Instagram story viewer> @altartheplay> Posts

ALTAR by Em Tambree

@altartheplay

229

followers

115

following

A queer love story by Em Tambree 🕊️
30 JUL — 25 AUG @underbellyedinburgh

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

ALTAR won the @offwestendcom Off Fest Award 🕊️ @edfringe

The prestigious Off Fest Award honours urgent, innovative work premiering at grassroots festivals across the UK. It was launched in 2019 to ensure that productions with shorter runs and tighter budgets receive meaningful recognition for their contribution to the UK theatre industry.

ALTAR was nominated with 42 insanely brilliant productions (chosen out of 3893 shows presented at the festival last year). Each and every show nominated is filled with artists our team admires and aspires to be. To be chosen for this category at this calibre with @francesca_moody_productions and @shapercaper is beyond what our team ever thought possible.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭:
Thank you to each and every one of you who have supported trans storytelling during such a scary time in our recent history: we have been told more than once that the world doesn’t want our stories, yet your support of ALTAR is a testament that our love is sacred and deserves to be heard. Em will surely thank all of you one by one - but we couldn’t have done this without our amazing team: Em Tambree, Kat Yates, Kyra Ryan, Callum Cheah, and our phenomenal actors: Evie Korver, Eddie Pattison, our understudy for Sutton Beth Paterson, and our Auslan actors & interpreters for Dan and Sutton (Charlie Webb & Kellie Steele).

Thank you to Underbelly for taking a chance on a queer love story from halfway across the globe and for taking such care of us during the festival. Thank you to Midsumma Festival and Abbotsford Convent for commissioning the work; to Harriet Devlin and Brendan Cooney for championing ten pages into a debut play. We have received hundreds of letters from people who wish for ALTAR to continuing reaching even more audiences, but already, this production has changed our lives and given us so much strength to continue telling our stories.

This play is for every queer kid who isn’t sure if they have a future - you do and it’s so bright. I promise you. It doesn’t get better, but it does get worth it. Every bit of it. There is so much love waiting for you.

🎞️ @jmtubera taken in Westminster, Central London by @altartheplay

3

16

6 months ago

We’re nominated for a UK theatre award!! 🤯

Our incredible Director @katyatesdirector will be there tomorrow night representing ALTAR for the @offwestendcom ceremony at Central Hall Westminster. 🎫🏆🥂✨ Please buy her a glass of bubbly for us & make sure she has a smashing time!!

If you are an international fan of ALTAR??? You can also watch the ceremony live via streaming. Details can be found at @theatrechannel taken in Central Hall, Westminster by @altartheplay

3

11

7 months ago

Called my girls said “SOS pick a dress” for we are winning an international award tonight 🏆💅🏻 @offwestendcom

Thank you to @katyatesdirector & @milliepitcher for accepting the Off Fest Award on my behalf, and for making sure I didn’t miss a single second of it whilst streaming in at 3am!! Your messages and calls and videos and tears of joy and pride made it even more special than it already is & was.

I feel so lucky to share this moment forever with you 💕
📹 vlog by @milliepitcher taken in Westminster, Central London by @altartheplay

3

29

6 months ago

We snuck into ALTAR to surprise our team with their award @edfringe 🏆✨🌈

Thank you to @bingefringemag for joining us to create this special moment!!!

🎥 our award winning housemate @bethpatersonaus taken in Edinburgh Festival Fringe by @altartheplay

3

20

a year ago

We won the Binge Fringe Queer Performer’s Award 2025!!! @edfringe

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℚ𝕦𝕖𝕖𝕣 ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕖𝕣’𝕤 𝔸𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝕠𝕣 ‘ℚ𝕦𝕖𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤‘ 𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕓𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕞𝕡𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕃𝔾𝔹𝕋ℚ𝕀𝔸+ 𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖𝕤, 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕒 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕙 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕔𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕖𝕣 𝕚𝕤𝕤𝕦𝕖𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕢𝕦𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖.
— 𝕁𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕔𝕖 @bingefringemag

Our team has cried enough happy tears to fill a Loch.

We are a small collective of queer artists from Australia. This show has been entirely self-funded by us for those like us. It is our response to these scary, scary times. All of us have put so much time and effort and heart into the show. It is an act of love from every single person in our team. 💕

We are artistic collaborators, but we are also eachother’s chosen family. To be recognised at an international level for our craft by some of the world’s best LGBTIQA+ theatre makers and industry delegates? That is already monumental for all of us individually.

