Nancy is well known in Melbourne as a writer, director, teacher, producer, and dramaturg. She first encountered puppets directing BHT’s Caravan in 2001, succumbed to their magic, and has worked with BHT ever since, initiating and directing projects, setting up workshops, building networks for the company and its artists, and developing the company’s international work. Her work has been aimed at adults, families, and young people. She is a passionate advocate for puppetry’s place in contemporary theatre, and chooses to work across disciplines. Shows for BHT: Caravan(int’l tour), 2005 In the Beginning, 2008 Coop, 2010-2012 multi media projects: Girl in the River, Soul Catcher, Death by Numbers, Lost in Tranzit, 2012 Hutch, 2013 Into the Black Hole, 2015 Where the Wild Things Sing, 2014-15 she co-devised and directed Blind with the Duda Paiva Co., Nl. which premiered in France, is touring Europe, 2016 Theatre Works and Wuzhen Festival, China, and will have a NY season in 2018. 2014-15 initiated national series of workshops Fermenting Change. 2017 Alison Richards’ performance/installation The Book of Revelations. Since 2011 ten Puppet Slams in metropolitan and regional Victoria and NSW. 2015 the street theatre work Les Méduses that premiered France at the World Puppetry Festival, toured to the US, and in 2018 at the Commonwealth Games in Queensland. She has several works in development including The Line, an international collaborative co-production with First Nations artists, Dowtcha Puppets (Ireland), and non-Indigenous artists; The Last Lighthouse Keeper by Katie Reeve. Outside BHT she has directed several productions for the Victorian Opera: 2012 Manuel de Falla’s Master Peter’s Puppet Show and Elliott Carter’s What Next? 2016 Gertrude Stein & Virgil Thomas’ Four Saints in Three Acts, 2017 Respighi’s Sleeping Beauty. For the 2016 Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music she directed Jennifer Walshe’s experimental opera ###Live Nude Girls!! In 2007 she co-produced The Festival of Australian Theatre in China, taking five companies to Beijing and Shanghai. Awards: 2003 Outstanding Direction in Independent Theatre – Caravan, Best Production 2008 Coop.
With a background in business and production management, Elza has joined BHT’s board at a time when those skills are sorely needed. Migrating from South Africa, she worked at Cultural Infusion developing digital education programs, application writing, producing tender response, planning and executing events, and writing aware submissions. She is also Project Manager for Adapt IT for Telstra, and has worked at ACTHSS in Canberra as Project Officer. In Johannesburg she was Senior Project Manager for Rorotika Technologies, now Digitata.
Currently the Finance Manager for Back to Back Theatre, Sue has joined BHT’s board as Treasurer. As well as her insights and abilities to organise our finances, we welcome her energy, humour, and cultural curiosity! Her background: I have worked as an Accountant/Bookkeeper (both as an employee and ABN contractor) for over 20 years in a variety of accounting related roles. I have worked with a small, loyal client base and enjoyed a variety of roles; for some regular weekly maintenance of their finance and administrative functions, for others monthly or quarterly BAS/IAS preparation and specialist reporting as required. In recent years I have also worked in multi-sited corporate entities using a range of CRM, time tracking, project management and financial ERP’s.
Nigel has joined BHT’s board with a wide ranging background in project management across various industries, supply chain technologies, the management of technical, business development and service teams, marketing and how to change management to drive successful project outcomes. He has sat on many committees, some with industry and business concerns, others more connected to community and culture. As well as being a member of BHT’s board he is chairman of VCASS, past chairman of KAGE, sat on the City of Hobsons Bay Public Arts Advisory Group, and was founder of The Substation in Newport – $5.0 million building infrastructure and project management.
Alex has considerable expertise in web analytics, ecommerce, marketing automation and customer relationship management system, and is currently assisting not for profits to upgrade their systems and develop digital strategies. Recently he has written 14 interactive stories for children, produced three touring children’s shows for Victorian government, optimised several ecommerce websites (leading to healthy growth), consulted for a couple of start-ups, and is helping arts organisations set up systems that are compliant with the National Disability Insurance Scheme. He is also a qualified journalist. The online publication that he co-founded in 2002 (ScreenHub.com.au) became the number one site by revenue and traffic for professionals working in the Australian film and television industries. Following the trade sale of ScreenHub, he became editor-in-chief of the combined artsHub.com group of publications. He has considerable expertise in web analytics, ecommerce, marketing automation and customer relationship management system.
Cat is a Fundraising and Philanthropy professional whose career spans the arts, NFPs and higher education. Originally training in theatre at the University of Glasgow, she is passionate about Australia’s thriving arts sector and works strategically with organisations on financial sustainability and diversifying their funding avenues.
Sarah Vickery is a genderqueer lesbian theatre director based in Melbourne Australia. They are instigator of newly formed radical-queer theatre collective, Public Service Announcement (PSA Co). They are also Black Hole Theatre’s Creative Producer. Sarah completed a Masters in Directing for Performance degree at The Faculty of Fine Arts and Music (The VCA) – University of Melbourne (2018), there they directed their graduating work of Lillian Hellman’s ‘The Children’s Hour’ under the mentorship of Sarah Goodes. Sarah also studied Directing at NIDA (studio) taught by Imara Savage and completed an advance playwriting course at Griffin Theatre company taught by Hilary Bell. Sarah is continuously committed to the growth of their craft as a director, placing themselves in environments that challenge their thinking and develop their methodology and practice. Sarah is passionate about queer work, and bringing visibility to minority voices. Sarah is also a proud philanthropic supporter for Ballez, a lesbian, transgender and non-binary ballet dance company based in NYC. Sarah and PSA Co. are committed to Paying the Rent.