Part of Festival of the Unseen 2025

PLAY IN A DAY

Saturday, 1 March 2025

Antipodes HQ, South Melbourne

Doors open 7pm, performances from 7.30pm

Entry: $25

A creative marathon where four writers, four directors and eight actors have 24-hours to write, rehearse and stage an original 10-minute play. (What could go wrong?!) This whirlwind showcase brings together artists across many creative communities for an energetic and madcap evening of entertainment!

After an initial introduction session, teams will assigned the morning of Friday February 28th and the writers will have 7.5 hours to create their 10-minute plays. The following morning Saturday March 1st, the plays will be distributed to the directors and actors who then have 7.5 hours to put it on its feet. Be the first to see these fully original works, and join in what is sure to be an energetic and fun evening!

ACTOR, DIRECTOR & WRITER EOIs due Feb 26th (or until all roles are filled)

BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE

Show Blurbs will become Available ASAP.

Writers: FLICK (they/them), ROBERT LEWIS (he/him), EMMANUELLE MATTANA (she/they) and ZADIE KENNEDY MCCRACKEN (they/them)

Directors: NATASHA BOYD (she/her), TANSY GORMAN (she/her), OLIVIA STAAF (she/they) and TESS WALSH (she/her)

Actors: APRIL GARREFFA (she/her), HENRY KENT (he/him), ROXANNE HALLEY (she/her), BENZIR SIDDIQUI (he/him), SHANU SOBTI (she/her), AKIRA TAITOKO (she/her), SARAH-JAYDE TRACEY (she/they) and IMOGEN WHITTAKER (she/her)

Biographies are available below.

Meet the Writers

Flick

They/Them
WRITER
Flick is a writer, dramaturg and creative producer. Flick has worked on projects and programs with La Mama, Australian Plays Transform, Darebin Arts, ATYP, Arts Access Victoria, La Mama, Rawcus, YDAS, Antipodes Theatre, Opera Express and more. As a writer they’re best known for the staged lesbian sci-fi series SLUNTIK™, and their work has been published with Osborne and Fawkner Publishing, Humana Obscura, CREATurE Magazine, and YDAS. They are a panellist for the Green Room Awards Association and a proud member of the MEAA. Flick is based in Naarm, and can be found on Instagram @flickflickcity or online flickflickcity.net.
Zadie Kennedy Mccracken

They/Them
WRITER
Zadie Kennedy Mccracken is a Naarm-based writer, producer, and theatre-maker. Their work often explores patriarchal injustice, queer intimacy, aesthetics of excess, and the politics of desire. Zadie has worked with Melbourne Theatre Company, Pony Cam, La Mama, Darebin Arts, Melbourne Fringe, Wit Incorporated, MPavilion, Arts Centre Melbourne, and Union House Theatre, and currently work at St. Martin’s Youth Arts Centre. Their most recent plays, You’re Being Dramatic and SMOTHER, both debuted at Theatre Works to critical acclaim. In 2025, they will produce Emma Louise Pursey’s Where Is Joy? (dir. Susie Dee) for fortyfivedownstairs. Most of Zadie’s work is about love and what to do with it.
Robert Lewis

He/Him
WRITER
Robert Lewis is a graduate of UTAS (Theatre), Monash (BA Performing Arts), NIDA (Voice Studies), RMIT (Secondary Education), and PhD. He is a director, playwright, and voice teacher who has worked as a teacher of acting and voice at St Martin’s Youth Theatre, VCA, UTAS, CSU, Collarts, and NIDA Open and Studio programs. His is the founding member and Artistic Director of the independent company Persona Collective where he has written and directed many plays. Robert founded the AusAct: Australasian Actor Training Conference in 2018.
Emmanuelle Mattana

She/They
WRITER
Emmanuelle is an actor, writer and maker with a passion for telling stories that blend the playful with the political, and a love of young, queer audiences.
Her debut work as a playwright, Trophy Boys, toured Australia in 2024 to sold-out audiences and critical acclaim. It was awarded Sydney Theatre Award's Best New Australian Work, BroadwayWorld Australia's Best New Play in Melbourne and Best Performance for VCE Theatre Studies Students after its inclusion on the Victorian curriculu

