This performance is presented as part of the VCA Master of Theatre (Writing) Festival 2025.

Butterflies on the Wheel

Written by Ashleigh August Shearman

A collage of what queer love, joy and pain, built on the backbone of a retelling of a forgotten trans icon. We've always been here and we always will.

Content Note

This performance contains homophobia, transphobia and depictions and discussions of violence and sexual assault.

Runtime

This performance will run for approximately 60 minutes.

Performance schedule

Wednesday 12 November, 6PM
Thursday 13 November, 2PM

Credits

Director: Eckard Becker
Dramaturg: Tyler Wood

About the writer

Ashleigh Shearman (she/they/fae) is a queer writer, designer, and performer originally from Sydney. Having worked in theatre for over 10 years, she has been a small fixture in the art scene in Melbourne since 2019. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design and Production) from the VCA in 2021, Ashleigh had the opportunity to travel to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2024 with Kristen Smythe's Cruel Britannia. It was there she was inspired to take her writing more seriously and pursue a Masters of Theatre (Writing).

This marks her first public performed piece. The first of what they hope to be many more. Further examples of her previous work can be found on her Instagram page @shearman.lx

Acknowledgement

I'd like to acknowledge and thank AJ McFadden, Tiffany Foster, and Simone Anders for their unwavering support and for putting up with my constant disappearing to work on this play. Without them this play wouldn't be half of what it is.

Thank you also to Raimondo Cortese, Emily Sheehan, Chris Mead, and Alyson Campbell for their guidance and input in shaping Butterflies on the Wheel and Shoshana.

Ticket Price

Free. Registrations required via Humanitix.

Please note that there is often a drop-off in attendance at our free events on the day of the performance. If this event is booked out and you have not secured a ticket, we encourage you to arrive at the venue 15 minutes before the advertised start time and speak to our Front of House team. Once audience members with tickets have been seated, any remaining seats will be made available to patrons waiting at the door. Please be advised that entry without securing a ticket in advance cannot be guaranteed.

If you have booked for a performance and are no longer able to attend, please cancel your booking via your Humanitix account or email us at fineartsmusic-tickets@unimelb.edu.au.

Venue

This reading takes place in Studio 4, located in the Dodds Street Performing Arts Building which is accessible via paths in the Dodds Street Linear Park.
Please meet our friendly Front of House staff in the foyer on the ground floor of the Dodds Street Performing Arts Building. Studio 4 is then accessible via the stairs or lift.

Read more about the Master of Theatre (Writing) graduates presenting this season.

Image: Don Shearman.

PARKING

The City of Melbourne has recently changed the parking restrictions around the Southbank Campus. Parking control hours are now expanded to 7am–10pm, seven days per week, and are capped at three hours. A $2-per-hour fee after 7pm is also now in place. There is no change to the $4-per-hour peak rate between 7am–7pm. Parking inspectors are regularly in the area fining drivers who overstay their meter, so we encourage everyone to be aware and avoid an expensive fine.

ACCESSIBILITY

All venues at the Southbank campus are wheelchair accessible. To read more about access services available at our venues, please visit: https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/access-our-events.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please stay home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms. Face masks are welcome in all settings for community and personal safety.
In order to account for drop-off in attendance, we overbook a select number of free events at the Faculty. If you have not arrived by the start of the performance, your ticket may be released to any waiting patrons at the door. Please arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the performance to secure your seat.
Admission to any of our concerts and events is strictly at the discretion of Front of House. We have zero tolerance for any disrespectful behaviour.