SMILEY – A gay romantic comedy from Spain!

This production is sponsored by Brisbane Pride.

Initially written in Spanish by stage and screenwriter Guillem Clua, Smiley stars two of Queensland’s most versatile acting talents, Sergio Torres and Matt Young.

Sergio Ulloa Torres studied acting at the prestigious University of Arts, Sciences and Communications in Santiago, Chile (UNIACC). He has played leading roles in theatre, most notably in the played Idiotizados and Smiley in Chile which he performed in Spanish. He appeared in the Chilean HBO series Roommates, Bienvenidos for Channel 13 and most recently in the web series El Australian Trip.

Matt Young is a US-born, Australian actor best known for playing James Cook in Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery for the ABC. Brisbane theatre credits include Yank!, Goodbye Miss Monroe, Annie and The Producers.

SMILEY made its World Premiere in 2013 in the tiny Sala Flyhard in Barcelona, then made the leap to the Teatre Lliure first and to the Club Capitol where it ran for over a year. The play then enjoyed a season at the Lara and Maravillas Theaters in Madrid, and has since been produced in Chile, Puerto Rico, Greece, Italy, Germany, Uruguay, Peru, Venezuela, Miami, New York City and now a first for Australian theatre in Brisbane.

A Japanese legend states that when two people are destined to be together an invisible red thread connects them from the day they were born, no matter how different they may seem. Álex and Bruno, the two protagonists, have only one thing in common – they are gay men. Their differences seem insurmountable because of their antagonistic personalities but whether they like it or not they are linked together by this invisible thread.

The play opens with Álex being ghosted by his lover. He decides to dial him from his work phone to try and disguise his identity but carelessly he dials one wrong digit. When he leaves a message for Bruno, who also happens to be gay, the misunderstanding propels an awkward date which will change their lives forever.

Smiley is a love story that finds humour in the fears we face when we fall in love. It explores how new technologies such as WhatsApp and Grindr have changed our lives, while accurately dissecting the contradictions of effective relationships within any community. It is a homage to Barcelona and pays tribute to some great romantic comedies but above all Smiley is a message of love.

The play, which is being directed by Liam Burke and produced by the trio, will play Back Dock Arts, an intimate and COVID safe space a block from the centre of The Valley.

Liam Burke was creative assistant to Susan Stroman on A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden and Dance Captain and Traveling Salesman for The Music Man on Broadway (2000). He studied Creative Writing at the State University of NY and has written for LGNY, Santa Barbara News-Press, Standard-Examiner and Dance Magazine. He has published poetry and short stories in The James White Review and produced, wrote, and directed Goodbye Miss Monroe (MATILDA AWARDS nominee 2014) which also played Chapel Off Chapel and was produced at London’s Above The Stage Theatre in 2019. His next play Neptune has been performed in parts in festivals in Los Angeles, London, Sydney and Melbourne. He has directed and/or choreographed plays and musicals across the USA, the UK and Australia.

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Smiley

Veune: 103 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Dates: November 19 – 29 2020 at 7pm Sundays at 3pm
Tickets: $25, Concession $20
Phone bookings: 0413 425 695
Online bookings: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/backdockarts/419796/