Meet the Directors

Natasha Boyd

She/Her
DIRECTOR
Natasha Boyd has collaborated with other theatre makers for over 30+ years, predominantly as a director and actor. She’s also been a festival adjudicator, professional theatre reviewer & community radio host. From town & scout halls, to University and community spaces, she’s also staged indie work at Gasworks, Butterfly Club, (Madwoman Monologues), and St Martin’s (with her own Fourth Wall Theatre). Her work has received Best Director and/or Production nominations and ten One Act Play festival & five Victorian Drama League awards. Natasha loves new challenges & thrilled to direct her first Play In A Day.
Tansy Gorman

She/Her
DRIECTOR
Tansy Gorman is a director based in Naarm/Melbourne. Tansy’s passion for theatre originates from her deep appreciation for the unconventional and the bizarre. She is drawn to the power of extremes in performance, seeing it as a form of artistic resilience and determination. Through the use of play and montage techniques, Tansy believes that theatre has the unique ability to explore and challenge societal norms, pushing the boundaries of what is considered possible. Tansy has completed her Bachelor in Contemporary Arts and a First Class Bachelor of Fine Arts Hons and a Masters of Theatre (Direction) at the VCA.
Olivia Staaf

She/They
DIRECTOR
Olivia is a Melbourne-based director, producer and dramaturg whose creative practice centres on inclusive cross-disciplinary collaboration. Olivia has interned at Back to Back Theatre and Malthouse Theatre through their studies in theatre and performance at Monash University and the University of Melbourne (VCA). Since graduating Olivia has work at arts and cultural organisations including Melbourne Fringe, Footscray Community Arts and Melbourne Theatre Company. Recent directing and producing credits include: Blackrock by Nick Enright (Platform Arts, 2022), Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel (Theatre Works, 2024) and Close to Home (Melbourne Fringe, 2024). Olivia is the founder of the art/science collective flatpack.
Tess Walsh

She/Her
DIRECTOR
Tess Walsh is a Naarm based creative, who graduated from Music Theatre at Federation University in 2016. Tess directed and choreographed Blue to the Horizon by Sarah Wynen (Sevenfold Theatre Company, 2023) for which she received a Greenroom Award Nomination for Best Direction. She co-directed for Go/ No Go Circus’ self-titled show for their creative development and season presented at GPAC and Gasworks (2024). Tess works as Company Manager and Producer for Nexus Entertainment. In 2023, Tess became a proud member of Sevenfold Theatre Company, and is currently directing their upcoming production of The Boys by Gordon Graham.

Meet the Actors

April Garreffa

She/Her
ACTOR
Drag artist, singer, actor, creator, writer; April couldn't be anything else in this life but an artist. She's drawn to the weird and misunderstood; she's defiant against the mainstream; she's disappointing her parents; she's taking her pet lizard to the supermarket. Her drag alter ego, Mannixx Pannixx, is 'healing your inner child' personified as she becomes the scene teen she always wanted to be. This bitch may be mentally ill, she may be severely traumatised but holy hell does it make for some interesting content.
Henry Kent

He/Him
ACTOR
Henry Kent is a Melbourne-based multidisciplinary director and theatre maker, with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (WAAPA 2024). Originally from Perth, Henry has moved to Melbourne to study a masters of directing (VCA 2026). Credits include performing in Clubhouse, Dusk (2023) Big Love (2024), assistant direction for the WA Youth Theatre Company in their production of "A Response"' (2024) and writing for their 24 Hour Play Generator (2023). He directed "Eat shit!" and co-devised and performed in "Out for the Count" as part of TILT (2024). He will be appearing in "out for the count" "Turder she wrote", and set designing for "blue angels" as part of summer nights in 2025.
Roxanne Halley