But it is an even greater gift to watch the people you love most achieve their dreams — and to get to do so together. #artistssupportingartists #lgbt by @altartheplay

3

6

a year ago

Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for ALTAR @adiary_forstrangers ✍🏻💕

Em Tambree wrote ALTAR for the vulnerable intersection between queerness and faith. They originally pitched the show as “a sapphic Normal People (2020) — but funny and with religious baggage to unpack.”

The female and queer gaze is on every page of the script. This show was literally written for the gays.

💒 What we didn’t expect was for the show to reach so many people of faith, across generations, wishing to expand their definition of God’s children. Those moments are healing to share.

“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞”
— 𝐀 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑨𝑹 @underbellyedinburgh
⏰ 2.50 PM
🗓️ til’ August 25
📍The Wee Coo

🎟️ TICKET LINK IN BIO 🎟️
📸 @jmtubera taken in George Square, Edinburgh by @altartheplay

3

2

a year ago

💍 @the.scotsman said yes 🥹

@eviekorver & @eddie.pattison seeing their names in the newspaper for the first time 🏳️‍🌈💒🏳️‍⚧️ taken in Edinburgh Festival Fringe by @altartheplay

3

4

a year ago

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴄᴏᴛꜱᴍᴀɴ!!!✨
What a way to start our second week @edfringe

ALTAR is back this afternoon at @underbellyedinburgh to tug at your heart strings & take your breath away.

And don’t worry darlings, we’ve got tissues at the ready for you 😘

🗓️ til’ August 25
⏰ 2.50PM (runtime: 60 minutes)
📍George Square, The Wee Coo 🐄

🎟️ TICKET LINK IN BIO 🎟️
📸 by @jmtubera taken in Edinburgh Festival Fringe by @altartheplay

3

8

a year ago

✍🏻 what audiences are saying about ALTAR @underbellyedinburgh

The support for ALTAR has been overwhelmingly beautiful during week one @edfringe. Thank you to our Scottish audiences who have stayed back for a cuddle, written us love notes on our edfringe page, or attended the show TWICE. Your support means everything to us!!

ALTAR began as a @midsummafestival commission in residency with @abbotsfordconvent. It was developed on-site as a site-specific performance for the @peterrowlandgroup Rosina Courtyard (pictured) with leading LGBTIQA+ Australian organisations and rainbow inclusive congregations.

We have travelled halfway across the world and transformed our play from a 50m2 wedding venue to 5m2 black box to tell this love story.

It is a testament to our dedicated creative team, @katyatesdirector immaculate directorial eye and the breathtaking performances of @eviekorver & @eddie.pattison that ALTAR hasn’t lost any of its power or ability to provoke conversation. You are still writing in to let us know that we are touching hearts and changing minds!

🌏💖🌈 This season has already shown us that our play is part of a much larger global discussion about trans human rights, religious freedom, and true love.

We couldn’t be prouder to be part of that. We’re proving to ourselves and the world that we’re ready to tell this story anywhere and at any scale.

Now that you’ve had a glimpse of our journey here? We hope you join us & follow along for our last two weeks in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

ONLY 12 PERFORMANCES LEFT 👀
Before we fly home to the land of Oz 🇦🇺

📸 portrait of @eddie.pattison by @jmtubera & candid shot @emtambree in script development by @capt.h00k taken in Edinburgh Festival Fringe by @altartheplay

3

0

a year ago

The girls that get it? Get it. 🔥
Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for ALTAR from @flora_gosling

“𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐦.”
— 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠

ALTAR is back today at @underbellyedinburgh for another week of tremendous performances (@eviekorver & @eddie.pattison) and Miss Julie level stakes (shout out to our director @katyatesdirector)

Make some time for yourself. Join us for a cheeky little yearn at 2.50PM 🫠

🎟️ full review & ticket link in bio taken in Edinburgh Festival Fringe by @altartheplay

3

0

a year ago

The chemistry between Eddie Pattison & Evie Marie Korver as Dan & Sutton has got our audiences gasping and critics raving 😳 @edfringe

Two friends. One wedding. Ten years worth of delicious tension. Come see what all the fuss & perfect quips are about 💅🏻🌈

🔗 ticket link in bio
#altartheplay #fringefaves #queertheatre #newwriting #edinburghfringe #daretodiscover #stage #transpride taken in Edinburgh Festival Fringe by @altartheplay

3

1

a year ago

Waking up to this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review is a moment our team will never forget! 🙏🏻

Thank you to @bingefringemag for so beautifully capturing the heart of what we’ve worked so hard to create. For our very first write-up in Scotland to be this exquisitely detailed & glowing??? We couldn’t be happier!!!

You can read the full review for yourself at the link in our bio 📚
📸 @jmtubera taken in Edinburgh Festival Fringe by @altartheplay

3

7

a year ago