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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], marking a significant moment in the country’s theatrical and LGBTQ+ history.
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 were 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
editSHIFT 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
editThe 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].
If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended page.
References
edit- ^ Moss, Merrilee. "Placing the Lesbian Centre Stage" (PDF).
- ^ a b Spunner, Suzanne (1979). "Since Betty Jumped: Theatre and Feminism in Melbourne" (PDF).
- ^ "Alison Richards - Biography".
- ^ "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".
- ^ ""Women's Theatre Group: Exploring Relationships"". Tribune: 10. 29 October 1975.
- ^ "Women Times Three: Curtain Raiser / String Trio / Shift".
- ^ 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". 14 November 2023.
- ^ "The Pram Factory: A Retrospective". 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".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Women Working Together".
- ^ "Women's Theatre Group: "Exploring Relationships"". Tribune. 29 October 1975.