Antipodes Theatre Company presents A Development Of

DEATH TO A BUTTERFLY

by ANDY FREEBORN and JESS RAMSEY

Antipodes HQ, South Melbourne

On a lavish Welsh estate, a church reborn into a theatre becomes a haven of queer creativity, and the setting for breaking the boundaries of gender identity, kindling the spark of desire, and discovering what it means to love.

Henry and Lilian, bound together through marriage, learn to see each other for who they are as they face the pressures of family duty and societal expectations.

Death to a Butterfly is a story of queer identity and queer erasure, inspired by the extravagant and indulgent life of Henry Cyril Paget, the 5th Marquess of Anglesey.

“Just as queer people go through the journey of finding themselves, so too are we finding Henry, Lilian, Gab, & Loie throughout this piece of artwork; from ashes is a person, and community reborn. People made of burnt scrapbooks, diaries, letters, essays, art works and poems.” - Andy & Jess

This project was previously developed as part of Antipodes Theatre Company's 2023 Winter Lab and presented concert readings in both 2024 and the 2025 Summer Lab.

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL NOT BE A PUBLIC SHARING FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT

Co-Creator & Orchestrations: ANDY FREEBORN (they/them)

Co-Creator: JESS RAMSEY (they/she)

Director: KITAN PETKOVSKI (he/him)

Musical Director: DAVID BUTLER (he/him)

Dramaturg: FLICK (they/them)

Creative Producer: BRANDON PAPE (he/him)

Creative Producer: CAMERON STEENS (they/them)

Collaborators:

Co-Choreograhers: AADHYA WIJEGOONAWARDENA (she/her) & CELINA YUEN (they/she)

Performers: TOMÁŠ KANTOR (they/he), NIKOLA GUCCIARDO (she/her), TEO VERGARA (they/them), ALESSANDRA MERLO (she/her), SOPHIA KATOS (she/her), CONOR BEAUMONT (he/him), BEK CHAPMAN (she/her), CHARLYI JAZ (they/them), CASSIE OGLE (they/she), J RIDLER (they/she/he) & ALEXANDER TYE (he/him)

Biographies are available below.

Antipodes Branding: ROB CHIVERS (PUSH Collective)

Meet the Team

Meet the Collaborators

Venue Information:

Antipodes HQ

123A Thistlethwaite St, South Melbourne VIC 3205

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