Saltwater Girls

A sharp, soulful new work blending storytelling, movement and memoir, Saltwater Girls is a candid exploration of queer girlhood, Catholic school days and the poetic whispers of Sappho. Written and performed by Lana Filies with direction by Amelia Gilday, this performance walks the line between confessional and darkly funny — examining what it feels like to grow up queer in the middle of public debate.

Set against the backdrop of Erskineville Town Hall’s intimate Boom Boom Room, the work invites you to lean in — not for spectacle, but for sincerity. There’s no glitter cannon or drag queen energy here. Just a voice, a story, and a room full of space to feel.

The piece premiered as part of Sydney Fringe Festival in 2026, nestled in the heart of a program full of bold new Australian voices. This is storytelling with texture — awkward, a little raw, and quietly triumphant.

It’s the kind of work that lingers after the lights come up. The kind that feels like a conversation you didn’t know you needed to have — with yourself, with your past, and with a community that’s learning to speak its truth out loud.