Innovative Music Theatre
Innovative Music Theatre
Innovative Music Theatre
Innovative Music Theatre
Islander
Islander
by
Amy Draper, Finn Anderson & Stewart Melton
Directed by
Hayden Tonazzi & Miranda Middleton
Platforming
Madeleine Picard & Aden Abeleda
Hailing from Scotland, and recontextualised by ATYP, this worldwide smash-hit washes up to Pier 2/3 and takes over The Popsy with innovative loop pedal technology and whimsical storytelling.
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SEASON 2026
21 September
21 Sept
–
3 October
3 Oct
Islander
Using loop pedal technology, two actors will bring an entire town to life
Islander
Using loop pedal technology, two actors will bring an entire town to life
Islander
Using loop pedal technology, two actors will bring an entire town to life
Islander
Using loop pedal technology, two actors will bring an entire town to life
Eilid lives on an island. Adrift and with one eye on the horizon, she is aimless. It seems every day someone is leaving for the mainland, even her own mother.
And then a whale washes up on the shore, followed soon after by a mysterious young girl…
Using loop pedal technology, two actors will bring an entire town to life. Community meetings smash against mythology as two friends from different worlds learn how an ancient fracture can lead to a new future, together.
Hailing from Scotland, and recontextualised by ATYP, this worldwide smash-hit washes up to Pier 2/3 and takes over The Popsy.
2026 Dates
Mon 21 Sep – Sat 03 Oct
2026 Dates
Mon 21 Sep – Sat 03 Oct
2026 Dates
Mon 21 Sep – Sat 03 Oct
2026 Dates
Mon 21 Sep – Sat 03 Oct
Venue
Venue
Venue
Venue
Pricing
$30 – $35
Pricing
$30 – $35
Pricing
$30 – $35
Pricing
$30 – $35
Duration
Approx 60 mins (no interval)
Duration
Approx 60 mins (no interval)
Duration
Approx 60 mins (no interval)
Duration
Approx 60 mins (no interval)
Age & Content Warnings
Suitable for ages 8+
Age & Content Warnings
Suitable for ages 8+
Age & Content Warnings
Suitable for ages 8+
Age & Content Warnings
Suitable for ages 8+
Detailed ticketing info below
More ticketing info below
More ticketing info below
Detailed ticketing info below
Presented by the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP)
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Hear from the Artists
Hayden Tonazzi, Madeleine Picard and Aden Abeleda
Hear from the Artists
Hayden Tonazzi, Madeleine Picard and Aden Abeleda
Hear from the Artists
Hayden Tonazzi, Madeleine Picard and Aden Abeleda
Hear from the Artists
Expand to play in full-screen
Ticketing Information
Performance dates, times & pricing
Ticketing Information
Performance dates, times & pricing
Ticketing Information
Performance dates, times & pricing
Ticketing Information
Performance dates, times & pricing
★
Islander washes ashore in The Popsy, our fresh black-box space. Capacity? Just 50 seats. Miss the tide and you’ll miss the show.
Ticket Prices
$35 – General Admission
$30 – Previews
Ticket Prices
$35 – General Admission
$30 – Previews
Ticket Prices
$35 – General Admission
$30 – Previews
Ticket Prices
$35 – General Admission
$30 – Previews
Location
Location
Location
Location
Accessibility Information
Wheelchair accessible venue(s)
Accessibility Information
Wheelchair accessible venue(s)
Accessibility Info
Wheelchair accessible venue(s)
Accessibility Information
Wheelchair accessible venue(s)
Dates | Times |
|---|---|
Mon 21 Sep | 7pm (Preview) |
Tue 22 Sep | 7pm (Preview) |
Wed 23 Sep | 7pm (Opening Night) |
Thu 24 Sep | 7pm |
Fri 25 Sep | 7pm |
Sat 26 Sep | 5pm |
Mon 28 Sep | 7pm |
Tue 29 Sep | 7pm |
Wed 30 Sep | 7pm |
Thu 01 Oct | 7pm |
Fri 02 Oct | 7pm |
Sat 03 Oct | 5pm |
Cast & Creatives
Discover the artists behind this production
Cast & Creatives
Discover the artists behind this production
Cast & Creatives
Discover the artists behind this production
Cast & Creatives
Discover the artists behind this production
Hayden Tonazzi
Director
Director
Hayden Tonazzi
(
they/he
)
is an award-winning director and creative producer who in 2025 was appointed the Artistic Director & CEO of the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP). A graduate of the 2019 NIDA MFA Directing Program, for over eight years they have worked across new writing in theatre and musical theatre.
