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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5 Feb 2026

Jesse Matheson: Mardi Gras Cancels its After Party

LGBTIQA+ Community, Personal Safety, Popular Culture, Society & Culture

The cancellation of the official Mardi Gras after-party has raised big questions for festival-goers and the broader community. Jesse Matheson ...

5 Feb 2026

Professor Emerita Thea van de Mortel: Why We Get Sick as Soon as the Holiday Starts

Health, Natural Sciences, Places & Travel, Science & Medicine

Many people push through stress and deadlines, only to feel unwell the moment they finally stop. Thea van de Mortel ...

5 Feb 2026

Associate Professor Vincent Ho: Ultra-processed Foods Increasing Bowel Cancer Rates In Under 50s

Diet and Nutrition, Health, Science & Medicine

Rates of bowel cancer are rising in people under 50, and researchers are increasingly linking this shift to ultra-processed foods. ...