When Grumms transforms into a squid monster (think Creature from the Black Lagoon meets The Muppets), they must hide their secret identity and disguise as a ‘normal human woman’. Cartoonish chaos ensues and only through being themselves can they become the hero they’ve always wanted to be.
Stunning video projections, puppetry and physical comedy combine in this absurd exploration of identity, gender and growing up ‘normal’. Inspired by performer/creator S.E. Grummett’s experience coming out as transgender, Something in the Water parodies the masculine and feminine and shows how absurd our rigid gender binaries can be. As a giant squid, Grumms can playfully demonstrate what it’s like trying to pass as either male or female or find the freedom to exist as something else entirely.
With the perfect balance of absurdist physical comedy and vulnerable self-exploration, the show weaves a touching story of acceptance that anyone can relate to. With a mix of humour and pathos, Something in the Water shares the experience of moving through the world in a trans-body, providing an unique perspective about the gender diverse experience in an interesting, empowering and accessible way.
S.E. Grummett comments, Through self-creation, I’ve been able to explore genres and styles that were often overlooked in my training and tell stories I believe need to be seen on the stage. I created Something in the Water to explore my own gender journey and to empower fellow queerdo-weirdos that might be watching, waiting for their time in the spotlight. While I have been independently producing for the past five years, Something in the Water very much feels like my creative coming-out, as it explores such a personal experience and challenges me as a theatre maker. I’m excited to put it in front of more people, to play, make them laugh and inspire them to challenge their own perceptions of ‘normal’.
Something in the Water won Best Theatre at the Adelaide Fringe 2021 and is part of Spotlight Canada at the Edinburgh Fringe.
