"Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you can’t be a steaming pile of shit." We chat with writer Cassie Hamilton about her latest play 'Daddy Developed a Pill' (17-24 January, Explosives Factory) that aims to showcase queer culture in a different light - inspired by people Cassie knows in the real world.
Q: Without giving away any spoilers, what can you tell us about Daddy Developed a Pill?
A: This is a show made by and for gender diverse audiences. It’s a completely unhinged acid trip of a show that revels in contemporary queer vernacular with deep, existential questions that bubble beneath the surface. Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you can’t be a steaming pile of shit.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your cast and how three actors will portray 16 characters?
A: It’s an entirely queer cast and creative team with two fabulous non-binary performers playing the bulk of the 16 characters. And how will they achieve playing 16 characters, sometimes all in the same scene? Quick changes. We have a very adept dresser who has a bunch of spreadsheets hiding backstage, getting everyone in the right costume and then jumping out of the way of the door before it opens. The show itself is a bit of a dance, but what happens backstage is equally so!
Q: What has been a highlight about writing and developing this show?
A: Seeing the show come to life with our stupidly talented cast was a huge highlight. It’s an incredibly physical show and seeing it jump off the page for the first time was electrifying! Also the response from young queer people was so heart-warming in hearing how they resonated with the piece and truly felt like it was for them!
Q: What interests you most about the representation of queer characters and the use of queer dramaturgies?
A: I believe that queer representation is lacking in a lot of different ways. It is useful to see minorities we’ve never seen before on stage but also ones we have seen portrayed in a different light. My intent with this piece was to critique queer rep and its tendency to glorify or sanctify queer people. I’m tired of sappy love stories or tragic, suffering trans people, I wanted to see the real messiness and the misguided queer people that I know in the real world. What I love about queer dramaturgies is how they’re uniquely equipped to tell this kind of story. It’s a story that winds and twists and allows for divergence and frees the world from expectations around form and style. This show is the best bits of a bunch of different theatrical styles and forms depending on what is needed for the scene and the messiness of that only supports the chaos of the work.
Q: If you could capture the essence of Daddy Developed a Pill in a song or piece of music, what would it be?
A: Notice me - S3RL, Dorian Electra, Nikolett.
Q: If you could invite anyone to Daddy Developed a Pill, who would it be?
A: Caitlyn Jenner. It’d be good for her to see representation of strong queer woman also committing manslaughter. DADDY DEVELOPED A PILL
By Cassie Hamilton
17-24 January Explosives Factory BOOK HERE
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