We’ve seen the headlines, read the reports, and sat aghast learning about the extreme hazing and barbaric behaviour fostered within the private boys’ school sector for decades. Packaged up and told through an outsider’s lens, those of us who have not attended these schools have had our proximity to these issues at arm’s length.
ALL BOYS, written by Xavier Hazard, provides us with a different perspective, one that places us in the midst of a Catholic boys’ school, following a group of boys as they make their way from Year 7 to Year 12. Leading this production is director Cezera Critti-Schnaars, who has the duty of tackling a story that highlights a world we often see only the shadows of. Joining Cezera on this journey is one of the ten cast members, Liam Longley, who draws on his own private school experience in his role. Liam and Cezera took some time ahead of opening night to speak with Magazine 6000 about their perspectives on the production and the delicate balance of light and dark content.
So, how did you both become involved with this piece?
Cezera: I got invited to direct back when The Blue Room Theatre was planning their annual season. Around the end of July last year, I was approached and asked if I wanted to direct the show. The producer had seen my work with the 24-hour play generator and liked how I managed the cast. They were looking for someone who wasn’t a straight white man to avoid creating an echo chamber, and as an Indigenous lesbian, I fit that criteria. So, that’s how I got involved.
How about you, Liam?
Liam: Yeah, I got involved through Cezera. We did a show together at the beginning of this year. I had just graduated from WAAPA last year and was planning to take some time off. Then Cezera asked me to do a monologue for the annual season launch. I was really impressed with the script and wanted to be involved, so I joined the show.
Director Cezera Critti-Schnaars. Photography by Sophie Minissale.
What were your first reactions when you read the piece?
Cezera: It took me a while to read it because I was working on another show at the time. I was struck by the intensity of the show, but also by the beautiful, hilarious moments throughout it. The mixture of those elements really stood out to me. I could tell that Xavier, the writer, had put a lot of thought into how to tell these stories safely for both the audience and the actors. The joy and love within the play, combined with the careful and deliberate storytelling, really struck me.
Liam: For me, it was the characters that hooked me. I’ve always wanted to play a gay guy who is really angry because that’s what I went through in high school. I went to an all-boys school and dealt with a lot of anger. I read for the character of Hugh and saw a lot of myself in him.
Was it Hugh who stood out to you straight away, then?
Liam: 100%, yes.
Liam Longley. Photography by Sophie Minissale.
From both of your perspectives, what is this play about?
Cezera: It follows an ensemble of boys as they go from Year 7 to Year 12. It’s truly about these boys trying to figure out who they are, realising that they aren’t men yet, and dealing with that realisation.
Liam: For me, it’s about survival in a super-concentrated patriarchal environment. You come in as one person and go through all these experiences, feeling like you have to prove yourself as a man. By the end, you’re someone completely different, maybe a bit more damaged, but you’ve learnt a lot.
Liam, you mentioned you went to an all-boys school. Did you draw from your own experiences for your role?
Liam: Yes, I went through similar things to what Hugh did. It was easy to access those memories, but I had to protect myself from going too deep. It has been a healing experience, allowing me to look at my younger self and understand that I was just trying to get through it.
Cezera, what kind of experiences and research did you draw on while directing?
Cezera: I didn’t go to an all-boys school, but I grew up with two brothers as a triplet. A lot of my direction comes from what I’ve learnt from them and my dad. I interpret scenes and check with the cast to ensure it makes sense for them. My job involves viewing these boys as a whole and understanding how they come together.
ALL BOYS. Photography by Sophie Minissale.
The show is said to “invite you in with care and without judgement”. How do you approach this, considering the reputation of boys’ schools?
Cezera: The show talks about why those reputations exist and shows the realities behind them. My biggest priority was casting a group of people who could look after each other. They needed to get through rehearsals and performances while supporting each other. The audience can sense if the cast trusts each other, and that makes it easier to perform and watch heavy work.
Liam: At first, I was worried about being in a room with ten other boys because of the potential for toxic masculinity. But within the first week, I felt so supported by everyone. It made it easier to go to those darker places because I knew I was being held by the cast.
Cezera, with ten cast members, how are you finding the process of directing so many bodies on stage in this studio?
Cezera: This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. There are so many storylines, characters, and transitions to keep track of. It’s a delicate topic, so there’s a responsibility to keep the audience safe. A lot of it has been trial and error, figuring out what works and what doesn’t, and asking the cast for their input.
Liam, what’s it like playing someone going from Year 7 to Year 12?
Liam: It’s a lot, but I’ve found a lot of freedom in it. Getting back into that younger mindset has been a challenge, but it’s been amazing and healing to put myself in those shoes again.
ALL BOYS. Photography by Sophie Minissale.
This is the world premiere of the show, and it’s happening here in Perth. How does that feel for both of you?
Cezera: It’s vaguely terrifying but really exciting. Perth often gets forgotten in larger national conversations, so it’s great to kick off this conversation here. There’s a lot of excitement and support for new independent shows in Perth.
Liam: I’m literally so excited. It’s important for Perth to be part of this conversation, especially with our own all-boys schools and the issues attached to them.
Cezera: It’s going to be an intense but very careful and hopeful show. There are beautiful moments of laughter and comedy, making it a well-rounded play.
ALL BOYS is presented by every other theatre company and is on at The Blue Room Theatre from 6-24 August.