Exclusive: Fringe investigation finds complaints from two performers about Simone Pulga’s behaviour to be substantiated
Melbourne Fringe will not use the Butterfly Club as a festival venue this year, after complaints alleging verbally abusive, intimidating and threatening behaviour made against its owner by two artists were found to be substantiated in an investigation conducted by the festival.
“We have received complaints relating to alleged incidents at The Butterfly Club and have undertaken an internal investigation into this matter. The Butterfly Club has not been registered as a participating venue in the 2024 Melbourne Fringe festival.” Bradley Storer, one performer who lodged a complaint with the Fringe, said he had performed at the club for about 14 years.He said he went to the Fringe with the complaint “because was the owner – I couldn’t report it to anyone else”.
“We understand the importance of and strive to ensure a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace for the arts and support artists,” he said.Stickland took part in a week of Fringe shows at the Butterfly Club in October. He and two other members of his team have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which he said he told Pulga early on as he wanted Pulga to understand that he can struggle with time management and unclear instructions.
But Stickland alleges that when he raised the Friday incident on the call, Pulga started “screaming” over him. “I asked him if he thought it was appropriate to yell at me on the Friday and he said, ‘If I didn’t yell at you, I would have had to do something worse.’” Pulga said the club had been successfully partnering with the Fringe for many years. He said the Fringe was open to working with the venue again if it followed the recommendations resulting from the investigation, which included “strengthening the complaints process and implementing clearer policy documents”.
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