The Will To Be
By Mark Salvestro
No legacy is so rich as honesty
An award-winning solo show exploring sexuality, society and shame in 1960s Australia - a defiant cry to speak truth to power.
★★★★★
“Completely enthralling, and devastatingly romantic…”
Adelaide Theatre Guide
A University Office, 1962: homosexuality is illegal. Junior lecturer William O’Halloran has been dismissed from his probationary position. His secret is out.
As he packs up his beloved belongings, William recalls the defining decisions that have led him to this moment. But time is ticking away. His wife Lola is due to arrive any minute. And the curtain is soon to rise on the student union production of Romeo and Juliet.
Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers isn’t the only forbidden love story on campus. And the leading man knows this all too well…
Reviews
"
★★★★★
Dazzlingly fresh and alive…
a captivating performance… completely enthralling, and devastatingly romantic…”
Sarah Westgarth,
Adelaide Theatre Guide
"
Astounding piece of theatre… of timeless relevance… a beautifully inspiring work of one man’s heartbreaking call to arms
Gavin Roach,
Australian Arts Review
Honest, raw and real…Compelling and must-see theatre.
"
Beth Klein,
Melbourne Observer
A commanding and compelling leading man… an exceptional must-see piece of theatre.
"
Lia Cocks,
Theatre Travels
"
★★★★½
A spell-binding solo performance… the story telling and acting is exquisite… highly recommended.
Kim Clayton,
The Barefoot Review
"
A masterful performance… a fresh glimpse of Australia’s history of homosexuality and its accompanying oppression.
Barry Hill,
Stage Whispers
Creative Team
Writer, Producer & Performer Mark Salvestro
Outside Eyes Sarah Hallam, Phoebe Anne Taylor
Sound Designer Steve Carnell | Set Designer Carmody Nicol
Costume Designer Oliver Ross | Hero Image Credit Sare Clarke
Promo Trailer William Lee, Scott Pope, Harrison Byrne and Andy Berry-Brown
Co-Producer April Erskine, BCauseARTS (Adelaide Fringe & Midsumma Festival)
Lighting Designers Lachlan McLean (Melbourne Fringe, Midsumma Festival), Stephen Dean (Adelaide Fringe), Liz Sherlock (Cooma Little Theatre),
Gerry Corcoran (Queanbeyan PAC, The Twyford Merimbula)
Stage Managers Holly Anderson (Melbourne Fringe),
Carmody Nicol (Adelaide Fringe), April Erskine (Midsumma Festival),
Liz Sherlock (Cooma Little Theatre), Gavin Roach (Qtopia Sydney)
Development & Performance History
'The Will To Be' has been performed in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Cooma, Queanbeyan and Merimbula in regional NSW. The full performance history is as follows:
The Butterfly Club, Melbourne Fringe, 2019
Bakehouse Theatre, Adelaide Fringe, 2020
La Mama Courthouse, Midsumma Festival, Melbourne, 2021
Cooma Little Theatre, southeast NSW, 2021
The Q - Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, NSW, 2024
The Twyford Hall, Merimbula, NSW, 2024
The Substation, Qtopia Sydney, Pride Fest, 2024
The project has received support from:
Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia, 'Fine at Fringe' program, 2019
Australian Cultural Fund, crowdfunding campaign, 90 donations, 2020
La Mama Theatre, Midsumma Festival program, 2021
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 'Q the Locals' program, 2024
Photography by Lisa Hogben, Photox - Ben Appleton, Bojan Bozic, and Darren Gill from performances at Cooma Little Theatre, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, Qtopia Sydney's Substation, and La Mama Courthouse.
