Singing no drag for musical theatre fan Sam Thompson
SAM Thompson's powerhouse voice kept the crowd entertained at Memorial Park on Saturday.
A musical theatre student at the University of Ballarat, the 18-year-old with a penchant for drag, was the ideal choice to join the line-up at the Gladstone Pride Breaking Down the Door event.
And when organisers asked, Mr Thompson jumped at the opportunity to fill his university break with a performance.
The talented entertainer came out as gay in Year 11 while he attended Gladstone State High School.
"I hid it for a while and then I thought, 'stuff it'," he said, laughing that everyone loved his true personality better anyway.
"I had so much support."
Mr Thompson said events such as Saturday's were important for parents and kids in terms of information and support.
While he is back in Gladstone until he starts his second year of university in February, Mr Thompson hopes to have a few more performance opportunities.
"Words can't explain how much I love it," he said of musical theatre.
He will be holding shows on January 10 and 11.
At the start of the year he sold more than 200 tickets to a night of entertainment.
"This time the show is going to be run a lot more professionally," Mr Thompson said.
He said that although there would be some drag numbers, the show wouldn't solely be based around that style of performing.
"I've picked up a lot of new songs and repertoire."
