A ghost that will not stop singing. A bride with a funeral to plan. A 90s love song that refuses to die. From award-winning playwright Dax Carnay-Hanrahan, MR BIG aka Tatay, A Transwoman and That Tiring Tune! is a darkly comedic and musically haunted new theatre work at fortyfivedownstairs.
Set between 1990s Manila and contemporary Melbourne, MR BIG follows Diana, a trans Filipina woman juggling her upcoming wedding and the funeral of her estranged father. Her plans fall apart when her late father reappears as a singing ghost who will not stop belting Mr. Big’s 1991 hit To Be With You.
Fusing music, comedy, and haunting absurdity, the play dives into gender, grief, and immigrant duty, navigating the chaos of a fractured family legacy. This heartfelt and hilarious Filipino-Australian story forces an unavoidable, ridiculous confrontation with the ghosts of the past.
“When my estranged father died in Manila, I didn’t feel sorrow. I felt the sudden weight of being the eldest ‘son’ in a Filipino family crashing into my full feminine fantasy in Melbourne,” said Dax Carnay-Hanrahan.
“Organising his overseas funeral while planning my wedding was an absurd collision of duty and champagne. MR BIG is the rhythm I found in that wreckage. The soundtrack to playing the bride, the mourner, and the reluctant patriarch all at once. Also, it’s just very funny.”
The production also features the largest professional all Filipino cast in Australian independent theatre history. The ensemble includes dance artist and choreographer, Trevor Santos (In The Heights, Jagged Little Pill, Miss Saigon, and Hamilton) who has collaborated with artists including Guy Sebastian, Mo’Ju, Missy Higgins, Hayden Calnin, Sheppard, and Hangeng.
Aiden Gale Miranda is a Filipino-born performer now based in Melbourne whose recent credits include A Transgender Woman on the Internet Crying and ensemble in RENT (Midsumma Festival 2026).
Ken Paolo is a queer Pilipino performer who trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) with recent credits including Cruel Intentions: The Musical, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Songs for a New World.
Anna Buenaseda is a Melbourne-based performer who believes it’s never too late to answer the call of the stage. A Nurse Practitioner by profession and an artist at heart. This performance is part of her ongoing journey to live boldly, create fearlessly, and connect deeply with every audience.
Ayril Borce is excited to be working amongst talented Filipino artists and creatives to bring such a vibrant, brilliant, and authentically Filipino story to stage.
Dax Carnay-Hanrahan is an award-winning transwoman artist, actor, writer, and in-demand speaker. Their rich heritage in the arts is rooted in an academic journey at the University of the Philippines.
In 2020, Dax brought their talents to Melbourne, a city whose vibrant cultural diversity inspired them to further their craft. Dax underwent advanced training in the Meisner technique at Meisner Studio Manila, Screen Acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, and the National Actors Intensive at The Australian Film & Television Academy.
In Australia, Dax has built a formidable presence as an artist, writer, and inspirational speaker, collaborating with leading groups and festivals including Malthouse Theatre, Performance Space, PACT, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, SBS, ABC, Theatreworks, and La Mama Theatre.
Dax’s innovative storytelling and dedication to centring marginalized voices have garnered significant industry recognition. Further solidifying their status as a key figure in Melbourne’s thriving arts scene, Dax became the first commissioned playwright for the inaugural Festival of Australian Queer Theatre in 2024, debuting sold-out shows.
Director: Beng Oh | Featuring: Dax Carnay-Hanrahan, Trevor Santos, Ken Paolo, Ayril Borce, Anna Buenaseda, Aiden Gale Miranda | Musical Director & Sound Designer: Ben Keene | Dramaturg: Matthew Bostock | Set & Costume Designer: Christina Logan Bell | Lighting Designer: Viv Hargreaves | Visual Storytelling: Jordan Hanrahan Carnay | Stage Manager: Teri Steer | Assistant Stage Manager: Claire Le Blond | Producer: Sasha Leong | Writer: Dax Carnay-Hanrahan
MR BIG aka Tatay, A Transwoman and That Tiring Tune!
fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Season: 26 June – 5 July 2026 (previews: 24 & 25 June)
Bookings: www.fortyfivedownstairs.com
For more information, visit: www.mrbig.tayotayocollective.au for details.
Image: Dax Carnay-Hanrahan stars in MR BIG aka Tatay, A Transwoman and That Tiring Tune! (supplied)