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Directing
In 2017 through Union House Theatre I participated in a directing mentorship with Petra Kalive (Associate Director MTC). I am most grateful that this mentoring relationship has continued on and that I have someone as knowledgeable, talented and kind to turn to for advice.
Over the past six years I have been gaining more experience in directing through workshops, reading, observing other directors at work, assistant directing and most importantly, directing a fair few productions myself.
In 2020 I was fortunate enough to work as Andrew Blackman's Assistant Director at Complete Works Theatre Company. This involved five plays taken on by two groups of actors. First was Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and Extinction by Hannie Rayson. These productions then hit the road, touring to schools around Victoria, while back in the rehearsal room we began work on Shakespeare's Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and an Australian Poetry performance.
Photography by Sarah Clarke
In 2019 I was awarded the Robert MacDonald Memorial Award at the Union House Theatre Awards Night. The award recognises an individual's potential to pursue a career in theatre and offers them this professional development opportunity.
I was fortunate enough to participate in a volunteer observer attachment on SLAP. BANG. KISS. by Dan Giovannoni as part of the Families and Education season at Melbourne Theatre Company. This was an opportunity to attend rehearsals during the script development period and observe director, Prue Clark, at work.
Photography by Shane Woods
Early Works
In 2018 Nicola Dobinson and I co-directed our company's first contemporary production: Speaking In Tongues by Andrew Bovell. This Australian Drama allowed us to maintain a fairly minimalist stage design, placing emphasis on the witty and rhythmic dialogue and the complex relationships we were exploring on stage.
Our first production was an all female staging of Euripides' Medea which I directed in the second half of 2017. I was most interested in matching the rich text with an established physical score, engaging with techniques of Greek Chorus.
Both of these productions took place at the Kew Court House.
Photography by Yufan Jo Chen
Photography by Lucy Seale
Be sure to visit Latest to check out my most recent directing projects!
Photography by Justin Ridler
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Much of my work as a director has been through Shakespearean Jeans, an independent theatre company of which I am the Co-Artistic Director, with Nicola Dobinson - an all round talented being / stage manager / costume-maker extraordinaire! (who is also responsible for our logo design). Founded in 2017, the company has staged five shows to date.
Our aim is to create innovative and thought-provoking productions of both classic and modern texts, with the involvement of a growing community of creatives. We are always interested in hearing from anyone who would like to be involved in future productions.
As we are interested in tackling many different genres and styles of performances, we decide what our company will program next based on the types of stories we want to tell, themes we find compelling and the voices we think need to be heard.
Her Hour Upon The Stage
In November 2019 I directed a feminist exploration of Shakespeare's
Macbeth at The Butterfly Club. It was my first time directing a full length play which I had also penned. The production was very well received, earning a 5 star review. Shakespearean Jeans are looking into the possibility of re-staging it at some point in the future. You can read more about what inspired the writing process under the Writing section of this website.
Prior to the 60 minute version of Her Hour Upon The Stage I had the opportunity to direct a 20 minute rehearsed reading as part of Union House Theatre's Play-reading Mini Fest. in 2018 as I was still developing the script.
Collaborations
In 2019 I worked on Ashleigh Morris' production M E D U S A as the Movement Director. This show was devised and performed by an ensemble of five women for Mudfest - the largest student-run arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere produced by the UMSU (University of Melbourne Student Union) Creative Arts Department.
I enjoyed working with the ensemble as they explored five unique interpretations of the mythological figure, Medusa. I sought to bring in physical expression and choreograph movement to work in conjunction with text and enrich the narrative they were developing.
Every Second
Photography: Sarah Clarke. Graphic design: Ashley Tardy
Riley Nottingham & Madeleine Magee Carr
Photography by Jack Dixon Gunn
Riley Nottingham & Madeleine Magee Carr.
Photography by Jack Dixon Gunn
Every Second
Photography: Sarah Clarke. Graphic design: Ashley Tardy
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In 2021 I worked as the Assistant Director to Emma Drysdale on Every Second, a darkly comedic play by Australian writer Vanessa Bates. This production was produced by wit incorporated and staged at Bluestone Church Arts Space. During the show's two week run I also took on a Front of House position.
The play was staged in traverse, which was a first for me. It was ultimately beneficial to work as a directing team, placing ourselves on different sides of the rehearsal room to consider the many audience sight-lines when blocking the play. I greatly enjoyed working within a very friendly and professional creative team, and especially relished learning from Emma Drysdale.
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