WA Exposé

WA Exposé is a curated show that focuses on local talent. As an audience member it can be difficult to get into a new scene or experience art outside your comfort zone. We work constantly to offer a safe space to be uncomfortable. Unlike other variety shows, this one is a rapid fire degustation menu.

The rapid fire concept gives all performers the exact same amount of time on stage and invites audiences to experience art forms they might not otherwise seek out. You have a high chance of falling in love with a new art form and if you don’t – that’s ok – A new artist will be onstage shortly! We pride ourselves on bringing performers to new audiences through an inclusive and welcoming space for artists and audiences alike.

Form and Style

The show always begins with a welcome to country. As artists it is a privilege to perform on these lands and we give an unlimited amount of time to pay our respects to that.

Our Emcee will guide you throughout the evening much like a sommelier, matching each moment with a fantastic new performer. The goal isn’t for everything to be to your taste, it is to open your mind in small doses to the array of talents available. At every show I’ve had audience members express gratitude for a new art form they’ve never considered before but after tonight have decided to seek out.

All the acts have a maximum of 10 mins onstage and the show can therefore be customised to the venue’s specifications. We have done versions of the show that are as short as one hour or as long as three.

Community Engagement

We are here to engage audiences in new artforms they might not have seen before. Is drag something you want to see but 3am on a weekday too late for you? Have you been keen to see Burlesque but don’t know the etiquette on how to behave when someone take their clothes off? Does opera wow you but you’ve always thought you had to be “smart” to listen to classical music?

Elitism in the arts and inaccessibility limits audiences from experiences and our top goal with WA Exposé is to get rid of these boundaries. All our shows come with an accessibility guide (example submitted below) to give all audience members options when coming to our shows. We know that art can be confrontational (and we love that!) we strive for safe discomfort in the rapid fire concept. If something on stage isn’t for you – that’s ok! A new artist will be onstage shortly. We can’t do what we do without the audience.

Reviews

“Creator and founder of WA Exposé, Aria Scarlett is known nationally for her work crossing music boundaries, having performed operatic vocals with aerialists, fire twirlers, dance, burlesque artists and even a fire breathing dragon! This year she added hip hop to her repertoire, touring with Downsyde and Moana Maytrix in the theatrical production Ice Land: A Hip h’Opera, produced by Yirra Yaakin Theatre company. Aria’s compositional skills allowed her to write new vocal lines for the production which received rave reviews.” – Mystery Case (home of keeping it real reviews).

“Featuring a diverse blend of 12 incredible acts, the unique concept of WA Exposé gives all performers the exact same amount of time on stage and invites audiences to experience art forms they might not otherwise seek out.” – X-Press Magazine

“Wonderful, confronting yet safe, I like that” – Harriet ‘All Things Queer’ RTRfm

Available Marketing Collaterals

We engaged local graphic designers Imogen Violet and Georgia Sassenfeld who continue to create all our imagery. We have posters, artist tiles for social media and extensive videography filmed at our November 2021 show by local videographer Nicola Macri. All our shows have been professionally photographed and we have these images to use for future promotion thanks to K Darius. All these assets have already been secured.

Credits

I (Aria Scarlett She / Her) am currently the sole person behind the scenes of WA Exposé. I curate each show to ensure a cross section of local and regional talent is represented across all artistic expressions.

Performance through singing has been a passion of mine since I was very young, I’ve always followed a musical path and have two degrees in Classical Music from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Since graduating in 2017, I’ve performed across Australia as a soloist, composer and choir conductor. I’ve performed on traditional stages, at large music festivals and written music for film. I’ve used my solid classical training to explore all genres of music, collaborating with aerialists, fire twirlers, hip hop artists as well as burlesque & contemporary dancers.

My work spearheaded the creation of rural community choirs throughout the Gascoyne region, which continue to provide a creative outlet in marginalised communities. Through all my work, I aim to rid artistic genre elitism and provide a safe artistic platform for artists and audiences.

Whenever I mount these shows as a producer I make sure the artists are fully compensated for their talents and skillset. Having never been successful for a grant, this often means paying out of pocket. I believe that artists aren’t often offered what they are worth to perform and continue to work to raise the bar of expectations. It hasn’t been the best financial choice but I believe in this show.