The Power of the Holy Spirit

An experimental performance lecture exploring the control we do and do not have over our URL identities in a post-truth world. Expect a TED-talk on acid, a performative lecture on mushrooms, storytelling whilst popping nangs.

Come down a rabbithole that begins as a rational exploration of the nuanced and complicated ways our identities and politics are manifested on the internet, but will probably (definitely) end with Harriet getting naked and putting something up her butt (but, like, in a really arty and compelling way).

“The Power of the Holy Spirit” is also a book written by some people called George and Harriet Gillies. George Gillies is a retired Wall Street executive who, along with his wife Harriet, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and conducted thorough and systematic research to provide background information about how you may obtain the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This book is one layer in a dense collage of styles and sources to weave a tapestry of hilariously absurd, beautiful, and paradoxical gestures, images and language.

Created and Performed by Harriet Gillies. Media Design by Xanthe Dobbie.

Presented at the 2019 Melbourne Fringe Hub and The Flying Nun by Brand X, 2019.

Daily Review (Melbourne season):

"Hysterically funny, unexpectedly moving, and clever as hell."

"Gillies truly holds up a singular and phenomenal prism through which to consider the grim farce of our digital and physical lives."

Theatre Travels (Sydney Season): 

"The whole show is unpredictable, an unapologetic rollercoaster of surprise... It follows every tangent, explores every possibility and leaves no stone unturned."

"Gillies’ dry wit and twisted intelligence is evident in every point."

"Every surprise, every limit you think she’ll hit, Gillies out does you, proving once again that she is a pioneer in her arts practice. I like to think I’ve seen my fair share of out-there performance art but Gillies puts it all to shame. She is unforgiving in the lengths she goes to make her art, her truth even, in this #posttruthbaby world."

Winner of the Best Experimental Award at 2019 Melbourne Fringe.

Produced by Unfunded Empathy, for touring requests please email: thom@unfundedempathy.com

Photos By Zaina Ahmed.