2023 TBRT team WEB

The Blue Room Theatre has been the creative hub of Western Australia’s independent theatre scene for more than 30 years, centrally located at the heart of the Perth Cultural Centre.

If you haven’t been to our venue, you have probably heard of our shows. Helpmann-nominated The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer, Letters Home and Those Who Fall In Love Like Anchors Dropped Upon The Ocean Floor all began here, as did the careers of Matthew Lutton, Kate Mulvany, Tim Minchin, Claire Hooper, the members of The Last Great Hunt and many more.

We foster new talent and new work through a year-round program presenting and developing the best new independent contemporary performance from Western Australia and further afield.

We present an annual season of works between April – December, a massive Summer Nights program, which won FRINGE WORLD’s Best Independent Program Award for seven years running

With a 30+ year legacy of providing the resources, advocacy and space to make independent performance happen in Perth, we’d love for you to come and visit us and check out a show.


What is this place?
We are a live performance venue. We have two theatres and a bar upstairs. We are also a not-for-profit membership organisation and we have two rehearsal rooms downstairs.

What do you do here?
We co-present an annual program between April – December, a massive program in January/ February called Summer Nights, and Winter Nights, a two-week mid-year festival of theatre research and development in late July.

How do you go about getting a show on here?
Applications for the annual season, Summer Nights and Winter Nights are called for once a year. The best way to find out when applications are open is to become a member. You can check out key dates, information packs and selection criteria on our website under ‘Artists.’

Do you hire out your theatres?
We rarely have space available for hire of the performance venues. Our season shows occupy our performance spaces for nine months of the year; one month of the year is our Summer Nights program; and we also need to carry out maintenance of equipment and venues when we are dark. Our rehearsal rooms are available to hire for 11 months of the year but preference is given to performing arts-related hires.

I am interested in auditioning for one of your shows. What do I need to do?
The Blue Room Theatre is not a theatre company. The producing company of each show is in charge of its own casting. If they call out for auditions, we notify our members in our Member’s News.

How long has this been here?
The Blue Room Theatre started in 1989 (incorporated as the Performing Arts Centre Society) and we have been in this building since 1990 (initially trading as the WA Actor’s Centre). The Blue Room Theatre Seasons started in 1994. The foyer, bar and balcony were all new in 2006. The bar was renovated in 2021.

What did this building used to be?
Originally it was the senior school building of Perth Central School, built in 1905. Then it was science labs, and from the 50s-80s Perth Technical College (TAFE). In the past we have shared the building with Kaos Theatre, Australian Society of Writers, the Photography Gallery of WA, and now Propel Youth Arts WA.

SUKHJIT KAUR KHALSA – Executive Director
Sukhjit is a creative producer, writer and performer, with a background in community arts. Her work as a multi-form artist for the last ten years has been recognised at the Performing Arts WA Awards (2020), Mona Brand Writing Awards (2022), Young Australian of the Year (finalist, 2022), and WA Multicultural Awards (2022).

Her passion for storytelling began as a finalist in the Australian Poetry Slam (2014), semi-finalist on Australia’s Got Talent (2016) and winner of The Moth GrandSLAM (2019). Sukhjit spoke at TedxUWA (2017), TedxNewtown (2019) and has supported Missy Higgins and L-FRESH the Lion on their national tours. Her poetry and community arts projects have led her to tour globally and across her nation.

Sukhjit premiered her sell-out theatre show FULLY SIKH with Barking Gecko Theatre Company and Black Swan State Theatre Company (2019). Since then, she has been developing her comedy series WHAT WOULD SUKI DO? with support from ABC TV and is currently producing A HAIRY TALE, a documentary exploring female body hair. Sukhjit is a story-telling trainer at the Centre for Stories and has produced storytelling and theatre projects for adults and school students. COLLECTABLES, her debut hip-hop single is now streaming on all streaming platforms.

