UMMTA'S SITZPROBE 2025

The Sitzprobe 2025 is a showcase of four original student-written musicals, celebrating new and emerging voices both onstage and off. Join us for a night of laughter, reflection, and, most importantly, community. This is not a show to be missed!

Poppy Poems by Eadie Milne

Poppy Poems takes inspiration from a select collection of Australian War Poetry, telling a fictional account of World War I through the eyes of young soldiers and their families. There’s Paul Serong, the academic, Joey Hughes, who’s about as confident as they come, and his little brother Mikey, shy yet eager to make a name for himself despite being only sixteen. The group leave behind their mothers, Liesel and Mary, who grow to have quite the strained friendship as fear for their sons increase, and Paul’s girlfriend, Molly, who dreams of academia but finds herself in manual labour… and not quite the domestic kind a woman was to expect for herself. Through the three boys’ journey to Africa and Europe, we see the evolution of what war meant to the young men who enlisted themselves in the early days, and how it affected those that loved them back home.

CONTENT WARNINGS: Coarse Language, References to PTSD, Suicide, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual Harrasment, Sexual References, References to Sex Work, Death, Violence, Representations of Firearms, Depictions of War, Depictions of Injuries

Stuck in an Office with a Bunch of F*ckwits by Harry and Jake Vreugdenburg

Bright, young Amelia is eager to begin her new job at Ralphington’s Beard Wax & Co and become one of many cogs in the corporate machine. And after meeting her slightly odd yet ostensibly harmless colleagues, led by the eccentric J.P Finnigan, things seem to be going exactly to plan. That is, until a hurricane alarm sounds, forcing everyone in the office to stay inside – in dangerously close proximity – for the next twenty-four hours. From a shortage in coffee to failed group prayer sessions, a string of comical events bring out the worst, most primal and obnoxious qualities in each of the employees, prompting Amelia to reconsider the office job she had once idealised. As her only seemingly sane colleague snaps, having had enough of his insufferable co-workers, Amelia decides to leave the company before it’s too late. Before she does so, however, she makes sure to let each of the office’s employees know exactly what makes them such a horrible human being.

CONTENT WARNINGS: Coarse Language, Adult Themes, Sexual References, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Christian Extremism, References to Natural Disaster, Nihilism, Racism, Unbalanced Power Dynamics, References to Alcoholism, References to Suicide, and References to Car Accidents

Something Borrowed, Something Blue by Ethan Francis D'Amour

Something Borrowed, Something Blue is a concept musical inspired by your typical Australian wedding (with a musical and glamorous twist). The musical takes place at the wedding reception of Roman Keys and Cassandra Vaughn, and as the show unfolds, we realise that the happy couple is not so happy, and that the wedding feels less about the bride and groom than it does about the guests. The “happy” couple sweep their friend’s issues, their family’s issues and their own issues under the rug in the hopes of maintaining the facade that this is the perfect wedding. But why doesn't Roman ever look at the photographer? Why is Cassandra unhappy with her dress? Why did their parents divorce?

CONTENT WARNINGS: Coarse Language, Homophobia, Homophobic Slurs, Transphobia, Misgendering, Family Violence, References to Suicide, Substance Abuse, Misogyny, References to Death, Partial Undress

Quelched! by Conor Boussioutas

Phil Todd, a 23-year-old unemployed, recently single and duolingo-streakless man, needs a break from his life. So, when he is introduced to a dating app named Quelch, he immediately signs up. While on the app, Phil reconnects with the most popular girl from his high school, Olivia, and despite warnings from his more rational friend Mike, he decides to throw caution to the wind. When Olivia asks Phil for a nude, he gives it to her without a moment’s hesitation, leading to a shocking revelation: Phil's penis looks exactly like Christian Bale. After Olivia shares the nude online, Phil becomes an internet icon and skyrockets to worldwide fame. Intoxicated by the allure and attention his newfound fame has brought him, Phil leaves everything – and everyone – he once valued behind. This, however, quickly descends into a spiral of manipulation from the evil Quelch CEO Mr Dankworth. And after a controversy threatens to topple his precarious phallic empire, Phil is forced to reconsider the actions that led to his fame.

CONTENT WARNINGS: Adult Themes, Implied Nudity, Sexual References, Coarse Language, Unlawful Distribution of Intimate Images, Copious Penile References

Accessibility:

• All performances will have open captions to both sides of the stage for dialogue and lyrics. 
• The venue is wheelchair accessible.
• A hearing loop system is available for the performance.
• Unisex and wheelchair accessible bathrooms are available.
• During our relaxed performance on Saturday the 5th of October at 1pm we will keep the house lights on but dimmed, reduce the volume of the performance, and generally reduce the intensity of the show.
• Companion card holders are eligible for a free ticket. Please contact us at mainstage@ummta.org to ensure we can best support your needs.

Presented by UMMTA, The University of Melbourne Music Theatre Association.