Be drawn into six hypnotic and vivid tales of the strange, the divine, the terrifying, and the transformative, as Unnatural, the queer-gothic play by emerging playwright Holland Brooks, is presented in a world-premiere season at The Blue Room Theatre from 5 November 2024.
Unnatural brings together a team of queer artists from across Australia to present Brook’s playwriting debut that rips open the Australian Gothic to paint a visual story of queer reckoning, redemption, and reclamation.
Squid births. Jesus resurrected. Heartbeat fetishists. And we haven’t even touched the weird stuff yet. Unnatural explores the transformative experience of queerness by traveling through six journeys of metamorphosis.
Brooks is an up and coming lesbian Australian-American writer who graduated from WAAPA’s Bachelor of Performing Arts (Performance Making) program in 2022.
“I have been quite profoundly interested and compelled by the individualism inherent in conversations around identity politics. Particularly when discussing queerness and intersectionality, there seems to always be a ‘me’ and ‘them’. Unnatural was developed as a response to this,” said Brooks.
Bringing this rebellious play to life is director Andrew Sutherland, a Queer Poz (PLHIV) writer and performance-maker currently based out of Naarm-Melbourne who will be traveling to Boorloo-Perth for the creative process.
“Reminiscent (to me) of great envelope-pushing Queer plays by writers like Philip Ridley and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Holland’s writing leavened its ‘shock factor’ … with a sly and dry wit and with a compelling sense of tenderness and a yearning intimacy in its language and characterisation,” said Sutherland.
Performers Gabriel Critti-Schnaars (he/him), Jacinta Larcombe (she/her) and Jess Nyanda Moyle (they/he) are an ensemble of diverse emerging and established artists who boldly embody the text, bringing their lived experience to the stage.
Unnatural was originally developed through projects at the Western Australian Youth Theatre Company 24 and 40 hour play generators and in 2023 underwent development during residency with Naarm-Melbourne’s Antipodes Theatre Company.
Established visual artist and set designer Cherish Marrington (she/her) has created a fully-realised world to house the play alongside the hyptonic soundscape of emerging sound designer Abi Russell (she/her), mentored by WA powerhouse Rachael Dease (she/her).
This project brings together a diverse team of emerging and experienced artists in what is sure to break barriers and truly challenge audiences, whilst also being relatable to anyone who has ever felt like “the other”.
Unnatural
The Blue Room Theatre, 53 James Street, Northbridge (Perth)
Season: 7 – 23 November 2024 (previews: 5 – 6 November)
Information and Bookings: www.blueroom.org.au
Image: Unnatural – photo by Phoebe Eames