MITCHELL THOMAS – Operations Manager
Mitch started his career as a Stage Management graduate from the WA Academy of Performing Arts and worked locally and internationally as a Stage Manager and Mechanist on a variety of productions, before landing at the then yet to be opened State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in 2010. In 2012 Mitch was appointed as the Assistant Technical Manager and then the Manager Venue Operations in 2017. In 2020 Mitch left the State Theatre Centre to take on the role of Venue Manager for a new theatre in the Perth CBD, but due to COVID-19 this venue was unable to open as scheduled. This window closing led to another door opening and the opportunity for Mitch to join The Blue Room Theatre.

ROSE KINGDOM-BARRON – Program Manager
Rose is an artist and organiser (often simultaneously) operating on Whadjuk Noongar boodja. She graduated Arts Management at WAAPA in 2012, following a programming internship at Sydney’s Carriageworks. Over ten years plus, Rose has worked across programming, producing and promoting in Perth arts organisations (including The Bird and Gelo), as well as independently making shows under her moniker Mummy’s Plastic. She has devised a cryptocurrency based on social capital, hosted a 24-hour karaoke room and continues to run experimental performance nights. Rose’s practice onstage and off is centred on bringing people together, nurturing a sense of collective care and sharing a laugh. She is always up for a conversation, although the term “guilty pleasure” does not exist in her repertoire.

RUBY SHORT – Front of House & Ticketing Coordinator
Ruby is a freelance performer working on Noongar Boodja. She completed a Diploma of Music Theatre at WAAPA in 2019 and is featured in the new musical 107 premiering at the Summer Nights 2022. She is extremely passionate about diversity in the arts and is super excited to be a part of The Blue Room Theatre team.

MATT PENNY – Housekeeping
Matt is a multi-disciplinary artist. He is a writer, actor, magician, pianist. He is currently in a band and working on a solo show called Matt Penny – Mind Hacker.

AMANDA LUKE – Senior Finance Officer
Amanda is a CPA qualified accountant with extensive experience. Originally from Queenlsand Amanda’s career has taken her around the country and the world working in diverse locations from Manhattan to Jigalong Aboriginal Community. Having spent nearly nine years as Finance Manager with Black Swan State Theatre Company Amanda brings a valuable understanding of finance in the arts. Amanda is currently working with WA Youth Jazz Orchestra. Amanda enjoys novels featuring gruesome serial killers while regarding the only unforgivable act is to confuse stationery with stationary.

PHOEBE TAN – Graphic Designer
Phoebe is a multitalented Singaporean artist, graphic designer, and marketing strategist. She crafts compelling stories that reflect her client’s unique identities and values. Her artistic works reflect her love for people and cultural exchanges, focusing on creating impact, opportunities, and conversations among both creators and viewers. Aside from daily hustle as an in-house designer at The Blue Room Theatre and Communications Officer at Propel Youth Arts WA. Outside of work, Phoebe is also the founder and curator of a successful arts exhibition and non-profit organisation, Lume Collective Perth.

ANNALEE LADIGES – Communications Coordinator
Annalee is an arts worker with a focus on marketing and communications, a graphic designer, and has previously worked as an independent producer in the Perth Comedy industry. She has run stand-up comedy rooms, produced shows in numerous venues for some of Perth Comedy’s best talent, and produced and marketed multiple seasons at Fringe World Festival. She is a former board member of the Laugh Resort, Perth’s oldest running comedy club, and has extensive front of house experience. Annalee has worked in communications and marketing roles for various Perth arts organizations including Gelo, pvi collective, Performing Lines WA, and Regional Arts WA. She has a keen interest in making the arts more accessible and less mysterious for the wider community with a firm belief that the arts are for everyone.

