Back to Me: A Musical Journey of Survival is a powerful new Australian musical from Rough as Guts Productions.
What started as a howl of grief and rage in response to the constant reports of Australian women being lost to intimate partner homicide has culminated in a compelling one-woman musical about a woman determined to survive. The show traces one woman’s path from despair to empowerment after fleeing the family home in fear for her life. Tilly’s journey unfolds as she finds the courage to seek help, navigate the Courts, retrieve her children and finally secure safe housing and new employment.
The show uses a mix of original songs and multimedia to give us a window into a process often hidden from public view. Back to Me’s mission is to create empathy for and understanding of the barriers women face when trying to escape a violent relationship and rebuild their lives.
In 2024, 81 women were killed due to gender-based violence, a significant increase from previous years. At the time of writing, the 2026 tally is 46. “The constant headlines wear us down. Yet women can and do escape violence every day. I wanted to celebrate the grit and courage of these women” says award-winning songwriter and co-writer Penelope Swales. Jules De Cinque (ex-Women’s Circus, playwright, educator and performer) concurs: “I wanted to do something about this crisis. I wanted everyone to be talking about it. So I contacted Penelope and we wrote songs.”
Swales and De Cinque both have professional experience working with vulnerable women and young people dealing with the impact of family violence. In addition, Swales has both lived experience of gendered violence, and has lost a friend to it – Velvet Pesu, the first woman to be killed in 2026. The script and original music was written by Swales and De Cinque, with a song contributed by NZ songstress Victoria Vigenser. Back to Me is directed by Dr Margie Mackay, who has created interdisciplinary, ritual-art practices in communities both nationally and internationally. A dedicated low-sensory performance for neurodiverse audiences will be available on Wednesday 30 September.
September 29 – October 4
melbournefringe.com.au
