Scott Parker and Felicity Nicol’s humorous yet honest portrayal of Parker’s life as a Hillsong devotee, Gospel rock god and finally ex-member gives harrowing yet humorous insight into how one becomes part of a group like Hillsong, and the strength it takes to bear the consequences of leaving.

An interviewer sits down to chat with a Hillsong gospel singer, who’s actually a pretty big deal, he’ll have you know. He name drops the celebrities he knows, swerves around a couple of slightly challenging questions, but when the interview shifts to the allegations of assault and fraud levelled at his mentors and leaders, his smiley demeanour breaks and internal turmoil is exposed as he realises he, in his own words, is part of a cult. It’ll take a lot of reflection and even an exorcism, but by the end of the show, Parker will be out, and 5 years on, Hillsong Boy is Parker’s promise never to go back.

Nicol’s direction creates a distinct ‘before’ and ‘after’ in Parker’s life and, within those, two different identities. The interview set up is a great mode for the first half of Parker’s story, the Hillsong-member Parker character. While it gives Hillsong’s Parker the spotlight he craves, it also is the vehicle that over the last decade has brought about its downfall. The contrast with post-Hillsong Parker, who speaks to the audience directly, in more of a train-of-thought speaking pattern, is striking and conveys both the taking back of his own identity, and the trauma that he incurred on the journey back to himself. Lighting by Ben Brockman exacerbates the effect.

Embedded within his story are some very earnest performances of Parker’s original Hillsong pop songs, anecdotes of jamming with friends and creating cherished memories while in the church, all of which speak to the way it became such a huge part of his life and why his pathway out was non-linear. This built-in nuance shows a necessary empathy to those who have experienced poor treatment at the hands of groups like Hillsong, so often surreounded by stigma and judgement, and is a valuable addition to this genre of theatre.

Check Out The Flying Nun by Brand X’s 2024 season here.

Primitivo | Wine Pairing

Primitivo, also known as Zinfandel, has yoyoed in popularity from decade to decade due to its controversial characters. Containing all the body and texture of a bold red like Cab Sauv, with sweeter flavours like ripe red berries and caramelised sugar, and a healthy oakiness on the side, it’s intoxicating to some and repellent to others.

Hillsong Boy, Robbi James and The Flying Nun by Brand X | Tasting Notes

Aussie Season	22 to 23 March 2024, East Sydney Community and Arts Centre. Produced by Robbi James and The Flying Nun by Brand X
Ticket $	$
Writer	Scott Parker and Felicity Nicol
Director	Felicity Nicol
Theatre Type & Genre	memoir
See it if you like	religious memoirs, Sounds Like a Cult podcast
Wine Pairing	Primitivo
Criteria for Wine Pairing	intoxicating flavours, rich body