Miranda Middleton
Co-Director & Choreographer
Co-Director & Choreographer
Miranda Middleton
(
she/her
)
Director, writer and choreographer with an MFA (Directing) from NIDA. In 2024, she received the Sandra Bates Director’s Award at Ensemble Theatre and was nominated for a Green Room Award for Outstanding Direction of an Independent Musical for The Grinning Man. Recent work includes Bright Star, Into the Woods, In Her Own Words, The Grinning Man and The Eisteddfod, with assistant directing credits across Opera Australia, MTC and Ensemble Theatre.
Madeleine Picard
Sound Designer
Sound Designer
Madeleine Picard
(
she/her
)
is a sound designer and composer working on Gadigal land. Recent credits: Dial M for Murder, Emerald City (Ensemble), Life is a Dream, Hot Tub, Shitty (Belvoir 25A), Amber, All the Fraudulent Horse Girls (Old Fitz), Scab (ATYP) and The Weekend (Belvoir). As associate sound designer or realiser: The Talented Mr Ripley, Julia, Whitefella Yella Tree, The Wrong Gods, Song of First Desire and Ride the Cyclone across STC, Griffin, Belvoir and Hayes.
Aden Abeleda
Associate Director & Producer
Associate Director & Producer
Aden Abeleda
(
he/him
)
Director and producer with a BA in Arts Industries and Management from Macquarie University. He is a co-founder of Ignite Theatre Company, directing and producing Carrie: The Musical and Monty Python’s Spamalot, and co-directing Definitely Not a Hungry Game: A Parody Musical at the Eternity Playhouse for Sydney Fringe. Recent production roles with Kermond Creative, Packemin, and Hayes Theatre Co with Associate Producer of the Festival of New Work
Gabriel Faatau'uu-Satiu
Creative Cultural Consultant
Creative Cultural Consultant
Gabriel Faatau'uu-Satiu
(
he/him
)
Sāmoan Tusitala and People Weaver, and founder of Satiu Studios, a Pasifika-led production company amplifying Pacific voices. Won Best Emerging Producer at Sydney Fringe and the NSWCPC Pasifika Awards Art Open category. He consulted for NSW Waratahs’ Pacific Round, produced Across the Pacific with QTOPIA, co-led the Aus premiere of Tinā, and secured Screen Australia funding for 2 Moons, commissioned by Powerhouse Museum.
Victoria Falconer-Pritchard
Industry Mentor
Industry Mentor
Victoria Falconer-Pritchard
(
she/her
)
is a performer, music director, multi-instrumentalist and writer of Filipino-English heritage, and Co-Artistic Director of Hayes Theatre Co. Her work spans cabaret, theatre and cross-disciplinary performance, with credits including Smashed: The Nightcap, The Sight, The Vali Myers Project and Smashed: The Brunch Party. A 40 Under 40 Asian-Australian awardee, she is also a founding member of The People of Cabaret.
Hayden Tonazzi
Director
Director
Hayden Tonazzi
(
they/he
)
is an award-winning director and creative producer who in 2025 was appointed the Artistic Director & CEO of the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP). A graduate of the 2019 NIDA MFA Directing Program, for over eight years they have worked across new writing in theatre and musical theatre.
Miranda Middleton
Co-Director & Choreographer
Co-Director & Choreographer
Miranda Middleton
(
she/her
)
Director, writer and choreographer with an MFA (Directing) from NIDA. In 2024, she received the Sandra Bates Director’s Award at Ensemble Theatre and was nominated for a Green Room Award for Outstanding Direction of an Independent Musical for The Grinning Man. Recent work includes Bright Star, Into the Woods, In Her Own Words, The Grinning Man and The Eisteddfod, with assistant directing credits across Opera Australia, MTC and Ensemble Theatre.
