'The Queen's City of the South' by Mark Salvestro | At The Loading Dock

A community radio station. A country queer. A gay prison.

Ryan, Cooma’s self-proclaimed ‘resident homo’, is preparing to interview an exciting guest on his nightly program. His friend Maggie is cheering him on before dashing off to campaign for her re-election as president of the local historical society. But when their plans are interrupted by an unexpected city slicker investigating his family history, hidden secrets too close to home are revealed. Ryan and Maggie must decide whether to expose the truth or preserve the reputation of their beloved community.

Does digging up old secrets do more harm than good?

Inspired by the queer history of the Cooma Gaol and its use as a homosexual prison in the 1950s-60s, The Queen’s City of the South shines a light on the challenges and compromises impacting LGBTQIA+ people living in regional Australia today, and explores the reverberating effects on both the Cooma and queer communities. 

Creative Team:

Playwright: Mark Salvestro

Director: Ryan Whitworth-Jones

Producers: Mark Salvestro and Gavin Roach

Set and Costume Designer: Elle Fitzgerald

Sound Designer: Madeleine Picard

Lighting Designer: Luna Ng

Digital Content Creator: Bojan Bozic

Cast: Jack Calver, Kath Gordon and Mark Salvestro

Promo Trailer: Lachlan Salvestro and Leo Marris

Patron advice: mild coarse language, sexual references, and descriptions/depictions of queer trauma. Recommended for persons 15+

This project has been supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and Canberra Theatre Centre’s New Works and Sector Development Program.