Converted! premieres as ATYP’s groundbreaking work at Sydney Festival
Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) proudly announces Converted!, a groundbreaking new comedy musical premiering at the 2025 Sydney Festival.
This landmark production is a joyous professional queer-led musical that amplifies the voices of young gender diverse Australians.
A one-off grant of $150,000 from the NSW Government through Create NSW and the NSW Ministry of Health has made the show’s 2025 run possible.
Written by award-winning comedy writer Vic Zerbst with an original score by Zerbst and acclaimed composer Oliver John Cameron, Converted! is a powerful exploration of gender identity, belonging, and the complexities of growing up in a world insistent on boxes and labels.
Set in a conversion therapy camp disguised as the ‘Fix Yourself! camp for low-self-esteemteens, Converted! is a queer disco musical that follows two teenagers, Maya (Megan Robinson) and Bone (Teo Vergara), as they navigate a system determined to suppress their identities.
Vic Zerbst:
It’s wild to think that conversion therapy camps, designed to hide or change a person’s sexuality, are still legal in some parts of Australia. When it comes to conversations about gender and sexuality, binary thinking and psychological manipulation are still very prevalent.
For young people exploring their identities, it’s so important to hear stories from trans and non-binary voices. That’s why I created Converted! – a queer-written, queer-led production that uses comedy to celebrate diversity, find joy, and bring the community together.
NSW Minister for Youth and Mental Health, Rose Jackson :
She was pleased to see the stories of young LGBTQI+ people taking centre-stage.
Theatre can be a powerful vehicle for young people to tell their stories and we know representation can make a huge difference for young people figuring out their identity.
Minister Jackson:
This year, the Minns Labor Government delivered on its election commitment and banned conversion therapy in NSW. It’s shocking that it took so long.
We hope that this production sparks important conversations about gender, sexuality, growing up and finding identity.
Minister for Arts and the Night-Time Economy John Graham :
the NSW Government is proud to support this groundbreaking new ATYP musical comedy, and see it take the stage at the Sydney Festival.
It’s fantastic to see the ATYP continue its incredible legacy of nurturing new talent and telling stories that resonate with the experiences of young Australians.
A new era for Australian theatre Presented as part of the 2025 Sydney Festival, Converted! will be directed by ATYP’s Associate Director, Hayden Tonazzi.
Tonazzi:
It’s so incredible to bring to life the hilarious voice of Vic with some of the most talented, diverse group of young actors and creatives in Australia. We’re proud that this production is celebrating the experiences of young queer people on and off stage, and on an internationally acclaimed stage like the Sydney Festival,
ATYP exists to tell the stories of young Australians, and increasingly we hear about young people being asked to define their gender and sexuality without safe and supportive spaces to do so. Converted! casts questions on the systems and structures in which our young people are growing up, and shows that maybe all we need is a bit of freedom, fun and a boogie to have a profound impact.
ATYP, a Sydney-based not-for-profit creative hub, connects youth performing arts companies, the professional theatre industry, venues, and schools across the country.
With the recent success of SBS’ The Feed and the announcement of their first feature film, Stan’s Nugget Is Dead: A Christmas Story, Converted! is the latest in Zerbst’s impressive Career. This groundbreaking musical is a testament to their talent and commitment to telling authentic queer stories. Converted! will be premiering on January 3rd at The Rebel Theatre, ATYP – Eora Country, Pier 2/3, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct.
Season Details
Venue: The Rebel Theatre
Date: 3-25 Jan 2025
For more information click HERE
