Opera Australia Takes “West Side Story” To The Harbour
FEATURED: Patrick Whitbread | Instagram
Patrick Whitbread plays Riff in the Opera Australia production, about to open on Sydney Harbour. Fresh from gang-land boot camp, he tells DNA why West Side Story is super-relevant to gay kids today.
Patrick, tell us about your role in West Side Story as Riff.
He’s a gang leader and takes it super-seriously. He’s like a protective father to the kids in his gang. Riff’s had a terrible home life, so he understands how much these kids need structure and someone to look up to. He’s also a larrikin and gets off on making other people’s lives hell!
What research did you do for the character?
I grew up in Newcastle, so I’m basing my character on the boys I grew up with. Not that there was an epidemic of gang violence, but there were the rougher areas where boys would hang out in groups. There would always be that alpha male the others would look up to. I’ve taken parts of those guys in creating Riff. I’m also one of the oldest cast members with a fair number of shows under my belt, and some of the guys in my ‘gang’ are making their stage debut. I feel very protective of them and want to help them grow in this industry.
What was the Jets bootcamp training like?
It was cool but also intense. It’s an extremely physical show and the dance numbers are so well choreographed. The Jet males have the most dancing so we started boot camp five days earlier. We slogged out the choreography, pushed through the iconic pieces and got some stamina under our belts! It was fucking hard!
But isn’t the most important part of the choreography the finger-snapping?
(Laughing) There’s a lot of clicking – mostly in the song Cool, which is led by Riff! On the day we learnt Cool, I went home afterwards to make dinner and almost dropped the frying pan because my forearm was corked! I must have clicked too much!
What was it like as a young gay performer, growing up in Newcastle?
The two words that come to mind are “black” and “sheep”. I truly didn’t fit in, as much as I tried. I always knew from around the age of 11 that if I wanted to be who I could be, I had to get out. I had total support from my family. They knew what I was after wasn’t happening in Newcastle, but I guess growing up gay anywhere is tough. I was pretty good at taking a water-off-a-duck’s back approach, but that stuff does get to you. You just need to find your people, which I did. Once I got to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) I thought, “These people get me!” I felt nurtured and supported.
How does outdoor theatre on the harbour compare to a traditional setting?
I had never performed outside before and it’s so exciting to look up after the sun’s gone down to see the moon and stars. Performing within the elements is wonderful, but we’re always prepared for rain! But West Side Story is a dramatic tragedy, so having rain that we don’t have to pay for is bonus melodrama. We do have special wet-weather shoes and our stage almost feels like the top of a skateboard with its safe and grippy surface. It’s all so exciting and worth the ticket!
You’ve performed in Mary Poppins, The Book Of Mormon, Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert and others. Is there a role you have your sights set on?
I would love to play Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz. I relate to it. Newcastle is not necessarily a small town, but it’s not big either. If you grow up gay, anywhere, you relate to another queer story. Peter grew up wanting to perform, left his town, and flourished. I didn’t see my life going like that, but it happened that way and I’m thrilled. Peter Allen was fun, and I love bantering with the audience like he did. I sometimes work on A Very Naughty Christmas and my job is to warm up the audience with insults. Basic comedy for a drunk audience! It’s my favourite part and The Boy From Oz has heaps of that.
Who inspires you in the world of entertainment?
Liza Minnelli! Her commitment to a story is just everything I want to emulate. It doesn’t matter how you’re singing or moving or how you look, it’s what story you’re telling every single time. That’s the key and storytelling doesn’t go out of fashion.
Why do you think West Side Story resonates so well with people?
One reason is gun violence, which has not changed in America. The tragedy of this show is that the lead is killed with a gun held by a teenager. We’re kind of now desensitised to it, but it still happens. Gun violence is even happening in Sydney, like recently when those two beautiful men were killed. The story is also relevant in that the younger generation still seems to be failed by some authority figures. These kids are misunderstood by the social care and penal systems and adults, leaving them to their own devices. All they want is to be loved, wanted and cared for, which is why they create gangs, but then tragedy happens.
And for LGBTIQ+ teenagers, too?
Yes, we hear about such things as in Ohio where they’re attempting to ban the rainbow flag and drag acts at schools and events. To think that’s still happening and there are those poor queer kids now questioning what to do. It’s still relevant today that young people rely on each other and try to find their voice. West Side Story is something of a warning to adults about what happens when you don’t look after your children.
West Side Story is playing on Sydney Harbour from 22 March. For more visit: opera.org.au
Follow Patrick on Instagram @pwhitbread
