2026 WINTER LAB

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ARTISTIC LEAD AND PERFORMER

Dr. Jonathan ‘Jonni’ Homsey has a deep passion for the arts, beginning with street dance in 2002. Born and raised in Hong Kong and the USA, his accolades include the 2013 Melbourne Fringe Award for Best Emerging Producer, the 2021 Green Room Award for Best Dance Production for “I Am Maggie,” the 2022 Melbourne Fringe Director's Choice and the 2024 City of Melbourne Arts & Heritage Collection Residency. Jonathan is an emerging academic who researches choreographic empowerment strategies, in which he has defined his philosophy of Soft Participation. He is inspired to continue his decades-long pursuit of creating wellbeing, on and off the dancefloor.

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DEVISOR

Genki Matsuyama is a Melbourne-based House dance and Contact improvisation dancer with a background in street dance and contemporary dance training across Japan, Europe, and Australia. His movement approach blends house dance with influences from contact improvisation and somatic practices, focusing on flow, musicality, and body awareness. Through his practice, he explores how improvisation and embodied movement can deepen the connection between music, space, and physical expression.

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DEVISOR

Aleena Panagopoulos, also known as Artemiz/Apollo or Lil Antagonize, is a dynamic force in the street dance scene with seventeen years of experience, with a foundation in choreography. Specialising in Krump, she channels raw emotion and controlled intensity through her movement. Her practice bridges street and contemporary spaces, with performances in works such as Session Queens by Rachel Main and The Street Dance Exchange with Substation. Aleena connects with her Greek heritage as she dances at the crossroads of softness and war, beauty and command. A living tribute to Greek myth, ancestral memory, and the divine fluidity of the gods.

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DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Megan Scolyer-Gray is a Naarm/Melbourne based actor, singer, dancer and writer. Since graduating Showfit she has been a part of a number of new Australian works. Some of these include originating the role of “Werneke” in “Moonlite”, playing “Tiffany Flake” in “Motormouth loves Suckface” at the La Mama courthouse and “Rosa” in the new concept musical “The Breaths in between”. Megan was also a part of the critically acclaimed and 13 time Green Room award nominated reimagining of “Guys and Dolls” with Antipodes Theatre Company. Most recently Megan’s first play “Teeth and Tonic” was programmed as a part of primary Summer season at The La Mama Courthouse to rave reviews.

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WRITER AND COMPOSER

Tracy Bourne works in the intersection between theatre and music as a performer, teacher and theatre-maker. She has performed an eclectic range of musical styles including contemporary opera and chamber music as well as contemporary popular styles. She has co-created, written and directed many new music-theatre works, most recently In the Belly of the Whale (Mikelangelo/Simic). In the 2000s, she established SEAM Inc (Sustainable Environment Arts Movement) to create community art projects that respond to issues of climate change. In 2025, Tracy moved to Naarm to take up the role of Associate Lecturer of Musical Theatre at the VCA. www.tracybourne.com

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PERFORMER “Marisa”

Trained at NIDA, Sophia's stage highlights include Strictly Ballroom the Musical (Global Creatures), Saturday Night Fever (Drew Anthony Creative), Life Of Byron, Cafe Rebetika! (The Follies Company), You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (What’s On Productions), Funny Girl and Kismet (The Production Company), Wild World - The Cat Stevens' Story (HIT Productions), Reefer Madness (Squabbalogic) and developments of I Can Jump Puddles & Death To A Butterfly (Antipodes Theatre Company). Television credits include Seasons 4 & 5 of Wentworth (Fremantle Media), 7 Types of Ambiguity (Matchbox Pictures) and Packed To The Rafters (7 Network). Sophia is mum to two little critters and is currently writing her first play, This Too Is For The Best.

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DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR & PERFORMER “Photon”

Lucy has a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) from WAAPA. So far, she has had a vibrant and diverse acting career. Recently appearing in musicals including 'Shane Warne: The Musical' (Liz Hurley), 'Parade' (Ensemble) & 'Firebringer' (Jemilla). Additional credits: ’Heathers' (Ms Fleming), 'Disenchanted' (Swing), 'The Mystery Of Edwin Drood' (Ensemble), 'Twelfth Night' (Malvolio) & 'Anyone Can Whistle' (Mrs Schroder). Lucy relishes the opportunity to work on new Australian works. This year, they have worked on the development of 'Flight' by Nicholas Hargraves and 'Any Moment' by Bradley McCaw. Lucy also worked on the development of 'Death To A Butterfly' and has been a collaborator for the Antipodes Theatre Winter Lab for 2023 & 2024. www.lucyross.com.au

Photo by Kenn Wylchi.

