Support our youth-lead company to bring some cheeky humour and Aussie rock to the Fringe with our original musical 'sh!tshow'.
Theatre of Diversion is a new youth-lead company founded in Gurambilbarra (Townsville, Australia) in the unprecedented limbo of COVID restrictions in 2020. As young people, we felt overlooked and unheard in our respective spheres, but strongly believed that our lack of experience was not a lack of capability. We wanted to work in a professional capacity with creative autonomy and learn by doing rather than watching. We actively work to deconstruct binary and static notions of identity and narrative. Identity is far more nuanced than a list of tick boxes, and young people of underrepresented gender identities, sexual identities, cultural backgrounds, abilities and socio-economic standings are at the core of our storytelling practice.
The company debuted in Scotland in 2021 with a series of youth-focused community workshops and a professional arts showcase. We’re now ready to have a laugh, make people laugh and bring our explosive energy to Edinburgh. With a brand new team and dazzling new local cast, 'sh!tshow' is a written and produced by our youth-led entertainment company, in collaboration with up-and-coming Aussie band Hidden Pillars. Following 6 characters who all candidly articulate their dilemmas behind the comforting barrier of a stall door, the musical was developed from verbatim episodes to reconnect young people with in-person theatre following Covid isolation. With a confirmed full 21-day run at the Thistle Theatre at Greenside Riddle's Court, we are excited to have a platform to elevate the artistic community and continue to spread out message of connection, empowerment and togetherness. In doing so we will uphold the values that Theatre of Diversion was built upon: the empowerment of young emerging artists, giving them tools to make the entertainment industry more accessible, creating innovative and unexpected artistic projects to create conversations around pervasive themes and histories, and most importantly, welcoming all artists to participate without barriers. For this reason, we are a for-profit enterprise that pays artists award rates to aid in the development of their practice. As a start-up company we need to fundraise to pay for technical equipment, costume and set and marketing costs. Your contribution means that our artists will have the best opportunity to show off their talent and hard work on stage!
So, are you ready to be dumped on? Prepare to be caught with your pants down as six all-too-relatable characters celebrate their triumphs, lament their griefs and reveal their secrets in the most intimate and familiar of settings. From pregnancy scares and broken zippers to first-date anxiety, what is it about that no man's land between the flush and the broken hand dryers that sends us spiralling? Following a sold-out run at the Northern Fringe festival in Australia, this original contemporary musical will have you pissing yourself.
This project closed unsuccessfully on 26th July 2022