Director, Writer and Producer Wayne Tunks shares his experiences through the rehearsal of According To Otto
Jan 29, 2018
An independent theatre producer’s job is never done. Yesterday I raced around to different shops picking up props, printing props and bolts to fix a table that has been sitting in my parent’s garage since the last time I used it for a show, in 2006. Today I painted a bed end I picked up for $5 and then went to get a free Gumtree coffee table. Tomorrow I’ll go to pick up some costumes and then hire a truck and take all the set to the theatre. In the middle I’ll keep sending out media releases, posting pics to social media and try and learn these lines that I wrote. And you know what? I will love every minute of it.
My new play, “According to Otto”, opens at the Depot Theatre on February 14 for Sydney Mardi Gras. And I am excited. Excited because I love doing plays for gay festivals, my plays have graced the stages for both Sydney’s Mardi Gras and Melbourne’s Midsumma. Excited because I am proud of this play; and excited because rehearsals are going really well. Tomorrow night, Tues Jan 30, we are having our first full run of the play and I am hopeful it will be good. Though, let’s be honest, the first time you run a play it can often be a train wreck, and I’m okay with that. Two and a bit weeks out, we’re allowed to struggle. If it was ready all ready, I would be worried.
“According to Otto” is a coming out story. Some may argue these stories aren’t relevant anymore, but if the postal survey has taught us anything, it’s that there is still a lot of anti-gay sentiment out there. And coming out is still an issue, it’s hard for teens to utter those words, to family and to friends. But it is getting easier, and that is reason to celebrate. When I was going to Doonside High in the later 80s / early 90s, I could never have dreamed about coming out at school. I suspected I was gay back then, but was teased so badly that I couldn’t admit it to myself, let alone anyone else. So now presenting a story about a 16 year old coming out of the closet while at school, warms my heart. Our hero, Otto, may have a supportive family and great friends, but coming out for him won’t be simple. He knows that, but he also knows to achieve true happiness, it must be done.
Rehearsing a show for February has its own set of problems, cue the soundtrack of Mariah Carey singing Christmas songs. We began rehearsing in November, which a lot of people thought was very early. But knowing that late December and early January would knock the wind out of our momentum, it was needed. Because with cast going away over the January period, last night was the first rehearsal where we had all cast since December 19. And what a great night it was. We blocked our final scenes and consolidated others. 
Everyone is doing so well with lines, putting me to shame, and characterisation is on point.
When you talk about this show, you can’t not talk about the brilliance of our leading man, Jasper Musgrave. He’s only 16 and starts Year 11 this week and he has bravely taken on this role. Just saying he is the lead is somewhat inaccurate. He plays Otto, he’s in every scene and a great deal of the play is his inner monologue. He has more lines than some people could even read! He went away with his family for Christmas, and came back with all of his lines learnt, an amazing feat. He’s receptive to direction and anyone who has met Jasper knows how his exuberant he is, and that is wonderfully refreshing to have from a performer.
Let’s not take anything away from the rest of this amazing cast. I am so happy with each and every one of them. I have been doing this a long time, 18 years, and I know that cast connection is so important. And if I’m honest, I’ve gotten to this point in shows before and 
have regretted casting decisions, but not this time. Everyone is working so hard and producing some beautiful moments on stage. These people are making me laugh and cry.
Here’s the thing I love about theatre, it is such a people based profession. You get to meet new people, you work with them again if you like them. You meet people from all different backgrounds, different ages, sexes, sexualities, nationalities. Rehearsals can get so noisy as everyone shares stories, and wow actors love to sing. I’m terrible, I’m always belting out some pop tune and then feeling old cause the 20 somethings in the cast don’t know a song that you think is memorable. But seriously Brendan, “Nothing Compares 2U” is iconic, you need to listen to it. I talk too much in rehearsals and then shock people when we get into the theatre and I am all business. Theatre is my true love and I take that very seriously. My happiest 
moments happen inside a theatre. I miss it when I’m not there and I’m always planning the next show. It’s my drug.
So with two weeks to go, it’s down to business. Bring in the set, paint, rig and plot the lights. That’s happening this Friday with the amazing Louise Mason, our lighting designer. She is all knowledge and makes in the stressful days of bump in easy. We paint on the weekend and then keep rehearsing until our first preview on Wed February 14. Valentines Day, so I get to spend the day with my true love, the theatre. Of course I won’t think we are ready, but we will be. And we are ready to entertain. So, come to the play. Support independent theatre and show why LGBT theatre is still so very important.
“According to Otto” by Wayne Tunks
The Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville.
Feb 14 – 24. Shows Wed to Sat at 8pm, with 2pm matinees on Sat.
Bookings: www.thedepottheatre.com
