Magical Prescriptions

Tell the “Doctor” what ails you

Come to me, “Dr” Jessica Ngaio Smith, with something that troubles you. Whether physical, psychological, spiritual or emotional, tell me about your problem and I’ll write you a prescription. Appointments are one-on-one and you’ll have 10 minutes to speak. If your words get stuck in your throat, that’s ok, I’ll work with what I see in the stillness and silence.

Magical Prescriptions is an experiment in making ritualistic performance art that is intimate and personalised, giving the audience an experience that is just for them. As someone who has felt greatly dehumanised by my experiences as a patient in the doctor’s office, hospital ward and psychologist’s room, I am interrogating the notion that healing can be given to us by a stranger working in institutionalised paradigms with a strict time limit. As an artist, I have a curiosity and hope that art, along with a reverence for the beautiful mystery of things, might help guide us back towards ourselves. Finally, as a clown, I feel it’s my duty to laugh at how little I, or anyone, can truly have the answers to anything.

About Jessie Ngaio

Jessie Ngaio’s life story is one of not fitting in. Growing up queer in small town Aotearoa, New Zealand, she left school early due to what she now realises was undiagnosed ADHD. For years, Jessie has worked in the adult entertainment industry as well as pursuing her passion for creative expression through training in the visual arts, clown, improvisational movement and Butoh. Along with exhibiting paintings and soft sculptures, she co-wrote and starred in the Golden Gibbo Nominated musical theatre production, Slutmonster and Friends (2013) surrealist comedy web series, Trying My Best (2017), performed in the ensemble productions Colour-Fool and Odd Hours, and “Butoh Bar” as part of ButohOut! Festival, 2021-2023. Her first solo performance, Oh Yuck, It’s Me (2022, 2023) was nominated for two Green Room Awards for Independent Theatre (Best Performer, Best Production). She also helped co-devise and performed in Stickybeak which won “Best Comedy” at Melbourne Fringe, 2023.