Antipodes Theatre Companys presents A Development Presentation Of

DEATH TO A BUTTERFLY

by ANDY FREEBORN and JESS RAMSEY

Thursday March 28th 2024, 7.30pm

Antipodes HQ, South Melbourne

A solar eclipse in 1898 brings demigods Amaris and Aelius to a lavish Welsh estate, where newlyweds Henry and Lilian break the boundaries of gender identity, kindle the spark of desire, and discover what it means to love.

A story of queer identity and queer erasure, inspired by the extravagant and indulgent life of Henry Cyril Paget, the 5th Marquess of Anglesey.

This project was previously developed as part of Antipodes Theatre Company's 2023 Winter Lab

Runtime: 55 minutes, no interval

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

Warnings: Themes pertaining to gender and sexuality, sexual references

Book, Music & Lyrics: ANDY FREEBORN (they/them)

Director & Dramaturg: JESS RAMSEY (they/she)

Co-Producer: BRANDON PAPE (he/him)

Lead Producer: CAMERON STEENS (they/them)

Vocal Coach: DAVID BULTER (he/him)

Consultants: FLICK (they/them) & MARGOT FENLEY (she/her)

Performer ‘Henry’: MIKEY SAKINOFSKY (they/them)

Performer ‘Lilian’: LUCY ROSS (she/they)

Performer ‘Amaris’: TEO VERGARA (they/them)

Performer ‘Aelius’: CHAD ROSETE (he/they)

Biographies are available below.

Sound Crew: RAMI BOLES (he/him) & ALEXANDRIA HAWKINS

Production Photos: DARCY K SCALES (she/her)

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

Meet the Team

Andy Freeborn

They/Them
BOOK, MUSIC & LYRICS
Andy Freeborn (they/them) is a queer, deaf/hard-of-hearing, pianist, songwriter, performer and nomad whose passion lies in stories of hope from a place of trauma. Currently roaming Australia, Andy’s attention is in the arrangements, compositions and creations of ‘Gingzilla and the Light Warrior’ starring Gingzilla, ‘Death to a Butterfly’, with Jess Ramsey, produced and supported by Antipodes Theatre Company, and recently, their autobiographical award winning cabaret - a living document of their healing through art.
Jess Ramsey

They/She
DIRECTOR & DRAMATURG
Jess is a queer, neurodivergent theatre maker, and 2023 NIDA graduate from the MFA Directing course.
Jess finds themself continuously drawn to new work for the challenge and unknown of creating brand new worlds. Music, sound, movement, and colour are vital elements of Jess’ work; as a grapheme-colour synesthete these elements act as the life force of a play and provide deep emotional storytelling.
Most recently, Jess’ directorial work has appeared at Adelaide Fringe with ‘Berliners’ by comedy duo Nick and Tom, and Flight Path Theatre with the premiere of ‘The Strong Charmion’ by Chloe Lethlean Higson.
Brandon Pape

He/Him
ARTIST DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
Brandon directed the Australian Premiere of 'Ghost Quartet' (two 2020 Green Room Award Nominations, return season in 2021) and co-directed with Trudy Dunn their immersive reimagining of ‘Guys and Dolls’ at Chapel Off Chapel in August 2023. Other Antipodes credits include Sam Martin's 'Sam I Am' (sold out season at La Mama, Victorian Premiere), 'And She Would Stand Like This' (Australian Premiere), 'Passing Strange' (Australian Premiere, five 2023 Green Room Award Nominations), and the Winter Lab - Antipodes' annual development program for new work and bold ideas. Antipodes presented their first production originating from the Winter Lab in November 2023 with ‘Orlando’ at fortyfivedownstairs.
Cameron Steens

They/Them
NEW WORK MANAGER & PRODUCER
A Naarm/Melbourne 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 2020-2023, Festival of the Unseen 2023) in addition to the premiere of Orlando, Antipodes' first production originating from the Winter Lab. 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

Meet the Collaborators

David Butler

He/Him
VOCAL COACH
David is a graduate of the VCA and is a freelance performer, multi–Green Room nominated musical director and vocal coach based in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia.
He regularly appears as drag alter-ego Peppy Smears; and musically directs and performs with Tash York & Vivian Fonteyn in their award-winning show HAPPY HOUR as well as recently premiering LOVE THAT FOR YOU which he co-wrote the original music for.
As a vocal coach David is the director of David Butler Studio where he works on a consulting basis with actors and singers; and is a referred voice teacher with the Melbourne Voice Analysis Centre.
Flick

