JULIA ROBERTSON
DIRECTOR
Julia Robertson (she/her) is a multidisciplinary theatre maker and director living on Gadigal land. She is the current Artistic Director of the award winning devising group, the Little Eggs Collective and the 2024 Recipient of the Ensemble Theatre’s Sandra Bates Award for Directing.
Recently, Julia directed and wrote the book and lyrics for the Musical adaptation of Metropolis (with music by Zara Stanton) which premiered at the Hayes Theatre Co. in April of 2023. The musical has since won three Sydney Theatre Awards and is currently nominated for Best Musical in TIMEOUT Sydney's Arts and Culture Awards.
This year Julia worked as the Assistant Director for Opera Australia's new production of Puccini's Il Trittico (Sydney Opera House, 2024, dir. Constantine Costi, Imara Savage and Shaun Rennie), the Ensemble Theatre's The Great Divide (Ensemble Theatre, 2024, dir. Mark Kilmurry) and will return to the Ensemble as Assistant Director for The Heartbreak Choir (dir. Anna Ledwich) in November. She also directed Shay Debney’s one man performance of Do You Mind? for RaCreate & the Old Fitz Theatre.
As a director, credits include PINOCCHIO (Little Eggs Collective), for which she received the NIDA Emerging Directors Award for Best Direction at the Sydney Fringe 2018, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Little Eggs Collective/KXT, 2019), James and the Giant Peach (Sydney Grammar School, 2022), and The Servant of Two Masters (St Vincent's College, 2023). Julia has previously assisted with Joshua Robson Productions on Bonnie and Clyde (Hayes Theatre Co. 2022) and City of Angels (Hayes Theatre Co. 2023).
Julia is also a classically trained musician and a recent recipient of the lan Potter Cultural Trust Grant, which she used to travel to London for a residency with the Royal Shakespeare Company in February of 2023. Julia has studied acting with the Lee Strasberg Institute of Theatre and Film (New York) and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London).
SHANNON BURNS
CHOREOGRAPHER
Shannon Burns (she/her) is an Australian creative specialising in choreography and movement direction across opera, theatre, film, television, and major events.
In Opera, Shannon has worked on high-profile productions with Opera Australia, choreographing HOSH La Traviata on Sydney Harbour (2021) and Carmen on Cockatoo Island (2022). She was Movement Director for Victorian Opera’s Melbourne Cheremushki (2023) and Assistant Director for Il Tabarro, a co-production between Sydney Festival and Victorian Opera (2024). Internationally, she choreographed Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire for the Berlin Philharmonic at the Kammermusiksaal, Berlin (2024). She has worked extensively with Pinchgut Opera, making her directorial debut with the company on Pleasures of Versailles (2023) and creating choreography and movement for Dido and Aeneas (2024), Giustino (2023), Orontea (2022), Platée (2021) and the award winning film A Delicate Fire (2020).
Her theatre choreography credits include Ride the Cyclone (2024), A Little Night Music (2023), and Murder For Two (2023) for Hayes Theatre Co. A Kurt Weill double bill of The Seven Deadly Sins and Mahagonny Songspiel (2022) for Red Line Productions and Ratburger (2024) for CDP Theatre Producers.
Shannon choreographed Inferno (2023) The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Send For Nellie (2024) Sydney Festival. Her work on large-scale events includes choreography for the Netball World Cup Opening Ceremony (2015) and she was a choreographic team member for the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony (2020) with Newground Collective and The Michael Cassel Group.
Before transitioning to choreography, Shannon had an extensive dance career in stage, film, television, and major events. She trained in ballet at the Queensland Dance School of Excellence and in Performing Arts at ED5INTERNATIONAL. Shannon's diverse experience and innovative approach make her a sought-after talent in the performing arts world.
ZARA STANTON
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Zara Stanton (she/her) is an award-winning Music Director, Composer and Arranger.
Most recently, Zara was Music Director for the Australian Premiere of Dear Evan Hansen, and Music Supervisor/Vocal Arranger/Orchestrator for the UK premiere of FANGIRLS. Zara’s work on FANGIRLS in Australia yielded an ARIA nomination (Best Musical Theatre Album), and a Green Room Award nomination (Best Music Direction).
Other Music Director credits include BLOOM (Melbourne Theatre Company), Bonnie & Clyde (Joshua Robson Productions), The Deb (ATYP) and The Boomkak Panto(Belvoir St. Theatre).
Zara was the Composer, Orchestrator and Music Director for Metropolis at Hayes Theatre, winning two Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Composition (Independent Production) and Best Music Direction.
Zara is incredibly passionate about promoting representation in musical theatre, particularly for artists of Asian heritage and for female and non-binary musicians and creatives.
