Melbourne Fringe Festival kicks off next week Christopher Bryant’s Melbourne Fringe show, New Balance is an empowering theatre piece sharing stories that move beyond trauma to imagine a brightly queer future. We got to chat with Christopher more about his show, post-fringe plans and some spoilers from the show:
Your upcoming show is called “New Balance” and discusses the queer community, what’s your favourite part about the queer community?
The solidarity we often have with each other. Of course, no community is a monolith, there are always inherent differences – but having an intimate understanding of the broad strokes of what someone has been through counts for a lot.
If your show was an animal, what animal would it be?
The Leopardus tilcayo – that diminutive wild cat that was just discovered in Bolivia. It’s a cryptic species, which means it can’t easily be distinguished by its appearance alone – just like queer and disabled people (despite what your grandparents might say, you can’t always “tell”).
What are your plans post Melbourne Fringe?
Emma and I have another show in development, State of Play – so we’d like to finish developing that, while also keeping on touring New Balance. (If you have a venue or a festival you’d like us at, please, hit us up!) We’ve been touring on and off since 2020, and would quite like to take it to Edinburgh, if the stars aligned.
If New Balance had a soundtrack, what hit songs would it be associated with?
“You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” by Sylvester (not coincidentally the Front of House song), “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer, “Free Yourself” by Jessie Ware, “Standing in the Way of Control” by The Gossip. Songs about freedom, love, and feeling yourself!
What’s one show you recommend other than your own at Melbourne Fringe Festival?
“Dean, Don’t Dance!” by Dean Nash, at the Fringe Hub. A lovely and talented show by a lovely and talented human!
What’s a spoiler for New Balance that won’t make sense until you see the show?
About 10 or 15 years ago there was that thing that went round Facebook about a made-up word: Sonder – the realisation everyone around you is living a life as vivid and as complex as your own. What’s the gay version of Sonder?
Where and when is the show happening, and where can we get tickets?
14-18 of October in the Melbourne Fringe Hub at Solidarity Hall (at the Victorian Trades Hall – gosh, that’s a mouthful). Tickets are available: https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/new-balance
Photo by Robert Catto
