Join Fruit Box Theatre for the premiere showcase of Nails Must Be Kept Short, a cutting-edge musical comedy that satirises the homophobia often present in religious institutions – through the guise of a netball cult.
It’s not what’s on the bib that matters; it’s who’s underneath it.
Worlds collide when The Untouchaballs, a queer social team in Sydney’s Inner West, get promoted to the big time – an elite league in the North. Golden girl (and Wing Attack) Bec finds herself at a crossroads when the new players shake up the strict culture of the netball scene.
Bec must confront some uncomfortable truths as things heat up, both on and off the court. Can she take the heat? Will she respect the ‘no contact’ rule when a new player in the opposition catches her eye? Meanwhile, the queer players are on a ride of their own, thrust into a world that doesn’t accept them. The pressure is on as the desire to belong turns an excellent sporting opportunity into a nightmare. With a banging repertoire of contemporary rock-pop numbers, Nails Must Be Kept Short uses music and humour to dismantle the damaging effects of oppressive ideologies.
The Nails Must Be Kept Short team is proud to support the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts (SOGICE) statement against conversion practices written by survivors and their allies. The statement provides several recommendations for the Australian Government to prevent LGBTQIA+ conversion practices, including an inquiry into the extent of the conversion movement and legislation against the harms it causes.
Sophie Davis and Laura McDonald are a duo of fresh queer comedic writers shooting their way into Sydney’s arts scene. The pair met at NIDA in 2020 while undertaking the MFA in Writing for Performance and have been writing partners ever since. Sophie was a recent recipient of NORPA’s Seed.
Funding for her play in development To Split an Atom and was shortlisted for the Rebel Wilson and CYT commission for her queer dramedy Strike Out; her other writing credits include Beth (2022), Silly to Think (2021), and And a Happy New Year (2020). Laura’s 2021 directorial debut short film Reverie won Outstanding LGBTQIA+ at Indie Shorts Fest, and her playwright credits include Don’t Hate the Player (2019) and How to Converse (2022). Composer Harry Collins joins Sophie and Laura. Harry Collins finished as Associate Music Director of the Australian national tour of An American in Paris and is currently studying an MFA in Music Direction at Penn State University in the US.
Nails Must Be Kept short is a chaotic, outrageous and unforgettable celebration of being exactly who you are. Don’t miss your shot.
Performance Dates 1 March – 3 March
Venue Factory Floor, Factory Theatre
Find out more here: https://www.fruitboxtheatre.com.au/nails-must-be-kept-short-the-warm-up
