Little Jokes in Times of War

Little Jokes in Times of War: A powerful story of family and womanhood in a time of crisis

Little Jokes in Times of War, written, directed and performed by emerging artist, Charlotte Salusinszky, is back for a return season. It will be performed at Kings Cross Theatre from July 21 – 31, presented by Shopfront Arts Co-Op in association with KXT bAKEHOUSE Theatre.

First developed and performed in 2020 for Shopfront’s ArtsLab Residency, Little Jokes in Times of War is a one-woman autobiographical performance which centres on the role of Salusinszky’s grandmother in her family’s escape from Hungary in 1956.

Using quirky vignettes that dissect the narrative from multiple angles, Salusinszky interweaves her grandmother’s story with her present-day experience of being a second-generation migrant living in Australia. The work examines the emotional labour women enact in crisis situations, as well as its intergenerational impact.

Generations and time periods collide in Salusinszky’s self-imposed quest to see if she is a ‘real Salusinszky woman,’ living up to the self-sacrifice and bravery of her gutsy foremother.

“In researching my grandmother’s life, I’ve had to confront the toll that being a ‘loud’ woman had on her,” says Salusinszky. “It’s a story that I hope will particularly resonate among women, the Hungarian community and families with a history of migration.”

Shopfront’s Creative Director, Natalie Rose, explains that “Little Jokes in Times of War premiered as a part of our flagship emerging arts program, ArtsLab, in 2020 with rave reviews.”

“This work is personal, political and absorbs the audience with a unique style of storytelling. We are pleased to be able to bring Little Jokes to new audiences in 2021 as a part of KXT's annual program.”

The creative team for this production includes mentor and dramaturg Deborah Pollard, sound/av designer Rowan Yeomans, and lighting designer Thomas Doyle.

“It is complete seduction… The content is riveting and confronting. It has no sentimentality. It is rigorous and fearless… This work deserves exposure again and again.” – Kevin Jackson Theatre Reviews