Madeleine Picard
Sound Designer
Sound Designer
Madeleine Picard
(
she/her
)
is a sound designer and composer working on Gadigal land. Recent credits: Dial M for Murder, Emerald City (Ensemble), Life is a Dream, Hot Tub, Shitty (Belvoir 25A), Amber, All the Fraudulent Horse Girls (Old Fitz), Scab (ATYP) and The Weekend (Belvoir). As associate sound designer or realiser: The Talented Mr Ripley, Julia, Whitefella Yella Tree, The Wrong Gods, Song of First Desire and Ride the Cyclone across STC, Griffin, Belvoir and Hayes.
Aden Abeleda
Associate Director & Producer
Associate Director & Producer
Aden Abeleda
(
he/him
)
Director and producer with a BA in Arts Industries and Management from Macquarie University. He is a co-founder of Ignite Theatre Company, directing and producing Carrie: The Musical and Monty Python’s Spamalot, and co-directing Definitely Not a Hungry Game: A Parody Musical at the Eternity Playhouse for Sydney Fringe. Recent production roles with Kermond Creative, Packemin, and Hayes Theatre Co with Associate Producer of the Festival of New Work
Gabriel Faatau'uu-Satiu
Creative Cultural Consultant
Creative Cultural Consultant
Gabriel Faatau'uu-Satiu
(
he/him
)
Sāmoan Tusitala and People Weaver, and founder of Satiu Studios, a Pasifika-led production company amplifying Pacific voices. Won Best Emerging Producer at Sydney Fringe and the NSWCPC Pasifika Awards Art Open category. He consulted for NSW Waratahs’ Pacific Round, produced Across the Pacific with QTOPIA, co-led the Aus premiere of Tinā, and secured Screen Australia funding for 2 Moons, commissioned by Powerhouse Museum.
Victoria Falconer-Pritchard
Industry Mentor
Industry Mentor
Victoria Falconer-Pritchard
(
she/her
)
is a performer, music director, multi-instrumentalist and writer of Filipino-English heritage, and Co-Artistic Director of Hayes Theatre Co. Her work spans cabaret, theatre and cross-disciplinary performance, with credits including Smashed: The Nightcap, The Sight, The Vali Myers Project and Smashed: The Brunch Party. A 40 Under 40 Asian-Australian awardee, she is also a founding member of The People of Cabaret.
Hayden Tonazzi
Director
Director
Hayden Tonazzi
(
they/he
)
is an award-winning director and creative producer who in 2025 was appointed the Artistic Director & CEO of the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP). A graduate of the 2019 NIDA MFA Directing Program, for over eight years they have worked across new writing in theatre and musical theatre.
Miranda Middleton
Co-Director & Choreographer
Co-Director & Choreographer
Miranda Middleton
(
she/her
)
Director, writer and choreographer with an MFA (Directing) from NIDA. In 2024, she received the Sandra Bates Director’s Award at Ensemble Theatre and was nominated for a Green Room Award for Outstanding Direction of an Independent Musical for The Grinning Man. Recent work includes Bright Star, Into the Woods, In Her Own Words, The Grinning Man and The Eisteddfod, with assistant directing credits across Opera Australia, MTC and Ensemble Theatre.
Madeleine Picard
Sound Designer
Sound Designer
Madeleine Picard
(
she/her
)
is a sound designer and composer working on Gadigal land. Recent credits: Dial M for Murder, Emerald City (Ensemble), Life is a Dream, Hot Tub, Shitty (Belvoir 25A), Amber, All the Fraudulent Horse Girls (Old Fitz), Scab (ATYP) and The Weekend (Belvoir). As associate sound designer or realiser: The Talented Mr Ripley, Julia, Whitefella Yella Tree, The Wrong Gods, Song of First Desire and Ride the Cyclone across STC, Griffin, Belvoir and Hayes.
Aden Abeleda
Associate Director & Producer
Associate Director & Producer
Aden Abeleda
(
he/him
)
Director and producer with a BA in Arts Industries and Management from Macquarie University. He is a co-founder of Ignite Theatre Company, directing and producing Carrie: The Musical and Monty Python’s Spamalot, and co-directing Definitely Not a Hungry Game: A Parody Musical at the Eternity Playhouse for Sydney Fringe. Recent production roles with Kermond Creative, Packemin, and Hayes Theatre Co with Associate Producer of the Festival of New Work
Gabriel Faatau'uu-Satiu
Creative Cultural Consultant
Creative Cultural Consultant
Gabriel Faatau'uu-Satiu
(
he/him
)
Sāmoan Tusitala and People Weaver, and founder of Satiu Studios, a Pasifika-led production company amplifying Pacific voices. Won Best Emerging Producer at Sydney Fringe and the NSWCPC Pasifika Awards Art Open category. He consulted for NSW Waratahs’ Pacific Round, produced Across the Pacific with QTOPIA, co-led the Aus premiere of Tinā, and secured Screen Australia funding for 2 Moons, commissioned by Powerhouse Museum.
