Antipodes Theatre Companys presents the Australian Premiere of

PASSING STRANGE

Book and Lyrics by STEW, Music by STEW and HEIDI RODEWALD

Created in collaboration with ANNIE DORSEN

By Arrangement with Music Theatre International (Australasia) on behalf of Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

24 June - 10 July 2022

Meat Market Stables, North Melbourne

A rock musical about a young African American's artistic journey of self-discovery, Passing Strange takes us from black middle-class America to Amsterdam, Berlin and beyond on a journey towards personal and artistic authenticity.

From singer-songwriter and performance artist Stew, this Australian premiere season gifts Melbourne audiences a daring musical that journeys across boundaries of place, identity and theatrical convention. The story of a young bohemian who charts a course for “the real” through sex, drugs and rock 'n’ roll, Passing Strange is a multi-award-winning musical loaded with soulful lyrics, and overflowing with passion.

Antipodes Theatre Company invites you to experience the show Time Out New York heralded as “One of the most exciting new musicals in years.” Winner of THREE Drama Desk Awards for Most Outstanding Music, Lyrics and Musical, SEVEN Tony Nominations including Best Musical and Original Score, and WON the Tony for Best Book of a Musical.

Runtime: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one interval

Recommended for audiences: 13+, parental discretion is advised

Warnings: Coarse language, discussion of sexual acts, implied drug use, racism and racial slurs, death and dying

This is a COVIDSafe event as per Victorian Government stipulations

Digital Program

Special BLACK OUT Performance

Saturday 2 July 7:30pm

WHAT IS A BLACK OUT?

A BLACK OUT is the purposeful creation of an environment in which a Bla(c)k- and Brown-identifying audience can experience and discuss an event in the performing arts, film, athletic, and cultural spaces where they are the majority. Tickets are available for purchase using a special code.

If you would like to attend this performance, please email info@antipodestheatre.com.

A concept birthed by Slave Play playwright Jeremy O. Harris, the inaugural BLACK OUT night took place on September 18, 2019. For the first time in history, all 804 seats of Broadway’s Golden Theatre were occupied by Black-identifying audience members in communion, celebration, and recognition of Broadway’s rich, diverse, and fraught history of Black work. Based on the success of the first BLACK OUT, Slave Play hosted a second BLACK OUT on January 8, 2020, to bookend its Broadway run. Since then, other BLACK OUT events have organically taken hold. It is our hope and intention that this inspires, facilitates, and informs future BLACK OUT events and, in the words of Harris, that “this outreach will snowball into more representation of Black bodies, both onstage and off.” You can learn more at blackoutnite.com.

Nominated for Five green room awards

PASSING STRANGE - Musical Theatre, Most Outstanding Production

THE COMPANY - Musical Theatre, Best Ensemble

MARISSA SAROCA - Musical Theatre, Best Direction - Music

AUGUSTIN TCHANTO - Musical Theatre, Best Lead

ZAHRA ANDREWS - Musical Theatre, Best Supporting

★★★★★ ‘One of the most emotionally resonant, vital and joyful theatrical and musical experiences in years...[Augustin] Tchantcho gives what may just be my personal favourite performance by a male artist of the year and probably years to come.’ Darby Turnbull, Theatre People

★★★★ ‘Insanely enjoyable…This gloriously transcendent show is so much more than your average musical and Melbourne audiences should rush out immediately to experience this utterly captivating and unique theatrical event.’ Reuben Liversidge, ArtsHub

★★★★ ‘A must-see piece of musical theatre…a joyous romp of rock-musical glory. Fundamentally charming, touching, and one hell of a good time.’ - Jade Smith, Prompt Side

‘Fun and exuberant…Dean Drieberg’s robust production is a spirited romp.’ - Kate Herbert, The Age

‘Exceptional! This incredibly delightful production combines powerful music and performance to tell a moving story of self-discovery...exudes elegance and flair and provides sheer foot stomping enjoyment. Don’t miss it!’ - Patricia Di Risio, Stage Whispers

‘Tremendous...an exciting, eclectic and heady mix of rock music with artistic temperament and existential angst.’ - Alex First, The Blurb

