GILBERT
A THEATREPUNK CO. PRODUCTIO N
CAST AND CREW
ANNABEL GILBERT-DIRECTOR
EL WADDINGHAM-WRITER
TEAH PETERS-STAGE MANAGER
SIENA D’ARIENZO-LYSISTRATA
MIA CHISHOLM-CALONICE
MIA FOLEY-STRATYLLIS
EMME SKYE-MYRRHINE
MADELYNE LEITE-LAMPITO
SPECIAL THANKS TO: PEMAY JOHNSEN, ANDREA MOOR, LILY SPITERI, EXIT
GHOST PRODUCTIONS, ALLENTERTAINMENT & PIP THEATRE
WTF IS LYSISTRATA?
LYSISTRATA follows a group of ferocious women as they take a stand against war by refusing to have sex with their husbands (and take over the city's financial and political epicentre, but that's far less scandalous). Throw in an all-female/queer cast and crew, language pulled straight from the original text and the comments section of a Twitter argument, and a hardy dose of female rageand you've got an emblematic theatrePUNK co. show. Taking a deep stab at questions of activism, womanhood, and queerness, LYSISTRATA is a dagger-edged, glittered new take on an iconic story of women doing what we do best: fight.
LYSISTRATA brings glamour to Greece and flamboyancy to feminism as El Waddingham shoves Aristophanes’ original text into a world of bad bitches, boy’s clubs and bitcoin. Sprinkled with glitter and splashed with pink, making this play come to life has been an aesthetic maximalist’s dream come true. However, underneath the sparkling surface lies a hard-hitting message. Bold and unafraid, LYSISTRATA explores the power in standing up for what you believe in, and what it means to be a good activist. There is no formula. There is no black and white, right or wrong. There’s just a gut feeling and what you decide to do with it. Everybody fights in a different way.
Sexism and misogyny rages on now, just as it has raged on before. Political theatre in itself is a method of fighting these issues. However, LYSISTRATA breaks free from the stereotype that dictates that it must be purely serious. It’s just simply untrue. Political theatre can be dripping with humour and shining with pizazz whilst still punching you in the face with a bold truth. LYSISTRATA proves that.
I hope you leave the theatre with eyes full of stars, a belly full of laughs and a bruise from a
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DIRECTOR
S NOTE
CREW
ANNABEL GILBERT EL WADDINGHAM
Annabel Gilbert is a Meanjin based theatre maker with a love of the fierce, flamboyant and feminine. Spread across the fields of directing, writing and acting she practically salivates at the opportunity to tell a story, especially if there’s a bit of room to squeeze in some cheeky pop rock tunes. With an intense love for art in all its forms, she strives to collaborate with local artists & musicians to create distinctively unique theatre that is delicious for the eyes, ears and soul. Previously, Annabel has worked with QPAC, La Boite, Vena Cava Productions, Brisbane Fringe Festival, Art of Courage UKRAINE and Tits Akimbo. She is hugely excited to be working with theatrePUNK co. on LYSISTRATA and hopes that you will hugely enjoy the outcome!
TEAH PETERS
El Waddingham is a stage poet, vegan, drag artist & designer from Yugumbeh country. They are an unapologetically loud voice in challenging theatrical convention, describing their work as a slap in the face with a palm full of biodegradable glitter. El is also the artistic director of theatrePUNK co. They’ve worked with The Farm, Queensland Theatre, La Boite, Vena Cava & Tits Akimbo. El hopes you have fun watching the show and in life, in general.
Teah is an emerging creative committed to working collaboratively with other local artists to create entertainment across a variety of theatre styles. Within the last year alone, Teah has been apart of multiple productions in many styles, including immersive, absurdism, contemporary and modern theatre and more. Teah continues to develop her skills and currently attends Griffith University studying a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Screen/Creative Writing. Her passion for this art has driven her unwavering commitment and aspirations to create memorable and original theatre.
CAST
Siena D’Arienzo is an actor and creative from Meanjin country with a passion for storytelling and its ability to unite and impact. Currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Acting at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, she has performed with Vena Cava in ‘The 39 Steps’, Queensland Theatre’s Young Artists’ Performance Ensemble, and Brisbane Arts Theatre. Siena is thrilled to take on the titular character of ‘Lysistrata’ and hopes you have a fabulous time and leave this fiercely feminist show feeling encouraged to stand up for what matters to you.
