Defector Art Theatre's latest production, Subversive, is likely to prove controversial for many audience members when, through a mixture of comedy and hard-hitting drama, it deals with sensitive issues of sexual double standards, gay identity, rape, religious homophobia and the normalcy of everyday gay experience.
 
Subversive features seven short plays by Frank Otis (And Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep) and Alex Broun (Artistic Coordinator, 'Short and Sweet' short play festival). Three of the plays have gay, lesbian or bisexual characters.
 
In Fuck You, two drunk Aussies finally explore their repressed sexuality. The short work was inspired by Otis’s time in pubs watching heterosexual males as they slowly got pissed. He noticed that it was only when drunk that these men could express tenderness for their mates or touch one another.
 
In The Devil You Know, also by Otis, Ruth, a lesbian, is having an unusual day: both the devil and God have appeared to her, each with his own version of the facts. The future of the human race is at stake.  With her girlfriend, Jezza, they try to get to the bottom of it and find out who is telling the truth. It was inspired by how people read what they like into the bible and also the church's attitude to gays.  
 
Otis’s Attack of the Killer Chateau Cardboard, is the oldest of the three plays. Its scenario has happened to many of us: you have a wild party and wake up in the morning next to someone you shouldn't. Debbie and Tony have to fill in the blanks and work out where to take it from here.
 
In the same program are two plays by Alex Broun: Gun Laws, a drama about two very different cops; and The Choice, in which one simple act forever changes a man's life and the lives of those around him.
 
Completing the program are two further plays by Frank Otis. A Dish Best Served Cold explores what happens when three women kidnap the man who raped them after only receiving a two-and-a-half-year prison term for his crimes. Revenge is sweet?  9/10ths Of The Law is a drama about a disturbed man. Coming in the top eight percent of Short and Sweet, the biggest short play festival in the world', it too is a compelling play with an edgy impact to end the evening’s program.
 

ALEX BROUN
An actor, playwright and director, Broun's plays have been performed in Australia, England, South Africa and the USA.  One of Australia's leading exponents of the short play, Alex has had 14 different ten-minute plays produced in 23 productions.  He also has considerable experience as a Literary Manager, acting in that position as well as Artistic coordinator for Short And Sweet since 2003.  As a scriptwriter Alex has twice received script development funding from the Australian Film Commission.

FRANK OTIS
Frank is also an actor, playwright and director.  Frank has written and had produced 9 full length plays and about 30 short  plays.  He is written for the award winning Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program, Melbourne Workers Theatre, Keep Left Theatre and now with the company he co-founded Defector Art Theatre.  He has written about many issues from sexual abuse to workplace safety.  He also writes comedy.  Last year his short play 9/10ths Of The Law came in the top 8% of Short And Sweet.

Defector Art Theatre presents
Subversive

Venue: Gasworks Theatre | Gasworks Arts Park, 21 Graham St, Albert Park (cnr Graham & Pickles Sts) Mel Ref: 2J H7 Tram No 1 Stop 31.  
Dates/Times: Thursday 22 and Friday 23 March at 8pm
Tickets: Full $22.50 Conc $17.50
Bookings: 9699 3253 or at www.gasworks.org.au  

Warning: Contains strong violence, nudity and frequent, coarse language. Not suitable for children aged between ages two and 16 years.