On The Fringe

With Sydney Fringe 2024 wrapped up, we, along with The Ethics Centre, invite you to a special evening of reflection, good faith provocation, and maybe some future-gazing.  

Be part of this informal two-hour, two-part conversation event that’s all about bringing together independent artists and the Sydney Fringe community. This is a unique opportunity to explore the ethical realities that shape our creative world—and the broader cultural landscape of Sydney.   

In the first hour, we’ll kick things off with a lively "hot seat" session, facilitated by philosopher Dr. Simon Longstaff. Anyone may hop in the seat with a question, comment, or a provocation about an ethical dilemma or experience you’ve faced as an artist. It’s a chance to see your work in a post-Fringe light, and spark some engaging conversations. 

Some ethical prompts for your "hot seat" question of provocations: 

• How do you maintain a consistent ethical position of responsibility when the results of doing so does not translate into a paycheck?   
• When does ownership of one’s work matter?  How does this differ from ownership of any other thing? 
• The Ethics of Fiction: What ethical considerations arise when artists represent or interpret the experiences of others?  
• To what extent should we consume the artist along with the art?  
• How independent is the independent arts sector? And why does independence matter in a world where art has often been sustained through patronage and favour? 

In the second hour, we’ll hear from four Sydney Fringe artists who were in residence at The Ethics Centre during this year’s Festival. Each will share their individual ethical explorations, reflecting on how their residency has impacted on their project and practice.   

Join us for an informal evening designed to inspire and elevate your artistic practice through a thoughtful, collaborative exploration. 

Date: Wednesday 20th November  

Time:
5.30pm - Part 1: On the Fringe reflections and provocations for the future, with Dr Simon Longstaff  
6.40pm - Part 2: The Ethics Centre Fringe Residents  

Location: The Ethics Centre, Level 1, Legion House, Liberty Place precinct, 161 Castlereagh St, Sydney (glass entrance door is set back from the road, surrounded by black construction hoarding, between Scotch & Soda clothing and Pablo & Rusty cafe) 

Please note: There will be a photographer present at the event and by attending you agree to be present in the event images.

SPEAKERS

Dr Simon Longstaff AO

Dr Simon Longstaff began his working life on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is proud of his kinship ties to the Anindilyakwa people. After a period studying law in Sydney and teaching in Tasmania, he pursued postgraduate studies as a Member of Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1991, Simon commenced his work as the first Executive Director of The Ethics Centre. In 2013, he was made an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the community through the promotion of ethical standards in governance and business, to improving corporate responsibility, and to philosophy.” Simon is an Adjunct Professor of the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW, a Fellow of CPA Australia, the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Risk Policy Institute. 

Charley Allanah

Charley is a director, performer, writer & co artistic director of House of Sand (HoS). Credits include, Director: Welcome the Bright World, Talk of Angels (STCSA); Manage Your Expectations, That Was Friday, The Split, all h0urs, REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN., (HoS); Trans Scripts (Paul Lucas NYC); Titus Andronicus, Mother Courage (AC Arts). Assistant Director: Maggie Stone (dir. Geordie Brookman STCSA), Cosi Fan Tutte (dir. Sir David McVicar Opera Australia) and Julia (dir. Sarah Goodes STC). Actor: Triple X (STC) Five Women Wearing The Same Dress (ACTHub) and King Lear (STCSA).

Her play The House Collector was read at KXT Storytellers Festival directed by Sheridan Harbridge, Stable was long listed for the 2024 Griffin Award, and new musical with composer Nick Delatovic – Must Go On – is in development with Canberra TC.

She is an audio describer, a business consultant to creative entrepreneurs, has held programming roles at Sydney Fringe and Sydney WorldPride, and is Co-Chair of MEAA Diversity.

Diana Paola Alvarado

Diana Paola Alvarado, an accomplished director and actor, is a Master of Fine Arts in Movement graduate from the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London (2018). With a stellar academic background, she delved into the world of theatre from an early age, completing her theatrical studies at the School of Art, Kodaly Studio, and CETAU (Urban Experiment Theatre Company) in Guatemala. Her journey continued at the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre with high distinctions.

Diana’s thirst for knowledge led her to study the technique of Jacques Lecoq in Paris and she further honed her skills in Barcelona. In 2018, she completed her master’s degree, focusing on Movement: Direction and Teaching. Her thesis, under the guidance of Ayse Tashkiran, explored the theory of touch and its impact on an actor’s character development.

Returning to Guatemala in 2013, Diana became a professor at various institutions, leaving an indelible mark on the local theatre scene. She founded and served as the Creative Director and Movement Director at La Fábrica de Microobios de Guatemala, her own theatre company. Her directorial repertoire includes classics like Romeo and Juliet, Othello, and inventive productions such as The Unusual Case of Mr. Morton and 3 1⁄2 Floppy Girls.

Beyond Guatemala, Diana’s influence extends globally. As an actor, she toured the UK with productions like Horoscope and My Father Doesn’t Understand Me. She completed an internship at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, showcasing her skills as a Movement Director, which she echoed in the success of her movement direction on Labyrinth at Flight Path Theatre in Sydney.

Diana also produced and directed a successful season of Blood Wedding at Flight Path Theatre in August of 2024.

Zack Lewin

Zack Lewin is a theatremaker who specialises in transmedia, digital, and community-engaged practices. His work emphasises audience co-creation through digital and multimedial systems. Zack strives for storytelling which bends reality, builds lore, and immerses audiences in robust other worlds; both strange and familiar. 

In 2023 Zack completed a Hospitanz at the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz in Berlin as well as his Master of Theatre (Dramaturgy) at the Victorian College of the Arts. He has worked dramaturgically on main-stage plays such as In Memory of Doris Bither by Yana Eva Thönnes at Schaubühne and interned and performed in experimental works such as the Green Room Award-Winning 8/8/8: WORK by Harriet Gillies and Marcus McKenzie. 

Today, Zack serves his community as Board Secretary of Shopfront Arts Co-op. This valuable contribution to the youth arts sector was recognised by Theatre Network Australia when Zack was invited to participate in their innovative Youth Arts Chair Network. 

Emma Whitehead

Emma is a director and creative producer from London, UK, grateful to be living and creating work on unceded Bidjigal, Cammeraygal, and Gadigal land. She is the founder and artistic director of experimental company Lost Thought. Emma works with theatre, dance, opera, interactive installation, and durational performance. She completed the NIDA MFA Directing course in 2023, where she was the recipient of The Frank Thring Scholarship for skill, expertise, and achievement. She also trained in multidisciplinary performance making and devising at University of Warwick, UK, where she won The Lord Rootes Memorial Fund Major Award. Emma takes an international view of society and the arts, having grown up in one of the most multicultural communities in the world. Coming from a working-class background, Emma is inherently drawn to giving underrepresented stories a voice.

Her directing credits include Shook (QTOPIA); One Who Wants to Cross (Flight Path), in/finite SOL. (Sideshow Attic), Jane Franklin and the Rajah Quilt (Theatre Royal Hobart, Riverside); YAMA (KXT residency); The Chocolate Roster (New Theatre), Trash Wizard (KXT), Me/DEA and SIMPLE (Theatre Works), SOL.and Jono, and Charlene the Sex Doll (NIDA); and music video Frogs by TEND1E ft. WheresCCINO (NIDA x Triple J x rage).