Dr AudiYO set to take families on a giant adventure at Arts Centre Melbourne

Created and performed by theatremaker and comedian Holly Austin, Dr AudioYO’s Giant Adventure follows the quest of Dr AudiYO, a beatboxing clown-come-superhero.

Using only her ‘magic looping bum bag’ and calling upon the wily ways of the audience, Dr AudiYO sets off on a surreal adventure to slay The Beast, who is on a rampage to silence the city.

On a bare stage, using only her voice, a microphone and wireless looping technology, Austin brings to life a wondrous world of giants, music and cats. Think Mr Bean meets Godzilla thrown down a rabbit hole to find Alice and Dr Seuss.

The work, directed by Dr Miles O’Neil of award-winning company The Suitcase Royale, fuses old school clowning and mime techniques with new skool beatbox and cutting edge wireless looping technology to connect with young audiences.

The importance of imaginative play sits at the heart of this work. Together with Dr AudiYO, the audience create and complete the show to become the true heroes of the performance. The work celebrates the audience’s participation and highlights the power of connection and collective action as they help Dr AudiYO save the day.

Austin was inspired to create Dr AudiYO’s Giant Adventure after developing the character of Dr AudiYO in her previous work for families that she co-wrote and created, Ruby’s Wish.

“After the success of Ruby’s Wish, I wanted to create a solo work that pushed the capabilities of the looper technology even further whilst continuing to explore themes that I hold close to my heart,” she said. “Using our imagination and playing make believe is something we do brilliantly as kids and it’s my hope that this show unleashes the wild creative beast within – no matter how old you are.”

Holly Austin is one of Australia’s most versatile multi-disciplinary performers. She is celebrated for her individuality in theatre making and her unique vocal dexterity. A NIDA graduate, she has a vast number of screen and theatre credits to her name including performer/writer for Comedy Channel’s Open Slather and recently appeared in Virginia Gay’s new play Cyrano for Melbourne Theatre Company. She is also a musician and beatboxer and has performed with the likes of Martha Wainwright, MC Common, Amanda Palmer, John Butler, Mama Kin, Holly Throsby and at SXSW with Sui Zhen.