BRIANNAH DAVIS – Producer
Briannah is a producer, dancer and choreographer based in Boorloo. Since graduating WAAPA (Bachelor of Arts [Dance] Honours, 2018), she has been a self-producing artist for independent dance-theatre productions working with The Blue Room Theatre (TBRT), Propel Youth Arts, STRUT Dance, Squid Vicious & Renegade Productions.  As an emerging creative producer in 2022, Briannah produced Salome Delta within the Summer Nights Festival at TBRT, and You’re So Brave within their Annual Season. This saw her delivering TBRT’s first digital season to increase accessibility within the arts. She has a passion for community which sees her working as a metro & regional Teaching Artist within the education programs of West Australian Ballet and Co3 Contemporary Dance. As a dancer, Briannah has worked with The Stephanie Lake Company, Bernadette Lewis, Scott Elstermann, WA Youth Orchestra and created her own works with her independent collective, Not Sold Separately.

LATA PERIAKARPAN – Community Engagement Coordinator
Lata is a writer with experience in the screen industry and arts coordination. After graduating from Curtin University with a double degree in Creative Writing and Screen Arts, she took a gap year in Canada where she did the set design for a small independent theatre company during 2018. After coming back to Perth/Boorloo, she has participated in several writers’ rooms, was a script coordinator on the kids television show Itch S2, and more recently has been developing her own screen projects. The short film she wrote Good Fortune (dir. Alex Eftos) was selected for the Flickerfest program 2023, and premiered in Sydney. Lata enjoys creating stories with diverse leads who challenge societal norms and perceptions. She has also worked in Disability Employment as a Client Liaison Officer where she facilitated workshops with young job seekers and helped connect them in to opportunities in the wider community.

CONSTITUTION
The Blue Room Theatre is the trading name of The Performing Arts Centre Society, which was incorporated as an association in 1989.

Click here for the current version of the Constitution for the association.

POLICIES
The Board of Management maintains a suite of policies that govern the management of The Blue Room Theatre. Here are a number of the key policies of interest to members and audience.

Click here for our Bullying and Sexual Harassment Policy
Click here for our Sustainability Policy – View Here
Click here for our Ticketing Policy
Click here for Sponsorship and Philanthropy
Click here for the Live Performance Australia Ticketing Code of Practice

PURPOSE, VISION & VALUES
Here’s a copy of the Purpose, Vision and Values that drive The Blue Room Theatre.

Click here to read out Purpose, Vision and Values

MONICA KANE – Chair
Arts Industry / Arts Leadership / Social Change
Board Member since 2020

Monica’s day job is co-CEO of Community Arts Network (CAN). She is also a Board member of SCOOP Foundation, which works to break the poverty cycle of children living on the streets in Varanasi, India. Monica is in the final months of completing her Masters in Human Rights Education at Curtin, with a specific focus on Indigenous and children’s rights.

Having been in arts leadership positions for over ten years, Monica’s current role at CAN enables her to create positive social change through the arts. Recently, she successfully steered the organisation through volatile times, developed an empowering culture, and established a financially viable organisation that can flourish beyond the ebbs and flows of government cycles. Most importantly, her experience at CAN has created opportunities to work with Elders on First Nations programs across Noongar country.

Previous to the arts, Monica was a sole trader, providing facilitation and training services for management and business qualifications across sectors, cultural groups and countries including Pakistan and Turkey. With her combined experience Monica brings a level, focused, and strategic perspective over governance, strategy, financial analysis, funding and partnerships, and community engagement.

Her passion for The Blue Room Theatre comes from knowing its significant place in the ecology of arts and culture in WA. And believing in how it connects stories and people and the possibility of truly reflecting the plurality of voices that make up Australia. As a young girl growing up in Perth watching productions at The Playhouse, The Blue Room, Octagon and Dolphin theatres she was mesmerised by the visceral transformation into someone’s story. The Blue Room Theatre has a special place in Perth’s history, and for emerging creatives, it brings critical opportunities that must be maintained and expanded for many years to come.

