This story is about growing up queer in a world which isn’t good enough… & how we make it better.
Written for early secondary students by Paris Balla, and presented at Theatre Works as part of the VCE Playlist. Owl & the Albatross is a love letter from queer young adults who missed out on seeing their stories growing up—stories with queer kids who don’t like being told who they are and what their name is and now they have something to say.
Owl & the Albatross began in a cramped bedroom in Melbourne’s southeast suburbs in 2019. The script went through twenty versions and we built over ten different albatross puppets over the years. We hope this story makes you feel less alone, and that our future might be just a little brighter.
Crew
Paris Balla | Writer & Director
Caitlin Begg | Technical Operator
Sarah Branton | Director & Dramaturg
Callum Cheah | Sound Design
Tara Daniel | Educational Notes
Ryan Hamilton | Producer
Jemma Law | Stage Management
Jason Lehane | Puppet Fabrication
Tiernan Maclaren | Set Construction
Kyra Ryan | Lighting Design
Cast
Oliver Ayres | Jack
Don Bridges | Albert
Cassandra Hart | Jane
Mikaela Innes | Puppeteer
Geo Valentine | Owl
Photography by Jaimi Houston