Fruit Box Theatre presents Back to Birdy

ABOUT ‘BACK TO BIRDY’

Sometimes the longest friendships are the most complicated ones. Warren and Emily have been best friends since high school, suffering together through shitty teachers, coming out and failed relationships. Since Warren’s transition, it’s become obvious that there are lots of things they’re not saying to each other. Taking place in the aftermath of a falling out between protagonists Warren and Emily, ‘Back to Birdy’ is a candid and humorous look at chasms and contradictions within the queer community. How do old friendships reshape around identity politics and queer spaces? Set against the backdrop of Lesbian, Queer & GNC folk night ‘Birdcage’, the play takes the characters back to Birdy (ie. Birdcage) through a series of fluid flashbacks as they interact with their younger selves.

Developed through Fruit Box Theatre’s ‘RIPE Development Program’, ‘Back to Birdy’ is the culmination of 18 months of development from a collective of diverse queer actors and writers. This play is reflective of Fruit Box Theatre’s commitment to telling inclusive stories that reflect the lived experience of queer people in Australia. We are proud to be presenting this work in association with iconic Sydney venue The Imperial Erskineville for Sydney Mardi Gras 2024.

CONTENT WARNINGS
References to attempted suicide, References to sexual assault.

ABOUT ‘FRUIT BOX THEATRE’
Fruit Box Theatre is an organisation committed to developing and staging original LGBTQIA+SB theatre. Our mission is to strengthen queer representation, wellbeing, and collaboration in the arts.

Too often, artistic representations of the LGBTQIA+SB community are constrained by tropes of shame, isolation and discomfort. We at Fruit Box Theatre are passionate about developing and staging original theatrical works that reflect and explore the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+SB lived experience.

Fruit Box supports our community and takes creative works from conception to fruition. Join us to see what’s coming next.

SHOWS
Wednesday 21 February 7:30pm (preview)
Thursday 22 February 7:30pm (preview)
Friday 23 February 7:30pm (opening night)
Saturday 24 February 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday 25 February 6:00pm
Tuesday 27 February 7:30pm (Auslan Interpreted Performance)
Wednesday 28 February 7:30pm (Trans Community Night + Panel)
Thursday 29 February 7:30pm
Friday 1 March 7:30pm (closing night)

TICKETING
This is a profit share production, meaning that 100% of profits will be equally split between cast and creatives.

One percent of ticket proceeds will be used to Pay the Rent in accordance with guidance from the Pay The Rent Grassroots Collective, in recognition that rehearsals and performances will take place on the stolen lands of the Wangal and Gadigal people.
Donations: Donations will go directly into our profit share pool to pay our cast and creatives. We thank you for your love, support and generosity in supporting emerging independent queer artists.
Community tickets: We have endeavoured to keep ticket costs low for Back to Birdy, but also acknowledge that many experience a significant financial barrier to attending theatre. We have a limited number of Pay What You Can tickets set aside for each performance. Please email producer@fruitboxtheatre.com.au with your preferred date of attendance to access these tickets. Where possible First Nations, trans and people with disabilities will be prioritised.

NOTE: ALL TICKETS ARE GENERAL ADMISSION

ACCESSIBILITY

The Imperial Erskineville has full lift access for those with mobility needs, and all-genders bathroom facilities. If you have any further questions regarding accessibility, please contact our Access Coordinator, Courtney Henson, at producer@fruitboxtheatre.com.au or 0437 403 518.

Fruit Box Theatre acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country and their continuous connection to lands, water and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. Fruit Box operates primarily on the stolen lands of the Gadigal and Wangal peoples of the Eora nation, of which sovereignty was never ceded.