Melody Rachel’s show I Wanna Be Mark Wahlberg opens at Adelaide Fringe next week, exploring one woman’s relationship to masculinity. With such a curious title and interesting themes explored, we of course wanted to sit down with Melody and find out more. Join us here in the Binge Fringe Virtual Pub for a pixelated pint to dive into the show.

You can catch I Wanna Be Mark Wahlberg next week at Studio Theatre at Goodwood Theatre and Studios from the 5th March until the 9th at 9pm (50mins). Tickets are available through the Adelaide Fringe Online Box Office.

Jake: Hi Melody! Your show has a rather curious title – tell us about what inspired it and what the audience can expect.

Melody: My show has gone through a few name changes. It started as FLUID, then became Like a Boy. But when I was writing a grant application, I listed all the masculine figures I looked up to growing up—Mufasa, Batman, Goku, Eminem, Mark Wahlberg—and for some reason, Mark Wahlberg stuck.

Jake: The show examines your relationship to the masculine gender role – tell us about your process in creating theatre that explores something so personal.

Melody: Making autobiographical work, especially this one, is definitely confronting. I’ve been trying to make this show for five years, and I still haven’t cracked it yet. I am taking things that have happened to me in my own life—some are funny, some sad, and some just outright outlandish. I’m really trying to craft my performance in a way that keeps me safe but also conveys what I am trying to say.

My process for creating a show is always the same: the idea simmers in my mind for so long, and the only way to get it out of my head is to set a deadline. It’s like the pressure of the deadline helps me create. But it’s really scary because I never truly know what it is until the night of the show.

Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?

Melody: I hope my story and experiences resonate with audiences and that they can relate to them in some way. I’m keen to add to the conversation around gender and love making art that leaves people with questions rather than answers. I think theatre is a space where perspectives can shift.

Jake: Now we’re in the throes of Adelaide Fringe, what are you most excited for?

Melody: My favourite part of fringe is meeting people, other artists, and random audience members and just seeing as many shows as I can to get inspired!

Jake: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?

Melody: Oh, definitely a hazy pale ale. Hoppy, chaotic, and intense, just like me and my show will be.

You can catch I Wanna Be Mark Wahlberg next week at Studio Theatre at Goodwood Theatre and Studios from the 5th March until the 9th at 9pm (50mins). Tickets are available through the Adelaide Fringe Online Box Office.