Not even (genuine) bomb threats ahead of the event could stop 35 locals attending a reading from Beyond Priscilla by Daniel Witthaus.
Daniel was even provided with his own special tea set for the occasion. The audience responded well, asking many questions to keep an energetic Q&A going well into extra time!
Melbourne (and some rural parts) responded, seeing Hares & Hyenas Bookshop sold out for two nights on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th January.
Photo Credit: Suzanne Phoenix/Photospunctuatemylife
Capably accompanied by acclaimed entertainer, Trevor Jones, Daniel took audiences through nine “chapters” outlining nearly 20 years of challenging homophobia work in schools and rural communities, and being a palatable poofta; including two songs (one in a dressing gown) and Trevor’s masterful insertions.
Daniel hit the media trail – thanks to JOY94.9FM – to drum up support and to get backsides on seats for his one-man show at Midsumma: Who The #@*! Is Daniel Witthaus?. This included:
It wouldn’t be a January in Victoria without a visit to the Great Ocean Road with an international visitor and a few trips to the Australian Open!
Photo Credit: Christian P (Berlin)
Ahead of his first one-man show: Who The #@*! Is Daniel Witthaus?. Daniel took to the stage thanks to an invite from Victorian LGBTI Entertainer of the Year, Dolly Diamond. Dolly, who runs a monthly Piano Bar at DT’s Hotel, gave Daniel his first chance to sing live as a preview to his Midsumma offering. Daniel sang a rearranged and shortened ‘Take A Bow’ and Kermit’s ‘Rainbow Connection: The Piano Dance Version”.
In the lead-up to the Midsumma Festival (2015), Daniel was more than happy to share his experiences of performing his first one-man show: Who The #@*! Is Daniel Witthaus?. Dean Arcuri, of SameSame fame, chats with Daniel who shares that his show is about all the things he never gets the chance to talk about after almost 20 years of being a palatable poofta and challenging homophobia educator; the good, bad and ugly.
Watch here: BENT TV Clip (YouTube)
Recently we found out some exciting news: following 12 months of to’ing and fro’ing, the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE) has been granted Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Status, meaning it’s now a fully fledged charity organisation.
Not only did King & Wood Mallesons provide pro bono legal advice throughout the process, they also have offered to throw a celebration event on Wednesday 28th October.
Download the invitation here: NICHEKWMInvite
Friends of NICHE are invited to come along, network and share in the celebration of this milestone in NICHE’s evolution to a charity organisation ready to work across regional, rural and remote Australia in partnership with communities and mainstream organisations.
If you would like to join the event, simply RSVP your full name and an e-mail address to daniel@thatssogay.com.au before Wednesday 21st October and we’ll confirm you’re on the Guest List for the evening.
I look forward to sharing in the NICHE journey thus far, and I look forward to more LGBTI work across regional, rural and remote Australia.
The coming months will be exciting, so watch out for news on the following:
1. Beyond Priscilla being turned into a touring play for regional, rural and remote Australia by one of Australia’s most established playwrights.
2. Daniel Witthaus performing a one-man show for Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival; to be performed at Hares & Hyenas on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th January 2015. All proceeds will go to the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE).
3. With the help of pro bono assistance of law firm, King & Wood Mallesons, the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE) has completed its registration as a not-for-profit company, and to (hopefully) get charity status to continue its important work across regional, rural and remote Australia.
4. Daniel is currently collecting rural LGBTI stories for a new coffeetable (i.e. CuppaTable) book on everyday LGBTI stories from rural Australia. If you can think of great characters, please let him know on e-mail: daniel@thatssogay.com.au x
On Tuesday 21st October, Daniel travelled to the Gold Coast to co-keynote an LGBTI conference organised by Ohana Youth Services.
The conference was well-attended by local teachers, health professionals and homophobia-curious others, as well as LGBTI young people themselves. In the afternoon, Daniel co-facilitated a young people’s workshop on taking action with the Queensland Young Person of the Year.
Stay tuned for great work in and out of local schools in the coming months. Congrats to Ohana for bringing this together.