Antipodes Theatre Company Presents

by RACHEL LEWINDON and WILLOW SIZER

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CAST

fortyfivedownstairs

2 - 11 November, 2023

★★★★ “Ambitious, free-spirited and intelligent.” – Limelight

Fascinating…an intriguing and immersive experience [that] still teases the imagination almost a century after it was written.” – The Age

Breathtaking…A sublime work of theatre that once again showcases the immense talent of independent creatives” – Australian Arts Review

Lewindon’s resplendent compositions are some of the best to come out of Australian musical theatre in recent years.” – Australian Book Review

"Uniformly gorgeous...it announces an enduring position for this fabulous independent local theatre company." - Theatre Travels

“A perfect interpretation…simply divine.” – Stage Whispers

Haunting and richly layered…ambitious and entertaining” – Theatre Matters

“A buoyant and heartfelt work…profound and challenging” – The Blurb

Thrilling…beautifully wrought…a lyrical, touching, thoughtful piece of theatre.” – Keith Gow

"A mesmerising production" – My Melbourne Arts

ORLANDO is a new electro-folk musical inspired by Virginia Woolf’s seminal novel of the same name that was first published nearly 100 years ago.

A young poet changes gender and lives for nearly 300 years in this whirlwind tale of romance and betrayal, using flourishes of poetry and satire to explore queer identity and the ease with which individuals can exist between binaries. Featuring five performers who all play the title character, this innovative theatrical and musical event is not to be missed.

This project was previously developed as part of Antipodes Theatre Company's inaugural 2020 Winter Lab, the 2021 Abbotsford Convent’s Pivot program, and received further development in 2023 leading up to production.


Runtime: 80 minutes, no interval

Recommended for audiences: 12+, parental discretion is advised.

Warnings: Themes pertaining to race, colonialism, gender and sexuality, coarse language, sexual references, misogynist language, strobe lighting, haze and smoke effects


Our Method

Our concept of ‘The FLUID Musical’ not only pays tribute to Virginia’s work, but amplifies the lived experience of our cast by workshopping the material and plot directly with and for them. By creating scenes and songs through improvisation, we inject personal lived experience into ours and Virginia’s narrative, with a focus on creativity and collaboration.

This method came from the desire to initiate change on the issues of access and representation in Music Theatre. The Music Theatre industry currently has little opportunity to give actors artistic autonomy and creative voice. We want to change that. We want to give actors respect as artists, and honour their lived experience. In order to celebrate and uplift humanity, the musicals we write should, at the core of their creation, be valuing us and our stories.

 

Cast & Collaborator: MARTY ALIX (they/he)

Cast & Collaborator: LOUIE DALZELL (he/him)

Cast & Collaborator: MANALI DATAR (she/her)

Cast & Collaborator: KIKKI TEMPLE (she/goddess)

Cast & Writer (in collaboration with the cast): WILLOW SIZER (they/them)

Composer, Sound Designer & Musical Director: RACHEL LEWINDON (she/her)

Co-Directors: MARGOT FENLEY (she/her) & MAUDE DAVEY (she/her)

Movement Director: BELLE HANSEN (she/her)

Set & Costume Designer: BETHANY J FELLOWS

Lighting Designer: JOHN COLLOPY (he/him)

Sound Engineer: EVAN DRILL (he/him)

New Work Manager & Producer: CAMERON STEENS (they/them)

Resident Stage Manager: ASHLEIGH WALWYN (she/her)

Biographies are available below.

Artistic Director & Producer: BRANDON PAPE (he/him)

Musicians: RACHEL LEWINDON (she/her) and IMOGEN CYGLER (she/her)

ASM: TIAH BULLOCK (she/her)

Sound Operator: RAMI BOLES (he/him)

Voice of Virginia Woolf: KRISTEN SMYTH (she/her)

Casting & Cultural Consultant (Development): KUDA MAPEZA (she/they)

Cultural Consultant (Development): CHELS MORGAN (they/xe)

Vocal Consultant: ZARA STANTON (she/her)

Publicist: CAMERON LUKEY (he/him)

Graphic Design & Social Media: CHLOE TOWAN (she/her), using elements by ROB CHIVERS (PUSH Collective)

Production Photos: ANGEL LEGGAS (he/him, 3 FATES MEDIA)

Promo makeup: CLAIRE BLOWERS (she/her)

Covers: SARAH FITZGERALD (they/them), MEL O’BRIEN (she/her), TOMAS PARRISH (they/them)

Crew: CONOR BEAUMONT, VANESSA GREGORIOU, CHRIS PATRICK HANSEN, CAMERON STEENS, LEWIS SPRAGG

Meet the Cast & Collborators

Meet the Team

Venue Information:

fortyfivedownstairs

45 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000

Accessibility information available here.