I have worked as a theatre artist for thirty years, creating original theatre with professional and community collaborators. My work has shown internationally, receiving awards from the Liverpool International Theatre Festival, Canada (Best International Act, Best Director, People’s Choice) and from the Yakumo International Theatre Festival, Japan (Best Production, Best Director, Best Ensemble). I received awards from Yellow Moon and Idiom 23 for poetry and from the SER Foundation, Switzerland for peace-building through the arts. I have published in academic and non-academic settings, including theatre reviews for the Conversation and a review of short films shown by Mtns Made.
I have held Artistic Director positions at Backbone Youth Arts in Brisbane and Western Edge Youth Arts in Melbourne. I founded ‘Theatre of Friendship’ in 2006, an ongoing peace-building theatre project in Sri Lanka. My original theatre productions have shown in ten countries across Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.
I hold a PhD in social sciences, which investigated peacebuilding in Sri Lanka using participatory and performing arts. I am currently an Adjunct Fellow with the Challenging Racism Project at Western Sydney University. My research interests include arts-based peacebuilding, ferocious feminism and intersubjective arts practices.
I have been a lecturer, unit coordinator and curriculum developer at Arturo Acting School and the International Film School (Cologne, Germany), Western Sydney University and Charles Sturt University (NSW). I have been a sessional artist with Riverside Theatres since 2016, directing and co-facilitating ‘Beyond the Square’ inclusive arts performances and workshops; mentoring young playwrights and performers in the ‘Sharp Short Theatre’ competition, and performing the role of Queen of Craft in the ‘Spot On Festival’. I am currently collaborating with Riverside Theatres on research investigating the role of drama educators in facilitating young people to make high quality original theatre.