WINTER LAB SHOWCASE

They/Them

WRITER

William Hinz is an Australian playwright, lyricist and performer, with a Masters of Writing for Performance from VCA where they were a recipient of the Orloff Foundation Family Trust. Their body of lyrical work includes Allentown and Sincerely, Us, the latter of which was invited to NMA’s “First Look” program at Hayes Theatre. Short plays include F*^% Off Geraldine!, R I N N A, Remote, Dullahan and The Curators. Longer form works include Genesis (which is currently being studied as part of the Queensland State syllabus and is published with Australian Plays) and Guerilla Sabbath, which recently sold out its premiere season at La Mama as part of Midsumma. Photo by Ruby Sam

They/Them

READER

Bugs Baschera is a musical theatre artist trained at VCA based in Naarm. Their recent credits from Melbourne Fringe and Midsumma include Teeth&Tonic, SLUTNIK, MOTHERLOD_^E, and they can be seen in many developmental circles. Their passions lie with voice and acting, and they look forward to their upcoming season of Guys and Dolls with Antipodes later this 2023 season. Photo by Olivia Morrison.

He/Him

READER

Louie Dalzell is a National Theatre trained actor and singer, and enjoys creating lively and physical work. In 2022 Louie devised and performed in How Long Is A Piece Of String? (Live Witness Theatre), Understudy Jumper and Pants in Unsorted (dir. Tara Daniel), and originated the role of Dave/Tracey Turnbald in The Dark Web (Bottled Snail Productions. In addition to this, he performed as his cabaret alter-ego Florian Wild in T4t: a Transgender Showcase (prod. Olly Lawrence), Winter Showcase (Melbourne Actors Guild), and Wit Inc’s annual Fundraiser, building on his previous work in Maybe This Time Cabaret (Be You Inc). Photo by. Amy Gubana Photography.

She/They

READER

Kayla is a graduate of BAPA and the John Bolton Theatre School. In 2017, Kayla played the lead role in David Williamson’s new play ‘Credentials’ as part of La Mama’s 50th year celebration. 2018 brought along beloved children’s author Elizabeth Honey’s play ‘That’s Not a Daffodil’, touring throughout regional Victoria. Kayla has performed in both the MICF as well as Melbourne Fringe, receiving nominations for Best Comedy and Best Cabaret. Kayla has worked as a Clown Doctor, working in hospitals as a way to ease a child’s pain and spread joy in and amongst the hospital setting. Photo by Jordan Barr.

They/Them

READER

Katie is a performing artist hailing from Naarm (Melbourne). Since graduating from Federation University Arts Academy in 2019, Katie has featured in Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s ‘Telling Tales’ (Buddy) and in Emily Dynes’ short film ‘Hold Still’ (Ari). Katie has taken part in the developmental stages of new Australian works, including Melbourne Theatre Company’s ‘Laurinda’ and Antipodes Theatre Company’s ‘Winter Labs’. Katie is also proud to have appeared in Vidya Makan’s 2020 Green Room Award nominated video ‘I Need You To See Me’, alongside 100 other emerging performers of colour. Photo by Amy Gubana

She/Her

READER

Growing up as a mixed race child in a newly post-apartheid South Africa, Kali’s approach to art making is influenced by her ever-evolving understanding of her own identity. With a background in theatre, music and classical dance, Kali made her Australian theatre debut in the two-hand musical comedy ‘Wanda & Mel’ in the Melbourne Fringe Festvial (2017) & the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2018). Her recent credits include working with Frenzy Theatre Co. on their ensemble devised work ‘PIPER’ (2022), and playing Fanny Price in ‘Lovers Vows at Mansfield Park’ with 24Carrot Productions directed by Sharmini Kumar (2023).

He/Him

WRITER & PERFORMER

Darby James is a Melbourne-based writer and composer. His previous work includes Post, A New Musical (Something Blue Productions, 2019), Songs of the Northern River (The MC Showroom Hatchery Sponsorship 2019), Tied Up With Strings (Hope New Works, Development 2020), Protein (Autonomous Inventions, 2021), and Westberg (Hope New Works, Development 2021). Photo by Ebony Moffat

She/Her

WRITER

Aliya was born in Karachi Pakistan, as a student Aliya performed as a solo singer. Aliya migrated to Australia and completed a textiles diploma at RMIT and has just completed a diploma in Makeup and Media. Aliya was makeup artist on Miss Blossom Callahan at La Mama (2017) and was the makeup artist on Tchekov at the House of Special Purpose (2019); assistant makeup artist on the photoshoot for GMAR magazine, 2019 and assisted with makeup on the photoshoot for LGBTQI immigrants – Queer Refugees at Docklands Cotton Mills for gallery exhibition in 2020.

She/Her

WRITER

Born in South Wales, Rosemary graduated from Manchester University (Drama, First Class Honours). She is the current Vice-President of Women Playwrights International, WPI values cultural exchange and diversity as its heart and inspiration. Published six times by Currency Press, her writing career has been nurtured by La Mama Theatre. Internationally work has been presented in Athens and Cape Town (as co-writer), Stockholm and Mumbai. Her play Black Box 149 was programmed in repertoire at the Staatstheater Nürnberg in Germany in 2017, the first time this German State Theatre company has produced work by an Australian playwright. Photo by Jodie Hutchinson.

She/Her

WRITER & READER

NZ born, trans woman of colour has starred as Hecuba in ATC's And She Would Stand Like This (2022). Featured in “Parade for the Moon” as part of Rising 2022 at Golden Square (Naarm), inhabiting the role of Hina, a goddess of the moon in a depiction of a Tongan legend. Her submission for Antipodes Theater Company’s WINTER LAB 2022 play called “My God, She’s a Woman!” The play addresses complex ideas surrounding religion, the colonization by the church of Pasifika communities, homophobia, transphobia and the part deity plays in the lives of QIBPOC peoples of the Pacific. Burgerz by Travis Alabanza will be her first show for 2023.

They/She

READER

A Non-Binary Transfeminine performer and presenter with over 15 years of experience for TV, Film and Theater. Can Sing , Dance and Act. Was born and raised in the Philippines.

He/Him

READER

Gabriel Cali is an Australian/American actor based in Naarm/Melbourne. A 2021 acting graduate from the VCA, he has performed in numerous short films and plays, including writing, directing and starring in Quiet (2021), which screened at the 2022 St Kilda Film Festival. His theatre credits include Kevin in Frenzy Theatre Co.’s MOTHERLOD_^E (dir. Belle Hansen), Martin in The Spook (dir. Daniela Farinacci), Todd in FILL x7 (dir. John Kachoyan), York in Henry VI (dir. Suzanne Dean), Witness in GABAN (dir. Budi Miller) and Antigonus in The Winter's Tale (dir. Petra Kalive). Gabriel has also trained and performed with Prague Shakespeare Company. Photo by James Reiser.