Plot

A group of people are stuck in a fight against the law who has paused the decision to decriminalize homosexuality. They decide to protest against the authority and bring in a change.

In 1978, when the push to decriminalise homosexuality has stalled, a group of activists decide they must make one final attempt to celebrate who they are. Led by former union boss, Lance Gowland, they get a police permit and spread the word. On a freezing winter's night, they cloak themselves in fancy dress, join hands, and parade down oxford street. But they have no idea that angry police lie in wait, and the courage they find that night will finally mobilise the nation.—Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia and New Zealand Pty Ltd.

In the year of release, the 40th Anniversary of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, "Riot" is a telemovie about the very first one held on Saturday 24th June 1978 at 10pm, which was met with unexpected and some would say excessive violence from the police.

Australian international and incredibly versatile actor Damon Herriman undoubtedly carries the show as Lance Gowland. Herriman was a child actor in the Australian classic TV series "The Sullivans", has performed sketch comedy for Jungle Productions, was the man whose wallet and PIN was stolen by Heath Ledger's character in "Candy", and has had numerous roles in the USA in productions such as "Breaking Bad", "Wilfred" (US version), "CSI" and as the kidnapper of the Lindbergh baby, in the movie of the same name.

As the opening slide states, the programme is based on the history of the first Mardi Gras, but contains instances of fictionalisation to increase the dramatic impact.

The timing of the series probably couldn't be better. The Mardi Gras itself will be held on 3 March 2018 and Australia has recently held a postal survey where 62% voted to change the Marriage Act to allow for same sex marriages, and this was enacted by Parliament on 7 December 2017.

Other actors featured are Xavier Samuels as Dr Jim Walker, Kate Box as teacher Marg McMann, Jessica De Gouw as Robyn Plaister and Josh Quong Tart as Ron Austin. The Director was Jeffrey Walker who was also responsible for the programme "Ali's Wedding" which highlighted an Islamic wedding and all the social difficulties of that.

Herriman believes that most people will be surprised at what they see in Riot. Personally, he wasn't aware of what people actually endured, and the reaction of the police who made mass arrests and dealt out violence to many of them as they were taken into custody.

"I don't think too many people know what the first one was like, and how did it start and it was obviously very different to what it is now. But it's a story that should be told".

Protesting can be a form of celebration, and celebration can be a means to protest.