From the cutting-edge queer theatre makers that brought Melbourne The Inheritance, In The Club and The Gospel According to Jesus and Queen of Heaven, comes a razor-sharp new collaboration with trans playwright Eva Rees.
Presented by Darebin Arts Speakeasy, the psychological thriller has been directed by Bullet Heart Club’s Kitan Petkovski, and promises to captivate and challenge audiences with its provocative exploration of identity, power, and the complexities of human connection.
Set within the charged intimacy of a hotel room, Djuna follows the two-year affair between a young trans woman Djuna (Jay Gold) and Marcus (Dion Mills), an older and purportedly heterosexual man.
Both characters in this play are queer in their own ways, from different generations, brought together in this hotel room to explore themselves in ways they can’t anywhere else.
Their initial encounter, driven by mutual fantasy, evolves into a fraught and transformative connection, marked by power dynamics, vulnerability, and the characters’ attempts to navigate their identities. She’s definitely lying about her age, and he’s clearly in denial about who he is and what he wants.
The play’s visceral tension is heightened with themes of body horror, exploring the corporeality of medically transitioning. By literalising societal taboos around body modification, Djuna reclaims and confronts notions of trans identity, creating a bold narrative space that is both unsettling and compelling.
Eva Rees is an acclaimed Australian actor and playwright whose career spans stage, screen, and storytelling. She is widely recognised for originating the role of Albus Potter in the Australian premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a two-year performance that profoundly influenced her journey as a trans artist.
Eva’s television credits include the ABC hit series Nowhere Boys and its sequel film Nowhere Boys: The Book of Shadows, as well as roles in Utopia, The Secret River, Kath & Kim, and more.
Eva has performed in Truth and Hour of the Wolf (Malthouse Theatre), Things I Know to Be True (Theatre Works), and Fury (Red Stitch). As a playwright, her works have been staged at Melbourne’s fortyfivedownstairs, cementing her reputation as a creative force.
Director: Kitan Petkovski | Featuring: Jay Gold, Dion Mills | Stage and Costume Design: Bethany J Fellows | AV and Sound Design: James Paul | Producer: Bullet Heart Club | Writer: Eva Rees
Djuna
Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre, 189 High Street, Northcote
Season: 13 – 23 March 2025 (preview: 12 March)
Bookings: www.arts.darebin.vic.gov.au
For more information, visit: www.bulletheartclub.com for details.
Image: Jay Gold as Djuna and Dion Mills as Marcus – photo by Meagan Harding