‘Told with humour, heart, and wildly energetic music…rivals any other musical you could experience this year.’ - Thomas Gregory, Theatre Travels

‘Sublime…a bold and brave musical. I was captivated, curious and heartbroken by the end.’ - Grant Alexander, Lilithia Reviews

‘It takes a visionary independent company to present a show that has been ignored by mainstream commercial producers. Antipodes Theatre Company has assembled an authentic company of performers and musicians to freely pour their collective energy into the vibrantly intense performance that Passing Strange both needs and deserves.’ - Simon Paris, Man in Chair

Performer ‘Narrator‘: AUGUSTIN TCHANTCHO (he/him)

Performer ‘Youth‘: GRANT YOUNG (he/him)

Performer ‘Mother‘: SASHA HENNEQUIN (she/her)

Performers ‘Ensemble‘: ZAHRAH ANDREWS (she/her), TIER ATAING (he/him), GABRIELA VAN WYK (she/her) & THEO WILLIAMS (he/him)

Performers ‘Swings‘: GUILLAUME GENTIL (he/him) & ASHA KHAMIS (she/her)

Director: DEAN DRIEBERG (he/him)

Associate Director, Equity & Inclusion Support Officer: CESSALEE STOVALL (she/her)

Musical Director & Conductor: MARISSA SAROCA (she/they)

Choreographer: LOREDO MALCOLM (he/him)

Dialect Coach: MARK WONG (he/him)

Set & Costume Designer: BIANCA PARDO (she/her)

Lighting Designer: SAM WYLIE (he/him)

Sound Designer: EVAN DRILL (he/him)

Biographies are available below.

Stage Manager: ANNIE GLEISNER (she/her)

Casting Director: RHYS VELASQUEZ (they/she, Evolution Casting)

Publicist: ELEANOR HOWLETT (she/her, Sassy Red PR)

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

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

Sound Engineer: PJ REED (he/him)

Head Electrician: KIT CUNNEEN (she/her)

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

Crew: HOLLY ANDERSON, MAX BOWYER, KIT CUNNEEN, ALEX DONNELLY, NATHAN SANTAMARIA

Meet the Cast

Zahrah Andrews

She/Her
PERFORMER ‘Ensemble’
Zahrah has spent a lifetime immersed in the arts, from performing her own spoken word poetry to being in plays, musicals and Film and Television work and also hosting burlesque shows. She is currently working with the Mackay Council on a forum theatre piece that will be workshopped and performed by underprivileged Mackay youth. Some of Zahrah's favourite roles she has had the privilege to play are Matron Mama Morton in Chicago, Dolores Van Cartier in Sister Act the Musical and Dragon in Shrek the Musical. Zahrah is striving to make her break into professional Australian Theatre. Photo by KKP Lifestyle Photography.
Tier Ataing

He/Him
PERFORMER ‘Ensemble’
Tier Ataing is a South Sudanese born Actor with over a decade of experience in the Film and Television industry. He has been a part of many great projects over the years such as Mr. Black (Ten Network) and The Family Law (SBS). Originally from QLD, he moved to Melbourne in 2017 to continue his acting journey. Tier is very much excited to be taking part in this project and is looking forward to connecting with the audience and meeting great people along the way.
Guillaume Gentil

He/Him
PERFORMER ‘Swing’
Guillaume Gentil began performing at the age of 14 and has since gone on to train at Theatre Blacks where he completed a Diploma of Musical Theatre. Guillaume recently performed in Antipodes' And She Would Stand Like This where he portrayed the role of Miss Scott. Other notable credits include Grady in the Australisian premier of The Color Purple (StageArt) and Respectful Relationships (The Good Society). Along with 101 other young BiPOc performing artists, he was nominated for a 2021 Green Room Award for 'I Need You To See Me' and was a top 30 finalist for the AOC initiative. Photo by Dominic Steele.
Sasha Hennequin

