JOY Drive

10 May 2023

Stage Premiere of “Loaded” – Chris Tsiolkas’ debut novel

Performing Arts

Almost 30 years ago, Christos Tsiolkas’ debut novel Loaded painted a portrait of a young man who is restlessly searching for himself in opposing worlds. To this day, the story resonates with migrant and queer communities as a reminder that you are not alone.  Ari (Danny Ball, A Beginner’s Guide to Grief) is 19 and unemployed—he doesn’t want to be gay and he doesn’t want to be Greek. He doesn’t want to be anything. Drawn by the alluring pulse of Collingwood’s gay clubs, he finds an escape, and a family in the form of drag queens and one-night stands. First adapted as the award-winning 1998 film Head On, then reimagined as an audio adaptation in 2020, Loaded takes the mainstage with director Stephen Nicolazzo (Looking for Alibrandi) joining writers Dan Giovannoni and Christos Tsiolkas (Merciless Gods) to present Ari’s anarchic odyssey that sees him travel the four corners of Melbourne.

We chat to the Director – Stephen Nicolazzo.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:13 — 11.3MB)

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22 Feb 2026

Leo Stubbing: New Music from Hilary Duff , Leigh-Anne and Lana Del Rey

Music, Popular Culture

Hilary Duff is back with her first album in a decade, Leigh-Anne steps out independently with her solo debut, and ...

22 Feb 2026

Laureate Professor Clare Collins: Coffee and Blood Pressure

Diet and Nutrition, Health, Personal Safety, Popular Culture, Science & Medicine

Coffee can cause a short-term rise in blood pressure, yet large-scale research suggests it may not increase long-term hypertension risk ...

22 Feb 2026

Dr Jeremie Bracka: Victoria’s LGBTQIA+ Hate Crimes Inquiry

Government & Organisations, History, Law, LGBTIQA+ Community, News & Politics, Society & Culture

Victoria’s new inquiry into LGBTQIA+ hate crimes marks a significant moment for accountability and prevention. Dr Jeremie Bracka explains why ...