We know her as one of Australia’s most vocal and fierce feminists. After three best-selling books, including the powerful “Fight Like A Girl”, and her latest, “How We Love: Notes on Life”, writer and broadcaster Clementine Ford has continued her exploration of love in its many forms. This month, she takes this inquiry onto the stage, with her friend — musician and cabaret performer, Libby O’Donovan.
“Love Sermon”, which opens in Cronulla tonight, is a live show examining the themes of love, friendship and family that Ford wrote about in “How We Love: Notes on a Life”.
Exhausted by the endless hostility she faced as a vocal feminist in Australia, Ford now wants to give audiences a fresh, lighthearted take on the powerful nature of love, revealing how surrendering to love can be the greatest act of faith and bravery.
The show will feature comedy, songs and dance, exploring the nature of human connections and love.
“The Love Sermon is a life affirming celebration exploring the ways we hope, the ways we connect, the ways we grieve and yes, the ways we love,” Ford said.
“We mistake romantic love for being the only kind of love that matters, but this is just one small part of human connection. Our Love Sermon will have you laughing and weeping in equal measure, but most of all it will remind you that the gift of loving in all its messy complexities is at the heart of what it means to be alive.”
Joining Ford will be the 2022 Cabaret Icon Award winner Libby O’Donovan. As a recipient of an OAM in recognition of her service as a jazz and cabaret performer, O’Donovan has performed around the world including in New York, Tokyo and Toronto as well as Australia-wide.
The pair will look at the importance of love across all aspects of our lives – it’s a show that is guaranteed to have audiences laughing, weeping and cheering.
If this show sounds slightly familiar, it’s because this is not the first time the pair have collaborated.
In 2021, Ford and O’Donovan piloted the show at Sydney’s All About Women festival – to raving fans.
“I believe love is the greatest four-letter word of all time,” O’Donovan said. “We dedicate songs, poetry, paintings, and our entire lives to it. Love Sermon weaves together the beauty of music and the power of spoken word to celebrate all the facets of love.”
Love Sermon will tour across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria throughout October and November this year. To book tickets and see dates and times, visit the offical website.