Choreographer Marc Brew’s latest autobiographical show reflects on his youth in rural Australia and the societal pressures he faced as a young boy who loved to dance.

Choreographer Marc Brew has debuted his latest autobiographical dance production, Boys Don’t Dance. The show follows the story of a young boy growing up in rural Australia who faces social pressure to conform to traditional expectations while harboring a deep, innate love for dance. Dancer Ross Malloy portrays the younger version of Brew, while champion wheelchair Latin dancer Piotr Iwanicki plays the adult version of the choreographer.

Themes of childhood and pop culture

The production utilizes 1980s pop culture references, including music from Wham! and Culture Club, as well as themes from television shows like Wonder Woman and Jem. The performance incorporates a mix of disco, jazz, and acrobatic movements, alongside BMX tricks, to evoke the atmosphere of an 80s childhood. The narrative explores the protagonist's struggle to reconcile his desire to perform with the need to hide his true self in a rural environment where he is told that boys do not dance.

Staging and production

The show features a simple staging design, including animated line drawings by video designer Jamie Wardrop that depict the protagonist's neighborhood. The visual tone shifts from monochrome to neon as the character moves from his rural home to the freedom of the big city. While the production was created with an audience of eight to 13-year-olds in mind, it aims to provide an engaging and warm experience for viewers of all ages.