Kirby Lunn debuts her new show MESSHEAD at the Butterfly Club

Kirby Lunn is a versatile performer and writer, who recently returned to Australia after a successful stint in New York.

She has showcased her talents in various productions, including portraying Britney Spears in Hit Me Britney One More Time and embodying Marilyn Monroe in her own work, The Man. Kirby’s time in the States also saw her shine as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical and Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray, as well as joining the North American touring company of Kinky Boots. With extensive training and a passion for new work, Kirby’s artistic journey has taken her across continents, shaping her into the captivating artist she is today. Now, she brings us her latest creation: MESShead, a dark comedy set in the heart of New York City.

In MESShead, Kirby delves into the intriguing world of Katherine, an emotionally stunted woman determined to be the most special person in every room. Frustrated by the lack of complex and funny female roles, Kirby took matters into her own hands and penned her dream show, blending life’s absurdity with its darkest tragedies. MESShead defies genre conventions, constantly keeping the audience on their toes.

How did you get into performing?

Kirby: It’s so funny actually, both my parents are tone deaf. We’re not a musical family. My mum listened to a lot of rock music, but I was kind of the only one that had, like, a musical instinct. Apparently when I was five, I looked up audition under the in the phone book [laughs]. It was just something that I instinctively wanted to do. I got into choir and all of that kind of stuff, but it was something that I think was very much in my blood.

You’ve trained in a really broad variety of styles and methods, from music theatre to serious drama. Do you have one that you preference when performing?

Kirby: I feel very at home with comedy. But I think I feel comfortable with comedy because I’ve had so much training with the serious stuff like Meisner and Uta Hagen. But I definitely think it’s a love for knowledge. One thing I love about acting is that there’s no one way to do it. There are so many different paths. So, I love the idea of continuously learning, and one day, something will click in a different way. I had an amazing drama teacher, Roberta Wallach, who was Eli Wallach’s daughter who said that at the end of the day, after auditioning and getting no’s, you want to fall back on your technique, and the fact that you know you’re good because you have the training.

Meisner I love because it’s a way to preserve yourself while getting into the role. It’s less method. You don’t have to exploit yourself. I love using substitutions in every single thing, that’s the other point I really love from his work, having opinions on everything. I go through a script, circle the bits, and make sure I have opinions on little things. It’s in that kind of work where truly great performances are done, in all that tiny little work.

Where did the idea for MESShead come from?

Kirby: I’ve always wanted to do my dream show, to walk into a theatre and see it, and I knew exactly what it was, but I wasn’t seeing it… so I decided to write it! It’s very silly, but the core is very true. Actors and creative people will connect with it. During lockdown, I started writing and playing with these semi-autobiographical ideas – it’s about the everyday, the “nothingness,” set in the mean time. It’s that in-betweenness performers go through. I love the idea of creating a role when it doesn’t exist. In music theatre, many roles aren’t realistic or fun to play, so I wanted to capture the energy and joy of musical theatre with a complex female character. It’s a massive undertaking, and every day is a struggle in the creative process. But if I’m laughing while typing, I think it’s something that will click with people.

Without giving too much away, what can you tell me about the show?

Kirby: So my character in the show is a child star. I feel like this is almost who I would be now if I had been on Neighbours at 13. And it’s primarily a play with hints of theatrical music, more pop-inspired. The musical moments are like internal experiences, unlike traditional musical theatre. I explore different genres within those moments. The first hint of music pays homage to old-school Rodgers and Hammerstein. It’s an interesting process to draw from my theatre experience and choose what best serves the story. I wanted to write something with an unexpected ending, throwing curveballs that leave people bewildered and not really knowing what’s going on [laughs].

Can you sum up MESShead in a single sentence?

Kirby: A dark comedy begging for attention.

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MESShead plays at The Butterfly Club, Melbourne, on June 23rd and 24th.

For tickets and more information, visit the Butterfly Club website.