YEAR OF MAGICAL WANKING COMES ALL OVER SYDNEY AS MARDI GRAS HIGHLIGHT

Written and Performed by Neil Watkins I Directed by Phillip McMahon

THISISPOPBABY and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, in association with Sydney Theatre 14-18 February 2012 THISISPOPBABY, one of Ireland’s most exhilarating theatre companies, brings incendiary performer Neil Watkins to Sydney Theatre with the hit show, The Year of Magical Wanking, as a highlight of this year’s Sydney Mardi Gras Festival.

Neil Watkins is a maverick, a force of nature, a 33-year old homosexual with a Jesus complex. On orders from Above, this is Neil’s story through the wilderness of queerness. Written in hypnotic verse, it is a searing, honest and devastatingly brave tale of internet porn addiction, Catholic guilt and the journey to happiness.

According to Michael Rolik, CEO of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the show is a major highlight of this year’s season from “one of the world’s most exciting and daring queer theatre companies”.

Róise Goan, Director of Dublin Fringe Festival, elaborates: “This is both a contemporary Irish story that urgently needs to be told to the world, and a universal tale of loneliness and hope that will resonate deeply, from a performer renowned for shaking up the status quo and providing unforgettable nights out”.

Nominated for Best New Play and Best Performer at Dublin Fringe 2011, the Sydney Mardi Gras dates are part of a nine-week Australian tour, supported by Culture Ireland, that also takes in Melbourne’s acclaimed Midsumma Festival, a full season at the world-renowned Adelaide Fringe, with dates in Perth to be announced.

Directed by Phillip McMahon (Co-Director of THISISPOPBABY and Writer in Association, The Abbey Theatre 2009) and designed by Irish Times Theatre Award nominee Ciarán O'Melia, this bitterly funny and poignantly entertaining confessional explores what it is to remove the resistance in modern life and achieve the highest potential; to heal, create and connect.

Sydney Mardi Gras I Feb 14-18 I Sydney Theatre Written and Performed by Neil Watkins I Directed by Phillip McMahon I Designed by Ciarán O'Melia I Produced by Jennifer Jennings and Colm O’Callaghan

The Irish Times: “Truthful, heartfelt and immediately identifiable. Astonishingly brave.”

The Ticket: “THISISPOPBABY are redefining theatre for people left cold by traditional drama”

BOOKING INFORMATION

Sydney Mardi Gras (via Sydney Theatre)
Tickets: $29

Booking: www.sydneytheatre.org.au I (02) 925017777 I Pier 4, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay NSW 2000

The Year of Magical Wanking is an over-16s event and contains strong language and explicit content.

There is no nudity, masturbation or simulated masturbation in the show.

Running time is approx 60 minutes.

MORE INFORMATION…

Neil Watkins is one of Ireland's leading performance artists. Writing credits include: Love In A Time of Affluence, A Cure for Homosexuality, Dublin City Counselling, The Dark Room and The Year of Magical Wanking. He was the host of THISISPOPBABY’s performance art club WERK at both the Abbey Theatre and the Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival. Neil was mentored by renowned UK performance artist David Hoyle and recently performed alongside Hoyle at his LIVES series in the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London. Neil has a number of TV and film credits with both RTÉ and BBC. He won the title of Alternative Miss Ireland 2005 as drag persona Heidi Konnt. THISISPOPBABY is an award winning Irish theatre and events production company that rips up the space between popular culture, counter culture, queer culture and high art – providing an electrifying access point to the arts. Created by Phillip McMahon and Jennifer Jennings just under five years ago, the company has produced 10 original shows; a hugely successful alternative stage at The Electric Picnic Music and Arts Festival (Europe’s Best Outdoor Festival); the late night performance art club WERK at the Abbey Theatre (Best Night Out 2010, The Sunday Times); and Ireland’s Queer Arts Festival, Queer Notions. An Abbey Theatre production of THISISPOPBABY’s musical, Alice in Funderland, is scheduled to play on the Abbey Main Stage in Spring 2012. /ends

MEDIA INFORMATION, PRESS TICKETS & IMAGES:

For Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras - Katherine Sherrie I E: katherine.sherrie@mardigras.org.au I T: +61 2 9383 0921
For THISISPOPBABY - Colm O’Callaghan | E: cocallaghan@sydneytheatre.com.au I T: +61 431 742 560

More Featured News Stories

Girls go wild for Mardi Gras!

What's on for the ladies over the Mardi Gras Weekend?

Read moreTuesday, February 28th 2012

Mardi Gras Shop Supporter Program

Oxford Street shops have been asked to join the Mardi Gras 'Shop Supporter Program'.

Read moreTuesday, February 28th 2012

Second chance to buy Mardi Gras Party tickets

Find out more about our new party space, the Videobar and the limited number of extra tickets on sale!

Read moreTuesday, February 28th 2012

Short Story Competition Winners

The winners of the Mardi Gras Short Story Competition have been announced. 

Read moreMonday, February 27th 2012

Winners Announced for the DJ Spin-Off Competition

Two talented up and coming DJs have been selected to play at the Mardi Gras Party as part of our DJ Spin-Off Competition.

Read moreMonday, February 27th 2012

Shelley Argent OAM for Sydney Mardi Gras Chief of Parade

High profile LGBTQI campaigner Shelley Argent has been announced as the 2012 Sydney Mardi Gras Chief of Parade.

Read moreFriday, February 24th 2012

OPTUS TO PARADE SYDNEY MARDI GRAS WORLDWIDE ON MARDIGRASTV

For the first time, Sydney Mardi Gras Parade will be shown online, in high definition on, SGLMG’s new dedicated website mardigrastv.org.au, powered by Optus!

Read moreThursday, February 23rd 2012

Mardi Gras launches Members and Community Advisory Group

A Members and Community Advisory Group will be established to assist the SGLMG Board, staff and Community Engagement Committee.  

Read moreThursday, January 19th 2012

Member and Community Advisory Group: Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI)

Join our Member and Community Advisory Group today!

Read moreThursday, January 19th 2012

More Archives