Antipodes Theatre Companys and Andrew Lee present the Victorian Premiere of

SAM I AM

Written and performed by SAM MARTIN

April 20th - 22nd 2021

La Mama Courthouse

Sam I Am explores the experiences, memories, and unknowns that contribute to accepting and defining one’s identity.

Set on the eve of his big move to Melbourne, this autobiographical story recounts pivotal events of playwright Sam Martin's life, including his journey with hearing aids and speech pathology, learning Auslan, and choosing to come out following the 2017 marriage equality plebiscite. This production features Auslan interpreters and live captioning at every performance.

Runtime: 45 minutes, no interval

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

Top picks of for the 2021 Midsumma Festival - Arts Review

Sam took us on a journey through his search for identity. Intersectionality comes into play and it is done poignantly. So very raw yet honest. So many important points are raised and Sam drives these home. I felt so many feels. I cried. I laughed. I goosebumped. My heart was touched through numerous moments. - Sherrie Beaver, I Sign. I Wander.

Previous In-Development Articles:

‘Equal parts humour, honesty and hope, it is a rare opportunity to hear from a deaf millennial performer about his experience of contemporary Australian life and identity during a period of political conservatism. ‘- Australian Pride Network and Arts Review.

‘A poignant and uplifting story, Sam draws upon his rawest coming-of-age moments…’ - 2SER

Writer and Performer: SAM MARTIN (he/him)

Director: DAN GRAHAM (he/him)

Dramaturg: ANA MARIA BELO (she/her)

Set Design: HELEN ROFE and BRANDON PAPE (he/him)

Costume Design: HELEN ROFE (she/her) and PEARL JUNOR (she/her)

Lighting Design: LACHLAN MCLEAN (he/him)

Sound Design: OLIVIA MCKENNA (she/they)

Projection Design: GABRIEL BETHUNE (he/him)

Deaf Consultant: DANNI WRIGHT (she/her)

Stage Manager: PEARL JUNOR (she/her)

Performance Interpreters: MAC GORDON (they/them) and DANNI WRIGHT

Production Manager: BRANDON PAPE (he/him)

Producers: ANTIPODES THEATRE COMPANY and ANDREW ‘UNDI’ LEE (he/him)

Hero image by BRANDON PAPE

Biographies are available below.

Production Images: ANGEL LEGGAS

Meet the Team

  • Sam Martin

    He/Him

    WRITER & PERFORMER

    Sam is an alumni of the Australian Film TV and Radio School with an aspiring passion for creating and supporting diversity within arts, media and performance spaces. Identifying as Queer and Hard of Hearing/Deaf, Sam's art practice explores the contradicting and intersectionality of identity, including his own, hoping to create discussion and encourage others to do the same. Last year his show Sam I Am was his debut work as a writer/performer for the stage.

  • Dan Graham

    He/Him

    DIRECTOR

    Daniel has attended Director's Labs in Chicago and LA, as well as a Directing Residency at Atlantic Theater Company in NYC. He is involved in the Darlinghurst Theatre Artists Program (where he served as dramaturge on All My Sons, Dir. Iain Sinclair) and The Directors Program at The National Theatre of Parramatta. In 2018, Daniel was invited to the Future Leaders Program (The Australia Council for the Arts) and was granted a Create NSW Fellowship to do research in England & Scotland. Daniel advocates for Artists with Neuro-Diverse Disabilities and was Co-Chair of MEAA’s Artists With A Disability Committee.

  • Ana Maria Belo

    She/Her

    DRAMATURG

    Ana Maria Belo graduated from NIDA and went on to carve an eclectic career for herself. She’s been nominated for Green Room and Sydney Theatre Critics awards, and won a Glug award for Tribes and a Tropfest award for Things to Do. Ana Maria toured Australia in hit musicals Fame and Hair, and was set to appear in 9 to 5 the Musical before COVID-19. Theatre credits: The Listmaker (Bell Shakespeare), Noises Off, Tribes (Ensemble Theatre), Dr Akars Women (Griffin Theatre), Snugglepot & Cuddlepie (Company B), the Australian tour of Steel Magnolias, and the world premiere of Fawlty Towers Live. Ana Maria is also a filmmaker and produced, wrote and directed the short films Things to do, Magic Words and The Kid’s Table. Ana Maria is a proud ambassador for the Shepherd Centre that teaches deaf children to listen and speak.

