Queer stories reach full voice

A CASTLEMAINE-based theatre company is bringing their stage production depicting real-life queer experiences to Ballarat for the first time.

Having debuted Thrive: Queer voices, out loud on stage late last year, the Black Apple Theatre cast and crew will bring the show to the Eureka Centre tomorrow as part of Frolic Festival’s summer program.

Thrive director and writer Cheyney Caddy said the play will complement the festival’s offerings.

“This play was always intended to be performed at regional pride festivals like Frolic,” Caddy said. “It was actually developed for Chill Out Festival.

“We’ve been trying to bring this show to Frolic for a couple years now, so we’re delighted. These stories are specific to Central Victoria.

“Queer people aren’t born into their history, culture and community, they have to find it. Unless we work to bridge those gaps we’re really missing out on those connections.”

Thrive was first developed nearly three years ago, and grew out of interviews Caddy had with members of the LGBTIQA+ community in 2020.

The play portrays five queer non-fictional accounts of queer people living in regional Victoria with three of them over 65 years old and two aged under 25.

Caddy said Ballarat is an important location for the play as a regional hub for the queer community.

“Part of the journey of Thrive has been to return these regional stories to the places they belong,” Caddy said.

“A portion of it is actually about a young transgender person living in Ballarat. There’s also some connection with the other characters.

“This is a chance for us to play to audiences that will be very familiar with and recognise the setting and content of the play. It’s a home crowd for us.”

Tickets to Thrive: Queer voices, out loud are $22.19 and can be booked at bit.ly/3JAjeK6.