It’s easy to romanticise the past, but back when vinyl was king, no-one’s radar was tuned to the good station ‘political correctness’. The ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s were a heaving pit of casual racism, sexism a-go-go, inflated celebrity ego, and homophobia thinly veiled as jaunty Christian singalongs. The Needle and the Damage Done is a joyous and forensic romp through the best of the worst of retro Wrongtown.
Part stand-up, part slide-show, part Ted talk, part Listicle – The Needle and the Damage Done premiered in 2007, and toured Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. Eight years is a long time between drinks, and there’s been a seismic shift in how we see the transgressions of the past; let’s just say Rolf Harris features more prominently this time around. And Bill Cosby…
This reboot of The Needle and the Damage Done is a limited return of Scott-Norman’s satiric masterpiece which played at the Sydney Opera House and featured on ABC TV’s Collectors. Increasingly relevant, it is a reminder of how far we’ve come, and how much those nostalgic rose-coloured glasses really hid.
Dark, silly, fun and shocking, it features everyone from John Laws and Abigail to those pesky Black and White Minstrels. Come along for the ride and join in the ultimate Top Ten Record countdown. You won’t believe what wins the Worst Record Ever… no seriously, you won’t!
Fiona Scott-Norman is a writer and performer, DJ, and cabaret director. She hosted Trash Is My Life, a bad music radio show on 3RRR for ten years.
“Horrifically embarrassing, infinitely uncomfortable, and one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.” – The Age
The Needle and the Damage Done
The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne
Season continues to 6 September 2015 – 8.30pm
Information and Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
Image: Fiona Scott-Norman