Event Type: Performances

​​Ehsan Zabihi and Sina Tarkesh Esfahani – Classical Iranian Music

This performance of Iranian classical music will be presented in two parts. The music will be improvised throughout. There will be sensory perceptions of the musicians in the performance of some pieces. Intertwined with the music the poems of great Persian poets such as Rumi, Khayyam and Hafez will be showcased.

Ipshita Pratap – Classical Indian Music

Ipshita hails from the picturesque northeastern state of Assam, India. She specialises in Indian classical music which is uniquely known for its emphasis on improvisation and intricate microtones. Because of its contemplative and spiritual nature, Indian classical music is usually a solitary pursuit that focuses on melodic development that gives texture, sensuality and a sense of purpose to the melody. Music has always been a sanctuary for Ipshita.

Levanya De Zoysa

The spectacle and intricate costuming of the most prominent form of traditional Sri Lankan dance, Kandyan, is extraordinary – Levanya’s powerful footwork and gestures bring the richness of Kandyan dance to Hobart stages.

Levanya De Zoysa has been dancing for almost her whole life and has been focussing on traditional forms of Sri Lankan dance for the past 10 years. She is a third year bachelor student at UTAS and takes great pleasure in sharing her culture with new people.

Raj Chopra (RC40)

RC40 – Hindi Rapper based in Hobart is involved in music since 2020. The name RC40 is initials derived from his full name Raj Chopra. His rap is inspired by his own stories and challenges in life. Raj writes his own songs and composes them after finding local producers. Few months back Raj collaborated with another local rapper Zeke to release the first Hindi-English collab song in the history of Tasmania – “Guilty”.

Adonay Tsegezeab (marra dona) 
Blending his mother tongue, Tigrinya, and English, Adonay makes powerful music that maps his journey to lutruwita (Tasmania) from Eritrea, through Ethiopia and lifts people up with strong messages.

Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne Jazz Ensemble

Features seven of Navy’s finest jazz musicians, including our feature vocalist and three piece horn section (trumpet, saxophone, trombone) plus a rhythm-section of piano, double bass and drums. Individually the musicians have all undertaken music degrees at University (including WAAPA and the Victorian College of The Arts) and studied and performed internationally with world renowned artists. The ensemble performs a diverse repertoire of vocal and instrumental jazz, from classic jazz standards, to swing, bossa-nova and samba, plus some contemporary original compositions. The group has supported and performed with many world renowned musicians including Don Burrows, James Morrison, and Katie Noonan, representing the Royal Australian Navy at community events and official Government functions and regularly performs at Festivals such Moomba and the Wangaratta Jazz Festival. The band’s tour of Tasmania includes a performance at The Founders Room at the Salamanca Arts Centre (Thursday 28 July 2022) and performances at this years at Devonport Jazz Festival. 

The band members are:
Maggie James    – Vocals
Gregory Smith    – Saxophone
Martin Duck        – Trumpet
Rob Flynn            – Trombone
Julian Foord        – Piano
Hadyn Murtagh  – Double Bass
Bruce McIntyre  – Drums

Hira Direen

Hera Direen is an award winning cabaret performer and producer here in lutruwita. They have under their belt the 2019 Artfully Queer Unifying Voice award, the 2020 30 under 30 Community Champion, (And in a past life the 2015 Mr. Boylesque Tasmania king).

Producer of QT Cabaret Hera has years of experience creating costumes on the fly, giving a dingey pub a queer neo classical make over, and furthering the gay agenda with their scripts; Zeb A Gender Odyssey (produced by Tasmania Performs), and RATTLE (Self produced).

They are currently studying an MFA in Cultural Leadership at NIDA, and hope to one day be happy.

Genevieve Butler | Director

Director- Genevieve Butler is a bilingual performance artist who uses Bouffon, Drag, Circus, and physical comedy to examine the significance of social masks within theatrical frameworks.  Her artistic practice focuses on how audiences connect/relate universally to colloquial stories.

She is an actor, writer, director, circus performer, mask maker, video editor and teacher of circus fundamentals, mask play and devising. She has toured numerous Fringe and Arts Festivals around Australia, and worked with theatre companies across Australia, Italy and Belgium. She has been a working artist for over 10years   

Genevieve has a diploma in Commedia dell’Arte (FAVA, Italy) and Movement Analysis and Theatre Creation (Lassad, Belgium)— and a bachelors in Theatre (QUT).

Fithawit Hadgu | Actor

Fithawit recently migrated to Australia from Eretria. Since arriving Fithawit has been involved with Students Against Racism (SAR). Through SAR Fithawit has shared her personal story about how she came to Tasmania in schools and workplaces, revealing the realities of what refugees and new arrivals face when they come to this country. Last year Fithawit made her mainstage debut at the Peacock Theatre performing in The Story Behind My Suitcase. Fithawit received a scholarship from Salamanca Arts Centre to attend The Process drama workshops with Ben Winspear, Davina Wright and Lucien Simon.

Takani Clark | Actor

Emerging filmmaker, performer, artist Takani Clark is a professional dabbler and multidisciplinary creative from lutruwita, exploring and engaging with mediums of filmmaking, visual art and performance. As a First Nations woman, raised within the staunch palawa community, Takani feels a deep responsibility to protect and document the island and its cultural identity and diversity, both environmentally and socially. As a storyteller she strives to use her creative voice to deepen our understanding of each other, the natural world and ourselves. Takani believes that diversity is an integral part of her creative practice, striving to collaborate with people from different artistic practices, any background and all walks of life.

Bailey Jackson | Actor

Bailey is a Hobartian Thespian whose hit and miss performances will keep you guessing right until the very end — is this entertainment at its finest or is it a train wreck you can’t look away from? After more than a decade in Tasmanian theatre, still he isn’t sure. Nonetheless, Bailey appreciates Salamanca Arts Centre for rolling the dice and he hopes you enjoy the show.

Jackson Davis | Lighting Designer

Jackson Davis is a theatre maker, writer and performer based in Hobart. Since graduating with Honours from the University of Wollongong in 2012, Jackson has co-founded re:group performance collective and collaborates on new performance works with an emphasis on popular culture and videography. His theatre credits include Lost Boys (Performer, Merrigong Theatre Company, 2018), Route Dash Niner Part 1 & 2 (Director, Merrigong Theatre Company 2016-2017), Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo (Puppeteer, Japan Tour, 2016-2018), Conspiracies (Director, Shopfront, 2017) and LOVELY (Director, PACT, 2014).

Dummies Corp

Dummies Corp are the Australian circus-comedy specialists, recognised for creations of quality that are intelligent, theatrical, inventive and resonate across generations. Their productions transcend language barriers and their unique brand of dum and delightful has created treasured experiences for audiences across the globe.