TayoTayo Collective

27/06/2026

thank you!

Successful opening night for MR BIG at fortyfivedownstairss Deep beneath Flinders Lane at fortyfivedownstairs, we attended the opening night of the Filipino-Australian play, MR BIG aka Tatay, A Transwoman and That Tiring Tune!  The play is an unapologetically Filipino production, featuring the larg...

02/06/2026

We all have that one uncle. 💛
Happy Pride from MR BIG.
June 24—July 5 | fortyfivedownstairs
Tickets in bio.
HappyPride TheatreTok Pride2026
Presented by Tayo Tayo Collective & fortyfivedownstairs. Supported by City of Melbourne Arts Grants, Darebin Arts Speakeasy Spare Room & Creative Australia through Australian Cultural Fund. Development supported by Midsumma Presents 2026.

03/03/2026

A scene featuring Trevor Santos and Miles Paras from the development of ‘MR BIG aka Tatay.’ [This project] is supported through the Australian Cultural Fund. The development of this project was supported by Darebin Arts through the Darebin Arts Speakeasy Spare Room program and the City of Melbourne Arts Grants. It was further developed through the Midsumma Presents program as part of Midsumma Festival 2026. We are currently at 2,600 dollars toward our 5,000 dollar target. Your contribution will be doubled up to 5k via ACF Boost 2026 if you donate before April 30!

11/02/2026

Following the successful development and public reading at The Tower, Malthouse for Midsumma Presents, we are reporting that 23 percent of our fundraising goal has been reached. This rock ballad theatrical work is set for its premiere at fortyfivedownstairs this June, and every contribution directly supports our diverse team of artists.

Maximize your donor ROI through the ACF Boost 2026 program. Between now and April 30, every dollar you donate is matched dollar-for-dollar up to our $5,000 cap, effectively doubling your impact. All donations are tax-deductible in Australia, offering a secure and ethically transparent way to support the development of new Australian work. Join our eleven current donors and help us reach the finish line by clicking the link in bio.

Presented by Tayo Tayo Collective in association with fortyfivedownstairs.
MR BIG is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants and through the Australian Cultural Fund.
MR BIG’s development was supported by Darebin Arts through the Darebin Arts Speakeasy Spare Room program and Midsumma Festival through the Midsumma presents program 2026.

05/02/2026

The vision for MR BIG is coming into sharp focus at Northcote Town Hall for Day 4 of development. As we approach our first public reading, we are gearing up for the ACF Boost 2026: your donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to 5k. [This project] is supported through the Australian Cultural Fund. Support the journey here: link in bio.
Presented by Tayo Tayo Collective in association with fortyfivedownstairs. MR BIG is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants and through the Australian Cultural Fund. MR BIG’s development was supported by Darebin Arts through the Darebin Arts Speakeasy Spare Room program and Midsumma Festival through the Midsumma presents program 2026.

09/01/2026

The numbers are heavy. The story is necessary. 🏳️‍⚧️🇦🇺🇵🇭

Nearly 9 in 10 LGBTQ+ young Australians report harassment, bullying, or violence linked to their identity [Source: Minus18].

At the same time, surveys show around one-in-three migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds experience discrimination that undermines their sense of belonging [Source: Scanlon Foundation].

These lived realities contribute to psychological stress that data alone can’t fully capture, but stories can.

MR BIG dives into the “conditional acceptance” often faced by Trans people of colour, where love is sometimes tied to economic duty, not authentic identity. It explores the things we can’t quantify: the isolation, the family guilt, and the resilience required to keep singing.
Research confirms that shared storytelling fosters the connection we need to survive [Source: VicHealth]. MR BIG brings those stories into the room where we can confront, feel, and transform them together.

📅 Feb 7 | The Tower, Malthouse 🎟 Link in Bio

CREDITS: Presented by: Tayo Tayo Collective and Midsumma Festival
[The development of this project] was supported by Darebin Arts through the Darebin Arts Speakeasy Spare Room program.
Supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants.