Shift (play)
SHIFT was a two-act play written in 1975 by Australian playwright Diana King, also known as DQ.[1][2] It was directed by Alison Richards,[2] a notable figure in feminist theatre at the time,[3][4] and performed in Melbourne and later Sydney. It is recognised as the first lesbian play written in Australia.[5][6]
The play follows three waitresses who share a terrace house in Fitzroy, Melbourne[5] and centres on a woman coming to terms with her lesbianism, exploring themes of sexual expression, identity, and lifestyle. There are two climaxes in the play: one when Gabby is forced by her friend to face the fact she is attracted to her, and the second, when Gabby confronts her flatmate's mother, Victoria, with her sexuality.[7]
Characters
[edit]- Gabby – Trish Crick
- Katey – Jane Mullet
- Haidi – Nina Bondarenko
- Victoria – Finola Moorhead
Production history
[edit]SHIFT premiered in Melbourne in October 1975, as part of the Women Times Three season,[8] and was produced by the Women’s Theatre Group.[9] The season was hosted at the Pram Factory in Carlton, a well-known venue for experimental and political theatre in Australia.[10][11]
After its initial run in Melbourne, SHIFT later toured to Sydney in June 1979, where it was performed at Sydney Trades Hall. The Sydney production, presented by Outskirt, a women's theatre company, attracted a near-capacity audience on opening night.[12][13] The promotional poster for the Sydney tour was designed by Chris Sharp[14] at the Tin Sheds at the University of Sydney, which was a hub for radical art and design during that era.[15]
Legacy
[edit]The play was part of a growing movement in the 1970s to explore diverse sexual identities and break down traditional barriers in Australian theatre.[16][17] As a pioneering piece of lesbian-themed theatre, SHIFT holds a unique place in Australian cultural history.[18] Its production by the Women’s Theatre Group and its reception in Melbourne and Sydney underscore its importance in the development of feminist and lesbian representation on stage in Australia.[19][20]
References
[edit]- ^ Moss, Merrilee. "Placing the Lesbian Centre Stage" (PDF). eprints.qut.edu.au.
- ^ a b Spunner, Suzanne (1979). "Since Betty Jumped: Theatre and Feminism in Melbourne" (PDF). static1.squarespace.com.
- ^ "Alison Richards - Biography". austlit.edu.au.
- ^ "Alison Richards". Black Hole Theatre. 21 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Shift". AusStage.
- ^ Dalgarno, Paul (January 2024). "My First Time: LGBTQIA+ Australians share stories in new series". Screenhub.
- ^ ""Women's Theatre Group: Exploring Relationships"". Tribune: 10. 29 October 1975.
- ^ "Women Times Three: Curtain Raiser / String Trio / Shift". Ausstage.
- ^ Tait, Peta (1993). Original women's theatre : the Melbourne Women's Theatre Group, 1974-77 /. Melbourne, Australia: Melbourne : Artmoves. ISBN 0646132423.
- ^ "The Australian Performing Group at the Pram Factory". arts.unimelb.edu.au. 14 November 2023.
- ^ "The Pram Factory: A Retrospective". umsu.unimelb.edu.au. 2022.
- ^ "This Is the Week That Was". Campaign Australia. August 1979. p. 6.
- ^ "Lesbian and Gay Solidarity Newsletter". Archives of Sexuality and Gender. 1 (2). June 1979 – via Gale.
- ^ "Shift Poster by Chris Sharp". searchthecollection.nga.gov.au.
- ^ "The Hothouse: art and politics at the Tin Sheds". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2008.
- ^ Tait, Peta (1995). "Converging Realities: Feminism in Australian Theatre". Australasian Drama Studies.
- ^ "Everyday Revolutions: Remaking Gender, Sexuality and Culture in 1970s Australia" (PDF). 2019.
- ^ Moss, Merrilee (5 August 1983). ""Pupppets to Playwrights."". Archives of Sexuality and Gender. 5: 30 – via Gale Primary Sources.
- ^ "14.%20Working%20Collectively.html". Women Working Together.
- ^ "Women's Theatre Group: "Exploring Relationships"". Tribune. 29 October 1975.