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"Anintimate, alluring, andvulnerable hourof trans-glamour."
MONSTER
Florian—Green Room Award nominee, transgender man, drag artist, and yes, high school teacher takes you on a wild ride through life’s monsters, both real and imagined
With soaring vocals, sharp wit, and a sprinkle of VeggieTales nostalgia, MONSTER is the kind of show that has left audiences in stitches from laughing and maybe a little teary-eyed It's time for a seance on identity, trans resilience, and finding joy in being unapologetically yourself.
Performed & Co-written by
Florian Wild
Directed & co-written by Oliver Ayres
Music Direction & arrangement
Daniele Buatti
Nate Hughan
Lighting design
Olly Lawrence
Drummer
guitarist
Zacharie Alexander Produced
Director’s Note BY OLIVER
AYRES
Florian was looking for a transgender pianist to work on a cabaret. I can’t read sheet music, am self-taught, and play by ear - but armed with my shiny new theatre degree and by being a man with two X chromosomes, I was ahead of the pack
We sat down together at Thornbury Local on High St and Florian gingerly opened a google doc with all of the ingredients that would one day become MONSTER. I somehow talked my way into a role as dramaturg AND pianist, and we were off! What ensued in the following year and ten months would change both of our lives forever.
We went on to be nominated for a Green Room Award at Melbourne Fringe 2023, but I had this gut feeling that we were missing something important There was more to do In my experience, few artists had the innate power to move audiences as deeply as Florian’s genuine vulnerability. I knew we had to delve further into the work’s emotional core We debuted the new developed script at Adelaide Fringe 2024 Adelaide Fringe 2024 was a career-defining moment that will stay with me forever. I realised I wanted to direct MONSTER
This work is technically my directorial debut, but as any theatre maker would know, it’s never really that simple. My role has not really changed: I’m here because I understand, I care, and I can help. And that was literally all that an artist like Florian ever needed
Florian asked me recently why I said yes to the job, and the reason is simple: because I believe that there should be more trans stories and performers on stage. We have limited access to opportunity and only a handful of us nationally have professional training, and we owe it to each other to ensure that the ladder is not pulled up behind us. Despite the odds, over half of our creative team on MONSTER identify as transgender
I hope that this work means to you as much as it has come to mean to me, and to our entire team In a society leaning alarmingly further to the right with each day, festivals and shows like this could become scarce and lean as the trans community continues to toe the line between survival and visibility Support the queer, gender diverse and trans people around you and if you know someone who needs to hear the sermon at the church of Florian Wild - send them our way
Directed & co-written by
Oliver Ayres
hy, Florian Wild (they/them) is soaring vocals and savage wit. was once awarded Ass of the is MONSTER’s mastermind
rian is all about questioning & class. They’ve sung all across festivals with the likes of Mama their pursuit of questioning the , Vocalist, Actress, Model, RSPCA
developing their next play
Oliver Ayres (he/him) is a disabled trans theatremaker, actor, writer and director living and working between Naarm and Eora Graduating with a BFA in Theatre from VCA in 2021, he has performed and presented work nationally and internationally.
In 2023, Oliver debuted his one-on-one experimental piece ‘I’m Ready To Talk Now’ to Melbourne Fringe 2023. During this run, he sold out the season, received glowing reviews, and was nominated for Best Experimental Work. ‘I’m Ready To Talk Now’ was further developed with funding from FUSE Festival 2024 and returned to a sold out season at Melbourne Fringe 2024
Selected highlights include: ‘Kaleidoscope’ (Montague Basement, 2016), ‘Owl & The Albatross’ (Theatreworks, 2022), ‘Adam’ (Gasworks, 2020), ‘MONSTER’ (Melbourne Fringe, 2023, Adelaide Fringe 2024, Sydney Fringe 2024), ‘cavemxn’ (Chapel off Chapel, 2022), ‘Pram People - Hong Kong Edition’ (Polyglot, 2024) and work with physical theatre company Born In A Taxi
Oliver's practice is strongly informed by his identity as a member of the queer, trans, and disabled communities His goals as an artist are to uplift often unheard voices and create work that furthers their representation in the public eye.
Music Direction & arrangement
Daniele Buatti
Daniele Buatti (he/him) is a Melbourne-based Music Director, Arranger, Orchestrator, Pianist, and Voice Coach with extensive experience across musical theatre, live performance, and education. Known for his holistic coaching and innovative approaches, Daniele has become a trusted guide for performers and institutions alike.
