True stories from the LGBTQIA+ community in central Victoria are told in a play to premiere at the Castlemaine Goods Shed on November 25-26.
Thrive: Queer voices, out loud, is the creation of Castlemaine-based company Black Apple Theatre.
“We’ve been working on Thrive for two years now,” said director Cheyney Caddy, “It’s been such a labour of love and I couldn’t be more excited to share this work with audiences.”
“I think when you become a theatre-maker everyone starts with the idea that they want to change the world for the better, and then as you gain experience, you learn how rare an opportunity that actually is; once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. Thrive is my once in a lifetime. I know this work is going to make a difference.”
Thrive interweaves the real-life journeys of five LGBTQIA+ Victorians, three over 65-year-olds and two 25-year-olds, into a powerful piece of theatre.
It explores the way these generations are connected by love, humour, resilience and a fierce determination to create a more equitable future for their community.
All of the artists and performers working on Thrive identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, which gives them a unique connection into the stories they are telling.
Mount Alexander local Aspen Beilharz is the young performer responsible for telling the story of Julie Peters; the real-life activist and trailblazer who became the first transgender person to run for parliament in Australia.
“Rehearsing Thrive has been a wonderfully warm, joyful, energised experience,” Aspen said.
“We’re having fun, but more than that, everyone is passionate about the work we’re doing. Having the chance to explore Julie’s story and bring it to the stage has been an honour.”
Julie equally gained from the experience.
“Thrive helped me reconnect with my regional Victorian roots and learn the incredible sense of inclusion for gender, relationship and sexuality diverse individuals and communities in country Victoria today,” Julie said.
“When I was younger there was a sense among gender and sexuality diverse individuals that you needed the anonymity of the big city to feel safe being yourself.”
The idea that queerness is ‘something that happens in the city’ has led to individuals feeling invisible in their regional communities, and the need for authentic representation to address this is a thread that runs through Thrive.
Young performer Issy Weiskopf described her motivation.
“These are stories that need to be told,” she said.
“We need a history of the queer rural experience, as so many of these stories have historically been silenced.”
Discussion panels with the cast and creative team will be run after each performance.
The Castlemaine premiere of Thrive was made possible by funding from the Department of Premier and Cabinet Pride Events and Festivals Fund and the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund.
Thrive will be showing at the Goods Shed, Castlemaine, at 7.30pm on November 25-26.
Tickets are available at: blackappletheatre.com
