🎭 Asexual Fantasies and Hopeless Aromantics
🗓️  16 Jun to 21 Jun
📍 The Butterfly Club
🎟️  thebutterflyclub.com

In this episode of Showtime, host Andrew G sits down with rising theatre artist Sophie Harvey. Originally from Scotland and now based in Melbourne, Sophie is debuting her first solo cabaret, Asexual Fantasies and Hopeless A-Romantics, at The Butterfly Club. Their conversation explores the deeply personal journey that led to the creation of the show, which centres on Sophie’s experiences as an asexual person who is also navigating the aromantic spectrum. The result is a candid and often funny conversation about identity, representation and the power of performance.

Sophie’s love of performing started early, despite being a quiet kid who often kept to herself. Her earliest memories of wanting to be on stage were shaped by watching Disney films and classic movie musicals. School plays offered the first real opportunity to perform and feel seen. Over time, her confidence grew, and so did her ambition. After moving to Melbourne, she studied full-time at Showfit, where her interest in combining theatre with personal storytelling really took root.

The idea for Asexual Fantasies and Hopeless A-Romantics came about because Sophie felt there were too few stories about people like her. As someone who identifies as asexual and is exploring her place on the aromantic spectrum, she wanted to create something that both expressed her experiences and provided visibility for others who rarely see themselves represented in media. The cabaret is a mix of storytelling, music, awkward teen diary entries and thoughtful moments of reflection. It is filled with self-deprecating humour, vulnerability and a genuine desire to connect with audiences, especially those who might feel just as unseen.

Writing the show was a form of discovery in itself. Sophie admits that she’s still figuring things out, and that part of what makes the cabaret special is its honesty about the uncertainty of identity. Rather than presenting polished conclusions, the show embraces the complexity and fluidity of how people understand themselves. She shares that writing the piece helped her reframe past experiences and gave her new language for things she always felt but couldn’t quite express at the time. The process was at times emotional and challenging, but also empowering.

Putting the show together largely on her own, Sophie found herself not just a writer and performer but also a producer, marketer and administrator. This all-in approach pushed her out of her comfort zone, but also built her confidence and independence as a creative. She speaks openly about the highs and lows of the process, from moments of self-doubt and imposter syndrome to the satisfaction of seeing everything come together. The Butterfly Club, known for championing emerging voices, felt like the perfect venue to launch such a personal project.

While Sophie doesn’t claim to speak for all asexual or aromantic people, she recognises that telling her story might help others feel less alone. She’s already had people reach out to say that just seeing the title of her show made them feel understood. That kind of impact, she says, is the real reward. For those unfamiliar with asexuality and aromanticism, the show offers gentle, funny and insightful education. For those within those identities, it’s a rare and welcome mirror. Either way, Sophie hopes audiences leave feeling something—curiosity, comfort, joy or just a better understanding of someone else’s world.

The cabaret also subverts the usual assumptions about what a romantic or sexual narrative should look like. Sophie playfully engages with tropes from rom-coms and musical theatre, questioning why certain kinds of relationships are considered more valuable than others. Friendship, self-love, independence—these are just as worthy of celebration, and her show finds humour and heart in those spaces. She doesn’t avoid difficult topics, but she also refuses to let the narrative be dominated by struggle. There’s laughter, celebration, awkwardness and even a bit of glitter.

Looking ahead, Sophie wants a career that allows her to do many things—cabaret, plays, musicals, maybe even some more writing. She values versatility, and above all, she wants to keep telling stories that matter to her. Whether that means continuing to explore themes around identity or branching into entirely new territory, she’s excited to see where it all leads. She also acknowledges the importance of taking care of herself and finding joy and balance outside of performance. Success, she says, isn’t just about bookings or applause. It’s about connection and contentment.

This interview captures a performer at a powerful intersection—young, honest, ambitious and ready to be heard. Sophie Harvey’s cabaret is more than just a show. It’s a statement of presence and a quiet but confident challenge to the kinds of stories we usually hear on stage. It invites audiences to laugh, learn and reflect. Most of all, it offers something theatre needs more of—authenticity without apology.

Asexual Fantasies and Hopeless A-Romantics runs at The Butterfly Club in June, and if Sophie’s conversation with Andrew G on Showtime is anything to go by, it’s going to be an unforgettable mix of charm, wit and real talk. For anyone who has ever felt a little outside the norm or simply wants to experience a fresh voice in cabaret, this show is well worth a night out.