Sex, Lies & Betrayal - It’s gonna make you blush!
Karla Hillam has worked with JTM Productions and Margaret Fisk AM, writer, director and producer of Sex, Lies & Betrayal for over 3 years. She is a lover of stories and inciter of feelings using the mediums of acting, song & dance.
A woman with red hair and wearing a red jewelled bra looking at the camera Image + cover image: Fates Media
As an artist and storyteller, she aims to create a space for others to discover richer or alternate versions of themselves so they can live a more meaningful and authentic life. In particular, stories for and about women. She has spent the last ten years building a sustainable career interpreting stories for others and for the past 3 years she has also been developing and creating stories of my own that she believes align with her storytelling philosophy. Basically, it brings her the most joy to help make you laugh, cry and feel all the feels when you see her work
In the show, Karla Hillam portrays a famous Hollywood actress of the 1940s (psst we won’t tell you which one but we have put little clues scattered throughout the show).
Tell us about the show in 100 words or less
A famous movie star is writing a tell-all book about her life in Hollywood and what goes on behind the scenes. Through story and song, Sex, Lies & Betrayal is a captivating tale of lies, betrayal and one woman’s sexual awakening. It is her chance to set the record straight about her life, her many lovers (male and female) and spill the beans on some of Hollywood’s darkest secrets. In the style of a racy and titillating Mills and Boon story, this memoir is a voyeuristic experience into the golden age of Hollywood.
Anywhere Festival takes place anywhere but a theatre. Tell us about your venue. What is it about your space that adds to your audience experience?
We are playing at 3 different venues so as to truly immerse ourselves in the world of the Anywhere Festival. Our first venue places our Hollywood Star in a glamorous stately ‘home’ where once Dame Nellie Melba sang - the Old Museum. Our second venue is the Elements Collective where we can bring a different vibe to the show and our third venue is the Method Arts Collective and is in a café.
A woman dressed in a red jewelled bra and lacy black gown is sitting in a chair talking on a telephone. Image: Fates Media
What is your creative process like?
Karla chuck seeds around, then Marg waters, feeds, nurtures and grows them into fully fledged living things.
Tell us your origin story. How did your collaboration start?
Marg and Karla had known of each for many years before they started working together. Each one had had at least 3 people tell them that they needed to meet and work with the other. Then finally as fate would have it Marg production managed a play that Karla was acting in and finally the stars aligned. Marg had the perfect project; ‘Practically Perfect - The music of Julie Andrews’ and they have been working together ever since.
The idea for the show came from a biography Karla was reading when Marg and her were on tour in QLD with Practically Perfect in 2019. Karla was telling Marg about the book and how she thought it could be a clever basis for a one-woman show. Marg had actually already read that particular book and agreed that it was a great inspiration. She also thought that it would make a great show. Her intention was to showcase Karla and her fantastic vocal and acting abilities in solo show. Next minute (well, after many months of Marg researching, writing, organising new and re-imagined arrangements of popular songs, rehearsals and directing) we have Sex, Lies and Betrayal.
Who is your perfect audience member? Who is going to LOVE this event?
Ladies who love nothing better than a good wine and a catch up and gossip about the latest book, movie or TV show, especially those who love a bit of sexy romance and intrigue. Lovers of Judy Garland and those old Hollywood movies and movie stars. Lovers of the 50 Shades of Grey book or movie series. Couples who may want to spice up their love life!
Is there anything else we simply MUST know about the show?
It’s gonna make you blush!
Sex, Lies & Betrayal – Memoirs of a Hollywood Star takes place as part of ANywhere Festival at the Old Museum on the 6th and 9th of May, Elements Collective the 7th and 8th, and Method Arts Collective on the 8th.
