Numa and Karl: Extraordinary Man That He Was

Sevenfold Theatre Company is thrilled to announce our residency season at Bluestone Church Arts Space, supported by the Maribyrnong City Council, presenting the first official theatrical staging of Em Chandler's original play Numa and Karl: Extraordinary Man That He Was, bringing to life the story of 19th-century queer activist Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, a trailblazer in LGBTQIA+ history and one of the first to publicly advocate for gay rights.

History remembers the loudest voices, but what about the ones who spoke first? Before Stonewall, before Pride, before the world had words for who we are, there was Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. A man who stood up when no one else would, who fought for love and identity before the world was ready to listen. But today, his name is barely a whisper. This new work will bring his story back into the light, honouring the courage of the forgotten pioneer who dared to speak a truth the world wasn’t ready to hear. 

Nominated for the 2024 Queer Playwriting Award Showcase, following development with dramaturge Casey Gould, and a successful reading at the Festival of Australian Queer Theatre in 2025, the production will have its first theatrical staging under the direction of Alanah Guiry (she/her), in collaboration with the Maribyrnong City Council at Bluestone Church Arts Space.

Image by Joshua Clarke

Content Warning
This show contains depict ions and discussions of homophobia, suicide and imprisonment .

Production Team
Director - Alanah Guiry (She/Her)
Writer - Em Chandler (She/They)
Executive Producer - Joshua Strachan (He/They)
Production Designer - Zachary Dixon (They/Them)

About Sevenfold Theatre Company Inc.

Sevenfold Theatre Company Inc., based in Naarm/Melbourne, is dedicated to nurturing, supporting, and showcasing artists throughout their creative journeys in the realm of live performance. Celebrated for their commitment to innovative storytelling, they garnered acclaim at the 41st Annual Green Room Awards, winning ‘Best New Australian Musical Theatre Writing’ for their presentation of Blue to the Horizon.