The Things I Could Never Tell Steven

The new Australian musical The Things I Could Never Tell Stephen is showing for a limited season as part of the 2017 Sydney Fringe Festival exploring betrayal, fear and frustration.

The show is full of comic delight, following the interaction of Stephen’s mother, father, ex-partner and wife as they unveil one of his secrets which has the power to tear his family apart. Director Alex Robson explained to the City Hub the appeal of the show.

“What’s interesting about this production is that even though it’s all about Stephen and his relationships, we never actually see Stephen.”

The musical explores homosexuality and the difficulty many still face with accepting their queer identity.

“Stephen is a homosexual and we learn fairly early on that his ex is actually a guy and that’s where a lot of the comic elements come in… I think it still does speak to what we’re seeing in Australia at the moment in people, especially men, not wanting to fully accept their queer identity…” Robson said.

Although the musical has comedy at its core, there are still moments where audiences will be moved, providing an uplifting and enjoyable experience for all with a cast full of professional performers.

“We’ve got an all-star cast so the calibre is incredibly high and it’s really been a delight working with these people… At the end of the day, even though it does have some beautiful sombre moments, it is a piece of entertainment so it is very heartfelt, people will laugh and cry…”

Sep 15–18. New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown. $25-$30. Tickets and Info: www.newtheatre.org.au

By Jade Morellini