Transcendence
Monday, 23 - Saturday, 28 January 2023
Fifteen-year-old William is feeling anxious about an upcoming camp his parents are forcing him to attend. With an unwavering father hovering near and two best friends who know that he's keeping something from them, William just wants to work things out for himself... because William doesn't think he's supposed to be a boy.
From the writer/director of the critically acclaimed 2020 Midsumma season production of The Boy I Paid For, comes an original story about having the courage to be the best version of yourself: reaching transcendence.
An original Wrtiers' Block Theatre production presented by The Butterfly Club as part of the Midsumma Festival.
Starring: Anthony Pontonio, Michael Robins, Kyle Cuthbert, and Ivan Koetsveld.
Writer/Director: Wayne Stellini | Producer: Phillip Hunting | Choreographer: Angela Scundi | Stage Manager: Fulya Kantarmaci | Technician: Phillip Hunting | Ushers: Kendall Richardson, Kirsten Shanahan | Executive in Charge of Production: Wayne Stellini
Music Credit:
“Respectable”
Written by: Aitken / Waterman / Stock
All Boys Music Ltd., Sids Songs Ltd.
Administered by: Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Set Design Credits:
Illustrated artworks reproduced with permission from Andrew Li. See more of Andrew's work on Facebook, Instagram, and through Linktree.
"Jeremy Baxter" poster reproduced with permission from FRED the ALIEN Productions.
From the Writer/Director...
I had felt a compulsion to write Transcendence for a number of years. There had been several attempts to flesh out a story, but as much as pen was put to paper, the story I wanted to tell never quite made it to the page. There were hints of what I wanted to say—and the final image in the play was, in fact, the first image that came to mind when constructing the story—but it didn't come together.
As with so many creative works, Transcendence was destined to remain as nothing more than an idea that didn't have a strong enough voice to make it to the page.
But then something happened. I intervened when I saw a group of young people targeting a younger trans person. The incident remained with me long after the altercation was broken up and the child was safe. The lingering thought was how could I, a cisgender individual, be a better ally to the trans and gender-diverse communities?
The immediate response was the same as any issue I felt strongly about. Whether it's been discussing marriage equality (Michael and Philip Are Getting Married in the Morning), self-image (The Boy I Paid For), or power within social hierarchies (What Ever Happened to Jeremy Baxter?), the best way I've always known how to contribute to a conversation is creatively.
Transcendence could not have been written and produced for the stage without those who trusted me to tell their stories. I would like to thank them for being candid with about their experiences and for their constructive feedback. I would also like to thank the team of dedicated creatives who have supported Transcendence's journey to the stage.
I would like to thank the Midsumma Festival, The Butterfly Club, and especially our audience—thank you for supporting independent theatre. We couldn't tell the stories we are passionate about with you.
On behalf of the cast and crew, I hope you enjoy Transcendence.
The Cast
ANTHONY PONTONIO
as William
Anthony Pontonio has a rich history of training in musical theatre, theatre, and film with leading institutions throughout Victoria. His most recent works include Wit Incorporated Inc’s production of Dear Mama: There’s Something Maybe I Should Tell You…, Tart Theatre Collectives’s production of The Last Hour, and Impending Storm Productions latest work, The Consequence of Kindness.
Some highlights in his career include working and training alongside Michael Cormick, Cara Dinley, Grant Piro, and Patti Newton.
Anthony is in the process of filming the short film The Redmund Manor, and is currently taking steps into the film and television industry.
MICHAEL ROBINS
as Robert
Michael Robins’s love of acting and film was sparked at an early age, but didn’t translate until he was well over thirty when he decided to pursue his ’80s childhood passion.
Theatre credits include Randle P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Monster Media), Dad in The Dreamer Examines His Pillow (Doppelgänger), Edward in Spike Heels (Q44 & Crazy Chair Productions), Fish in Cherry Smoke (Sol III Productions), and Ansel in Killer Joe (Black Water Theatre Productions).
Film credits include B.O.A.T.S (Tropfest Top 50) and most recently in feature film Shayda, to be released in cinemas in this year.Michael is a graduate of 16th Street Studios.
KYLE CUTHBERT
as Ricky
Born and raised in Dubai, Kyle Cuthbert has been in love with performance since his first taste of the craft with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Feeling like there weren’t many opportunities in the desert, he made the decision to move to Australia in 2015 to explore the many facets of performing and is now a graduate of Federation University Arts Academy with a Bachelor of Arts (Acting) degree (2018).
Since then, Kyle has had the pleasure of performing Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing with GJ Productions (2020), Law and Order: PTV with Sevenfold Theatre Company (2022), as well as being in music videos for queer artists such as Alistair Trapnell and Jamie Bvllet.
IVAN KOETSVELD
as Felicia
Ivan met theatre in high school and it's been on and off ever since.
His past productions include OCPAC's Urinetown (2012), FAMDA's ...Spelling Bee (2010) and more recently in Radio Da-Da with Writers' Block Theatre (2022), amongst others.
Ivan produced original short plays, festival and cabaret acts while studying Theatre Arts at Ballarat University, which included an engagement performing in Sovereign Hill and was more recently a student at Maison Burlesque.
Ivan ain't never gonna be respectable and hopes you transcend. Enjoy and applaud.
The Crew
WAYNE STELLINI
Writer / Director
Wayne Stellini is a Melbourne writer, director, and producer who engages with as many storytelling mediums as he can.
He worked on such productions as Boxed In (assistant director, La Más Collective, 2015) and The Writer (producer, FRED the ALIEN Productions, 2016), before writing and directing Michael and Phillip Are Getting Married in the Morning (FRED the ALIEN Productions, 2017-18), What Ever Happened to Jeremy Baxter? (FRED the ALIEN Productions, 2019), and The Boy I Paid For (Writers’ Block Theatre, 2020) to critical acclaim.
He produced Writers' Block Theatre's Melbourne Fringe debut Radio Da-Da in 2022.
PHILLIP HUNTING
Producer / Technician
Phillip Hunting: Writer, director, actor, and idiot at large. Born of modest parental units, his background includes a Diploma of Theatre Arts and Bachelor of Arts in Writing (2015). Writing and directing credits include The Writer (FRED the ALIEN Productions, 2016) and Radio Da-Da (Writers' Block Theatre, 2022).
He has produced Michael and Phillip Are Getting Married in the Morning (2017-2018) and What Ever Happened to Jeremy Baxter? (2019) for FRED the ALIEN Productions, as well as Writers' Block Theatre's debut production of The Boy I Paid For in 2020.
His goal is to create great works for Aussie stage, film, and radio. Phillip’s inspirations are Spike Milligan and the Goons, Lano and Woodley, and of course, the mad world around him.
FULYA KANTARMACI
Stage Manager
Fulya Kantarmaci is a videographer, editor, photographer, and art and crafts enthusiast from Melbourne’s north. She is a Victoria University graduate, having studied a Bachelor of Interactive Media (2015).
Her passion for film and television production cannot keep Fulya away from theatre, having cut her teeth in the industry with Boxed In (La Más Collective, 2015). She has since gone on to stage manage and produce The Writer (FRED the ALIEN Productions, 2016), Michael and Phillip Are Getting Married in the Morning (FRED the ALIEN Productions, 2017-18), and What Ever Happened to Jeremy Baxter? (FRED the ALIEN Productions, 2019).
She made her stage debut as a live foley artist in Writers' Block Theatre's Melbourne Fringe Festival comedy Radio Da-Da in 2022.
