Musical explores the curiously closeted world of Aussie rules
When work began on One Day in September, a new musical about a gay footballer coming out, the team behind it figured it might have an expiry date. Five years on, there are still no openly gay players in the league.
Making a musical about footy seemed obvious to writer Maverick Newman. It’s a world he loves and knows – his brother, Nic, plays for Carlton. “This feels so inevitable and natural and exciting and thrilling because it’s like, oh, this just makes sense. And we’ve kind of had that since day one.”
Keanu Gonzalez and Yashith Fernando are the leads in the locally written and produced musical, One Day in September. Credit: Penny Stephens
Newman puts rising AFL star Sam Thompson (Keanu Gonzalez) in a heterosexual relationship with Sophie (Lorinda May Merrypor), who likes the idea of being the partner of an elite footballer. His life spirals when Sophie discovers he’s in a relationship with Jesse (Yashith Fernando).
“The show is about him navigating his personal and public life and really just trying to hold on to the things that he loves – football and different people in his life – and the challenges he faces,” Newman says.
It’s also his story of self-actualisation and discovery, Newman says. “A lot of queer people have their coming-of-age stories a bit later in life, that story being, ‘How do you connect to the people you love most?’”
The brainchild of several Melbourne creatives, One Day in September is written by Newman, Kohan van Sambeeck is musical director, orchestration is by Jason Arrow (star of Hamilton), Trudy Dunn directs, and her daughter Mackenzie produces and choreographs the show.
Producer and choreographer Mackenzie Dunn (centre) and writer Maverick Newman (back left) in rehearsals.Credit: Penny Stephens
The show explores masculinity, love, relationships, connection and Australia, Newman says. “It’s a delicate balance because we don’t shame the character for not coming out – or the AFL or the community per se. We try to make it a struggle that is eternal and wide-reaching. Hopefully, anyone can watch his story and feel that they connect, even though he might be very different from who they are.”
Mackenzie Dunn agrees: “I want people to walk away having an understanding of both sides of why this still is a reality in 2024 in Australia.”
As choreographer, she spent many hours “watching games and pausing and fast-forwarding and rewinding”.
“We lean into that epically hypermasculine world in a really positive way. I think AFL brings so much joy and culture; it’s almost a religion in Australia.”
Mackenzie Dunn created the Perryman Theatre Company to produce the show, following in her grandmother Jill Perryman’s footsteps.
Growing up with a footballer brother, Newman says he has an insight into the reality of that world.
“The language and the characters and the humans of this world feel very familiar to me,” he says. “People might have perceptions of who AFL players or their partners are ... [I want to show] they are very real people that have very real lives and are affected by this, even though they’re in this elite bubble.”
One Day in September is at The Athenaeum, November 28-30.