  • Pearl Junior

    She/Her

    STAGE MANAGER AND CO-COSTUME DESIGNER

    Pearl is a graduate of Charles Sturt University in Bathurst with a Bachelor of Communication (Theatre/Media). Her studies developed her stage and production management and scenic and costume design skills. In 2020, her major work Pirates! was a recipient of the Blair Milan Touring Scholarship. The scholarship awarded the production $7,000 to assist with touring. Pearl works at Majors Creek Folk as the Assistant Stalls Coordinator and Festival Design Coordinator.

  • Lachlan McLean

    He/Him

    LIGHTING DESIGNER

    Lachlan McLean is a Victorian College of the Arts alumni, with a degree in production design. Lachlan’s lighting design credits include Philtrum, Strata Inc. (North of Eight), The Trial of Dorian Gray (Bitten by Productions), The Will to Be (Melbourne Fringe), Ross & Rachel, You are the blood (Spinning Plates Co.), Body by Sue Healy, On the Town, Disclosure (VCA), Lobby Hero (Around the Moon Productions), 2019 Green Room Award nominated Ghost Quartet (Antipodes Theatre Company), and Single Ladies (Red Stitch).

  • Olivia McKenna

    She/They

    SOUND DESIGNER

    Olivia McKenna is an audio designer and artist who recently completed a BFA (Design and Production), majoring in Audio Design at VCA. Olivia is interested in the adaptation of traditional theatre techniques and the psychological impact of sound in performance by manipulating everyday sounds. She has recently worked as an audio designer for VCA productions of pool (no water) and Earthquakes in London. Her other professional credits include audio designer for Hedda GablerGablerGabler and The Campaign.

  • Gabriel Bethune

    He/Him

    PROJECTION DESIGNER

    Gabriel Bethune is a Sound and Lighting Designer, Composer, and digital artist for the stage. His work spans all disciplines from Comedy to Surrealism. Gabe works hard dissecting dramaturgy and opening clear dialogues between directors, choreographers, technicians, and writers. His practice has taken him to venues all around Melbourne, and fostering relationships with local independent companies. When he is not in the theatre Gabe is often found at home recording music, or outside taking in the sunshine.

  • Danni Wright

    She/Her

    DEAF CONSULTANT AND PERFORMANCE INTERPRETER

    Danni Wright works within the film, television and theatre industry as a director, actor and language, cultural and accessibility consultant across diverse projects. She has studied internationally enriching her skills as a versatile theatre practitioner and performer. Danni is passionate about creativity and accessibility being entwined from the work’s inception rather than as an add-on or afterthought. Incorporating accessibility as part of performances normalises the experience for everyone.

  • Mac Gordon

    They/Them

    PERFORMANCE INTERPRETER

    Mac Gordon Mac Gordon is an Auslan interpreter who interprets in diverse contexts including Deafblind, work meetings, welfare appointments and medical appointments. They very occasionally interpret in theatre and cabaret settings; most recently for A_tistic Theatre's Helping Hands (2019) and Gender Euphoria (Melbourne Festival, 2019).

  • Andrew 'Undi' Lee

    He/Him

    PRODUCER

    Andrew Lee also known as "undi", is an award winning Korean-Australian screen writer, director, designer and producer. With a strong background in design and literature, Andrew's work is known for his intimate story telling, emotional sensitivity and strong visual aesthetics. He is also a champion of narratives from the Korean diaspora and queer identities that live on the margins.

  • Brandon Pape

    He/Him

    PRODUCTION MANAGER

    Artistic Director for Antipodes Theatre Company. He directed and designed ATC’s inaugural production, the Australian premiere of Dave Malloy’s Ghost Quartet (two Green Room Award nominations), and will soon direct the Victorian premiere of Stephen Karam’s The Humans. During the pandemic, he oversaw ATC’s transition to online programming as part of their 2020 Virtual Season, including the inaugural Winter Lab in June which supported eight projects and over 50 artists.

  • Helen Rofe

    She/Her

    SET & COSTUME CO-DESIGNER

    Helen is a Melbourne-based set/costume designer and scenic artist. She graduated in 2018 from a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production) in Design Realisation at the Victorian College of the Arts. During her time at the VCA, Helen worked as costume designer on A Chorus Line and as set/properties designer on A View From The Bridge. Helen has completed secondments with scenic art company Scenic Studios and renowned special effects company Odd Studio. In 2019, Helen worked as assistant designer on the Melbourne premiere of Anne Washburn's critically acclaimed Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play (Lightning Jar Theatre).

Venue Information:

La Mama Courthouse

349 Drummond Street, Carlton VIC 3053

Accessiblity information available here.