For those who follow QNews’ theatre pages religiously, you would know that we ran
an editorial a few issues ago before Brisbane Ar ts Theatre’s new show How To Be A
Man opened. What we printed was based on what the show’s production team told us
we could expect. The thing is though, nothing could have prepared us for what we saw
on opening night. I would like to think that I see a fair amount of live theatre, but never
anything quite like How To Be a Man.

To be blunt, first up the show is weird (but in a good way). It is strange, highly camp,
slightly gross, incredibly funny, the right type of wrong, and very, very Brisbane.

In the year 2011, John Birmingham is broke, on the run from the Australian Tax Of fice,
and back on the Brissy share house circuit af ter blowing the earnings from He Died With
a Felafel in His Hand. Resor ting to writing trashy magazine columns (much trashier than
this one), life is not looking the best, yet in a strange twist of fate, by the year 4006, JB’s
work has become a religion. And with the ability to travel through time, the last man
on Ear th (who just happens to live in the Valley) and his wonder-babe bodyguard are
coming back to find out exactly HOW to be a man.

How To Be A Man runs until 17 December at Brisbane Arts Theatre - 210 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane and is the stangest but best show you will see for a long, long time! Bookings can be made by visiting www.artstheatre.com.au or calling (07) 3369 2344