Mia Chisholm is a seasoned theatre performer and budding film actor from Tulmur. But more importantly she loves long walks on the beach, copious amounts of pasta and most of all, pretending to be invested in astrology to make men angry. Currently studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts Acting at QUT, her dedication to her craft over the years has led her to develop her skill set working with The Actors Club, Queensland Theatre, Vena Cava and NIDA. She can’t wait to share the stage with the some of the hottest emerging artists Meanjin has to offer, hopefully making the audience equal parts aroused and confused.
Mia Foley is a Meanjin based performer who is currently studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at QUT. Throughout her study, she aims to expand her skill set not only as an actor, but in becoming a well-rounded and holistic performer, particularly by venturing into the world of intimacy coordination and fight choreography. Mia is always proud and excited to be a part of the ever-evolving performing arts scene in Meanjin, and is thankful to have worked on stage with companies including Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Arts Theatre since 2020.
Emme Skye is a Meanjin based performer who has developed her passion for storytelling through acting in programs such as Queensland Theatre’s Young Artists Ensembles, NIDA’s Young Artists Ensemble, Zen Zen Zo’s Stomping Ground and Physical Theatre Masterclass and Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University’s Bachelor of Acting. Throughout their time, they have grown fond of narratives that strongly convey the dynamics of imbalances in class and gender, and the relationships that are derived from them. Emme is eager to embrace and explore works both old and new, their own and others as they delve into their passion for the creative industry.
Madelyne Leite is an actor, producer, director, shower singer, and dog Walker. She takes equal pride in all 5 roles but what she finds especially exciting is the opportunity to bring new stories to stage and screen. As a result, much of her work is centred around brave queer storytelling both in the performance capacity, and in creating those opportunities for others. After starring in Greenlit and directing the upcoming Call Girls, Madelyne hopes this foray into stage is one audiences will remember (though sadly her shower singing is yet to be featured).
Isabelle Steinhardt is a theatre artist from Gubbi Gubbi country. Previously, Isabelle has worked with Queensland Theatre, Dead Puppets Society, T!TS AKIMBO and Vena Cava Productions. Currently, Isabelle is studying a double degree of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and Fine Arts (Drama) at Queensland University of Technology. Credited as an actor, writer, dramaturg and emerging socially engaged arts facilitator, Isabelle is passionate about socio-political and feminist theatre which encourages the audience to become active participates in the dramatic action.
Keeley Hay is an emerging AustralianAfrican actress currently studying acting in the bachelor of fine arts and at QUT. She is eager to bring authentic stories to both the stage and screen and is passionate about contributing to the diversity being presented in Australia’s performing arts community. She is excited to have this audacious piece of feminism theatre be her first ever play and hopes you enjoy this experience as much as she has.
Chelsea Doran is an actor, writer and singer from Meeanjin country. She prides herself in always being intentional with the different creative projects she embarks on, letting curiosity and passion take the wheel. Over the course of the past year she has been grateful to have been part of two feature film productions The Psychology of Beauty and ELVIS in leading and bit-part roles. Additionally, earlier last year she was spotted playing a certain boy wizard, a notorious bathroom ghost and many other familiar characters in PUFFS at Spotlight Theatre. She is absolutely thrilled for everyone to see this exciting punk rock spin on Lysistrata and apologises in advance if any of the eshays in the audience are offended by her role in the male chorus.
ABOUT US
theatrePUNK co. was founded by El Waddingham in 2022 and is an emerging arts community based in Meanjin, seeking to create sustainable, radical and bold theatre. Our work takes traditional theatre and flips it on its head, producing classical adaptations and contemporary heightened performance. We are working to create a generation of artists who value community and creativity over commercialisation.
We are consistently looking for ways that we can contribute positively to environmentally sustainable arts practice, and this awareness lives at the forefront of what we do.
We want to empower a generation of artists to overthrow the limiting power structures in place today and to create the art that they want to createand be damn good at doing it.
Above all, we are unapologetic-unapologetically queer, political, feminist, brash and brazen.
"The theatre itself is not revolutionary: it is a rehearsal for the revolution."-Augusto Boal