
written by sarah miller
directed by cassandra fumi
What Lies Beneath

14 - 18 OCTOBER | EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
written by sarah miller
directed by cassandra fumi
What Lies Beneath is a retelling of the Persephone and Demeter myths — a sensual, poetic descent into the underworld of the self. Inspired by women's lived experiences of menarche (first bleeding) and menopause (the great pause), this work traverses the sacred thresholds of becoming, unraveling, and returning. Through movement, music, and ancestral voices, it invites us to honour grief, reclaim the body, and reawaken the deep cycles of womanhood and nature. Above ground, the temple has fallen and species slip into extinction. Below, seeds lie forgotten.
Drawn by the cries of the dead and the stirrings of her own longing, Persephone embarks on a journey into the underworld. Her mother, Demeter, is left to grieve — not only the loss of her daughter, but the erosion of ancient rituals and the rhythms that once bound us to each other and the Earth. A remembering — of blood and seed, of bloom and decay, of feminine power rising from the dark.
VENUE
Explosives Factory, Rear Laneway 67 Inkerman Street, St Kilda
DURATION
75 Minutes
WARNINGS
ACCESSIBILITY
Explosives Factory is accessed via a flight of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.


DATES + TIMES
Tue 14 Oct 6:30PM
Wed 15 Oct 6:30PM
Thu 16 Oct 6:30PM
Fri 17 Oct 6:30PM
Sat 18 Oct 6:30PM
Theatre Works has a lockout policy for latecomers. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure you don't miss out.
Refunds will not be issued to latecomers.
TICKETS
FULL PRICE
$35.00
CONCESSION
$28.00

Theatre Works has been long established as the south-side festival hub in Melbourne.
Theatre Works’ MELBOURNE FRINGE FESTIVAL HUB will be buzzing with 17 shows across our two venues - a bold showcase of the full spectrum of independent performance and the brilliant, boundary-pushing artists who make it possible.
*Seniors, Student, MEAA, Health Care and Low Income card holders

CREDITS
Writer: Sarah Miller
Director: Cassandra Fumi
Dramaturg: Cathy Hunt
Performers: Rosa Voto, Daphne Gerolymou-Papadopoulos, Clare Larman
Sound Designer: Ria Soemardjo
Choreography: Rosa Voto
Designer: Louisa Fitzgerald
Lighting Designer: Amelia Lumley
Production manager/creative logistics: Sarah Miller
Stage Manager: Georgie Bright
MEET THE ARTIST -
Cassandra Fumi
Cassandra Fumi is an award winning theatre director credits include; RHINOCEROS (fortyfivedownstiars), WORLD PROBLEMS (Melbourne Theatre Company), THE CROCODILE (Winner Best Director 2024 Green Room Awards), FAR AWAY (fortyfivedownstiars), THE MERMAID (La Mama Theatre - 2021 VCE Playlist), DOG SHOW (Melbourne Fringe Hub). She was the Associate Director on A VERY JEWISH CHRISTMAS CAROL (Melbourne Theatre Company) and Assistant Director on THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA (Melbourne Theatre Company). She has a longstanding collaboration with THE RABBLE as Stage Manager on LONE, UNWOMAN, YES and Community Liaison for WAKE. Cassandra is the Associate Artist on BODY OF KNOWLEDGE with Samara Hersch. Cassandra loves the way theatre can break down barriers, form community and allow for a group of people to work towards a creative goal collectively

