The Things I Could Never Tell Steven, is a one-act revue-style musical for four people, with music & lyrics by Australian Composer/Lyricist, JYE BRYANT.
Although we never meet Steven, we learn all about him through the disclosures of four people in his life: his Wife, Mother, Father and Ex. The characters share intimate details about their life with Steven and the things they struggle to tell him. Interestingly, we learn that Steven, in his own shame, vanity and self-indulgence will fracture the sense of reality for the people he loves the most with devastating and unforeseen consequences.
The Things I Could Never Tell Steven reminds us that whenever we choose silence we are inadvertently actioning outcomes and that we are never really free from the consequences of our decisions or indecisions.
The Cast of Whimsical Productions' 2019 Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival season
Picture by Zaina Ahmed
After several workshops, The Things I Could Never Tell Steven premiered at King Street Theatre (2015) starring Celeste Notley-Smith as Wife, Brooke Davidson as Mother, Simon Gillespie as Father & Lucas Glover as The Ex. Its success prompted a return Sydney season in the Sydney Fringe Festival at New Theatre (starring Matilda Moran, Ruth Strutt, Adam Majsay & Lucas Glover. Directed by Alex Kendall Robson with Musical Direction by Antonio Fernandez) as well as highlights from the show being performed in a new musicals showcase on London's West End in a charity concert for refugee aid in 2016 and then in New York in 2017 in Broad Views on Broadway.
The Things I Could Never Tell Steven made its European premiere at the Granary Theatre in County Cork, Ireland in November 2018 (watch it here!) followed by two more Australian seasons in 2019: Sydney (NSW) by Whimsical Productions from February 20 - March 2 at Limelight on Oxford as part of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival and Moreton Bay (QLD) by Moreton Bay Theatre Company from February 22 - March 3 at NeverLand Theatre. In the same year it also premiered in Northern Ireland (Belfast & Newry) produced by Outside The Lines Theatre Company.
In November 2020, it was staged at Riverside Theatre's Parramatta (NSW), professionally produced by the National Theatre of Parramatta starring celebrated actress and musical theatre star, best known her portrayal of Glinda in the original West End production of Wicked, Helen Dallimore, powerhouse vocalist and actor Adam J Rennie (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Big Fish, Love Never Dies), award-winning vocal sensation Elenoa Rokobaro (High School Musical, Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and two-time Green Room Award winner Ian Stenlake (Mama Mia!, They’re Playing Our Song, Oklahoma). Directed by Anthea Williams (Flight Paths, Winyanboga Yurringa Since Ali Died) with Musical Direction by Ben Kiehne.
In August 2021, it saw it's US-​premiere at PrideArts Chicago starring Carl Herzog as Steven's Father, Kyra Leigh as Steven's Mother, Elissa Newcorn as Steven's Wife and Nate Hall as The Ex. Understudied by Lee Wichman, Michelle Paola Ortiz and Mary Laura Godby. Directed by Jay Españo with Musical Direction by Robert Ollis. This was followed by a short season in January 2022 at Northwestern State University of Louisiana starring Victoria Hickman, Dylan Fuselier, Leigh B. Leighton & Robert McCandlish. Directed by Robert Cardwell with musical direction by Daniel Ley. In July 2022, Chookas Entertainment in Newcastle (NSW) produced the 11th season, starring Teya Duncan, Joanna Andrew, Jordie Nicholas & Michael King. Directed by Jody Miller with Musical Direction by Bree Young.
You can purchase your copy of the sheet music here.
Check out the trailer below:
Check out the trailer below:
National Theatre of Parramatta
2020 Season
