Bite Me in Sydney 17 – 20 February  2010

The Red Rattler, Sydney’s new artist and activist-run performance venue, hosts Yana Alana and Tha Paranas for the Sydney debut of their award-winning show, Bite Me.

Bite Me won Best Cabaret Artiste 2009 and Best Director at the 2008 Green Room Awards and Best Cabaret Award at Melbourne’s 2007 Fringe Festival.

Tickets are $20 Concession/Student and $30 Full, available online at Trybooking.com and at the door.

Read more about Bite Me |   Reviews |  The Red Rattler, Sydney

A sellout success: Yana Alana And Tha Paranas In Concert

After telling Melbourne, Adelaide and Copenhagen audiences, in no uncertain terms, to ‘Bite Me’, Yana Alana returned with a five piece band to present Yana Alana and Tha Paranas In Concert at the 2010 Midsumma Festival. In Concert ran from 27 – 30 January at Gasworks Arts Park and featured guest musicians The Iguanas.

The irreverent, irrational, self-declared Diva put down her famous poetry book to unleash the singing, dancing (and occasional tantrum-throwing) showgirl within, and sell-out audiences and critics alike loved it.

“Yana Alana And The Paranas In Concert with special guests the Iguanas is exquisitely beautiful and sophisticated; from the sets to the ambience, costume to vocals, performance to content and ensemble, every element is beautifully considered.” Read the SameSame.com.au review

“DON’T I look smokin’?” Yana Alana (Sarah Ward) is holding the audience spellbound as she indulges in a bout of preening between belting out numbers.” Read The Age review

Teetering on the brink of cult-status, while on the verge of a nervous breakdown, Yana Alana And Tha Paranas presents a cabaret experience that blends political poetry, divine singing, kooky dancing, party tricks… and the odd tantrum.

Yana Alana is a talented yet jilted performer out to conquer the world with a unique blend of cabaret and comedy – and if that doesn’t appeal, perhaps her ice pick will.

Featuring a post-modern feministic clout that is both fierce and fragile, Yana Alana And Tha Paranas in Bite Me is a sensational cabaret experience.

And if you don’t take Yana’s word for it, there’s numerous awards including Best Cabaret Artiste 2009 and Best Director 2008 Green Room Awards and Best Cabaret Award at Melbourne’s 2007 Fringe Festival.

Bite Me is a combination of political poetry, comedy, dancing, poetry, catchy tunes and cabaret performed skillfully by Sarah Ward, Bec Matthews on kit, Ania Reynolds on keys and Frances Evans on double bass and directed by Anni Davey.

Yana Alana vs. comedian Hannah Gadsby

Hannah: What is your favourite Arnott’s Family Assorted Cream biscuit?
Yana: Monte Carlo. I like those pink bits.

Hannah: How do you prepare yourself for a performance?
Yana: I say out loud, ‘I’m fabulous, I’m brilliant, I’m the best, there is no other, there can be no other, there will never be another.’ Then I have some chocolate and weep inconsolably about my lost childhood.

Hannah: If you don’t perform regularly do you get needy?
Yana: How dare you insinuate that when people applaud wildly I glimpse just briefly what love must feel like. The answer to the question is NO!

Hannah: What do you miss most about your childhood?
Yana: Nothing, my childhood was fraught with pain.

Hannah: Do you find anger a guilty pleasure?
Yana: I don’t find anger, anger finds me.

Hannah: Do you have any scars?
Yana: Is a belly button a scar?

Read the full interview and find out Yana’s favourite word, essential body part and more….