About Us

antipodes [an-tip-uh-deez] noun :

Australia and New Zealand (used by inhabitants of the northern hemisphere);
the direct opposite of something.
Late Middle English, via French or late Latin from Greek: “having the feet opposite.” The term originally denoted the inhabitants of opposite sides of the Earth.

Antipodes Theatre Company seeks to provide a collaborative and inclusive environment for producing independent theatre in Melbourne. Programming includes: full-length plays and musicals, cabarets, live events, year-round workshops for artists, and supporting new work and local writers through our Winter Lab and ongoing development initiatives.

Our aim is to produce challenging and enlightening work that embraces duality within the human condition. Work that looks at situations from a unique angle or exposes what it is like to step into someone else’s shoes. Antipodes was founded, in part, by New York City transplants who currently find themselves as close to the antipode of that location as they are ever likely to be.

Finally, Antipodes strives to maintain an inclusive and safe work space through a minimum of 50% representation – on stage and off – by women, ethnically diverse artists, people with disability, trans and non-binary people, seniors, or other members of historically or culturally marginalised communities who are not well represented on stage.

Meet the Team

Brandon Pape

He/Him
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
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
Cameron is 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 the annual Winter Lab 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, Orana Prod.), RENT (dir. Mark Taylor, JTC) and Assassins (dir. Roger Hodgman, BSSTC). www.cameronsteens.com
Ashleigh Walwyn

She/Her
RESIDENT STAGE MANAGER
Ashleigh is a Stage/Production/Company Manager, originally from the UK. She grew up and found love for theatre in Malaysia before graduating from VCA with a BFA in Production – Stage Management (2018). Credits include Special Events Stage Manager for Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Senior Stage Manager/Back of House Caller for The Victorian State Schools Spectacular (Dir. Neill Gladwin), and Stage Manager for Punk Rock (Patalog Theatre), Bright Star (Pursued By Bear), Every Lovely Terrible Thing (Lab Kelpie), Ghost Quartet & Guys & Dolls (Antipodes Theatre Company), The View From Up Here, The Grief Trilogy & Ballkids (VIMH), Parade (Soundworks, Vic & NSW), The Inheritance (fortyfivedownstairs).