'Converted!' is, to put it simply, a breath of fresh air.
Described on the Australian Theatre for Young People’s (ATYP) website as a ‘brand new comedy disco musical’ written by Vic Zerbst with music by Zerbst and Oliver John Cameron, Converted! is everything you could ask for in a piece of contemporary musical theatre; it’s camp, it's bright, it’s hilarious, and it’s heartwarming. At its world premiere at the Rebel Theatre as part of Sydney Festival 2025, there seems to be a mutual understanding between all members of the audience — this show is going to go places.
Vertigo had the honour of attending on a cloudy but balmy night toward the end of the show’s short run. Nestled on the harbourfront, the Rebel Theatre housed a kind of magic that was almost tangible, with a full audience loitering on the balcony and sprawled through the foyer, conversations over glasses of prosecco echoing along the staircases leading up to the intimate interior of the theatre.
Then, the house opened, and an eager audience flooded in. The set was simple upon first glance: neon pink strip lights lined the proscenium, a gymnasium-style crashmat to the left, and a cluttered cork board to the right, with faux windows overhead letting in rosy light onto the centre of attention — a back wall covered in tie-dyed t-shirts, all with tacky camp branding, logos and mottos. The semi-circle stage lended itself well to this show, with the audience crowding on the curved seating bank, knees tucked tightly; you couldn’t help but feel like you were waiting for a camp counsellor to start speaking in metaphor while you nodded along blindly.
Converted! follows the story of 17-year-old Maya — when she is advised by her school counsellor to attend the ‘Fix Yourself!’ camp for teenagers with low self-esteem, Maya goes happily, excited to set herself on the right path. Here, she meets returning camper, Bone, who helps her figure out that things aren’t quite as they seem. Grappling with brand new big feelings, the pressure between blending in and being true to yourself, and the classic dilemma of what to do when you like someone and can’t tell them, Converted! is vibrant, raucously funny, and deeply charming.
Pairing But I’m A Cheerleader-style campiness with insurmountable tenderness and a deep sense of inspiration to let yourself shine in all your iterations, Converted! is unique and distinct in the current theatre landscape, complete with bush doofs, carabiners and a lot of tie dye. It oscillates between serious and genuinely hilarious in a masterful way, and with Hayden Tonazzi’s masterful direction of the magnetic and talented cast of performers, including beloved Vertigo alumni Melody Kiptoo, Converted! harnessed a magical kind of energy in the close proximity of the Rebel Theatre.
While Converted! uses humour to diffuse the conversations surrounding the very real trauma of Queer individuals in Australia, it discusses LGBTQI+ conversion practices in Australia in a poignant and impactful way with grace and heart. To some, it may feel like a far-off topic, but the reality is that New South Wales only passed legislation to formally ban LGBTQI+ conversion practices in March 2024.
In the face of this, seeing a show that depicts so much Queer joy in a heartfelt way is deeply refreshing and necessary in today’s landscape.
The push-and-pull between lightness and gravity made Act 2 a little emotionally confusing for the audience, which took away slightly from the plot’s events, but isn’t that a little bit perfect? The raucous laughter making way for the silent weeping and vice versa in such quick succession feels so authentic to the teenage experience, especially for those in the intersection of adolescence and Queerness. It’s messy, intimate, tender, a little chaotic, and so wonderfully, joyfully, beautifully Queer.
On this ordinary Thursday night, Converted! got a type of standing ovation that I’ve rarely seen in my years of attending the theatre. Following the cast’s bows, the house lights came on, and still, the audience kept clapping and cheering, the cast long having disappeared into the wings. The entirety of the Rebel Theatre felt like it sparkled, twinkling past the neon stage lights and the beautiful harbour views and the foyer of audience members smiling and gushing over the performance, branded Converted! pins adorning their lapels. And a tiny little star, cast in the dappled light of disco balls and lilac tulle, sat in my chest, glowing neon pink the whole way home.
While ATYP doesn't have any productions showing right now, stay tuned for announcements on their website!
Article header original image is from the Sydney Festival 2025 promotional catalogue, with embellishes by hand.