A groundbreaking Stan series is set to explore the lives of LGBTIQA+ teens in the remote coastal town of Geraldton, Western Australia. Based on the award-winning book Invisible Boys by West Australian author Holden Sheppard, the 10-part original series will be the first homegrown LGBTIQA+ series to be produced in Western Australia.
The series delves into the challenges faced by a group of gay teens after one of them is outed on social media following an encounter with a married man. It aims to shed light on their experiences and the complexities of their lives in a conservative small town.
The project is a collaboration between production company Feisty Dame and Screenwest, aimed at fostering local talent and inspiring the development of new series in Western Australia. Award-winning children’s series director Nicholas Verso has been enlisted to create the series, along with Sheppard, writer Enoch Mailangi, Walkley Award-winning writer Allan Clarke, and Artistic Director of Griffin Theatre Declan Greene.
Tania Chambers, known for her work on projects such as How to Please a Woman and Kill Me Three Times, will be producing the series. The adaptation of Sheppard’s novel promises to be a unique and gripping coming-of-age story, set against the backdrop of a Western Australian coastal town.
The news of the Stan series comes shortly after the announcement of another major screen project in Western Australia. Binge’s award-winning series The Twelve, starring Sam Neill, is also set to commence production in the region.
The announcement has been met with excitement by Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea Bestall, who sees it as an opportunity for the local screen sector to showcase West Australian stories and locations to a global audience. The WA screen sector is currently experiencing a busy year, with an increased focus on creating diverse and engaging content.
International distribution of the series will be handled by Banijay Rights, whose EVP of content acquisitions, Simon Cox, expressed enthusiasm for the adaptation of Sheppard’s acclaimed novel. Cox praised the vision of Verso and Chambers, highlighting the series’ unique storytelling and its beautiful depiction of Western Australia’s often unseen coastal towns.
With the production set to commence in Geraldton and Perth in the near future, audiences can look forward to a compelling and authentic portrayal of LGBTIQA+ teens and their experiences in Invisible Boys. The series aims to contribute to the ongoing conversation around inclusivity and diversity while providing quality Australian storytelling.
