Telescope

Montague Basement’s May showing of Telescope tells the story of Joss and Vic, two Australian parents who struggle to cope after their eldest child comes out as transgender. Set in the same universe as writer Charles O’Grady’s first work, Kaleidoscope, Telescope subverts the concept of the traditional, heteronormative nuclear family.

“The reason why it’s important in Sydney theatre is that the nuclear family drama is such an integral part of Australian theatre and has been for years, and years and for one thing, I think it’s become stale and very much overused but for another, it doesn’t represent broadness and diversity,” said O’Grady.

“What I was trying to do was completely queer the heteronormative script of the Australian relationship drama and take that to the lens of coming out as trans and the negotiation between generations… I’m interested in a narrative where you can watch the parents of a child deal with that when the child’s not there.”

In a striking move, two non-binary actors, Shevvi Barrett-Brown and Caillin McKay, will swap the roles and thus genders of characters Joss and Vic each night. “I couldn’t see the story happening without trans voices,” said O’Grady. “I think it’s interesting when you have two young non-binary actors who have dealt with these issues from the other perspective playing two 40-year-old, heterosexual people… We’re exploring gender as performance and gender as artifice.”

Telescope is a frank and funny approach to the impact of transphobia on the self, the family and one’s social world, and is sure to lead the next generation of queer and trans texts on Australian stages. (ES)

May 12–21, 8pm. Leichhardt Town Hall, 107 Norton St, Leichhardt. $15-$20. Tickets info: montaguebasement.com/tickets

BY EMILY SHEN