News

Conversion practice survivor spins story to comedic gold

Ace R L's 'sacrilegious musical comedy' brings their experience of church-led conversion practices out of the dark with humour, authenticity and joy.

16 Jan 2024

Jessi Ryan

'A Night with Pastor Ace' by Ace R L. Image: Supplied. A non-binary person standing with their hands held in prayer, wearing a rainbow blazer and a dildo with googly eyes on their shoulder.

Amplify Collective

Performing Arts

‘A Night with Pastor Ace’ by Ace R L. Image: Supplied.

‘Almost a pastor, now a queer comedian who throws dildos off the stage.’ This is how Darwin-based performer Ace R L describes themself in their one-person cabaret, A Night With Pastor Ace.

Winner of the 2023 Darwin Fringe Festival Spirit of the Fringe award, the show is billed as a sacrilegious solo musical comedy about coming out and loving yourself, despite every effort to pray the gay away.

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Jessi Ryan

Jessi Ryan (they/them) has been creating performance and exhibitions for the past 20 years, both locally, nationally and abroad- in this time collaborating with a huge number of artists from a broad cross section of cultural backgrounds. As a journalist they have written for and been published by some of Australia’s leading arts and news editorial across the last 10 years-and was recognised as a finalist for Globe Community Media Award in 2021. Ryan has also taken photos for a number of print and online publications.