On the grind

On the grind

Although he plays a fictional character named Felix, it’s tempting to wonder if writer/performer Gavin Roach’s Sydney Fringe show, Confessions of a Grindr Addict, is at least semi-autobiographical.

“The rehearsals are going well — the only problem is trying to stay off Grindr long enough to rehearse,” he said when the Star Observer called for a chat, thereby answering our first question.

“The adventures Felix has in the show are exaggerated versions of my own exploits. And it was inspired by my own addiction. I really got to the point where I had to step back because I was on it all the time.”

Felix invites the audience to hold his hand as he tries to deal with life without his smartphone application and takes his first shaky steps into the uncharted territory of face-to-face dating.

Despite this, Roach said he was careful to ensure he didn’t make Grindr lovers feel hectored into giving up their beloved app.

“If I’d like the audience to think about anything afterwards, it’d probably just be how they use [Grindr]. Are they getting everything they want out of it? If they are, awesome, but if not, maybe it is time to hit the delete button.”

As for Blendr, Grindr’s newly announced heterosexual counterpart, Roach is circumspect about its chances of succeeding.

“I don’t see it working. But a friend of mine made a very good point: if straight people are going to be out there embracing promiscuous sex, does that mean we can get married now?”

INFO: Confessions of a Grindr Addict, Newtown Theatre, September 24-26. www.thesydneyfringe.com.au

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