Since 2013, Daniele has been the Musical and Creative Director of Broadway Unplugged, where he leads a dynamic band, crafts captivating arrangements, and presents six engaging concerts annually Beyond this, Daniele contributes to Melbourne's vibrant arts scene as a sought-after Music Director and collaborator on productions such as PAW Patrol Live, A Chorus Line (Federation University), The Beautiful Game (Manilla Street Productions), and The Musical of Musicals (Be You Productions).
Daniele’s influence spans institutions like the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), Ministry of Dance, and VCASS, where he works as a Music Director, Repetiteur, Vocal Coach, and Music Theory wareness and voice alm, connection, nt to fostering
Nate Hughan
musician who has ving already & Marvel Stadium the Victorian ajoring in Jazz theatre and live of many musicals
guitarist
Zacharie Alexander
Lighting design
Olly Lawrence
Zacharie Alexander (he/him) is a highly skilled guitarist from Singapore, now residing in the vibrant city of Melbourne, Australia. With over a decade of experience, he has honed his craft as both a performer and a teacher. His diverse musical influences range from R&B and jazz to rock and metal, making him a versatile and dynamic guitarist.
Zacharie has graced the stages of renowned international music festivals like the One Love Asia Festival, as well as local events such as the Singapore Night Festival He has also provided exceptional guitar support for notable Mandopop artists, including Priscilla Abby, Lai Ming Wei, Boonie Loo, and Shennio Lin
In addition to his performance skills, Zacharie is celebrated for his outstanding teaching abilities Known for his patience and innovative methods, he tailors his lessons to each student’s unique learning pace and passions His goal is to empower students to achieve their musical aspirations, guiding them on a rewarding journey of exploration and growth.
Olly Lawrence (they/them) is an award winning emerging nonbinary arts professional based in Melbourne.
They are best known as the producer of T4T: A Transgender Showcase, Le Freak!, Burlesque Up Late, Assigned Magician at Birth and Anna Piper Scott: Such An Inspiration
Cutting their teeth from an operational perspective, they brought many productions to fruition as Venue Manager of The Butterfly Club from 2018-2021, and Program Manager of The Motley Bauhaus from 2021-2023. They have experience in everything from festival organisations to grass-roots projects, and are a judge on the Green Room Awards cabaret panel.
Olly holds a Dean’s Honors in Cultural studies and Art History from the University of Melbourne, and regularly works as a freelance technical operator, lighting designer, and artisan They were the recipient of the ‘One To Watch’ Award sponsored by Matt Tarant at Adelaide Fringe 2023, and the ‘Best Emerging Producer’ award at Melbourne Fringe 2023
Produced
by
Extraterrestrial
Em Tambree (they/them) is an early career queer producer, director, and playwright. Em undertook intensive Musical Theatre training at SHOWFIT (2016) and the Australian Institute of Music (2019)
Post-grad & post-diagnosis, Em began to explore their creative practice backstage Em proudly identifies as a disabled artist and advocate. They are currently the Associate Producer of the We Belong: Beyond Accessibility art project for RMIT University: Art for Social Change (Metropolis by Rachel Shugg, 2075 RMIT x Alter State, Arts Centre 2024).
As a freelance producer, Em has toured nationally & internationally, was an Artist in Residence at Abbotsford Convent (ALTAR, 2023-2024), held Company in Residence at The Motley Bauhaus (TART Theatre Collective, 2023), and is currently producing Midsumma Matters: A Minor Adjustment & Not So Small Talk feat. Bread as part of Midsumma Queer Imaginings.
Em produces & presents independently under the alias Extraterrestrial with a focus on storytelling from voices & perspectives ‘outside the norm’.
Thank Yous
Sam Newbury Where to begin For being the best friend I could ever have asked for For the constant support, cheerleading, gassing me up when I needed it and bringing me down when I was getting in my own head. For being a shoulder to cry on when I thought I was in over my head, and for kicking my ass when I wasn’t acknowledging my hard work For all the hours you spend making sure I’m taking care of myself, and for ushering, even though you hate crowds. ILY bestie x
Seb Grech For ushering, merch support, being an ear and a shoulder, and for letting me write some really yucky jokes with you.
Andy Balloch. for your infectious energy and joy when going to town on my script and tearing it apart, encouraging me to push myself further to find the funny and the camp in every moment
Anna Piper Scott for your insights into solid writing development, and helping me to articulate what I wanted to say in the clearest, most precise way possible.
Lucy and Linda. for career flexibility, and for rehearsal space for our show
Ivan Maxwell for the sick merch designs!
The Monster Ball team, artists, and creatives for your support in raising funds so we could develop the show for an Adelaide audience and tour to Adelaide Fringe
