Living life at high voltage – Jo Randerson bares their soul, sharing the exhilaration, exhaustion, joy, and absurdity of living and parenting with neurodiversity, packed with punk poetic magic and comedy
Jo Randerson has always lived life at high voltage. A true arts polymath, they have accumulated achievements, accolades, and acclaim as a PerformerComedianWriterActivistDirectorCuratorTheatremakerFilmmakerWitchClown.
Jo has a brain that never stops and a fountain of restless energy fuelling their fiercely funny artistic voice. And the spring that feeds that fountain? A lifelong superpower, which they had diagnosed in their 40s alongside their son: ADHD.
In Speed is Emotional Jo bares their soul, sharing the exhilaration, exhaustion, joy, and absurdity of living and parenting with neurodiversity. Jo weaves their punk poetic magic into a beautiful comedy about transcending labels and living with a voltage so high it’s going to blow the mains.
Speed is Emotional isn't just a performance – it's a revelation.
Wheelchair-accessible seats and free companion tickets are available. To book these, please contact the Q Box Office, either:
Call on (09) 309 9771
Email access@qtheatre.co.nz
We do not have NZSL or Audio-Described performances available for this production. Fill out this form to express your interest in attending an NZSL or audio described performance for future show seasons.
For more specific information about show content, please email Nahyeon Lee from Silo Theatre at nahyeon@silotheatre.co.nz.
SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT TO EXPECT
Welcome to the show. The performance will last approximately 75 minutes with no interval. Every show is a relaxed performance.
Before The Show
We will have a quiet space in the upstairs foyer outside the Loft theatre where you can wait before the theatre doors open. Loft is located on Level 2 of the Q Theatre building and can be accessed by using the internal stairs, elevator, or by taking the outside stairs to the left of the main entrance on Queen Street.
You can also choose to wait downstairs in the bar, where noise is welcomed. You can approach the Q Theatre staff to direct you to quiet areas and assist with any other needs. You can find them beside the box office and at the theatre doors before and after the show, to answer questions and provide directions as needed.
There will be announcements over the foyer speakers telling you when the doors to the theatre have opened.
Please bring your quiet fidget toys, weighted blankets, sunnies, earmuffs or any other comfort tools that you need.
During The Show
At the start of the performance, Jo will inform the audience of the relaxed nature of the show:
Feel free to leave and feel free to return. There will be spare seats available on the aisle beside the main doors to the Loft theatre, if you need to move during the performance. These are easy to access when reentering the theatre.
We invite you to make noises, clap, click or tic as you need to.
Trigger warning: we will talk about mental distress. But there will also be jokes. Because jokes are a defence against pain.
After The Show
At the end of the performance, Jo will invite the audience on stage to decompress, talk to the cast, and sing a karaoke song if you choose. This will last approximately 20 minutes after the end of the performance. You are also welcome to leave the theatre as soon as the performance ends.
Set, lighting and sound
The set is a large piece of fabric that shifts into different shapes during the performance, it remains on stage and will not come across, or touch, the audience.
The audience lights will not fade to complete darkness; they will remain slightly dim throughout the entire performance. There are many different lighting states, none are directly in the eyes of the audience and the states include neon colours and changes in lighting that make the fabric set look like different environments.
There are a few moments in the show where there will be loud bangs and snippets of music played loudly. Throughout the show, the performers will play instruments (including drums) and sing into microphones.
Presented by: Silo Theatre in collaboration with Barbarian Productions
Creative team: Created & Performed by Jo Randerson Direction - Isobel MacKinnon Design - Kaleb Maunder, Bekky Boyce, Steven Junil Park, Elliot Vaughan Performance - Jo Randerson, Elliot Vaughan
Audience Warnings: Contains coarse language and a mention of self-harm.
Presented with support from the New Zealand Comedy Trust
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