The 6 Guys an Immigrant Trans Person of Colour Will Date in Melbourne was first seen as part of the Midsumma Festival in 2023. It returns to Melbourne this month in a fantastic production that’s easily a highlight of the theatrical year.
Playwright Dax Carnay also stars, taking on the role of Dee, the titular trans person of colour, who recounts a series of horrific/hilarious romantic misadventures.
She tries her best not to be defeated by a series of connections that all start bright and new and different yet somehow all wind-up the same, but that becomes increasingly easier said than done.
The writing is immaculate, sharp, and heartfelt. The shape of a piece can be a tricky thing to get right, particularly towards the end of a show when the lead character is required to arrive at some understanding and ends up doing so with all the subtlety of an ACME anvil.
Not here, however. After an encounter that veers swiftly from passionate to traumatic, we watch Dee collect herself and gently come to a realisation that was organic and beautiful.
Some of the quality of that moment was already on the page, but it’s Dax’s performance that brings it to glorious life. From the opening blast of cerulean tutu, Dax gave the audience a sometimes poignant, always captivating, masterclass in storytelling.
The other roles were shared among co-stars, Tima Alexandrov and Callum O’Mara. Despite the many moving parts they had to contend with (numerous costume changes, accents and characterisations), both navigated their multiple roles in terrific fashion. Director, Beng Oh, ensures that the heart (and hurt) in each scene isn’t lost among the humour and calamity.
If you can get to The Motley Bauhaus, 6 Guys is a superb night out. It’s fun and a perfect example of the richness of queer voices, which in today’s climate is as much an act of resistance as it is an entertainment. Get to it!
The 6 Guys an Immigrant Trans Person of Colour Will Date in Melbourne
The Motley Bauhaus, Elgin Street, Carlton
Performance: Wednesday 9 July 2025
Season continues to 19 July 2025
Bookings: www.themotley.com.au
For more information, visit: www.6guys.tayotayocollective.au for details.
Image: Dax Carnay in The 6 Guys an Immigrant Trans Person of Colour Will Date in Melbourne – photo by Alex Winner
Review: June Collins