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MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Peter Rutherford is an internationally recognised musical director, composer, and voice specialist whose career spans Australasia, London, New York, and Europe. His credits include Jagged Little Pill, School of Rock, Matilda, and A Christmas Carol, among many others. As a composer, he has co-written works such as The Hatpin, LoveBites, and A Little Touch of Chaos, with productions staged globally to critical acclaim. He has also produced multiple albums and orchestrated for major events. A sought-after vocal coach on productions like Hamilton, Hadestown, and the upcoming feature release of Disney’s Moana, Peter is also a faculty member at the VCA, University of Melbourne.

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DRAMATURG

Jean Tong is an Associate Artist at Melbourne Theatre Company, where they premiered their new play DO NOT PASS GO in 2026 and directed DYING: A MEMOIR in 2025. Jean's TV writing credits include episodes on: Netflix’s HEARTBREAK HIGH (S2), SAFE HOME (SBS), anthology series EROTIC STORIES (SBS), and ABC’s 100% WOLF (S2). They were also the Script Co-ordinator for NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN (SBS). For theatre, they’ve written: FLAT-EARTHERS: THE MUSICAL (Griffin Theatre and Hayes Theatre Co), HUNGRY GHOSTS (Melbourne Theatre Company), CAESAR (La Boite Theatre), and ROMEO IS NOT THE ONLY FRUIT, a Best Writing & Best Ensemble nominee (Green Room Awards 2019).

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DIRECTOR & CO-WRITER

Lilah Benetti is a Naarm-based director and writer whose practice centres intersectional storytelling, political memory, and embodied performance. Grounded in a deeply actor-centred process, their work approaches performance as fluid and porous across screen and stage, with close attention to sound, presence, rhythm, and the histories a body carries into a room. They are Assistant Director on Melbourne Theatre Company’s 2026 production Retrograde by Bert LaBonté. Their work has been presented across the UK, USA, Africa, Europe, and so-called Australia, including Tate Britain, IFC Center New York, the Dakar Biennale, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

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CO-WRITER

Maxine Ellah is a British-born actor and writer of Nigerian and French descent, based in Naarm/Melbourne. Raised in a French-speaking household in London, her heritage deeply informs her grounded, emotionally intelligent approach to performance. She recently appeared in ABC’s The Role of a Lifetime and SBS’s Erotic Stories, directed by Leticia Cáceres, and works across screen, stage, and voice in both local and international markets. Maxine brings instinct, depth, and curiosity to every role. She’s committed to training her instrument and living a full creative life, often found watching films, swimming in rivers, or off-grid with no phone reception.

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ACTOR “Carmel”

Julie is a sex worker rights defender and Principal of Urban Realists, providing specialist planning and health and safety advice to the sex industry and other stakeholders. A pioneer in the field, she was the inaugural co-manager of the Australian Prostitutes Collective that transformed industry safety standards.

Her influential career includes serving on the Australian National Council on AIDS and consulting for the WHO at the start of the HIV epidemic. Today, Julie is a public speaker and lobbyist advocating for the decriminalization of sex work. In 2018, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

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DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Myfanwy Hocking is an intersectional artist living and working in Narrm (Melbourne). As a playwright, poet, actor, theatremaker and teacher, they create postdramatic work across a myriad of forms. 

Most recently, Myf performed in the touring hit ‘Trophy Boys’, travelling all around Australia, but they have also worked with the Melbourne Theatre Company, Theatre Works, Butterfly Club, and NORPA Lismore. Their play, ‘Storked’, was produced by Antipodes Theatre Company in May 2025, and their show ‘How to Be a Person When the World is Ending’ went to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022. 

Myf is also a professional voice actor, having narrated numerous audiobooks, commercials, and series. They love art that is queer, loud, and audacious.

Photo by James Reiser.

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MENTOR

Beng is an experienced Asian Australian director and theatre make who has staged a wide range of productions.  He’s passionate about diversity, new work and queer theatre. He trained at the VCA, and is a member of the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab. Recent 2025 productions include Song from the Uproar: the Lives and Deaths of Isabelle Eberhardt (Lyric Opera), Soul of Possum by Brodie Murray (Fortyfivedownstairs) and Soldier Boy by Anthony Hill (Theatre Works). Upcoming productions include Mr Big: aka Tatay, A Transwoman and That Tiring Tune! by Dax Carnay-Hanrahan (Tayotayo Collective) and Fall by Michele Lee (Wit Incorporated).

Photo by Shelly Higgs.