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He Partied Like It’s 1999

BY GARY HELMORE

27 - 31 JANUARY | EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
He Partied Like It’s 1999
About

BY GARY HELMORE

He Partied Like It’s 1999 unfolds as a glitter-soaked time capsule of queer Melbourne at the edge of the millennium. Reg, a former Marxist now facing a midlife unraveling, finds unexpected passion with Hunter, a seductive, chaotic millennial masseur. Rose, his estranged wife, collides with Lucinda, a gender-bending archivist unearthing buried queer histories. Meanwhile, Angela—an outrageous rollerskating drag psychic—glides through scenes, offering absurd wisdom, cheap wine, and devastatingly accurate predictions. 


Through dance breaks, flashbacks, psychic readings, awkward hook-ups, and emotional revelations, the characters stumble toward reinvention. Past and present bleed together, lovers tangle and untangle, and the world teeters on the edge of apocalypse—or just another year. By the final scene, identities have been cracked open, secrets spilled, and new queer families forged in the ruins. Everyone dances. The glitter sticks. And somehow, through it all, they survive—fabulous, fractured, and more themselves than ever.  


Gratefully supported by the City of Port Phillip

VENUE

EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
Rear Laneway, 67 Inkerman Street, St Kilda

DURATION

60 minutes

WARNINGS

Strong Language

ACCESSIBILITY

Explosives Factory is accessed via a flight of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.

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Dates
DATES + TIMES

Tuesday 27 January - 8:30pm
Wednesday 28 January - 8:30pm
Thursday 29 January - 8:30pm
Friday 30 January - 8:30pm
Saturday 31 January - 8:30pm

Theatre Works has a lockout policy for latecomers.  Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure you don't miss out.

Refunds will not be issued to latecomers.

Tickets
TICKETS

FULL PRICE

CONCESSION*

$38.00

$30.00

*Seniors, Student, MEAA, Health Care and Low Income card holders

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Theatre Works has been long established as the south-side festival hub in Melbourne.

Theatre Works’ MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL HUB will be buzzing with 9 ground-breaking shows. A truly queer program that embraces and celebrates the whole rainbow community.

Credits
CREDITS

WRITER
Gary Helmore

DIRECTOR
Andrew Blogg

PRODUCTION MANAGER
Gemma Valastro

LIGHT/SOUND DESIGN + TECH
John Jenkin

CAST
Rachel Edmonds
Janine McGrath
Anuj Mehra
Tahlia Moffatt
Stephen Najera
Karlis Zaid

Meet the Artist
MEET THE ARTIST
GARY HELMORE

Playwright, Gary Helmore, is a Melbourne writer and former teacher.  In 2024, he participated in the Gasworks Script Lab, an immersive playwriting development program.  Gary’s monologue, THE NIGHT MARKET, was staged at the Metropolis Monologues in March 2025.  His new play THE GOLDEN BOY was presented as a reading at Theatreworks, after it was developed in the Page to Stage Program 2025. Gary is thrilled to co-produce a season of his play, HE PARTIED LIKE IT’S 1999, for the Midsumma Festival in January 2026 at the Explosives Factory.

Extras
EXTRAS

CHECK BACK SOON FOR BACKSTAGE CONTENT

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