She/Her
PERFORMER ‘Mother’
Sasha Hennequin started her professional acting career in the US where she also trained with actors currently working in film, TV & Broadway. Since returning home, she has featured in The Color Purple, wrote & performed her own solo cabaret, sung at the Athenaeum Theatre for "Encore 21" (a concert celebrating musicals), sung as a backing vocalist for Australian artists Thando & Kwame, and is a member of the Halo Vocal Ensemble. Sasha has many credits in TV, most notably the final seasons of the prison drama Wentworth.
Photo by Maryna Rothe
Asha Khamis

She/Her
PERFORMER ‘Swing’
Originally from Coffs Harbour, Asha made the move interstate to study at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) in the Foundation Program and then the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre). In 2021, Asha appeared in Antipodes Theatre online Ricochet Reading presentation of The Secret Life of Wonder (dir Cheyenne Barboza) and Citizen Theatre's Sci-fi original play Mara KORPER (dir.Jayde Kirchet) as Superior Pretz/Chorus Member. Photo by Andrew Raszevski.
Augustin Tchantcho

He/Him
PERFORMER ‘NARRATOR’
Augie is best known for his role as The General in The Gordon Frost Organisation's The Book of Mormon, which toured in Australia from 2016 to 2020. His Australian Theatre debut was in StageArt's highly successful Australian musical premieres Dreamgirls (Marty) and The Color Purple (Pa/Ole Mister) both of which received critical acclaim. Augie enjoys the full range of theatrical performances from Shakespearean tragedies to comedies and high energy musicals. Shakespeare credits include: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Moonshine), Julius Caesar (Brutus), The Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio), Othello (Othello) and King Lear (Albany).
Gabriela van Wyk

She/Her
Performer ‘Ensemble’
Gabriela van Wyk is a proud South African-Australian actor based on Meanjin country in Queensland. She is a recent graduate (2021) from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). At QUT she studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting). Gabriela has experience as a freelance model and singer. Her theatre credits include: For Griffin Theatre Company: Orange Thrower, For QUT: Algorithm, Gloria, Twelfth Night, Children of the Sun, The Laramie Project, Lungs. Photo by Mackenzie Mazur.
Theo Williams

He/Him
Performer ‘Ensemble’
Theo Williams has been performing all over Newcastle (NSW) since he was 8, doing at least one show a year to work on his skills as a singer, actor and dancer ever since. It wasn't until Covid-19, where Theodore had 4 shows canceled or postponed due to the pandemic that Theodore realised just how much time he was dedicating to theater and how much he missed it. Having since applied for multiple professional productions despite a lack of any professional theater training, Theodore leapt at the opportunity to audition for a show that didn't care about his history as a performer, but his history as a minority in today's society.
Photo by Lucas Staff
Grant Young

He/Him
PERFORMER ‘Youth’
Grant Young is originally from Denver Colorado and got the acting and performing bug after getting involved in theatre in school here in Australia. Grant recently completed an Advanced Diploma in Film Television from Swinburne University of Technology, but his real love is acting. He has worked on a variety of projects both front and behind the camera and is looking forward to jumping on board this project and connecting with audiences through the story and characters.

Meet the Team

Dean Drieberg

He/Him
DIRECTOR
Dean Drieberg is Resident Director of Hamilton Australia and Co-Artistic Director of Watch This where he co-directed Sunday In The Park With George with Sonya Suares, receiving two Green Room Award nominations for Best Direction and Multimedia Design. For Antipodes, he previously directed a development of Michelle Gould's 107 and a reading of Harrison David Rivers' This Bitter Earth. For StageArt, he directed bare: The Musical and the Australian Premiere of Memphis The Musical. Dean has worked on over 20 national tours such as Madiba, Matador, The 39 Steps and Bombshells, playing at over 50 venues around Australia and New Zealand.
Photo by Nathan Lang
Cessalee Stovall

She/Her
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, EQUITY & INCLUSION SUPPORT OFFICER
Cessalee Stovall is an Intimacy Director, Director, Cultural Consultant and Equity, Access and Inclusion Specialist and she is an unapologetic champion for the physical, psychological and cultural safety of all humans in our industry. As an Intimacy Director. Cessalee has trained with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, Intimacy Directors of Color and Theatrical Intimacy Education and studied under Intimacy Coordinators Australia. As an actor, Cessalee is a proud union member who has worked in film, TV and theatre in Australia and the US. Cessalee is the founder of Stage A Change, Mama to Alula and wife of Scott. Photo by Laura Hale.
Marissa Sarcoma