Victoria Falconer-Pritchard
Industry Mentor
Industry Mentor
Victoria Falconer-Pritchard
(
she/her
)
is a performer, music director, multi-instrumentalist and writer of Filipino-English heritage, and Co-Artistic Director of Hayes Theatre Co. Her work spans cabaret, theatre and cross-disciplinary performance, with credits including Smashed: The Nightcap, The Sight, The Vali Myers Project and Smashed: The Brunch Party. A 40 Under 40 Asian-Australian awardee, she is also a founding member of The People of Cabaret.
Hayden Tonazzi
Director
Director
Hayden Tonazzi
(
they/he
)
is an award-winning director and creative producer who in 2025 was appointed the Artistic Director & CEO of the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP). A graduate of the 2019 NIDA MFA Directing Program, for over eight years they have worked across new writing in theatre and musical theatre.
Miranda Middleton
Co-Director & Choreographer
Co-Director & Choreographer
Miranda Middleton
(
she/her
)
Director, writer and choreographer with an MFA (Directing) from NIDA. In 2024, she received the Sandra Bates Director’s Award at Ensemble Theatre and was nominated for a Green Room Award for Outstanding Direction of an Independent Musical for The Grinning Man. Recent work includes Bright Star, Into the Woods, In Her Own Words, The Grinning Man and The Eisteddfod, with assistant directing credits across Opera Australia, MTC and Ensemble Theatre.
Madeleine Picard
Sound Designer
Sound Designer
Madeleine Picard
(
she/her
)
is a sound designer and composer working on Gadigal land. Recent credits: Dial M for Murder, Emerald City (Ensemble), Life is a Dream, Hot Tub, Shitty (Belvoir 25A), Amber, All the Fraudulent Horse Girls (Old Fitz), Scab (ATYP) and The Weekend (Belvoir). As associate sound designer or realiser: The Talented Mr Ripley, Julia, Whitefella Yella Tree, The Wrong Gods, Song of First Desire and Ride the Cyclone across STC, Griffin, Belvoir and Hayes.
Aden Abeleda
Associate Director & Producer
Associate Director & Producer
Aden Abeleda
(
he/him
)
Director and producer with a BA in Arts Industries and Management from Macquarie University. He is a co-founder of Ignite Theatre Company, directing and producing Carrie: The Musical and Monty Python’s Spamalot, and co-directing Definitely Not a Hungry Game: A Parody Musical at the Eternity Playhouse for Sydney Fringe. Recent production roles with Kermond Creative, Packemin, and Hayes Theatre Co with Associate Producer of the Festival of New Work
Gabriel Faatau'uu-Satiu
Creative Cultural Consultant
Creative Cultural Consultant
Gabriel Faatau'uu-Satiu
(
he/him
)
Sāmoan Tusitala and People Weaver, and founder of Satiu Studios, a Pasifika-led production company amplifying Pacific voices. Won Best Emerging Producer at Sydney Fringe and the NSWCPC Pasifika Awards Art Open category. He consulted for NSW Waratahs’ Pacific Round, produced Across the Pacific with QTOPIA, co-led the Aus premiere of Tinā, and secured Screen Australia funding for 2 Moons, commissioned by Powerhouse Museum.
Victoria Falconer-Pritchard
Industry Mentor
Industry Mentor
Victoria Falconer-Pritchard
(
she/her
)
is a performer, music director, multi-instrumentalist and writer of Filipino-English heritage, and Co-Artistic Director of Hayes Theatre Co. Her work spans cabaret, theatre and cross-disciplinary performance, with credits including Smashed: The Nightcap, The Sight, The Vali Myers Project and Smashed: The Brunch Party. A 40 Under 40 Asian-Australian awardee, she is also a founding member of The People of Cabaret.