They/Them
CREATIVE CONSULTANT
A creative from so-called australia most well known for writing the staged lesbian sci-fi series SLUNTIK™. They have a Master of Theater (Dramaturgy) from the Victorian College of the Arts and their work has been published with humana obscura and YDAS. Flick placed second in the 2023 Marj Wilke Short Story Prize, and was highly commended for a 2023 Writeabilty Fellowship with Writers Victoria. They are an panellist for the Green Room Awards Association and a proud member of the MEAA. Flick is based in Naarm/Melbourne, and can be found on Instagram @flickflickcity or online flickflickcity.net.
Margot Fenley

She/Her
CONSULTANT
An actor, intimacy professional, director, devisor and educator, originally trained as an actor at the VCA. She has performed with MTC, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Arts Centre Melbourne, La Mama, and fortyfive downstairs, amongst others, as in various tv series. Most recent directing credits include Willow Sizer and Rachel Lewindon’s Orlando at fortyfive downstairs and Kikki Temple’s Stuck at Meat Market for Midsumma. Margot trained as an intimacy professional with IDC (USA) through an MEAA-Equity Foundation scholarship, and has had an extensive teaching career, both in Melbourne and the USA. https://margotfenley.com
Lucy Ross

She/They
PERFORMER - ‘LILIAN’
Lucy holds a Bachelor of Arts(Music Theatre) from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, graduating in 2017. Since then, she has had a varied theatre career appearing in musicals such as Anyone Can Whistle (Mrs Schroder), We Will Rock You (ensemble) & The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (Narrator/Stage Manager). She has also relished the opportunity to work on new Australian work, Alice’s Adventure by Andy Freeborn, where she played the Queen Of Hearts.
Mikey Sakinofsky

They/Them
PERFORMER - ‘HENRY’
Represented by Bella Management, Mikey is a Jewish, trans/nonbinary, MENA, multidisciplinary artist who graduated from Showfit Performing Arts School and Howard Fines Acting studio.
Last year they played “Henry” in Death to a Butterfly (Antipodes WINTERLAB23), “Fish Boy” in Fishboy & Fire Dyke (Theatreworks), “Caliban” in The Tempest (Melbourne Shakespeare Company), “Artemidorus” in Julius Caesar (Melbourne Shakespeare Company) directed by Richard Murphet, and designed by Tony nominated Dale Ferguson and “Lead soloist” in Botanical Garden Concert” (Broadway Unplugged) Their previous credits include; “Liam” in Teeth and Tonic (Melbourne Fringe Festival) and “Student” in a new musical development (Home Grown Aus).
Chad Rosete

He/They
PERFORMER - ‘AELIUS’
Born and raised in Naarm/Melbourne, Chad (he/they) completed a Diploma of Music (Music Theatre) at The Australian Institute of Music in 2019. They went on to graduate from Jason Coleman's Ministry of Dance with a Diploma of Musical Theatre in 2021.
Chad is proud to have appeared in the Greenroom nominated 2020 video phenomenon 'I Need You To See Me' written by Vidya Makan, alongside 100 other emerging performers of colour. In 2023, Chad featured in the Original Australian Production of Bearded the Musical, as well as Antipodes' production of Guys & Dolls. In 2024, Chad made their professional musical theatre debut in LPD Productions’ Australian Tour of RENT as an Ensemble member and Angel Cover.
Teo Vergara

They/Them
PERFORMER - ‘AMARIS’
A Naarm based and born performer, holder of a BFA in Fine Arts majoring in Music Theatre from the VCA. Teo has performed in main stage musicals including the original Australian production of “Jagged Little Pill: The Alanis Morissette Musical”, where they made their debut. Most recently they performed in “Songs For a New World” directed by Lauren Mckinnon. They have appeared in Logie nominated and winning shows such as “Crazy Fun Park” and “Turn up The Volume”. Teo also is an avid voice actor, having been involved with audiobooks and leading an original Australian animated feature film “The Sloth Lane” to be released mid 2024.