One man show a homecoming

PERFORMER, public speaker and writer Benjamin MacEllen is preparing to bring his one man show, Transmansplaining, back to his hometown for Bendigo’s Pride Festival.

With two performances on 19 and 20 March, at 8pm at The Engine Room, after debuting the show years earlier, MacEllen said he’s excited to show it again where it all began.

“I did it first in October 2019 here in Bendigo and the Pride Festival asked me to bring it back last March, which obviously didn’t happen,” he said.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this festival as it grows, not just the acceptance but the beginning of a whole lot more nurturance of our LGBTQI community in Bendigo and I’m even hoping to tour the show regionally in Victoria if not further afield.

“It’s a privilege to be able to bring a local queer story and I’m really passionate about encouraging other artists in whatever form it comes.”

Combining his love for stand-up comedy, acting, writing and public speaking, MacEllen said Transmansplaining is a true display of both his personal experiences and professional skills.

“Transmansplaining is a comedy and drama and a little bit of music that explores my journey of realising that I was transgender, the lumps and bumps of realising it later in my life at 33,” he said.

“The other side is my experiences having lived, socialised and educated as a female and now living as a privileged male and seeing the differences in language and the way I’m treated.

“I explore it through intimate disclosures and some funny stories about what it’s been like to be me and be the male I am in the world having had my experience being brought up for 33 years as a female.”

Inviting both queer and cis-gendered audiences over the age of 15 to come along to the show, MacEllen said there’s a story, and even a lesson, in it for everyone.

“Some of this was a response to the questions that people would ask me, sometimes they were good questions and sometimes they were inappropriate questions,” he said.

“That’s why it’s called Tansmansplaining, obviously a play on mansplaining and it’s me explaining some of those answers so hopefully people don’t have to ask other people in their lives.