Lesbian sexting and stereotypes explored in new double bill

Lesbian sexting and stereotypes explored in new double bill
Image: Image from Tina Fiveash's 1994 photo series 'Stories for Girls'.

BEING part of the first generation to “sext” gave Zoe Brinnand the inspiration behind her new play.

She had been in a sexting relationship with someone in New York, causing her to wonder what lesbians before her had done to communicate their desires to one another.

“I wrote this play, had a few drinks one night, and was hanging out around the bonfire at La Mama Theatre [in Melbourne],” she told the Star Observer.

“I met the director Lucy Hotchin and we really hit it off… I told her about it and she jumped at the chance to direct it.

“Shortly after I accidentally sexted Lucy a graphic picture, but we still managed to work together.”

Love In The Time Of Sexting is one of the two plays that make up Brinnand’s new show The Ultimate Lesbian Double Feature, which will feature as part of Midsumma and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festivals.

The second play is entitled The Party, and provides a lesbian twist on 1950s American instructional videos on how to prepare the perfect dinner party.

Brinnand said late-night YouTube viewing provided the inspiration behind the latter play.

“With The Party I was simply watching 1950s instructional videos on YouTube and thought, imagine if homosexuality had been mainstream in that time,” she said.

“How would it have played out… sure, you’re a lesbian, but that’s no excuse for hosting a sloppy dinner party.”

Despite being a comedy, Brinnand’s double feature explores ideas around the lesbian community that are not often addressed.

Love In The Time Of Sexting explores the fact that sexting is temporary and will be lost with time,” she said.

“Therefore we should continue to write letters so future lesbians can enjoy our smut, I mean, appreciate our love.

The Party explores stereotypes and clichés that were placed on lesbians in the 1950s, some of which still exist.”

When it comes to what she hopes the audience will take from her show, Brinnand’s answer is simple.

“I’d just love for them to have a laugh,” she said.

“There isn’t enough comedic theatre out there for lesbians, that’s for sure… if they decide to write love letters and poems to each other instead of sexts, great.”

The Ultimate Lesbian Double Feature is on at La Mama Theatre, Carlton, February 5-7. For details and tickets, click here.

The Sydney season runs from February 23 to March 4 at the Old Fitz Theatre in Woolloomooloo. For details, click here.

The Star Observer is a proud media partner of both Midsumma and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festivals.

For all of Star Observer’s Midsumma coverage, click here

For all of Star Observer’s Mardi Gras coverage, click here

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One response to “Lesbian sexting and stereotypes explored in new double bill”

  1. Sure wish these great plays were recorded & sold online for those of us living in the “wild west” of WA! Culture has forgotten us over here & we’re dyin’!