 

TANYA PAYNE – Treasurer
Finance / Accounting
Board member + Treasurer since 2010

Tanya has worked in finance at various firms for over 20 years while completing a Bachelor of Business (double major in Accounting and Management) at Edith Cowan University. She has held board positions with various other not-for-profit organizations including the Finance Committee of The Centre for Cerebral Palsy and Duncraig Senior High School, and sat on the Perth Theatre Company board for six years. Tanya’s insight into financial management and dealing with government comes from 12 years with Marketforce, a leading WA advertising agency, and having recently joined Volunteer Task Force, a government funded community organization assisting the frail, aged and disabled.

SAM NERIDA – Secretary
Artist (Performance Maker / Writer / Producer)
Board member since 2020

Sam Nerida is a theatre maker, producer and award-winning playwright, working and living in Boorloo on Whadjuk Noongar boodja. They are also the Producer and co-founder of Static Drive Co, a Digital Puppeteer for Murdoch University, and an arts-educator for young people. In 2020 Sam was commissioned to contribute to Playwriting Australia’s ‘Dear Australia’ project, was a KISS Club and Perth Festival Lab artist, developed several Winter Nights projects and is currently directing The Jellyman. Their play ‘See You Next Tuesday’ was awarded Best New Writing (The Blue Room Theatre), Best New Work and Best Independent Production (PAWA Awards) for 2019. They have worked for The Blue Room Theatre as their Associate Producer (2018 – 2019), and their recent performance credits include The Wolves (Red Ryder, 2019).

Sam’s love for The Blue Room Theatre has grown with each new way they have engaged – as an artist, an audience member, a staff member – and will bring a fierce passion for both the organisation itself and the WA arts sector at large. Recently their practice has moved away from performance projects and towards the facilitation of professional and sector development, specifically in areas of youth engagement, disability and cultural diversity, always with values of self-determination and inclusivity at the forefront. Sam believes that The Blue Room Theatre always is and will continue to be an industry leader in both performance and process, and would honour the chance to be a part of that journey for the coming years.

EMILY MCLEAN
Artist (Director / Dramaturg)
Board member since 2020

Emily McLean trained at WAAPA and is a founding member of Red Ryder Productions. She has directed for Black Swan State Theatre Company, Perth Theatre Company, Deckchair, Red Ryder, WAAPA, Curtin, Maiden Voyage Theatre Company and others. Last year Emily directed Water by Jane Bodie (BSSTC), assistant directed The Torrents by Oriel Gray (BSSTC), and directed The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe (Red Ryder). In the last eight years she has directed ten new Australian works. In 1996 Emily directed her first ever show at The Blue Room Theatre, Dancing with the Fabulous Rat Girl by Tom Horne. Since then she has directed over ten shows there (including Grounded by George Brant, Toast by Liz Newell, Fat Pig by Neil LaBute and Slut by Patricia Cornelius). She has mentored Blue Room directors and writers, sat on the selection panel, been in the audience and occasionally had a drink at the bar. She would love a chance to give back to this company that has given her (and all of us) so much over the years.

ALI MARTIN (she/her)
Marketing & Communications
Board member since 2022

Ali Martin is an accomplished purpose-led marketing and communications professional with a strong history of success delivering effective campaigns, motivating high performing teams and engaging partner support.

She has worked across diverse industries delivering strategic marketing and communications for nearly 20 years. Her experience includes leading marketing and communications teams at WA Museum, Water Corporation, The University of Western Australia, and the Department of Sport, Local Government and Cultural Industries. Her current role as Senior Marketing Officer at the State Government’s Small Business Development Corporation sees her helping WA small businesses to start well, survive and thrive.

Ali is passionate about the capacity of arts organisations to support cohesion, advocacy and improved health and wellbeing, both at a community and individual level. She is proud to have supported the WA arts and media communities through her volunteer leadership roles at Propel Youth Arts, The Last Great Hunt theatre company, The Blue Room Theatre, and Women In Media WA. In these volunteer roles, she has collaborated with her peers to support rigorous conversations, drive corporate strategy, assess financial sustainability, and engage key stakeholders such as donors, funders, sponsors, members and partners.

