Lachlan Parry (Straight Panic) is an emerging creative who is motivated by authentic and inclusive queer storytelling.
His aim is to tell stories about queerness that move the narrative forward into a future where queerness is not just represented on screen and stage; but celebrated. Through his work, Parry often builds on his own lived experience to find new angles to tell difficult stories, but throughout it all…he also writes comedy.
Describe Straight Panic in three words
Queer, Nostalgic, Unhinged.
What was the biggest artistic risk you took while creating this work?
My initial goal for this play was to write a queer work without any queer characters in it. Whatever that meant. Through research, I started looking at times when gay sex penetrated into mainstream media during the 2000s, whether being reported on television or written about in newspapers. I was interested in depicting conversations about queerness, without a queer voice weighing in, and the tension of public vs. private conversations around identity. The challenge then became – how do I explore contemporary issues through the lense of a society on the precipice of so-called acceptance? And in terms of artistic risk, How many gay slurs is too many gay slurs was a question I asked myself many, many times…
If your show had a dream celebrity guest star (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
Dame Maggie Smith, because why the hell not?
What’s your favourite line in the show?
I honestly have so many, and I don’t like to play favourites, I spent months researching queer history, writing three interwoven stories about Australian identity, masculinity and social change, but I think across the entire play, it is hard to top…”Amor, Cheese and Bacon rolls? Que?”
What is one thing you’d bring back from the 00s?
Optimism about the internet. Back then it was all MySpace photos, pirating music, and desperately trying to convince my parents to let me spend real money on Club Penguin. Now in the era of AI algorithms, I crave a So Fresh album to tell me exactly what I should be listening to.
What three movies would you pair with a showing of Straight Panic?
First would have to be, But I’m a Cheerleader, because it’s one of the funniest films ever made about the ridiculous lengths people go to in order to prove they’re straight. Next, Muriel’s Wedding, because beneath all the camp and quotable comedy is something surprisingly dark about Australian identity, shame and the pressure to conform. Finally, Puberty Blues, because it’s funny, uncomfortable and captures that terrifying teenage need to fit in before you even know who you are. With an honourable mention to Challengers, simply because it understands that the fastest way to create sexual tension is to make two straight men compete over literally anything.
What has the best moment of the process been?
We made this show with ATYP, who have been long-term supporters of mine, and with director Lily Hayman, who is one of my oldest friends (and one of the most talented people I know). We assembled a team of amazing creatives, a hilarious cast and it’s been one of the most fun experiences of my life to bring this work to life on stage. But the best moment has been sharing this show with our audiences. It’s so nice that at the end of all of the hard work, we get to sit and enjoy the show with the people who came along to have a laugh with us.
