They took me to a Queer bar season

Talofa Lava! I'm Tommy Misa, a Samoan/Australian Fa'afafine writer, performer and artist living on Gadigal land in Sydney, Australia.

They took me to a Queer bar is, a play, a celebration and a community gathering to acknowledge those whose heel prints we dance in. The erasure of Queer venues locally and worldwide leaves very few Queer spaces left to gather as a community. Inspired by Sydney’s Queer lineage and a desire to change the often generalised narrative of Queer venues in media Tommy shares stories from the past and present and offers hope for a collective Queer future for our physical and digital selves. Queer venues have long been safe havens and sacred space for party, community, grieving and gathering and this play created, performed and guided by an entirely Queer team, dives deep into the magic and power of Queer space.

I first wrote 'They took me to a Queer bar' in late 2019 as part of a residency with the Flying Nun by Brand X and had a sold-out showing to audiences of Queers of all ages and backgrounds. It was further developed through Belvoir Theatre's shutdown residencies in 2020. It now has it's premiere season at the iconic Old Fitz Theatre in Woolloomooloo, Sydney. I wanted to create this play to acknowledge Sydney's rich history of Queer performance and storytelling, some of the greatest lessons I've learnt as a performer were in Queer venues at 3am.. it is pure magic. What was so exciting for me was having audiences who were 78'ers sitting among Gen Z'ers who were all learning parts of our Queer history and story together, it was our shared experiences as a community that brings us together.

We were unsuccessful in our applications for multiple funding streams but we are determined to share this show with audiences however we can. So your generous donation will go to the creative production, paying for crew, costumes and set and paying our team of Queer artists below.

The team consists of a family of Queer artists who have all made magic together before - Directed by Emma Maye Gibson (Betty Grumble), Sound design and generational knowledge by Jonny Seymour (Stereogamous), Movement/choreography by Fetu Taku, Lighting design by Frankie Clarke and produced by Katie Winten we are so excited and honoured to bring this story to all audiences at our season in September 2022.

You can find a link to the show page where you can also buy tickets to the season!

https://www.redlineproductions.com.au/they-took-me-to-a-queer-bar

The last few years has been tough.. like real tough! and myself and the team appreciate any donation. If you aren't in a position that's cool.. a share goes a long way.. All shares help us get to our goal.

Deepest Alofa (love) and gratitude.

Tommy