Holden Street Theatres are currently presenting their programme for Adelaide's LGBTI+ festival, Feast.
The four shows being put on throughout the event have their own strengths and ideals. You can see 'The Measure Of A Man', 'The Purple List', 'Gifts From The King' and 'Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.' this year. 'The Measure Of A Man' by Gavin Roach was originally presented as a part of Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival in 2016 to high critical acclaim, ahead of touring to Sydney, Perth, Hobart, Brisbane and Prague.
Told in Gavin's trademark humorous, raw and deeply candid style, with direction by Lauren Hopley, 'The Measure Of A Man' stares into the heart of one man's sexual anxieties and pulls out the kinds of stories much LGBTI theatre shies away from – stories often shrouded in embarrassment or shame.
'The Purple List' opens on the wedding day of Sam and Derek. They did all the things a normal couple did. They argued, they had mates and went on marches. Then… Well, things changed. Derek was diagnosed with dementia and their lives turned upside down – but sometimes for the better.
Told from Sam’s point of view, the play is a touching, sad, yet often funny, insight into the lives of these two gay men as they navigate their way through the care system and the changes in their personal relationship.
Mel McCraig makes an unexpected foray into Elvis mania, inspiring her new show 'Gifts From The King'.
Studying the Elvis songbook, Mel found what she describes as ‘breathtaking’ recordings of the same songs by artists like Nancy Sinatra, Roberta Flack, Peggy Lee, Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin.
“I was literally stopped in my tracks,” Mel says. “These musical masterpieces were being revealed to me and I had Elvis to thank for it – hence the name of the show 'Gifts From The King'. If I’d allowed pre-conceived ideas and prejudice to blind me, I would never have discovered what are now some of my all time favourite songs.”
“I’m a bit of an Elvis fan and have always loved the depth of his songs and the fact that he (like him or not) made the industry change for ever,” Holden Street Theatres Co-Founder and Artistic Director Martha Lott says. “Little Richard said 'I thank God for Elvis Presley. I thank the Lord for sending Elvis to open that door so I could walk down the road, you understand?'”
In 'Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.' women take their rightful place centre stage: becoming the aggressors in seductions, demanding what they want in the workplace, and trashing supermarkets (and with them, fragile masculine egos). What happens next? Equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and gut-wrenchingly real, 'Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.' is a thrilling ride for anyone with a taste for rebellion and great social theatre.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the incredible cast of ‘Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again’ on our stage,” Martha says. “It will be a great night of theatre and an all round, entertaining night out.”
“It is going to be a great Feast and I’m really excited to see more great theatre at the venue.”
