Newcastle Fringe: Strange Men
- intouch Magazine
- Mar 2, 2023
- 2 min read
From the producer of the hit cabaret show Mad Bitches Inc. comes Strange Men!
More of a gig than a traditional theatre show, Strange Men boasts an incredible cast of musician/actors. Tumbleweed front-man Richie Lewis and bassist Matt Houston, with Darren Ireland on drums, star in a new play about the Australian music industry by Fiona Leonard (Blue Goat Theatre). An Australian rock legend, Tumbleweed have shared stages with Nirvana, The Ramones and Iggy Pop, with Lewis enthralling audiences across the world with his compelling stage presence. From her home in Germany, Leonard wrote The Hum after many hours spent trawling through archival material and interviewing the musicians.
‘As a writer, this is a dream job’, says Leonard. It’s not often that you’re given the opportunity to work with artists who have had such incredible careers and who are willing to be so open and generous with their stories and insights’.
The Hum features three original songs that will be performed live.
Another highlight of Strange Men is a hilarious new play by musician/actor Tony Jozef, based on an idea by the writer Gary Bryson. The Case was recently selected to open the Lake Mac One Act Play Festival, where Jozef won the Festival’s runner up Best Actor Award. The Case explores the gap between one’s real and ideal self, and is sure to appeal to anyone who has ever made completely unrealistic New Year’s Eve resolutions, camped in the Self-Help section of your local bookstore or binged on inspirational TED videos.
Emerging talent Joshua Anderson will present an anarchic mash up of beats, classical mythology and shadow puppetry. Inspired by the mythic figure of Zeus, Anderson will present a large scale shadow puppetry device known as a ‘crankie’ and an original rap.
Strange Men will be MC’ed by Helen Hopcroft in her new alter-ego, Louis XIV (The Sun King).
What: The world premiere of a new live music/theatre show about masculinity by the producer of the cabaret phenomenon, Mad Bitches Inc., at Newcastle Fringe Festival.
When: Thursday 16th March 9pm; Friday 17th March 7.30pm; Saturday 18th March 6pm; Sunday 19th March 6pm.
Where: The Gal – one of Newcastle’s best live music venues and a proud supporter of Newcastle Fringe.
How much?
Adults: $35
Concession: $25
Groups of 5+: $30
Tickets available from https://newcastlefringe.com.au/events/strange-men/
Why: Because contemporary theatre + gig + The Gal = awesome night out!
