This 5-day masterclass will focus on physicality and performance-making with Ghenoa Gela (Torres Strait Islander woman, multi-arts navigator & multi-dimensional story-teller) and Leah Shelton (Polytoxic Co-Director, performance artist, cabaret psycho-siren).Get a taste of different approaches to coming up with ideas and developing your on stage presence; experiment with improvisation, composition, collaboration; and play with physical theatre, dance, lip-sync and text. Expect to work hard, play hard & laugh hard in a supportive intersectional femme-led space that encourages a culture of respect and consent.

Open to women, trans & non-binary performance makers, actors, dancers, drag performers, circus & physical theatre artists and anyone interested in movement-based performance. Please wear comfortable clothing for movement and bring a notebook. This workshop will take place in Magandjin (so-called Brisbane). We pay our respects to the traditional owners of this land, the Yuggera and Turrbal people, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be.

Tuesday–Friday evenings 15–18April 6pm–9pm
Saturday 19 April 10am–4pm

GHENOA GELA

Highly-award winning, Multi-arts navigator and Multi-Dimensional Storyteller Ghenoa Gela is a proud Koedal – Aubaith Clan Wagadagam, Mualgal Poid and Aragan, Samsep and Peidu Woman. Born on Darumbal Country Central Queensland, Ghenoa’s ever growing skill base, stems from her strength as a Traditional Torres Strait Islander dancer and her fierce cultural values of visibility in the broad western landscape.

Some companies Ghenoa has worked with include:
Force Majeure Dance Theatre Company, Hot Brown Honey, Polytoxic, Marrugeku Dance Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare and Circus Oz

Some credits for TV and Film include:
Move it Mob Style, Nothing to Lose Documentary, The Movement Series, Are you Tougher Than Your Ancestors?, Playschool Storytime and Time Bandits

As an Independent Artist, Ghenoa navigates in the capacities of: Director, Writer, Performer, Movement Director, Choreographer, Traditional Torres Strait Islander Musician, Host, Comedian, Workshop facilitator and Mentor in remote, regional, and urban communities.

In 2024, Ghenoa successfully premiered her new show ‘GURR ERA OP’. (Translates to ‘The Face of the Sea’ in her father’s language Meriam Mir)

“ We are left speechless and unable to move post-performance… a commanding, thought provoking and ambitious work.”
– Arts Hub.

LEAH SHELTON

Psycho-siren Leah Shelton creates stylized, guttural, renegade feminist work soaked in cult references and dark humour. Based in so-called Australia, her work has taken her from the glamour of Las Vegas to the back streets of Kings Cross, from rigorous training in Japan to live art festivals in New York.

As a solo artist, Leah has played on and off West End in London. She has graced many cabaret stages including La Clique, OhLala Zurich, Little Death Club, Vegas Nocturne. Her triptych of solo works interrogating gender and identity have received critical acclaim: ‘Terror Australis’ received numerous awards and toured Australia and France; ‘On Heat’, directed by UK Performance Art luminary Ursula Martinez, toured major festivals in Australia and Soho Theatre London; and her most recent work ‘Batshit’ (also directed by Martinez) won the prestigious Scotsman Fringe First Award and the Mental Health Foundation Fringe Award at Edinburgh Fringe. 

With Lisa Fa’alafi (of Hot Brown Honey acclaim), Leah is Co-Director of intersectional theatre disrupters Polytoxic, creating protest party works underpinned by diversity and collaboration. Since 2000, Polytoxic’s work has been presented in traditional huts, indie theatre seasons, dusty big-tops and major festivals around the world, including PS122’s COIL Festival NYC, Harbourfront Centre Canada, WanSmolbag Vanuatu, Sydney Opera House, and most recently premiered their empowering, unapologetic, hot-as-hell cabaret DANGEROUS GOODS. 

“Simply magnificent … don’t think I’ve ever seen an audience so totally gobsmacked.” (Seesaw Magazine)

Accessibility:

The Vulcana Arts Hub as assigned wheel chair car parks, step free venue entry and an accessible bathroom.
Companion Card holders are welcome and may book a free ticket for their companion. Please email marketing@vulcana.org.au for the code needed to book your complimentary ticket.

Header image features an image from Ghenoa Gela’s performance work Gurr Era Op.

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