The brainchild of session musician Sean Donehue and writer Nick Waxman, Bearded is set to hit Frankston Arts Centre’s Cube 37 stage this March for an extremely limited run.
So what’s it like figuring out you’re queer in 2023? Well for best-friends Bet and Ace, it’s not great. In order to appease the masses, escape the spotlight, and just be seen as “normal” for once, Bet and Ace decide to “date” one another; be each other’s beards.
However, living comfortably in their lie can only last so long. The cracks begin to form as Ace falls for an older boy and Bet learns things about her family that have long been hidden. No matter the lie they live, it would seem the truth will always find a way to reveal itself.
Despite the show’s Queer context, Bearded is ultimately a story about family, given and chosen. This passionate and hilarious new musical is like reading the diaries of two Aussie queer teenagers; it is intellectual but it sounds and speaks like the youth of today.
Bearded is biting and satirical and poses the idea that despite our society being inherently more progressive, there actually hasn’t been all that much progression. Through a campy, self parodying music theatre lens, Bearded seeks to challenge opinions on sexuality, gender, religion and privilege.
Bearded has been in development since 2019 with support from the Australian Music Theatre Festival, Victorian College of the Arts, Home Grown Theatre Company and proudly supported by Frankston City Council’s Artist Project Grant program.
Music and Music Direction: Sean Donehue | Script and Direction: Nick Waxman | Featuring: Sean Donehue, Bek Schilling, Martin Lane, Michael Lindner, Belinda Jenkin, Jahla Black, Rachel Tunaley, Nathan Mariniello, Asher Griffith-Jones, Samuel Skuthorp, Jess Ridler, Chad Rosete, Caitlyn De Kuyper | Assistant Director: Will McKenna | Intimacy Co-ordinator: Melanie Beddie
Bearded
Cube 37 – Frankston Arts Centre, 27 – 37 Davey Street, Frankston
Season: 1 – 3 March 2023
Information and Bookings: www.artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au
Image: Bek Schilling and Sean Donehue feature in Bearded – photo by Jack Dixon-Gunn