Generation #1 - 2023
Stories from the Heart was born during Sydney World Pride 2023 as a way to give queer teens something they rarely have: a space that’s fully theirs to create, connect, and shine.
The first iteration was a huge success. Over two weekends, eight queer teens (Remy, Kenzie, Solaris, Jack, Jesse, Thalia, Lilliana & Jollee) worked with an incredible team of queer mentors - Zoe Terakes, imbi, Tommy Misa, and Laneikka Denne -to create powerful 3–5 minute performances. These workshops weren’t just about creating performances; they were about helping these young people share their stories and express their truth. For many participants, this was the first time they’d had a space where they could fully be themselves and be celebrated for it.
The workshops were filled with creativity, laughter, and moments of real connection. They ended with a live showcase during Sydney World Pride, where the teens performed their pieces to a packed, supportive audience that included queer community members and industry professionals. It was a night full of joy, pride, and inspiration, with many audience members describing it as the highlight of their Pride experience.
The journey didn’t end there. The participants were also invited to march in the Mardi Gras Parade with Wear It Purple—a truly unforgettable experience that capped off the program with glitter, rainbows, and pure queer magic.
Seeing how much impact Stories from the Heart had on its first group of participants—and on everyone who experienced it—made it clear this couldn’t be a one-time thing. We’re now working to make Stories from the Heart an annual program, continuing to provide a space where queer teens can express themselves, build community, and connect with amazing queer mentors.
Stories from the Heart is more than a workshop series—it’s a celebration of young queer voices and a space where creativity, identity, and community come together. We can’t wait to see how this program continues to grow and inspire the next generation of queer artists.
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Monologue
For most, a family dinner is a place of love. For Lila, that love lies elsewhere. A FAMILY DINNER is an exploration of the distance that can form between families and the painful acceptance of reconciling your queerness on your own.
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Monologue
CLAUSTROPHOBIA gives an inside look into the mental and emotional process of a neurodivergent teen struggling with their gender identity and place in the world.
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Monologue
A young transman is riddled with anxiety when talking himself into confessing his feelings for a girl.
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Performance Art
TRANSFORMATIONS is a performance art piece which transcends words and explores the trans and queer experience within the bounds of a heteronormative society.
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Monologue
WE ARE HERE TOGETHER follows Solaris’ connection to the queer people of Iran, as an Iranian person himself, along with queer people everywhere. We're all one big family, and we're everywhere, no matter what laws may try to stop us.
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Monologue
After having a fight with their mother, a queer fifteen year old finds a letter from their ten year old self while cleaning their messy room and realises the person they used to be is still in reach.
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Monologue
JESUS IS A FRIEND OF MINE is a dark comedy theater piece that follows the story of Angela, a young catholic school girl struggling with her identity and what she previously believed. When she is advised to pray by a teacher, Jesus returns the call and comes down to earth.
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Musical
In a musical about a house party in Kellyville, a queer teen grapples with the crushing confusions and euphoric elations of identity, memory, and escape.
Generation #2 - 2025
Stories from the Heart returned in 2025, evolving and expanding while staying true to its core mission. This time, nine queer teens came together, to tell their stories and…
Returning to our Gadigal home at ATYP, we met a new bunch of talented queer and trans young people, Bella, Jaime/Frankie, Aynie, Rae, Alex, Ray, Nick, Raine, and AJ, bringing in a wide range of performance types - from theatre to stand-up comedy to dance to live music. We had it all!
Something very special about this project is that it is community-made. Every single worker on this (mentor, support workers, admin) are people that are significant to the Sydney queer community, as Claud (our producer) likes to say, everyone has been “plucked deep from the community”. This year, we had a brand-new lineup of incredible queer mentors - jonny seymour, Mohammad Awad, Callan Purcell & Zoe Terakes, guest appearances from Betty Grumble and Harry “BAYANG (tha Bushranger)”. We also had a much bigger core team made up of Claud (producer), Mantshologane Maile (Coordinator), imbi (returning as resident artist) and Ma’ata Palu (support worker). The team reflected the strength of the program in their art practice and shared life experiences. The mentorship model of this program is one of its strengths and what really sets it apart.
The project culminated in a showcase on March 9th, 2025, to an audience of 110 people: families, friends, and members of the intergenerational LGBTQIA+SB community. The performances spanned music, theatre, dance, and comedy, showcasing the incredible range of talent and storytelling styles. Every single participant who started the program finished it- a 100% completion rate that speaks to the power of the space created.
The impact was profound. 100% of participants reported gaining confidence in self-expression, feeling safe to express themselves authentically, and developing meaningful connections with other participants. As Nick shared, "'Stories' made me see myself as an artist. As someone who did write well and who could get on stage and perform in front of people. It made me have hope in my future in the creative fields, like it wasn't some long shot dream that would never happen."
The audience was equally moved. As one parent reflected, "My husband said to me afterwards, every person who has an opinion on trans youth needs to come and see this performance and experience these beautiful young people who have so much joy and love in their hearts but have such a difficult path."
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Monologue
A series of late year, late night spirals on quick fixes, bodies, purity, meaning, and what it is to be a girl (or anything at all).
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Music
Making a powerful return to the stage, Frankie a dedicated emo from the Canberra DIY punk scene, delves into the raw emotions of love that aren’t just toxic, but dangerous. It’s an unrelenting look at how love and mental struggle can intertwine, creating a force from which no one is safe.
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Monologue
An anecdotal confrontation towards passive bilingualism and compulsive heterosexuality that explores the miscommunications of existing as a queer second generation immigrant in diaspora.
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Music
A mix of song and poetry exploring personal experiences with love and loss.
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Stand-Up Comedy
Blah blah blah, highschool. Blah blah blah, being queer. It’s another blonde comedian with a mullet, it’s not that deep. Is he a transgender guy or is he a lesbian? We’re too afraid to ask.
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Interactive Monologue
Assignment name: Do you love the way society intends you to do?
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Monologue / Music
How long do I have to wait until the doctor arrives...
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Monologue
Sit down, get comfortable and let us tell you about a kid and their shoes.
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Dance
This piece takes inspiration from the Wiradjuri dreamtime story of Mulaa Wir (stars) leading mob Gunya (home). It showcases the struggle that current mob face, being caught between contemporary lifestyles, and traditional beliefs. Remembering that we must continue to follow the stars.
APPS CLOSED
