SNAKEFACE

by Aliyah Knight

8 - 27 April 2025

Presented by Fruit Box Theatre

  • I’m scrapin’ Andrew’s floor with Gumption, list’nin” to a podcast ‘bout diet culture, when I realise I might technic’lly be a serial killer.

    At age 23 Snakeface is cursed by her ex to live her life as a monster. Reclaiming the violence forced upon her, she rampages through the queer clubs and art studios of Sydney with a lifetime of silenced words and stolen power to unleash.

    Inspired by the myth of Medusa, SNAKEFACE explores the tight loop of creation and destruction. Rejected and tested, Snakeface claws at her relationship with sex, sculpture, romance, and rage in a body that has never been afforded safety.

    Awarded Runner Up in the Australian Theatre Festival NYC 2024 New Play Award, SNAKEFACE interrogates the beauty and brutality of moving through white Australia in a queer Black body.

  • Writer & Performer Aliyah Knight
    Director & Dramaturg Bernadette Fam
    Producer Madeleine Gandhi
    Set & Props Designer Keerthi Subramanyam
    Lighting & Video Systems Designer Rachel Lee
    Costume Designer Wanyika Mshila
    Movement Director & Choreographer Fetu Taku
    Projection Designer Wendy Yu
    Assistant Stage Manager Fletcher Scully
    Sound Designer Marco Cher-Gibard
    Associator Director/Producer Rachel Seeto
    Vocal & Dialect Coaches Laura Farrell and Erica Lovell
    Stage Manager Justice Georgopoulos
    Marketing Manager Sean Landis
    Community Engagement Lead Kelly Dezart-Smith
    Wellbeing Consultant Shondelle Pratt
    Access Coordinator Courtney Henson
    Photographer Teniola Komolafe
    Cinematographer Mia Schirmer

  • Performing at Belvoir Downstairs Theatre (25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills)

    Tuesday 8 April 7:45pm - 9:15pm (preview)
    Thursday 10 April 7:45pm - 9:15pm (preview)
    Friday 11 April 7:45pm - 9:15pm (opening night)
    Saturday 12 April 7:45pm - 9:15pm
    Sunday 13 April 5:15pm - 6:45pm
    Tuesday 15 April 6:45pm - 8:15pm
    Wednesday 16 April 6:45pm - 8:15pm
    Thursday 17 April 7:45pm - 9:15pm
    Saturday 19 April 7:45pm - 9:15pm
    Sunday 20 April 5:15pm - 6:45pm
    Tuesday 22 April 6:45pm - 8:15pm
    Wednesday 23 April 6:45pm - 8:15pm
    Thursday 24 April 7:45pm - 9:15pm
    Friday 25 April 7:45pm - 9:15pm
    Saturday 26 April 7:45pm - 9:15pm
    Sunday 27 April 2:15pm - 3:45pm (closing night)

  • Preview $20
    Full Price
    $25

    Excluding Booking Fee

    NOTE: All tickets are General Admission

  • The script contains explicit descriptions of physical, racial and sexual violence. SNAKEFACE explores sensitive themes from a queer Black perspective including sexual assault and rape, eating disorders, suicide, murder, explicit sexuality and physical violence.

    The script draws on body horror and includes misogynistic slurs, homophobic slurs that are reclaimed, a moment of implied transphobia, and references to suicide.

  • Belvoir St Theatre has level street access with limited street parking and one disabled spot out the front of the venue. The street access is on a slope and the entrance door opens automatically.

    There is both a lift and a set of stairs to the ground floor of the venue which is where the 25a Theatre is located.

    There is a large disabled bathroom on the ground floor which has a non-automatic, heavy door that opens inwards. There are other cubicled, non-disabled bathrooms on the ground floor as well.

    25a has one wheelchair seat which can be booked. Other wheelchair users can be accommodated but these will need to be seat transfers. The seating banks also have seats which are on level access. To book in a seat transfer, the wheelchair seat, level seating, or if you have any other accessibility requirements relating to seating, please contact their Box Office on 02 9699 3444 or at mail@belvoir.com.au.

    Belvoir St Theatre accepts companion cards. To book in a companion card, please contact their Box Office on 02 9699 3444 or at mail@belvoir.com.au.

    If you have any specific accessibility questions or concerns, please contact Fruit Box Theatre’s Access Coordinator, Courtney Henson, at access@fruitboxtheatre.com.au

  • MEDUSA AT THE DYKE BAR 
    The Bearded Tit (183 Regent St, Redfern)
    Saturday 15 March
    4 - 6pm
    FREE (register here)

    Join us for snacks and drinks at everyone's favourite dyke bar The Bearded Tit for an excerpt read and discussion with SNAKEFACE writer and performer Aliyah Knight and SNAKEFACE director and dramaturg Bernadette Fam. This bold new play invites you into Snakeface's queer haunts in all their joyful knotty-mess.

    BLACK OUT NIGHT
    Belvoir Downstairs Theatre (25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills)
    Saturday 12 April
    7:45 - 9:15pm
    $15 Tickets (message @snakefaceau if you wish to join us)

    We welcome you to Black Out Night, a special performance to hold space for Black African-diasporic and POC audiences while creating a theatre experience that centres Black storytelling. Please send us a message @snakefaceau if you wish to join us on this celebratory night.

    PERFORMING WITH BODY: A POST SHOW ARTIST PANEL
    Belvoir Downstairs Theatre (25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills)
    Sunday 20 April
    7:00pm - 8:00pm
    FREE (with tickets to the Sun 20 April performance of SNAKEFACE. Book here)

    Join us for a post-show panel with Community Engagement Lead Kelly Lovemonster (All Day Queer Dance), SNAKEFACE writer and performer Aliyah Knight, director, actor and musician Zindzi Okenyo (Play School, Critical Incident, Zindzi & the Zillionaires, Is God Is), and Basjia Almaan (House of Silky, Ten Thousand Suns).

    This artist panel will dive into the way identity and lived experience are explored and reflected in art made by those whose bodies become the site of their work. Through SNAKEFACE's lens as a play made for Black people, Queer people and sexual assault survivors, we aim to open up a dialogue about how intersectional bodies are presented on stage.