Silver Tongue (FoNW 2025)
Book by Jacob Parker and Miranda Middleton
Music by Alec Steedman
Silver Tongue is a raunchy and rollicking retelling of ‘Treasure Island’, which throws heroes and happy endings overboard in favour of villains, violins, and a whole lot of sea shags. HAGS. Sea hags.
Charting the unlikely friendship between a fierce, female Long John Silver and soul-searching youngster Jim Hawkins, Silver Tongue is a look at queer mentorship and found family, asking how you can write your own stories in a world that’s already decided who you are.
Following on from a sold-out concert presentation at the Hayes Festival of New Work in 2024, this sparkling new draft will delight audiences with its swashbuckling score and witty, irreverent book.
Prices
Full Price | $32
Passports
Festival Passport 10% off | $29
Festival Passport 20% off | $26
Times
Saturday 26 July | 7:30pm
Running Time
Approx. 90 mins (no interval)
Accessibility
Wheelchair Accessible
Additional Info
This is a script-in-hand presentation of the show’s current draft, with actors performing at mic stands. All performances of musicals during Hayes’s Festival of New Work are presentations, with no set or costumes, choreography, etc. The writer and/or composer will introduce the work at the start of the event.
The Writers
Miranda Middleton
Miranda Middleton is an award-winning director, writer, and dramaturg with a Master of Fine Arts (Directing) from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA). She is particularly interested in the intersection of text, music, and movement on stage, and aims to create theatrical events which spark joy and connection in the audience.
In 2024, Miranda was a recipient of the Sandra Bates Director’s Award at the Ensemble Theatre and nominated for a Green Room Award for Outstanding Direction of an Independent Musical for the Australian premiere production of ‘The Grinning Man’.
Miranda’s most recent directing credits include: ‘Into the Woods’ (Elder Conservatorium of Music), ‘In Her Own Words’ (Sydney Festival), ‘Paper Stars’ (Sydney Conservatorium of Music), ‘The Grinning Man’ (VASS Productions/Salty Theatre), ‘The Eisteddfod’ (Old Fitz Theatre). As Assistant Director: ‘Candide’ (Opera Australia), ‘My Brilliant Career’ (Melbourne Theatre Company), ‘Master Class’ (Ensemble Theatre), ‘Little Women’ (Hayes Theatre Co).
Jacob Parker
Jacob is a Sydney-based queer playwright who still needs to say the whole alphabet to know if R goes before or after T. Jacob has written plays such as This Genuine Moment, Tell Me Before the Sun Explodes and Dumb Kids.
He has worked with Griffin Theatre Company, Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), Q Theatre, Kings Cross Theatre company, was a finalist for the 2021 Martin Lysicrates Prize and was a recipient of Out For Australia’s 30 under 30 in 2023.
Alec Steedman
A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts Musical Theatre program, Alec is a multidisciplinary artist who works as an actor, singer, multi-instrumentalist, musical director and composer. As a composer, Alec has written original scores for Queensland Theatre’s critically acclaimed season of ‘As You Like It’ at the Bille Brown Theatre, Much do About Nothing for Artefact Theatre Co, One Hour No Oil for KXT and As You Like It for Sport for Jove. Alec has been a proud top 5 finalist in the APRA Music Theatre Professional Development Awards in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Alec is also an up and coming musical director in the Sydney theatre scene with credits on exciting shows such as Once (Darlinghurst Theatre Company), A Little Night Music (Hayes Theatre Co) and later this year will musically direct the Sydney premiere of ‘Bright Star’ with Sport for Jove at the Hayes.
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Accessibility
Wheelchair Seating
A limited number of accessible seats are available in the front row of the theatre (A13-A15). These, as well as Companion seats, can be purchased through the ‘Book Now’ link.
Please contact the box office on (02) 8065 7337 or visit our Accessibility Page if you have any questions regarding our accessibility.