Performers share power of poetry in ‘Hysterical’

• Published date: 25 May 2023
• Publication title: Central Otago News

The Auckland-based artists both write and perform the spoken word

Reviewers have labelled their show ‘‘deeply raw ... and also very funny’’.

‘‘This is not school-like poetry, more like a theatrical event in which some of the narrative is in poetry form. While the target is women, men are not excluded,’’ Arts Central committee member Peter Mead said.

Both women have been writing since children.

Both are also fervent about social issues, gender, feminism, and sexuality.

Their paths crossed seven years ago when Rudzinski performed in a poetry event in Wellington that Hall helped organise.

This led to their first show How We Survive, which toured around New Zealand but never made it to Central Otago.

‘‘We loved that experience and we loved writing together. I had previous involvement in duet poetry so knew what was needed to create this show but Covid intervened and it took a bit longer than we anticipated,’’ Rudzinski said.

‘‘In developing the show, we were looking back at the history of where the term hysteria and hysterical came from and how it had...