Presented by Griffin Theatre Company in association with Malthouse Theatre
Gay newlyweds Warren and Kim have it all—a small dog, a joint gym membership and a 20sqm apartment with stunning views. But in 2017 if you offend the wrong person your life will go straight down the Twitter-toilet. So on the night of Mardi Gras, when caught wearing a compromising costume, Kim’s got to think fast. How will he placate an angry radical-queer academic who already loathes gay men? Lies, lies and more lies. Throw in an Instagram affair, a missing baggie of cocaine, and a burglar (naturally), and you’ve got a very Potts Point version of a classic farce, laced with black-comic political intrigue.
Director Lee Lewis reunites with Declan Greene to venture where many fear to tread, as Declan asks some extraordinarily difficult questions of his own community: White Gay Men. How was marriage ordained as the #1 LGBTIQA issue of our time? Why do some colours in the rainbow flag get to shine brighter than others? And when was it, exactly, that gay men stopped throwing bottles and started buying Prosecco?
The Homosexuals is very funny. It’s potentially very offensive. But one thing’s certain—it’ll be the talking point of our season.
Download the online program
Content Warning
The Homosexuals, or “Faggots” contains strong coarse language, use of theatrical smoke, drug references, sexual content, and language and imagery which may be of sensitivity to audience members, including LGBTIQA+ audience members and people of particular ethnocultural and religious groups. It is not suitable for children. For a more detailed content warning, or to discuss any of the above please contact Griffin on 02 9332 1320 or email [email protected].
The Homosexuals was commissioned by friends of Bruce Meagher and Greg Waters to mark a significant anniversary through Playwriting Australia’s co-commissioning program.
Director Lee Lewis
Designer Marg Horwell
Lighting Designer Trent Suidgeest
Composer & Sound Designer Steve Toulmin
Assistant to the Director Charles O’Grady
Stage Manager Rhianne Perrie
With Mama Alto, Simon Burke, Simon Corfield, Genevieve Lemon, Lincoln Younes
Preview 17 – 21 March
Season 24 March – 29 April
Performance Times
Monday – Friday 7pm
Saturday 2pm & 7pm
Tuesday 18 April 2pm & 7pm
Run Time
90 minutes no interval
[Images by Brett Boardman]
Trailer, The Homosexuals Or ‘Faggots’
Lee Lewis on The Homosexuals Or ‘Faggots’
“It’s a refreshingly urgent piece of new Australian writing that not only has it taken the temperature of the current socio-political climate (it’s like a Twitter timeline come to excruciating life); it’s also relentlessly funny…” ★★★★ Time Out Sydney, Cassie Tongue
“There is, as the saying goes, something to annoy almost everyone.” ★★★★ Daily Review, Owen Richardson
“… It’s laugh-out-loud theatre that works because everything comes together just so: Greene’s smart, finely tuned writing; Lee Lewis’ direction, which shows wisdom and precision; Marg Horwell’s set, an apartment that somehow makes a virtue of its awkward, compact layout partially in-the-round; and a wonderful cast that embraces the vices and virtues of their characters, and reveal keen comic timing…” ★★★★ Limelight Magazine, Patricia Maunder
“…The dialogue is as precise as a door slamming. You should be offended but suddenly find, in spite of yourself, you’re laughing out loud at moments that should make you cringe…” Stage Noise, Liddy Clark
“…The show is rowdy, rude and ridiculous, but each of its uproarious manoeuvres is meticulously informed by the progressive politics that burns at its core…” Suzy Goes See, Suzy Wrong
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