Squid by Luke Wiltshire, 2027, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Spark Program

How can you move forward if you’re too scared to look back?

Luke finds himself at a crossroads, stuck between who he wants to be and who he really is. With nowhere left to turn, Luke must finally face who he’s been avoiding, his younger pre-transition self, Squid.

From playgrounds in regional Queensland, to public schools in Adelaide, Luke and Squid revisit first crushes, terrible kisses and the nagging feeling that something isn’t quite right. As Luke remembers what it was like to be Squid, he faces a choice – accept that Squid will always be a part of him or leave that person behind and chase finally fitting in.

Squid is a heartfelt autobiographical work about identity, belonging and the courage it takes to finally embrace yourself. A one-man play with warmth, humour and remarkable honesty, Squid transforms a profoundly personal story into a celebration of resilience and self-discovery.

A play about learning to love yourself, because it’s never really that simple.

“Luke is an incredible talent, warm and generous and when his name is attached, you can be sure it’s going to be something damn good.” — CLAUDIA KARVAN

“Luke Wiltshire is magnetic.” — SBS

Performer/Writer: Luke Wiltshire

Director: Stephen Nicolazzo

Dramaturgy: Emily Steel

Set + Costume Design: Ailsa Paterson