SBS reveal cast for provocative new Australian drama anthology – Erotic Stories
L-R, top: Frances O’Connor, Kate Box, Yuchen Wang, Emily Havea, Dominic Ona-Ariki. Centre: Bert LaBonte, Crystal Nguyen, Rarriwuy Hick, Joel Lago, Alex Fitzalan. Bottom: Melanie Vallejo, Bernie Van Tiel, Googoorewon Knox, Tim Draxl, Danielle Cormack.
Erotic Stories, SBS’s bold and transgressive new original anthology drama series, has commenced production in Sydney with a stellar ensemble cast including Golden Globe Best Actress nominee Frances O’Connor (The Missing, Madam Bovary, The End).
O’Connor is joined by Kate Box (Rake, Wentworth and the upcoming Deadloch), Danielle Cormack (Year Of, Secret She Keeps, My Life is Murder), Rarriwuy Hick (Wentworth, True Colours), Googoorewon Knox (While The Men Are Away, Black Snow), Melanie Vallejo (Upgrade, Winners and Losers), Tim Draxl (In Our Blood, A Place to Call Home), Yuchen Wang (Safe Home, New Gold Mountain, Hungry Ghosts), Dominic Ona-Ariki (Shortland Street, One Lane Bridge), Bert LaBonte (The Newsreader, Colin From Accounts, Five Bedrooms), Emily Havea (Latecomers, Darby & Joan, A Perfect Pairing), Fayssal Bazzi (Shantaram, Stateless), Bernie Van Tiel (Class of ’07), Roman Delo (Bump), Victoria Haralabidou (Wakefield, The Tourist), Kween Kong (RuPaul’s Drag Race) and Alex FitzAlan (The Wilds, Chevalier and the upcoming series Prosper), and introduces Joel Lago and Crystal Nguyen in their breakout roles. More cast to be announced.
The eight-part anthology is produced by Lingo Pictures, part of ITV Studios, and penned by some of Australia’s most exciting writers including Sarah Walker, Marieke Hardy, Adrian Chiarella, Alistair Baldwin, Jean Tong, Tamara Asmar, Sara Khan and Christine Bartlett.
The series is set to change the narrative of what sex and intimacy look like today, delving into the delight, complexity and chaos of lust and longing. This deliciously provocative series tells unique stories with each of the lead characters someone who has not typically been written as sexual leads on Australian screens; be it queer, gender-diverse, living with disability, middle-aged and/or people of colour. Erotic Stories step into these fresh perspectives allowing them to explore desire, from their own point of view.
Producers are Lingo Pictures’ Helen Bowden (The Secrets She Keeps, On the Ropes and the upcoming Queen of Oz), with Liam Heyen (Latecomers, Top End Wedding). Executive Producer is Jason Stephens (The Lambs of God, Upright, The Messenger) and directors are Madeleine Gottlieb, who directed Latecomers and whose short films have screened at major film festivals including Toronto, SXSW, Aspen, Melbourne, Sydney, Seattle, Palm Springs and Interfilm Berlin, and award-winning Argentinian-born Australian stage and screen director Leticia Cáceres (Bump, The Spooky Files).
Helen Bowden, Lingo Pictures, said: “True to the title, this series is truly erotic. It is sensual and honest and full of positive human connections…. And hopefully it’ll be a turn on for everyone! Thanks to SBS for giving Lingo the best brief ever, and for being entirely supportive as we’ve developed these funny, moving and surprising stories. “
Julie Eckersley, SBS’ Head of Scripted, said: “There are so many things to love about this inventive and cheeky series. True to the unique and noisy drama that SBS is known for making, it uses the erotic to take the audience into new worlds and points of view, as the best drama does. It is a series that is going to glue audiences to the screen… and maybe make them blush a little if their mother sees them watching it.”
Grainne Brunsdon, Screen Australia’s Head of Content, said: “Lingo Pictures have cleverly crafted a timely and challenging series that reminds us that sex and intimacy is both personal and universal. From the creative minds of a truly talented writing team, and the diverse cast announced today, audiences can look forward to uplifting and honest stories from a wide range of characters we can relate to.”
Richard Cohen, Acting Head of Screen NSW, said: “Screen NSW is thrilled to support Erotic Stories from leading NSW-based production company Lingo Pictures. This bold new anthology series promises to provoke conversation and change the way sex, intimacy and connection are commonly viewed. We can’t wait for audiences to see this fresh take on Australian storytelling from a strong, diverse creative team.”
Erotic Stories is a Lingo Pictures, part of ITV Studios, production for SBS with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with SBS. Financed with support from Screen NSW.
Erotic Stories will premiere on SBS and SBS On Demand in 2023 and is produced in association with, and distributed internationally by, ITV Studios.
