A typical visit to the city for my wife and I would be a bite to eat somewhere casual or maybe even upmarket; a spot of shopping at Pitt Street Mall or George Street; and, if it’s a really special occasion, an overnight stay at a decent four-star hotel near Darling Harbour or Chinatown.
However, last weekend’s trip to the city was a little different for us. Let’s just say we got out of our comfort zones and have a story to tell!
Instead of doing our normal routine mentioned earlier, we were invited to experience something we probably wouldn’t usually partake in – an overnight stay at hotel in the heart of Kings Cross as well as a theatre production about a closeted gay man who teaches elocution to the residents of his local, affluent Sydney suburb.
See what I mean about being out of our comfort zones?
But like anyone who’s prepared to do something a little out of the box, we embraced the awesome opportunity and had an amazing time doing so!
See, as I keep discovering more and more with this occupation of mine, Sydney is full of different and wonderful things to do – that’s IF you’re willing to stray from what you’ve come accustomed to.
I will admit, I haven’t seen a play in about 20 years, but I was really looking forward to sitting down at the historic Belvoir St Theatre in Surry Hills to witness Simon Burke of ‘Play School’ and stage musical fame bring this legendary one-man production of ‘The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin’ to life.
First staged in 1976 to global acclaim, including winning the OBIE Award for Best Off-Broadway Play, ‘The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin’ is a dark comedy-tragedy which centres around a closeted gay man named Robert O’Brien who teaches elocution to people who stutter or struggle to speak clearly. (For the record, one of his students is a 12-year-old boy named Benjamin Franklin, not the prolific inventor). I’ll continue…
By day Robert is a prim and proper member of society, but by night he escapes into wigged out fantasies and revels in wearing women’s clothing while dancing to ‘Horror Movie’ by Skyhooks.
My wife and I didn’t know what to expect heading into the basement of the theatre, but when the show kicked off with Burke starkers prancing around in front of the small and intimate audience, we both looked at each other and whispered, ‘Alright, strap yourself in!’.
Both provocative and unsettling, ‘The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin’ offered us a sharp exploration of queerness and persecution that was decades ahead of mainstream conversation.
While the themes were tough to consume at first, we thoroughly enjoyed it by the conclusion. The highlight for us was Burke’s performance – I’ve never seen someone act to the level he has before. Keep in mind, he was on stage solo for over 90 minutes in front of a sold-out audience of less than 100. It was as intimate as it gets and Burke absolutely nailed every scene.
After we left Belvoir St Theatre, we hopped in an Uber bound for our accommodation across town, Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point.
Tucked behind Sydney’s iconic Coca-Cola sign, Hotel Indigo Potts Point offered a fitting backdrop for our night of classic Aussie storytelling.
Drawing inspiration from the neighbourhood’s storied past as a playground for artists, performers and outsiders, the boutique hotel – which opened in 2024 – welcomed my wife and I through a red velvet-curtained lobby lined with black-and-white portraits of local performers.
The theatrics continued upstairs across 105 playfully-designed rooms, where neon accents, pink furnishings and thought-provoking artwork nod to Kings Cross’ bohemian and LGBTIQ+ heritage.
Our one-bedroom suite on the 11th floor was full of colour and comfort and the view we had of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the distance just put a bow on the whole experience. We particularly enjoyed watching the huge cruise ships come and go throughout the evening and morning.
After a busy few hours of live theatre and soaking in our awesome hotel, our stomachs were craving food, so we headed out to enjoy a feast at local neighbourhood gem, Grape Garden Beijing Cuisine.
Located along Bayswater Road in Potts Point, Grape Garden specialise in tasty vegetable starters, dumplings, noodles and the most authentic jasmine tea you will ever sip.
The best part about this place is everything is handmade on-site from the restaurant’s beloved long-time owners. We could literally taste the love gone into every single dish. Plus, the service – which regular readers know I am very pedantic about – was second to none.
Want to get out of your comfort zone like we did? I’ve got some exciting news for you!
To mark the 50th anniversary of one of Australia’s most significant plays, ‘The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin’, Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point has partnered with Griffin Theatre Company to launch a Stay & Show package celebrating the hit production.
Available for a limited season until Sunday, March 29, the $320 package includes overnight accommodation, two CINCiN Bellini cocktails and breakfast for two at Hotel Indigo Potts Point plus two tickets to the play at Belvoir St Theatre, the very stage where the ‘The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin’ premiered half a century ago. Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply. For more information and to book, visit https://shorturl.at/tEvdd.
Nathan Taylor is Parra News' sports journalist. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked in western Sydney media for more than a decade.