That's So Gay

The abstract for the interview "That's So Gay", recorded on April 25th, 2012, summarizes a conversation with the cast and crew of a play with the same title, facilitated by the interviewer Jo Jackson aka Grizz. On the cusp of its performance at Bats Theatre in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, members of the production shared their experiences and insights about the creation of the play.

"That's So Gay" is a theatrical piece that brings to life various stories of youths from Wellington, aiming to portray diverse perspectives and experiences of growing up queer. The play was structured into 18 dramatized vignettes called "moments,” which were crafted over three months through a devising process inspired by Moises Kaufman and their work on "The Laramie Project." Cast and crew worked together in reshaping these moments, even up to a few days before the performance, highlighting a dynamic and live development process.

Central to the play’s methodology was the incorporation of audience feedback through a unique mechanism of clicking, where both the audience and offstage cast members would click in agreement or recognition of a moment on stage, fostering communal resonance. The creative process involved both sharing personal stories that related to themes of identity, including LGBTQ+ experiences, and reflecting on them within the group, which led to a deeper understanding and connection among the participants.

The play, directed by Toni Regan, aimed to challenge the derogatory undertones of the phrase "that's so gay" and address homophobia, leveraging the power of theatre to reflect the community's stories back onto itself. By utilizing a close-knit collaborative endeavor, the cast and crew endeavored to maintain the authenticity of the narratives while also recognizing the evolving nature of their representation on stage.

Beyond the artistic representation, "That's So Gay" served a broader purpose by facilitating discourse and awareness around the sensitive topics it addressed. The production sought to incite its audience to consider the implications of language, the diverse truths within communities, and the importance of respect and understanding.

The interview underscored various personal impacts of the piece on the participants. It fostered friendships, encouraged bravery, heightened awareness around queer issues, and provided introspective insight for those involved. The cast discussed the careful balance needed when adapting real stories for the stage, emphasizing the importance of staying true to the essence of the original accounts.

After its successful run, the future of the play was open for discussion, noting the possibility of taking it to schools or other venues, dependent on the group's desire and availability. Ultimately, the intention was for audiences to emerge with an enriched sense of community engagement and reflection, whether through personal connection to the stories or through consideration of the play's broader messages.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Anny da Silva Freitas Harlyn Wilkinson Harriet Lane Tobin Isla Findlay Keith Labad Toni Regan

2010s, anny da silva freitas, aotearoa new zealand, arts, bats theatre, clicking, coming out, education, growing up, harlyn wilkinson, harriet lane tobin, homophobia, human rights, identity, images online, isla findlay, jo jackson / grizz, keith labad, labels, matthew shepard, media, performance, photography, school, school's out (wellington), sexuality, so gay, stefanie upchurch, stereotypes, support, that's so gay (play), the laramie project, toi whakaari (wellington), toni regan, wellington, youth

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