She/Her
ACTOR
Roxanne Halley is a Naarm/Melbourne-based director and actor with over a decade of experience in film, TV, and theatre across Australia and Asia. An accomplished performer and comedy writer, she knows how best to collaborate with both actors and non-actors. She has an eye for detail and a passion for getting to the heart of any story - whether it's a moving documentary or a stylised narrative concept. Her short films have screened at the Cannes Film Festival, St Kilda Film Festival, Made in Melbourne, and the Environmental Film Festival Australia. Roxanne’s commercial clients include Kraft/Heinz, Gillette, Qantas, KidSafe, Somersby, Medibank, Cricket Australia, and The Snowdome Foundation.
Benzir Siddiqui

He/Him
ACTOR
Benzir Siddiqui is a Melbourne-based performer. He has undergone improvisation training at the Improv Conspiracy (Melbourne), and at the World's Greatest Improv School in LA and New York. He graduated from the esteemed iO Chicago program in 2024. Moreover, he has trained under improv legends including Patti Stiles, Susan Messing, Shannon O'Neill and Kari Coleman.
Benzir completed Meisner-based acting training at Impulse Company Melbourne under Erica Chestnut. He has also trained in Clowning under Elizabeth Davey (Melbourne) and Richie Whitehead (Chicago).
Shanu Sobti

She/Her
ACTOR
Shanu Sobti is an Australian/American actor of Indian descent from Meaanjin/Brisbane. In 2023, she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Shanu was raised in both the United States and Australia, is bilingual in English and Hindi, and is a passionate musician and vocalist. She is confident in a variety of theatrical styles, including children’s theatre, outdoor theatre, clown, and improvisation, and her process is rooted in play, physical embodiment, and interaction with audiences. As a South Asian artist, Shanu is committed to increasing representation on Australian stages and screens.
Akira Taitoko

She/Her
ACTOR
Akira Taitoko is a proud mixed-race (Coloured South African and White Australian) creative and performer. Currently studying a BFA (Theatre) at VCA, Akira has grown up involved in community theatre, dance and background television work. Akira grew up in Byron Bay NSW, surrounded by many creative people, and moved down to Melbourne to train at Showfit in 2022. Akira spent August 2023 working behind the scenes at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This year she performed in various productions, including VCA’s MUSE festival, and the VCA Masters students playreadings. She also co-devised a piece for Melbourne University’s UHT Fringe 2024.
Sarah-Jayde Tracey

She/They
ACTOR
Sarah-Jayde Tracey is a neurodivergent theatre maker, performer, writer and director based in Naarm. Their practice is situated in queer experimental performance, centring, celebrating and exploring themes of disability and working class narratives. Sarah-Jayde’s works are radical, urgent and explosive acts of community care. They are an Aphids Supermassive Mentorship recipient and Midsumma Pathways alumni. Their most recent works include; Untitled Pressure Project co-devised with Carly Sheppard, Amelia Jean, Ben Nicols and Kamarra Bell-Wykes, co-produced by Arts House, Blak Dance and Beauro of Works. Cultural Capital co-devised by Carly Sheppard and Cher Tan, presented at Vitalstatistix Adhocracy. Are You Better Yet? a solo work presented at Performance Space: Queer Nu Werk and supported by AntipodesWinter Lab.
Imogen Whittaker

She/Her
ACTOR
Imogen Whittaker is a singer-songwriter and performer living and working on Wurundjeri country with a background in musical theatre and a foregound in being the centre of attention. She has received critical acclaim across Australia for her cabaret, ‘The Last Word’, a totally objective look at the last words of her 20s and the songs she wrote to go with them. A farm girl at heart, her day job in Aboriginal health policy simply fills in the time between now and her inevitable appearance on Farmer Wants a Wife (which she will win). She is a proud Noongar woman.

Meet the Producers

Cameron Steens

They/Them
NEW WORK MANAGER & LEAD 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
Brandon Pape

He/Him
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CO-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.
Ashley Taylor Tickell

She/Her
CO-PRODUCER
Ashley is the Director and Co-Founder of Melbourne based theatre company Salty Theatre and is an Associate Producer with Vass Productions. She has 30 years of experience across the theatre, television and film sectors, both on stage and screen and off. Her work has been seen and heard in Canada, the United States, the UK and Australia, first as a performer before transitioning into the roles of producer and director.