Outside of work, you will find Ali walking her greyhound Amy Grace, dabbling in pottery and treating her nieces and nephews to ‘Aunty Ali Arts Outings’.

CLARA MILLET (she/her) 
Philanthropy & Fundraising
Board member since 2022

Clara is driven by helping organisations achieve their philanthropic and sponsorship growth, facilitating positive social change. With a degree in law and further studies in executive business development, cultural politics, marketing, and fundraising, Clara has enjoyed a varied international fundraising career, having achieved consistently outstanding results for multiple organisations across various sectors: child protection, education, intellectual disability support services, and the arts and music industry, in Australia (Perth), England (London, Cambridge and Birmingham), and Spain (Barcelona).

Over the past ten years working in Perth – Western Australia, Clara has built a large industry and Government network and has established a positive profile in the growing Australia philanthropic scene. In her current role as Partnerships Manager, she takes carriage of Parkerville Children and Youth Care funding streams, securing philanthropic and sponsorship revenue, and managing relationships with clients, sponsors, donors, and stakeholders.

In 2020 Clara worked for 12 months where she worked as the Associate Director at Boscana Foundation a, a not-for-profit organisation, supporting women with intellectual disabilities. During here time there, she led a successful Covid-19 fundraising digital campaign, which she had the privilege to present a year later at the 2021 FIA WA Fundraising Forum in Perth.

ELLA HETHERINGTON (she/her) 
Arts Industry
Board member since 2022

Ella Hetherington has worked extensively as an actor, physical performer and contemporary performance maker across a range of performance disciplines. As an actor, devisor and collaborator she has worked with all the major Western Australian theatre companies, The Last Great Hunt, Sensorium, aMoment, Steamworks, littleY, Emma Fishwick, Renegade Productions, Encounter and kdm Industries. She has toured internationally as a physical performer with her own projects and created works with companies such as Patch, La Fura Del Baus, Erth, Legs on the Wall and Force Majeure. Ella has received several Equity nominations for her theatre roles and a Helpmann nomination for The Red Tree.

As a writer she has had works commissioned by the WASO, Bizircus, The WA Museum with her first major work ShadowBoxing being commissioned, produced and toured by Black Swan State Theatre Company. Ella is a casual lecturer in devising at WAAPA and the co- director of Maxima.

Her commitment to new works and emerging and experimental practice has meant a strong connection with The Blue Room over many years. She believes passionately in the capacity for performance to both articulate and elevate the contemporary experience, she relishes working with artists to expand creative possibilities and sharing this with new audiences.

ANA FERREIRA MANHOSO
Artist / Behavioural Science / Business Leadership
Board member since 2023

Ana Ferreira Manhoso is a creative and an organiser based in Wayalup (Fremantle). She has been managing artists and producing theatre for over ten years, founding Crash Theatre Company and working largely in festival landscapes and artistic touring. After completing her undergraduate studies in behavioural science and a master’s in business leadership, her current working role in tertiary management involves developing strategies aimed to widen participation and diversify the student body by increasing support and educational access for underrepresented cohorts.

Ana is pragmatically passionate about turning ideas and concepts into reality. Through an academic lens of social science and leadership theory, she is focussed on impactful storytelling and promoting transformative benefit and growth for communities and organisations.

As an engaged Blue Room member and practicing artist, Ana champions the pursuit for equitable practice, furthering opportunities, and creating new pathways for independent artists. She believes that The Blue Room Theatre is a sacred gem in the ecology of West Australian arts; the flagship of independent theatre-making, providing fundamental development opportunities to emerging artists that is simply unmatched.

 

We strongly encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds (including people who identify as First Nations, People of Colour, living with disability, LGBTQI+) to apply for any of these positions.

Watch this space for future updates.

Featured Image by Sophie Minissale