Malthouse Theatre

With the ‘debate’ over a proposed religious discrimination bill before the federal parliament again, the arguments put forward by religious leaders once more appear less focused on enshrining the right to practice faith freely (fair) and more on the freedom to persecute LGBTQIA+ people and other groups also deemed ‘sinners’.  For those of the Pentecostal faith, including Hillsong-attending former Prime Minister Scott Morrison – singled out by audience members in the sassy call and response opening sequence of Homo Pentecostus (the latest from Considerable Sexual License creator Joel Bray) that’s a very long sinners list.  This list is mined for comedy gold in a hilarious sight gag corralled by equally charismatic co-star Peter Paltos. Wheeling out the sort of overhead projector that would be very familiar to anyone who went to high school in the ’80s or ’90s, he flicks out a comically long acetate sheet of tick boxes, proceeding to check off the various levels of mortal sins with a red sharpie. Perplexingly, if you enjoy yoga or Star Wars, you’re damned and should turn away from the downward dog Dark Side.  All the while, Paltos’ voice, narrating these increasingly ludicrous no-nos, begins to distort demonically. As does his hand, straying from absent-minded dick doodles towards violent scratches in which Bray, caught in the projector’s hellfire glare on the vertical blinds lining the rear of the stage, gesticulates as if possessed, then baptised in a very suggestive eruption

Geelong’s Back to Back Theatre has gained its fair share of international acclaim over the years, culminating in an illustrious Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement in theatre at this year’s Venice Biennale. For 30-plus years, the company has been exploring the personal and political through its works, driven by an ensemble who identify with having an intellectual disability or as neurodivergent.  This May and June, Back to Back Theatre is partnering with Malthouse Theatre to present its first new production since the Biennale, and its first major work by new directors in 17 years. Multiple Bad Things takes a deep dive into the big questions of inclusion and identity in the workplace with direction from Back to Back artistic associates Tamara Searle and Ingrid Voorendt. Three employees played by Simon Laherty, Sarah Mainwaring and Scott Price struggle to work together. What happens when civility slips and the witching hour approaches?  Known for its provocative works, Back to Back Theatre describes the setting of Multiple Bad Things as “the workplace at the end of the world”. Bad behaviour will escalate and they’ll say what you’ve already been thinking. So, who will be the scapegoat when things fall apart? Multiple Bad Things is playing at Malthouse’s Merlyn Theatre from May 29 until June 9. Tickets are on sale now at the Malthouse website. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Hungry for