Jezebel Productions’ debut show, Traffic Light Party, opened last night to a full house and left the audience buzzing. Written by Izzy Azzopardi, this dynamic production uses the concept of traffic light parties to highlight the complications of dating in an increasingly disconnected society.
Jezebel Productions is a Sydney-based theatre and film production house launched by Izzy Azzopardi and Jessica Garnett. They aim to explore the complexities of the female experience through bold, provocative and shameless storytelling.
From the outset, the play is a jaunty philosophical debate on whether traditional categories still fit the messiness of modern relationships. Not only do the lines between the labels blur, but labels themselves are questioned and studied.
The energetic and engaging cast, as director Brea Macey notes, is reminiscent of the Greek chorus. They act as moral guides and truth tellers who bring context to the chaos.
And they do so through tightly choreographed physical theatre that creates a vibrant rhythm of words and sound. It draws you in and shows at once, unity in the challenges we all face and yet, isolation in experience that most of us feel.
Traffic light/stop light parties first emerged in the late ‘90s. Promoter Bill Kennedy began hosting them across venues in Albany, New York. From there, the idea entered international media and spread across the globe. The concept is that you wear a colour to depict your relationship status. Green is for go (single), red is for stop (taken/unavailable), and yellow is for slow down/caution (unsure or ‘it’s complicated’).
What Azzopardi and her troupe show is that these fixed categories don’t capture the nuances of relationships. And the problem with traffic lights is they don’t necessarily make you stay in your lane.
A perfect example of this is the very confusing position of ‘yellow’. This situation(ship) is beautifully and convincingly portrayed by Isaac Harley and Caitlin Green as Samson and Amber. One partner attempts to gain certainty about their status, thinking they’re slowing to the red light of relationship comfort. The other has no intention of entering the red zone and speeds up towards the green light of singledom.
Every cast member gives it their all with a no-holds commitment and energy that is maintained for the entire performance. Admittedly, at times, the volume of delivery outsizes the small theatre space a bit.
Notable performances are given by Azzopardi herself as the formidable Ivy, and Grace Easterby as the drunken newly single Chloe. As Sunny, Renée Billing is a natural onstage, and their resonant voice should be recorded for posterity on a meditation app.
Overall, the audience is taken through poignant and highly relatable moments amid the chaos, which was evident from their reactions. This frenzy of fun and absurdity takes an honest look at the value we place on friendship vs relationship vs companionship.
Traffic Light Party is an absurdly accurate depiction of modern dating, relationships and love. It asks us to reconsider the terms we use to define ourselves and our connections, suggesting that perhaps relationships are not black and white or, in this case, green, yellow and red.
Traffic Light Party is sold out for the remaining season of the Sydney Fringe Festival. If you missed them this time, be sure to follow Jezebel Productions for future performances. They’re a name to look out for if you want contemporary Australian work that reflects the experiences of young people today.
Traffic Light Party runs to 12 September at The Actors Pulse Playhouse as part of 2025 Sydney Fringe Festival. 103 Regent Street Redfern NSW 2016.
The season is now sold out.
Website: https://sydneyfringe.com/events/traffic-light-party/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/jezebel_productions/
Photo credits: Jade Bell