GRACE STAMNAS
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
Grace Stamnas is a graduate of NIDA’s BFA in Acting (2022) and Diploma of Musical Theatre (2017). She has performed in ATYP’s production of 'Intersection 2019: Arrival' at the SBW Stables Theatre, and three works with Little Eggs Collective: 'Pinocchio', 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', and 'Symphony Fantastique', the latter of which she also worked on as Movement Director. While at NIDA, Grace performed in productions 'How I Learned to Drive', 'Blood Wedding', 'Scenes from an Execution', 'All My Sons', 'Measure for Measure' and 'The Cherry Orchard'. In 2022, Grace was awarded the Keith Bain OAM Award for Movement upon graduating from NIDA. In September 2025, her debut play 'Sex, Drugs, Success' was presented as part of the New Works Festival Readings at the Old Fitz. Grace founded December Theatre Co., which launched its debut production 'Port' by Simon Stephens at KXT on Broadway in 2025.
DANN BARBER
PRODUCTION DESIGNER (SET & COSTUME)
Dann is a Multi award winning set and costume designer who’s work is influenced by his study of drawing and fine art at the Royal Melbourne institute of technology (RMIT - BA, Fine Arts). Also a graduate of the National institute of the dramatic arts (NIDA - BA, Dramatic Arts).
Recent work includes; Blak in the room (ILBIJERRI Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company), Rhinoceros and The Crocodile (Spinning Plates), Macbeth; An Undoing (Malthouse Theatre), Yentl (in association with Kadimah Yiddish Theatre and Malthouse Theatre). Candide and Melbourne, Cheryomushki (Victorian Opera); Wittenoom and The Amateurs (Red Stitch Actors Theatre). World Problems, A Very Jewish Christmas Carol and Bloom (Melbourne Theatre Company); Rent (LPD Productions); Far Away (Patalog Theatre at fortyfivedownstairs).
Dann has won six Greenroom awards for Outstanding Scenic and Costume design in Cabaret, Opera and Theatre.
He is a guest lecturer and tutor at the Victorian Collage of the Arts and Melbourne University.
JASMINE RIZK
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Jasmine Rizk is a lighting designer and programmer celebrated for her ability to seamlessly align lighting with musical dynamics, creating immersive experiences that enhance the emotional impact of live performance. Passionate about collaboration and innovation, she brings each project to life with designs that illuminate and elevate the artistic vision.
Recent lighting design credits include Cluedo (Crossroads), Sydney Festival Cabaret Season 2026 Wharf 1, Tina – A Tropical Love Story and Katie Noonan: Jeff Buckley’s Grace (Sydney Festival 2025), In The Heights(JR Productions), Ratburger (CDP), An Australian Songbook (Robyn Archer), Menopause The Musical (SK Entertainment), Mrock (ATYP), Jekyll & Hyde: 25th Anniversary Concerts (Concertworks), The Boomkak Panto(Belvoir), Pirates of Penzance, Well Behaved Women, Catch Me If You Can (Hayes), Small Mouth Sounds(Darlinghurst), and works for NAISDA, NTofP, Merrigong Theatre Company & SoPopera Productions.
Associate design credits include Rent (LPD & OA), City of Gold (STC/Black Swan), Opening Night, Into the Woods (Belvoir), Edward the Emu (MonkeyBaa), IDK (Force Majeure), and Sampa the Great (Volume Festival).
She acknowledges the invaluable guidance of mentors Karen Norris, Paul Jackson, Damien Cooper, and Trudy Dalgleish in shaping her career.
MEG ANDERSON
ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DESIGNER (SET & COSTUME)
Meg is an emerging multi-disciplinary designer, whose collaborative and responsive practice underpins her work across live performance, stage and screen.
Select credits:
Production Designer: The Decay of Lying, FOEA NIDA (2022); The Hero Leaves One Tooth, KXT, Ratcatch Theatre (2023); Mercury Poisoning, KXT, Snatched Theatre Collective (2024); Conscience, Joining the Dots Theatre Company (2025); Three Plays by Tennessee Williams, Ground Floor Theatre Company (2025); Martin-Lysicrates Prize 2025, The Martin-Lysicrates Foundation. Associate Designer: Nini’s Magical Memory Garden, Force Majeure (2025). Costume Designer: The Seagull, NIDA June Season (2022); Costume Designer and Set Realiser: Soul Trading, Steps & Holes (2023). Costume Assistant: The Lewis Trilogy, Griffin Theatre Company (2024). Costume Coordinator: The Normal Heart, Sydney Theatre Company (2026).
RHYS VELASQUEZ
CASTING DIRECTOR
Rhys Velasquez (they/them/she) is an award-winning casting director and creative. A graduate of the Arts Academy, Ballarat, Rhys started their career as a performer and choreographer touring in shows such as Shrek the Musical (GFO), Once On This Island (Altitude Theatre) and choreographing multiple independent musicals and events.
In 2021, Rhys founded Evolution Casting and fast became known for their unique perspective and exciting casting designs. They have won two CGA Awards, for Best Casting in a Theatre Production (Choir Boy) and in a Short Film (Black Trans Miracle). In 2025, Rhys was named one of IF Magazines Rising Stars.
In addition to Evolution Casting, Rhys is the Casting Director for Malthouse Theatre, an independent musical theatre panellist for the Green Room Awards and member of the Casting Guild of Australia. Rhys is driven by a vision for a more equitable and diverse industry, with future ambitions to expand their artistic practice into training, programming and artistic direction.