some ‘Very Important Ecological Research’ in the Kakadu National Park of Australia’s Northern Territory. Based on the true story of philosopher Val Plumwood, Hero is eaten by a very hungry crocodile and survives to tell the tale.

“Audiences can expect a potentially-dangerous-and-definitely-mad romp of a show”, Raz-Liebman says. “Told through comedy and physical theatre forms inspired by my training and experience, including clown and a touch of vaudeville”. As an alumni of Melbourne’s internationally acclaimed John Bolton Theatre School, Raz-Liebman will use her expertise in comedy and movement to bring New Zealand audiences a fresh take on the Australian bush legend.

Raz-Liebman hopes to use this show to challenge some of the notions we use as humans to separate ourselves from nature. “In a time when our entire lives have changed because of a teeny-tiny microscopic creature, I think it’s more important than ever to reconsider our place within the so-called food chain,” says Raz-Liebman.

Catch her on stage at BATS Theatre from 22-25 of February. Don’t worry, she says she doesn’t bite.