Ursula Yovich, a Burarra actor from north-west Arnhem Land, leads the cast in Belvoir's 'Well-Behaved Women', a female-driven musical running from 28 September to 3 November .

Written by Carmel Dean, the production brings to life iconic women throughout history, imagining how figures like Cleopatra, Mary Magdalene, Virginia Woolf, Frida Kahlo, Julia Gillard, Billie Jean King, and Malala Yousafzai might sound if they could sing their thoughts.

Ms Yovich, who has been with the show since its earliest stages, was immediately drawn to the project.

"What drew me in is it's historical figures. It's about women who have made history," she said.

For her, the production's central theme is particularly striking.

"It's a bit tongue-in-cheek, how well-behaved women don't get written about."

Through powerful and often humorous songs, the show celebrates how these women's actions shaped the course of history, embodying the idea that "well-behaved women seldom make history".

For Ms Yovich, the musical resonates personally.

Reflecting on her own life, she said "growing up in Darwin, as a young girl, I had a dream of singing and performing but didn't know how I would do that".

It was the advice of another woman that led her to seize an unexpected opportunity, shifting her path.

"Because of that opportunity, I stepped away from what most young Aboriginal women were doing at my age," she said.

"The moment things came up, I didn't 'umm and ahh', I just went for it."

Originally conceived as a concert for Joe's Pub in New York, the musical was re-imagined by director Blazey Best and first staged as a proof of concept in 2021.

Now arriving at Belvoir for a full mainstage season, Ms Yovich praises her long-time collaborator.

"As a director, she's great at being able to navigate the room," she said.

Having worked with Best many times, she describes the experience of working with her and the cast as "amazing".

The production brings together a stellar cast, including Zahra Newman, Elenoa Rokobaro, and Stefanie Caccamo.

Ms Yovich is excited about the unity within the ensemble, saying: "It's amazing that we're all available and able to do it."

Well-Behaved Women promises a fresh and entertaining look at the lives of these legendary figures and is set to become a must-see production this season.

Ms Yovich hopes the audience takes away a deeper understanding of the women portrayed.

"Don't think that a woman's passion is anger," she said.