She/They
MUSICAL DIRECTOR, CONDUCTOR & KEYS
Marissa Saroca is a singer/musician/actor with an extensive recording, songwriting, coaching, and live performance career. They have released two original albums and was on Team Lea (Salonga) of The Voice of the Philippines. Acting highlights: Ensemble in Ghost and Shrek (Manila), Gabriella in High School Musical (Newcastle Entertainment Centre), Ensemble/'Seasons Of Love' soloist/cover for Maureen & Joanne in Rent (Sydney Opera House), The Arbiter in Chess (Civic Theatre Newcastle), and the title character in Lizzie (Hayes Theatre, Sydney). Photo by Keane Fletcher.
Loredo Malcolm

He/Him
CHOREOGRAPHER
Loredo Malcolm started training at age nine at Ashe Caribbean Performing Arts in Jamaica. In 2009, he made it into the top nine on So You Think You Can Dance. Theatre credits include The Lion King (Australia, Shanghai and London's West End), Chicago (Singapore and Hong Kong), Hairspray, Wicked, Mame, Follies, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (The Production Company), The Book of Mormon (Australian tour), and is currently in Hamilton (Michael Cassel Group). Loredo is Director/Owner of Locreado Dance Company Australia and is a proud member of MEAA. @Loredomalcolm www.loredomalcolm.com
Mark Wong

He/Him
DIALECT COACH
Mark Wong is a Malaysian-born, Melbourne-based voice, speech and accent coach. Trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, Mark teaches voice and speech at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA Theatre). His production coaching credits include Next to Normal (Pursued by Bear), The Phantom of the Opera (Ballarat Lyric Theatre Company), Titanic The Musical (StageArt), The Color Purple (StageArt), and One Man, Two Guvnors (Heidelberg Theatre Company).
Bianca Pardo

She/Her
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER
Bianca Pardo is a passionate Melbourne/Naarm based designer and maker. Her credits in 2018 include costume roles on The Gallery Workout with the NGV, The Dressmaker and School of Rock. Throughout 2019, her graduate year at the Victorian College of the Arts, she was the Set Designer for Fucking A and Costume Designer for Mad Forest. Bianca also interned with Semafor Theatre and Ceská Televize in Prague and with Set and Costume Designer Christina Smith. In 2021, Bianca designed for two femme-ВІРОС projects, TakeBack! and Ngarngk: Giver of Life. This year, Bianca dressed for Jagged Little Pill and is now dressing for Hamilton. Photo by Amanda Hitten.
Sam Wylie

He/Him
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Sam's diverse Lighting Design work has taken him from large scale events to intimate cabaret experiences. His Lighting Design credits include: Ngaire: Takeover 2.0 Tour, Carols by Cabaret (LPD/Hayes Theatre Co.), Queens Feast at Sydney Town Hall (Sydney Solstice), Anything Goes, The Odd Couple, Monty Python's Spamalot, Vicar of Dibley II: Born Again (Players Theatre Inc.), Comedy Kiki, Big Thick Energy, Bloom Festival and Thirsty Thursdays with Andrew Bukenya (Darlinghurst Theatre Company). In his design for music, he has worked with artists such as Odette, Huck Hastings, Hot Potato Band, Amanda Palmer, HANDSOME, Baby et Lulu and Banofee. Photo by Nick Wylie.
Evan Drill

He/Him
SOUND DESIGNER
Evan Drill is a Melbourne-based sound designer, working mainly in music theatre. Design credits include Ghost Quartet (Antipodes Theatre), Heathers (Australian Tour), Madiba (Aus/NZ tour). As a mix engineer, Evan has toured productions of Girl From The North Country, Kinky Boots, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia! & Barnum. In the Cabaret world, Evan was part of the team which began the Melbourne Cabaret Festival, and was technical manager of the Butterfly Club for many vears, helping desian the city venue. He recently toured the world's largest Spiegeltent around Australia as head of sound.