Play tackles the true meaning of bravery

Weaving a clever tapestry of comedy, drama and romance, Lab Kelpie production Become The One will provoke important discussions around love and bravery.

Winner of the Midsumma Festival Playtime Award for New Queer Writing, the funny, smart and challenging romantic comedy being performed in Geelong next month explores why a footballer would choose to remain closeted, and why their openly gay partner would choose to accept it.

When Noah captures the attention of Tom, a celebrated AFL player nearing the end of his career, sparks immediately fly. But as the season progresses and their relationship grows, questions around identity, agency and our devotion to hyper-masculinity begin to surface, forcing us to consider what happens to love when good intentions and patience aren’t enough any more.

Featuring two vibrant, lovable characters at its heart, Become The One repositions the typical “closeted sportsman” narrative by asking its audience to consider: what if it was the partner, not the athlete, that became the driving force behind dismantling the heteronormativity of Australia’s national sport?

Running from Tuesday, May 3 to May 7 in Geelong Arts Centre’s Studio 4, Become The One explores the true meaning of bravery and what it might take to do the right thing – as a lover, as a high-profile sportsman, as a human being – to become the one.

Each performance runs for 75 minutes without interval.

The 7.30pm performance on May 6 includes a post-show Q&A with the show’s cast and creatives.

In addition to these performances, local creatives are invited to join the cast and creatives of the show for a 90-minute, hands-on professional development workshop exploring the structure and style, casting and character dynamics, performance, and how to touch on serious subject manner in a real and accessible way.

Taking place on May 6, the workshop is presented as part of Geelong Arts Centre’s Creative Engine professional development program, and bookings are available at  the Geelong Arts Centre website.

“It’s vital that Geelong Arts Centre makes space for storytelling that actively represents the experiences of our wonderfully diverse community,” Geelong Arts Centre senior producer of programming and Creative Engine Penny McCabe said.

“Become The One is an acclaimed and important Australian work that we strongly believe should be shared right across the country and beyond, and we are thrilled to bring it to the stage in Geelong.”

Capacity in Studio 4 is limited and tickets are on sale now at the Geelong Arts Centre website.