A CROWDFUNDING campaign has been launched by a Moffat theatre to help them put on a summer show which will have a wide reaching impact.
The Studio Theatre have teamed up with Dumfries drag queen Devine Tension, pictured, for The Passion Project.
As well as being an entertaining performance, they hope it will “contribute to a greater softening of the barriers to belonging experienced by LGBTQ+ people in Dumfries and Galloway” and spark understanding and acceptance in the wider community.
Explaining more, Jane Gray from the theatre said: “Passion Project is a one-person show, produced by the Studio Theatre and developed and performed by Devine.
“Blending contemporary theatre and drag, this interactive, promenade performance takes a high-energy, raunchy, and raw look at love, sex, and attachment. Honest and vulnerable, it shines a light on our universal human desire for love, acceptance, and belonging.
“Part autobiography, the play shows Devine trying to navigate the world in the same way most queer young people and adults do. The script also explores other LGBTQ+ issues, feelings of isolation, and discrimination. These are very real challenges for LGBTQ+ people living in rural areas.”
Devine is the alter ego of Dillon Colthart, who has been doing drag for five years, and Jane added: “Both Dillon and the Studio Theatre feel strongly about the need for compassion, acceptance and being safe to express who you are. By bringing these issues into the spotlight, we want to help create that safe space everywhere and for everyone.”
But they need public help to make the project happen and that’s where the £5000 crowdfunder comes in.
Money raised will cover artist and development fees, venue, and tech hire, as well as marketing and asset development costs.
Jane said: “Like all small theatres and most organisations in rural areas, covid and the cost-of-living crisis have severely stretched our financial resilience, so to make this happen, we could really use your help.
“Any donation you make – no matter how small – helps us bring Passion Project to life.”
Meanwhile, their initiative has also been selected by Crowdfunder and Creative Scotland for their Crowdmatch project – meaning that any donation up to £250 is matched by Creative Scotland
“It’s a great opportunity for The Studio Theatre – we’ve had to close over winter because we just can’t afford to heat the theatre, so if we can make a success of this, it will be really important,” concluded Jane.
Their bid is now live and can be found at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/passion-project.
