Mademoiselle Maupin is a bi+ icon, opera singer and swordsman who was born around 1673. She frequently dressed in men's clothing and was known to have had relationships with all genders. Her story is wild and fraught with rumour and scandal, taking numerous lovers and using her connection to the French monarchy to be excused from fencing duels and start her career at the Paris Opera. There are a few adaptations of her story, including an opera film, but I am creating a show that focuses on her story and struggles with gender identity, as well as what it means being bi+ in an era where heterosexuality was the norm (like today). The story is based on her true story. It begins at the start of her career putting on a show title ‘The Prince of Violets’, caught between appeasing her male lover who pulls the strings in the theatre, his sibling who is Julie’s best friend, and her growing infatuation with the leading lady. There is a ragtag chorus of onlookers whose stories interweave into the menagerie of the love story. But, there’s a twist – someone is trying to steal from the theatre and everyone must come together to solve the mystery. The story culminates with Julie heartbroken but learning to lean on her newfound chosen family. The show must go on! Obviously with a fencing duel or two along the way.

The goal of this project, is to make theatre more accessible, whilst creating much-needed queer character representation in the medium. It is also to create roles for queer actors to play out queer stories and give opportunities for young, queer actors to be visible. This show will also be exploring how to make music accessible to a range of people with different accessibility needs.

This project received funding from City of Melbourne Arts grants for 2021–2022 and the project is looking for further funding for workshops in 2025. This initial development of Julie (originally called A Musical Drama about Mademoiselle Maupin) is possible thanks to the City of Melbourne.