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.
OSIBI AKEREJOLA
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Osibi Akerejola (they/them) is a Nigerian-Australian music director, multi-instrumentalist and vocal coach working on Gadigal land. From as young as they can remember, they have been performing in (and eventually conducting) orchestras, ensembles, and choirs of various natures.
They found their love for musical theatre in high school through performance, but soon found their true calling on the other side of the curtain.
Osibi’s MD credits include, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (IWTC, 2024), 9 to 5 (RMS, 2024), Little Women (MUSE, 2023), Cry-Baby (MUSE, 2023), Sunday in the Park with George (MUSE, 2022) and USYD’s inaugural new work showcase, New Voices (2021).
Other theatre credits include, Reeds 2 - Sondheim on Sondheim (2024, MTS), Producer - New Voices (2021 & 2022, MUSE), Company Manager - Sunday In The Park With George (2022, MUSE).
Osibi is passionate about creating collaborative and diverse theatre.
MYM KWA
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Mym Kwa (she/her) is an actor, dancer and theatre-maker living and working on Gadigal land.
She graduated from ED5International in 2020 with an Advanced Dip. of Performing Arts.
As a performer, Mym’s theatre credits include POWER (Force Majeure, 2024), Dumb Kids (KXT, 2023), Saturday Girls (25A Belvoir, 2023), Moon Rabbit Rising (25A Belvoir x Little Eggs, 2022), Lady Precious Stream (Slanted Theatre x Brand X, 2022) and her debut solo work The Girl is/a Glitch (Shopfront Artslab, 2024). Mym also worked as Movement Director on Too Human (KXT, 2024).
Mym is a passionate teaching artist and loves collaboratively devising and delivering Drama workshops for ESL students and HSC students.
MARIAH GONZALEZ
ASSISTANT PRODUCER
Mariah Gonzalez (she/her), Brent Street Alumni and professional performer in Australia mainly in the musical theatre scene. Mariah has been in 6 performance shows after graduating full-time completing her musical theatre diploma. After full-time she was offered the role of Diana Morales in A Chorus Line working with Amy Campbell at the Opera House to then straight after playing the role of Annabelle in The Deb musical working with Rebel Wilson.
After completing her Entertainment Business Management course at JMC, this year she took on the many jobs of swing, cover, dance captain and resident director for the Australian Tour of Rent the musical then straight after being apart of the ensemble for In The Heights at the Sydney Opera House.
Mariah is thrilled to be the Assistant Producer for The Producers, collaborating closely with Joshua Robson at the Hayes Theatre. She can't wait to dive into this exciting production and contribute to bringing the show's vibrant energy to life!
MITCHELL BROWN
ASSISTANT MUSIC DIRECTOR
Mitch Brown (he/they) is an emerging composer and multi-instrumentalist based on Gadigal land. He began studying piano at the age of five, clarinet at eleven, and saxophone and drums at 16, completing his Associate clarinet exam in 2020 and his Licentiate piano exam in 2021.
Mitch is currently a third-year composition student at Sydney Conservatorium. He began working as a AMD, repetiteur and band member in theatre shows in June 2023.
He has performed in multiple MUSE productions, including "1984", "Crybaby" and "New Voices" (2023) as well as the Regals production of "Hunchback of Notre Dame”, Sydney Conservatorium’s production of “Into The Woods” and NIDA's production of "Spelling Bee". Mitch has also undertaken the role of AMD for MUSE's production of Little Women", Rockdale Musical Society’s production of Dolly Parton's "9 to 5", and Inner West Theatre Company's production of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”.
NICK FRY
SET AND PROPERTIES DESIGNER
(he/him) Recent design credits include:
For Michael Cassel: Designer/ Set Dresser for ‘A Very Musical Christmas' For Michael Cassel/Eva Price: Associate Set Designer for 'Titanique’ For Cameron Mackintosh/Opera Australia: Scenic Design Associate for ‘Miss Saigon’
For GWB/Opera Australia: Scenic Design Associate for ‘Miss Saigon: Asia Tour’
For Artists in Motion: Set Designer - Daily Productions at ‘Dubai Expo 2020’. Set Designer for ‘Red Sea Film Festival’, Concept Designer for ‘Luna Park’s Dream Circus’
For Betty Productions: Associate Production Designer for ‘48th UAE National Day Celebration’
For Opera Australia: Design Assistant for ‘Madame Butterfly’.
For Hayes Theatre Co: Set Designer for ‘Zombie! The Musical’
For Little Eggs Collective/Hayes Theatre Co.: Set Designer for ‘Metropolis’
For Ensemble Theatre: Set and Costume Designer for ‘The One’, Set and Costume Designer for ‘Benefactors’, Set and Costume Designer for ‘Uncle Vanya’, Set and Costume Designer for ‘The Heartbreak Choir’ For NIDA: Set and Costume Designer for ‘Next To Normal’ Event Designer: 'Raise The Curtain Gala'
Nick is also a lecturer at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and has worked for major theatre and events companies in Australia and internationally as a designer and draftsperson.
