i can still see all the stars.
it was always going to end, wasn’t it?
andie and tessa. comets destined to pass one another, doomed by the narrative. on their first date, sharing their coming out story for the 500th time over a bottle of expensive rosé, it feels meant to be – but as their relationship expands with heart and thrill, so do the ghosts of their closeted past. as the pair desperately struggle to escape the echoes, will they find their place amongst works of fiction?
with an all queer female-aligned creative team led by five star playwright emmett aster, ‘i can still see all the stars.’ shines a light on the trauma of growing up queer. a bittersweet exploration of love, community, and grief, this compelling story will leave you wanting to hold yourself and your loved ones with tenderness.
★★★★ “A story so often felt by queer folk but rarely seen on stage.” – Fringefeed 2025
[my favourite part of this project has been] being able to work with an amazing crew to deliver a gorgeously heartbreaking story that talks about the queer experience in a way that few others have. it’s made me feel so seen and heard and i hope this show gives that to anyone else who watches it.
original creative team
playwright/director
emmett aster (he/him)
assistant director
tea lowry (they/she)
producer
caity wainwright (they/she)
stage manager
izzy chard (they/them)
assistant stage manager
faybian kai (it/they)
set designer
kiana roberts (she/her)
costume designer
dana brennan (she/her)
sound designer
jules burton (she/her)
marketing manager
daisy finch (all pronouns)
original cast
andie/izzy
lauren daniels (they/them)
tessa/mia
jessie kaitlan (she/they)
understudy andie/izzy
tea lowry (they/she)
understudy tessa/mia
dana brennan (she/her)
video content.
official reviews
swirling like comets caught in a whirlwind is the story of “i can still see all the stars”.
a simple stage with a solitary double bed, draped with fabrics sets the scene, the props are immeshed in symbolism and used to great effect to articulate a queer love story steeped with playful romance, haunting trauma and everyday tragedy.
the story of the two loves is complex, haunting, heartwarming and gut-wrenching. a story so often felt by queer folk but rarely seen on stage. its tenderness and acknowledgment of the heaviness and lack of belonging that can be felt makes this story potent and important to share.
the music and the lighting are effective at cultivating atmosphere and assisting scene transitions. lanterns are used to enhance the storytelling and the performers know their parts well, easily bringing their audience along on the emotive journey. the talented direction and skillful delivery showcases this as a beautiful and melancholic queer love story that is delicate and as special as a shooting star.
[i can still see all the stars.] endeavours to tackle subjects that are sorely under-represented in our storytelling culture. the play explores the fractured nature of queer relationships, and how the trauma of growing up unable to be our true selves affects us as we negotiate a minefild that is already difficult to navigate for people without the added baggage.
rather than follow a linear trajectory, the author and director, emmett aster, has deliberately broken the narrative into countless tiny shards of story and reassembled them into a kaleidoscopic mosaic of tiny moments. this staggeringly brave approach to the story allows us to grasp the entire story at once and allows us to focus less on the plot and devote more time to exploring how our past experiences continue to impact our lives and relationships years later. it is an exceptionally brilliant concept.
a show well worth seeing for its themes and the way it explores them alone, and with a bit more work on the technicalities of the actual production, it is a show that has the potential to become truly memorable.
this gentle, queer, love story was originally written to make up the creative portion of an honours dissertation, and plays beautifully on stage. charmingly performed, it was a pleasure to watch.
a short play, with a great deal of heart… a story that highlights the continuing challenges of queer relationships, well presented with quiet strength.
audience testimonials
such an incredible show. struggling with acceptance growing up as a queer individual is not an easy experience, it was so encouraging, and important not only to be represented in art but to feel understood and to feel so connected to an audience.
jess and lauren had such a tricky task of dual roles and did a fabulous job in portraying different connections and such yearning. the crew and creators have outdone themselves in forging this piece of art and i hope they receive many more opportunities to continue creating with such passion.
moving and poetic queer storytelling, believable characters and simple, yet evocative direction and stage. felt like a fresh, very high quality little show- one to watch and come back to.
like watching myself but with lighting and a sound track. i felt as though the love and pain that i once had was told with such poetry. the writing captures the imaginative scenes that we create in our head when we overthink. it follows the journey of our first love: withholding when we wish to talk, asking our partners to read our minds, testing out boundaries, and questioning whether we are enough or too much.
to any members of the lgbtqia+ community, we see you. this is a statement that rings true from start to finish with this show. it’ll not only claw its way into the deepest depths of your body and drag that which you’ve loved and lost into the light, but also soothe these wounds and bring you comfort in knowing you are not the only one suffering. a bittersweet story, but definitely a must watch if you or someone you know is queer.
upon entering the venue i was given a tea light candle, but really, it should have been a few tissues as well. the performances by the people on stage and the story they tell is heartbreaking and from the viewers i spoke with, close to home in different ways for a lot of people. everyone can relate to an aspect of this story about loving someone else and even yourself. if you get a chance to watch this show, do it, but be prepared to cry.
an emotionally moving display of the delicate intricacies and complexities behind a complicated relationship. the show pulls back the curtain to reveal the underlying and uncommunicated emotions that create unease between two people who love each other. a love letter to the queer community and those who are on a journey to process their past traumas, you will feel heard.
i loved this show so much, it was so beautifully written and the actors were exceptional. I loved the tale of a queer relationship growing and falling apart with the intimate setting and beautifully done lighting. i can’t wait to see what this company and actors do next.
without spoilers this play shined bright like a star. the actors delivered compelling, often tear jerking, memorable performances. this show exceeded every expectation i had of it, I would highly recommend checking out this hidden gem in the heart of perth.
this show was incredible, i was truly left speechless and definitely in tears. i don’t even know where to begin.
i want to watch this again and again. the involvement of the queer audience was so special, and turning on my tea light just made me cry harder. the words spoken as they walked up the stairs and through the audience just hit really hard, i was so emotional. it was an incredible feeling.
the cast and crew have really outdone themselves. i couldn’t praise them more, and i am so glad to have witnessed this show come to the stage. thank you so much to everyone in the cast and crew for breaking my heart. i will be thinking about this show for a long time.
everyone’s queer experiences are so unique, but to be able to see myself up there on the stage, was a huge moment for me. i don’t think i have ever felt so seen, to know that there are people out there that get it.
i could continue to write more, i just have so many thoughts that i just do not know how to articulate.
we really need more queer stories and art being created like this. it meant so much to me to be able to relate to the experiences being shared on the stage. the writing was just stunning. i was obsessed.
we are told at the beginning how it will end, but as you become attached to the characters and their search for love you think they might change fate. beautifully and believably acted: why do couples feel lonely and vulnerable when you see that they both love and are desperate to be loved?
cleverly slips between the present and the future, and to past conversations.
great theatre. this is a universal love story, with kind of a happy ending.
thank you.
cast and crew interviews
daisy finch
marketing manager
jules burton
sound designer
dana brennan
costume designer & understudy (tessa)
kiana roberts
set designer
faybian kai
assistant stage manager
izzy chard
stage manager
teaghan lowry
assistant director & understudy (andie)
emmett aster
director & playwright
caity wainwright
producer
jessie kaitlan
performer: tessa
lauren daniels
performer: andie