A THEATRE project that began in a coronavirus lockdown last year is taking another step towards production.
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Created by Castlemaine-based company Black Apple Theatre, Thrive: Queer voices, out loud is made up of interviews with younger and older members of the LGBTQIA+ community. It will host two read-through events in March at the Daylesford ChillOut Festival and the Bendigo Pride Festival.
Black Apple Theatre artistic director Cheyney Caddy said there were many points of connection between people who grew up decades apart.
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"It is unlike any other work I have ever done because of the potential of those stories to make a difference," Ms Caddy said. "We are interested in trying to create a through-line from the past to present, from history to the vision that people have for the future of LGBTQIA+ community.
"That comes across really strongly, even though we are interviewing complete strangers separated by several decades. There are so many points of connection and commonality in their experiences, they've all got such a strong sense of hope. That comes through in play.
"Thrive is really a story about how, as a community and as individuals, we have created something that is full of hope, life and beauty. Even when the ground has been stony."
Max Primmer, who hosts the Queer and Now program on Maine FM, was one of the interviewees for the Thrive project. He has been a strong advocate for regional LGBTQIA+ Victorians for many years.
"Really what we have got to get through, the message we need to tell everybody is - You are loved, you are important, your life is important," he said.
Play readings will be held at the Glenlyon Shire Hall on March 6 at 7.30pm as part of the ChillOut Festival and at The Engine Room on March 13 at 8pm as part of the Bendigo Pride Festival.
"We are hoping after the play readings, the show will have a life and open at the Frolic Festival in Ballarat and do the rounds of LGBTQIA+ festivals in Victoria from mid-2021 to 2022."
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