Destructive Nature
By Handlight
Director's Note
Narcissism - the buzzword of our time.
"She's such a narcissist"
"How to know if you're dating a Narcissist"
"Are you a Narcissist type? Know these red flags"
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a very real condition with serious implications for a person’s mental health. It is only present in about 0.5% - 1% of the global population and usually not recognized by those who have it. Social Scientists, however, say that the prevalence of the disorder is on the rise - another epidemic of our times. But epidemics don’t happen in a vacuum.
"You think you fell out of a coconut tree, you exist in the context in which you live" - Kalama Harris
In the last century and beginning of this one, we've seen massive cultural shifts. The economic prosperity of the post-World War II era moved the culture of the 'Western' world towards a central positioning of individualism and personal material success: think of the home appliance catalogues in the 1940s and 50s, the hedonism and surge of interest in psychology and self-help in the 1960s and 70s (the 'Me Generation'), the tax cuts and deregulation in support of the wealthy and heightened consumerism (economic rationalism) of the 1980s. In these eras, the Narcissists were largely contained in their immediate surroundings: work, family and friends.
Then
“Greed is good” Gordon Geko, Wall Street 1987.
The gas main exploded with enough force to send us all flying: social media and reality TV entered the arena, creating a perfect playground for the Narcissist.
Destructive Nature is an absurdist, tongue in cheek look at the condition from Greek mythology, to Freud, to pop psychology, to social media where it bids for attention or shows "red flags" in Tiktok videos in online witch hunts, to the narcissistic thriving corporate world.
We were fascinated by how this condition manifests itself in our contemporary context. We have come to the conclusion that, in a world where we are so removed from our natural environments, from the people around us, from our communities, in a world where the noise and overstimulation of the outside and online world is constant, it is no wonder that Narcissism is on the rise
At its core, Narcissism is an unrequited self-love and a loss of connection. It can't be cured. But it can be managed. Aside from therapy and medication, overcoming Narcissism requires learning how to empathise and create meaningful relationships. For a condition born out of individualism, the antidote seems to be community.
Thank you for coming. We hope you enjoy the show.
Thank you to Joseph Lynch and the House Conspiracy Team for your consistent assistance during this project and allowing us to rehearse here, we could not have done it without you.
Thank you to Kara HC at Firemark Photo Media for your photography.
Thank you to Philip Armit, Mustafa Karakaya, Chris Slater and Nicolas Angelosanto for lending us your creative minds and providing feedback throughout our creative process.
Thank you to the Greens, Gabba Ward for kindly lending us the speakers.
To my creative counterparts, Flavia Carrillo and Daniel Giorgi, you’ve been the dream team. Thank you for taking my idea and running with it. And me.
Flavia Carrillo
Flavia, hailing from Peru, is a dynamic actor and performer with a diverse background in theatre, film, and television. She has honed her skills through extensive training and a variety of performances that showcase her range and dedication to her craft. She furthered her studies in Argentina, where she studied Acting and Directing of Performing Arts at the Centro de Investigación Cinematográfica (CIC). Since moving to Australia she has immersed herself in the local scene, taking classes, working in commercials and film and now, once again on stage. Her interests lie in delving beyond the surface into the complexities of relationships.
This marks Flavia’s third project with Handlight, last year directing a short film 'Duty' and having written and acted in her own short, Amargo.
Daniel Giorgi
Daniel Giorgi is a musician, songwriter and composer focused on keyboard compositions using key instruments (acoustic and electric pianos) and synthesisers.
Daniel comes from a background in visual arts growing up and later in architecture and design through his university studies at the University of Queensland, Politecnico di Milano and the University of Melbourne. He is a self trained musician and enjoys exploring sonic textures, layering of sounds, narrative compositions and improvisation. Daniel is interested in the interaction between art forms, having studied composition in film and screenwriting as well as acting and theatre performance. He works to bring together his sense and knowledge of all these disciplines whenever he works in an art form, be it music or other.
This is Daniel's third project with Handlight, having made the composition for a short film Duty (2023) and Amargo (2023).
Madeline Armit
Madeline Armit is an actor, director, writer and photographer based in Meanjin, specializing in film and theatre.
Madeline pursued a Bachelor of Creative Arts with a major in Theatre, leading her into diverse roles in education and various productions. After working in disability and mental health support, she has become increasingly interested in non-verbal communication and how this can be used onstage through physical theatre. With a rich background in different artistic mediums, she brings creativity and innovation to all her collaborations.
Madeline is particularly fascinated by the complexities of human relationships and power dynamics, delving into the unspoken nuances and silent struggles that shape our interactions. Through physical theatre, she seeks to unravel these intricate layers.
Her work with Handlight includes acting in the short film "Duty" and serving as art director for "Armago". This current project marks her third collaboration with Handlight.