The Malthouse Theatre presents the theatrical debut of Christos Tsiolkas’ ground-breaking novel, Loaded, in the Beckett Theatre for a limited season this May.
Almost 30 years ago, Tsiolkas’ debut novel Loaded painted a portrait of a young man who is restlessly searching for himself in opposing worlds. To this day, the story resonates with migrant and queer communities as a reminder that you are not alone.
Ari (Danny Ball, A Beginner’s Guide to Grief) is 19 and unemployed – he doesn’t want to be gay and he doesn’t want to be Greek. He doesn’t want to be anything. Drawn by the alluring pulse of Collingwood’s gay clubs, he finds an escape, and a family in the form of drag queens and one-night stands.
First adapted as the award-winning 1998 film Head On, then reimagined as an audio adaptation in 2020, Loaded takes the mainstage with director Stephen Nicolazzo (Looking for Alibrandi) joining writers Dan Giovannoni and Christos Tsiolkas (Merciless Gods) to present Ari’s anarchic odyssey that sees him travel the four corners of Melbourne.
Honest, raw, and passionate – a lot can happen in a sweaty night at The Peel.
Director: Stephen Nicolazzo | Featuring: Danny Ball | Set & Costume Designer: Nathan Burmeister | Lighting Designer: Katie Sfetkidis | Composer & Sound Designer: Daniel Nixon | Choreographer & Movement Director: Ashlea Pyke | Language Consultant, Translation and Dialect Coach: Odysseas Kripotos | Stage Manager: Cointha Walkeden | Adaptation: Christos Tsiolkas and Dan Giovannoni – from the novel by Christos Tsiolkas | Besen Placement (Dramaturgy): Kevin Hojerslev | Besen Placement (Directing): Kitan Petkovski
Loaded
Beckett Theatre – Malthouse Theatre, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank
Season: 10 – 28 May 2023 (previews to 9 May)
Information and Bookings: www.malthousetheatre.com.au
Image: Danny Ball stars in Loaded – photo by JM Tubera