ORLANDO

By RACHEL LEWINDON and WILLOW SIZER

Internal development held between May and September 2023, with a couple of private ‘sharings’.

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 premiered in November 2023.

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)

Director: MARGOT FENLEY (she/her)

Dramaturg: MAUDE DAVEY (she/her)

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

Cultural Consultant: CHELS MORGAN (they/xe)

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

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

Resident Stage Manager: ASHLEIGH WALWYN (she/her)

Biographies are available below.

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.

Meet the Team

Meet the Cast & Collborators

Venue Information:

Antipodes HQ

123A Thistlethwaite St, South Melbourne VIC 3205

For all accessibility enquiries, please contact info@antipodestheatre.com