RYAN MCDONALD
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Ryan (he/him) is a lighting designer who enjoys working across all areas and genres of live performance.
Ryan believes that lighting design is a powerful tool in storytelling and works constantly with that in mind. He loves collaborating and is constantly looking for ways to challenge himself into being an innovative practitioner.
This year; Ryan sees his first two shows in the Kings Cross Theatre, the only permanent traverse theatre in Sydney. Tell Me Before the Sun Explodes, an exciting new queer-centric work, will open in early May. UBU, a Tale of Cautionary Disaster soon follows.
Ryan is excited with his involvement on many other projects in 2022 - including Associate Lighting Designer at the Hayes for Dubbo Championship Wrestling, as well as assisting on City Lights; a work for VIVID by Witch and Ghost.
2021 saw Ryan make his state theatre debut as Associate Lighting Designer for Lee Lewis’ Prima Facie with Queensland Theatre. The year opened with Trent Suidgeest and taking Ryan under his wings as Associate Lighting Designer for RENT at the Sydney Opera House. Shortly after returning from yet another lockdown, Ryan made his debut design at the Brisbane Powerhouse for Altitude Theatre’s production of The Producers.
2020 began Ryan’s main-stage debut, co-designing Black Cockatoo (directed by Wesley Enoch) with Trent Suidgeest at the Ensemble Theatre. Shortly after he made the return journey home to Brisbane and took some time away from theatre to wait out the COVID-19 industry shutdown.
2019 saw Ryan graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Theatre and Stage Management) from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). Some of Ryan’s credits whilst studying include working under the tutelage acclaimed Australian director, Jim Sharman in his rendition of the Twelfth Night. He also ventured on Secondment with designers Alex Berlage (Lord of The Flies, Sydney Theatre Company), and John Rayment (Whiteley, Opera Australia). Outside of his university work, Ryan also was privileged to have the opportunity to work as Associate Designer alongside Ben Brockman for Red Line Productions Angel’s in America.
Ryan is also a skilled ETC programmer and production technician, where some of his credits for his technical work include Sydney Festival, and Handa Opera of Sydney Harbour.
ZAC SARIC
SOUND DESIGNER
Zac Saric (he/him) is a Sydney-based Sound Designer and Composer. A graduate of NIDA’s BFA in Technical Theatre and Stage Management, Zac works with sound in a variety of forms and mediums, including theatre, musical theatre, podcasting and post-production film and TV.
Coming from a background in music, Zac quickly found a talent for composing for the stage and is continually expanding his skillset using new technologies while developing works with other artists. Zac also works as a freelance audio engineer, working across theatre, musicals and live events.
Recent Sound Design, Composer credits include: A Streetcar Named Desire, The Chairs (Redline Productions), The Hero Leaves One Tooth (Ratcatch Theatre), One Hour No Oil (KWENTO), A Practical Guide to Self Defence (National Theatre of Parramatta), netARChive (UNSW, iCinema & Powerhouse Museum),Lady Grey (JollyGood Theatre), Love & Information, ANTIGONICK (NIDA).
BENEDICT JANECZKO-TAYLOR
COSTUME DESIGNER
Benedict (he/him) is a multidisciplinary designer and artist based on Gadigal land in Sydney. His artistic practice extends into exploring bold and ambitious works that strive to articulate contemporary ideologies and politics through a compelling and whimsical lens. He has an ambition to work in stage, screen, visual and installation art to reach a wide range of audiences. Benedict is a proud member of the Australian Production Design Guild.
He has recently worked as a Costume Assistant and Maker on Jekyll and Hyde for the Hayes Theatre Company, as a Costume Maker for Eternityland for Dancing Giant, and as a Costume Assistant on Whitefella Yella Tree for Griffin Theatre Company under Mason Browne.
Benedict is excited to continue to work closely with other artists to create compelling contemporary works. He is ready to delve into the world of the arts and is looking forward to what the future holds in Australia and abroad in 2023.
NAOMI O’CONNOR
STAGE MANAGER
Naomi (she/her) is a passionate theatre practitioner who first found her love for theatre and stage management in the community theatre scene in Adelaide. Naomi has just finished up her degree in Technical Theatre and Stage Management at NIDA and looks forward to graduating early 2025.
During Naomi’s training and career she has taken on diverse roles including head electrician, sound designer and lighting crew, as well as many stage management positions, highlights of which include Falsettos (NIDA, David Berthold) as Assistant Stage Manager, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (NIDA, Constantine Costi) as Deputy Stage Manager. As well as placements on West Side Story on the Harbour with Opera Australia and In The Nutshell: The Poetry of Violence with Bell Shakespeare.
Naomi is excited to continue growing artistically and honing her technical skills through working with expert colleagues across the industry.