Antipodes Theatre Company presents A Development Presentation Of

RIBBONS IN OUR HAIR

THE NEW ALL-FEMALE PUNK ROCK MUSICAL

By MICHELE GOULD

Thursday June 9th 2024, 2.30pm

Church Street Studios, Camperdown NSW

Four girls meet on a hot summer morning, killing time and testing boundaries as they wait for the bus to come. Simultaneously, four women are reflecting on the joys and challenges of their youth. Oh, and they're all members of a punk rock band.

Sick of stale stereotypes, Ribbons in Our Hair is a fun and fierce existential musical celebrating the resilience of our youth and the things we wish we could tell our younger selves. Brought to life by an entirely female/POC powerhouse ensemble and a pop-punk soundtrack that’s guaranteed to get stuck in your head, jump on board this exhilarating ride down the highway of friendship.

This project was previously developed as part of Antipodes Theatre Company's 2021 Winter Lab, (prev. title 107)

Runtime: Approx. 75minutes

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

Warnings: Coarse language and references to sexual abuse, racism and childhood trauma. Contains flashing lights, loud sounds and theatrical haze.

Book, Music & Lyrics: MICHELE GOULD (she/they)

Dramaturg: VARUNA NAICKER (she/her)

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

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

Associate Producer: LAURA CAMPBELL (she/her)

Performer ‘Joy’: JENNY GUIGAYOMA (she/her)

Performer ‘Zoe’: DINDIMA VIOLET (she/her)

Performer ‘Charlotte’: AVA MADON (she/her)

Musical Director & Performer ‘Olivia’: MARISA SAROCA (they/she)

Biographies are available below.

Band: GIANNA CHEUNG (she/her, Keys) LIBBY SCOTT (she/her, Drums), VALERIE SONG (she/her, Bass), DEB YAP (she/her, Guitar)

Graphic Design: CAMERON STEENS (they/them), using elements by ROB CHIVERS (PUSH Collective)

Meet the Team

  • Michele Gould

    She/They

    BOOK, MUSIC & LYRICS

    Micheleis a multidisciplinary Thai-Australian storyteller inspired by the diverse heroes of today. Graduating with a Bachelor's in Biomedical Science, she debuted in playwriting with Intersection: Undercurrent and received scholarships for ATYP's National Studio and Fresh Ink mentorship playwriting programs. Michele premiered her first original musical PASSING in 2021 and then staged her new queer punk-rock musical 107 at The Blue Room Theatre in 2022. Beyond the stage, she's an independently published fantasy author, with her debut novel titledTapestries of a Kingdom. When not busy trying to take on the world, you can find her playing Dungeons and Dragons.

  • Marisa Saroca

    They/She

    MUSICAL DIRECTOR & PERFORMER - 'OLIVIA'

    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.

  • Varuna Naicker

    She/Her

    DRAMATURG

    Varuna is a writer/director/dramaturge residing on Gadigal land. She is a writer for Sweatshop Literacy Movement and Storycasters, and has a Bachelor of Communications (majoring in Media Arts and Production/Social and Political Science) from the University of Technology, Sydney. Varuna was awarded a Shopfront Arts residency for the Western Sydney Artslab program to develop a new work, Dalo Chips and Imli Chutney, which was shown as part of Sydney Fringe Festival. She is a previous mentee in the ATYP Cultivate Program and is currently completing a residency with PYT to create a new work, Love, Another Drug.

  • Brandon Pape

    He/Him

    ARTIST DIRECTOR & PRODUCER

    Brandon is the Founding Artistic Director for Antipodes Theatre Company, where he directed Ghost Quartet (two 2020 Green Room Award Nominations, return seasons in 2021 and upcoming Sydney season in 2025) and co-directed with Trudy Dunn their immersive reimagining of Guys and Dolls (thirteen 2024 Green Room Award nominations). Other Antipodes credits include Sam I Am, And She Would Stand Like This, Passing Strange (five 2023 Green Room Award Nominations), Orlando, and the Winter Lab - an annual development program for new work and bold ideas.

  • Cameron Steens

    They/Them

    NEW WORK MANAGER & PRODUCER

    A Naarm based multidisciplinary theatre maker, WAAPA graduate and all-round creative. As Antipodes’ New Work Manager, they've produced numerous developments and networking programs (including Winter Labs 2020 - present, Festival of the Unseen 2023) in addition to the premiere of Orlando, Antipodes' first production originating from the Winter Lab. Other credits include: This is Living (Assoc Director, Gavin Roach), Guys & Dolls (Production Manager, Antipodes), Protein (Assist Director & Sound Design, Autonomous Inventions), MIMMA (dir. Adam Mitchell), JTC’s RENT (dir. Mark Taylor) & BSSTC’s Assassins (dir. Roger Hodgman). www.cameronsteens.com

  • Laura Campbell

    She/Her

    ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

    Laura is a producer, production manager, director and multidisciplinary artist based on Gadigal Land, about to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Theatre Studies at The University Of Sydney. Laura is currently Producing and Assistant Directing Kirsty Saville’s Truly Gone Fishing for the 2024 Sydney Fringe Festival, and served as Associate Producer for Darlinghurst Theatre Company where highlights include producing the 2023/24 national tour of Overflow by Travis Alabanza, Kala Gare’s One Night Only performance, co-producing the sold-out cabaret series Thirsty Thursdays and production assisting the Australian Premiere of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812.

Meet the Collaborators

  • Jenny Guigayoma

    She/Her

    PERFORMER - 'JOY'

    Jenny is an emerging artist who is passionate about new works and the future of theatre. Currently in her second year of NIDA's BFA of Acting and a graduate of WAAPA's Diploma of Musical Theatre, she is keenly curious about the dynamic body of entertainment that is the Arts. Drama school credits include such boundary-pushing roles as MacBeth in MacBeth, Vanya in Uncle Vanya, and The Man in the Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone . Her professional credits include Imelda (Blue Room) and Time Capsule (UDS). She is so excited to be back with RIOH for its Sydney premiere at Hayes!

  • Dindima Violet

    She/Her

    PERFORMER - 'ZOE'

    Dindi is a proud Wiradjuri and Wongaibon woman, born and bred on Ngunnawal land (Canberra). A triple threat, Dindi has been performing and training from age 11, competing in eisteddfods and festivals across the country. In 2020, Dindi was accepted into Brent Street’s Diploma of Musical Theatre, and came into the public eye as a semi-finalist in the inaugural AOC Initiative. Dindi has performed with The People of Cabaret for Bloom Fest 2020, Darlinghurst Theatre Company, most recently making her Squabbalogic debut in Australian Made. This coming August, Dindi is set to feature in Burrundi Theatre's production Warengesda. Photo by Kate Williams.

  • Ava Madon

    She/Her

    PERFORMER - 'CHARLOTTE'

    Ava graduated from Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore. She was recently seen in Ride the Cyclone, The Lucky Country, Merrily We Roll Along (Hayes), I Hate People/Timon of Athens, Venus and Adonis, Macbeth, Othello (Sport for Jove), Titanic: In Concert (The Marrollo Project) and Cinderella in Into the Woods with both Belvoir and Watch This, for which she was nominated for a Green Room Award. Ava is also known for her television work as an actor and presenter for the ABC, including Mikki vs. the World, Definitely Not News, The Packdown, Stacked!, Ava's Kitchen, and Junior Eurovision.

Venue Information:

Church Street Studios, Camperdown

62-68 Church St, Camperdown NSW 2050

Please note: the venue is up one level (22 steps).

The stairs are very wide (1.5m), and have handrails on both sides. 

More accessibility information available here.