Umbrella Event: Winter Light

Hera Fox

Hera is a playwright, and circus & cabaret creator based in nipaluna (Hobart). Having grown up in the Huon Valley starting in community musicals, they have had a varied career in burlesque and drag to circus and acrobatics. Now they have found their voice as a transgender woman returning to song and cabaret creating work for and by transgender people. Her plays have endeavored to assist in changing the culture of the live performing arts, to be more inclusive, and to not take itself too seriously. She has a tendency to write about love, lust, and loss, with a style reflecting reactions of your various ex partners.

They are the founder and artistic director of QT Cabaret, a space for transgender and gender queer performers to trial new cabaret and circus work, which won Artfully Queers unifying voice award 2019. Hera is also the winner of 2020’s Out For Australia Community Champion award.

Davina Wright

Davina Wright is a site-specific artist currently living and working in nipaluna/Hobart. She is interested in making site specific, nonlinear and immersive theatre that looks at loneliness, suburbia, violence and feminism. Recently she wrote and directed This is Grayson; a performance for audience 8+ with her collective Gold Satino. This is Grayson explored death, loneliness and family and was an immersive experience. This is Grayson received four Green Room Award Nominations in the Contemporary and Experimental Performance panel and received the awards for Innovation in Site Responsive Performance and Performance for Young Audiences.

Georgie Vozar

Georgie is an artist who predominantly works with clay. As a second generation potter she grew up in a functioning pottery where she absorbed many skills that she now applies to her own practice, from there she gracefully introduces these magic techniques onto others.  With this medium, she practices art therapy within communities, collaborating, exploring the process and spontaneity together, her work is of acceptance and transience.  She finds great stimulation when collaborating with other artists and programs within the arts realm. Georgie often undertakes experimental and performance projects, solo and collaboratively and has exhibited and performed within arts organisations locally and nationally. Recent projects include, QVERI, 2018 ‘Hidden Egg – (Qvuvri/Amphora)’ As a part of group show: Across The Coals curated by Constance Ari at GASP, Tasmania Collaborator, Adam James. Constellations Underground, 2019 for the Ceramics Triennale ‘Kyklosis’ Performance and Installation Collaborator, Julia Drouhin. ‘Ritual’, 2016 Schmorgasbaag, 130 Murray Street, Nipaluna/Hobart, Duration 1hour Performance with visual collaborator, CUSS THIS.

Isabella Stone

Isabella Stone is a dance artist from Perth, Western Australia, which is Whadjuk Noongar Country. She is a dance performer, choreographer and teaching artist with over a decade of experience in Western Australia and Tasmania. She is currently living and working in nipaluna/Hobart as the Artistic Director of DRILL Performance Company Inc. Her experiences have taken her across the country and internationally, working in both major cities and remote areas, within professional and community contexts. Isabella believes in dance as a language that crosses borders and unites communities; that the act of dancing facilitates a space for sharing – shared stories and shared experiences – and creates space for change. Her approach is centered around people and kindness, play and imagination, liberation of self and the importance of community. Isabella is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and LINK Dance Company.

Heath Brown
Heath Brown is a Tasmanian composer and Associate Lecturer at the University of Tasmania.

His work ranges from film and TV to performing arts and installation. He has written scores for four feature films (The Comet Kids, Chocolate Strawberry Vanilla, 41 and El Monstro Del Mar!) and over 40 shorts, with his film work having been recognised throughout the world with a number of awards for original music composition, including the award for Best Original Score at the 2012 Maverick Movie Awards for his score to 41. He also composed the score for the multi-award winning web series Noirhouse(funded by Screen Australia, Screen Tasmania and the ABC) the ABC documentary series Bespoke, and the second season of the Shaun Micallef comedy series The Ex PM.

In 2015 Heath collaborated with Aly Rae Patmore in composing a performance-based musical element for Patricia Piccinini and Peter Hennessey‘s large scale installation The Shadow’s Callingat Detached and presented as part of DarkMOFO 2015.

As producer, sound designer and performer, Heath is a member of the Radio Gothic collective, which produces original live-performance works inspired by the tradition of broadcast radio drama. Radio Gothic has produced three episodes, all of which have been presented as part of Dark MOFO.

Heath has written extensively for the theatre, notably for Terrapin Puppet Theatre (The Riddle of Washpool Gully, Red Racing Hood, Big Baby, The Waltzing Tree) and Tasmanian Theatre Co. (Sex With Strangers, Born From Animals, An Inconvenient Woman, Bakersfield Mist).

His work has appeared in a number of arts festivals including Ten Days on the Island (Babel) and DarkMOFO (The Geometry of Innocent Flesh on the Bone – a collaborative installation work with Oscar Ferreiro, Radio Gothic Eps 1 – 3) and The Tasmanian International Arts Festival (Radio Gothic – Episode 1: The Pit).

Heath has also written music for television and radio commercials, winning the 2012 Tasmanian Advertising Design Awards category of Best Original Music and the 2016 Diemen Award for Best Sound Design.

Heath holds a BA (Philosophy) and BMus (Composition) from The University of Tasmania, where he now lectures in music theory and screen music composition.

Ryan Mahony | Tech Consultant
Ryan is an audio engineer, production manager and technical director from Brisbane, Australia. Over the last decade he has worked extensively both in Australia and around the globe, assisting in presenting works to over a million people across 22 countries in circus, puppetry, musical theatre, drama theatre and live music. Ryan is currently the production manager for Hobart based, contemporary puppetry company, Terrapin.

Gianni Posadas-Sen | Stage Manager

Gianni Posadas-Sen is a flutist, singer, and composer. His music practice consists of classical

performance alongside experimental improvisation and collaborative music-making, with forays into electronic music.

Posadas-Sen had the privilege of performing Cornelius Cardew’s Treatise with the UTAS

Experimental Music Ensemble for Mona Foma (2021), and was a part of Fflora’s MAKE SOME NOISE Project for Mona Foma (2022). He is a member of Silikill, an eclectic band of musicians who explore a range of styles and concepts through experimental improvisation. Posadas-Sen is committed to the Hobart Wind Symphony, and to the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra as principal flutist.

He is currently completing his Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance, flute) at The Hedberg School of Music under Mardi McSullea.

Michelle Boyd | Costume Mentoring

Michelle is a Tasmanian designer working between fashion, costume, interior and stage design.   With an honours degree in design from RMIT and a lifetime of experience in stagecraft, she has designed within the performing and visual arts industries nationally for independent artists and orgs such as Chunky Move Dance Co., Mona, NGV, Arena Theatre and Terrapin Puppet Theatre and festivals Dark Mofo, State of Design, Sydney Festival and Mona Foma.  Her own work explores relationship and embodiment through colour, sculpture and graphic design and she collaborates with a broad range of practitioners in complementary fields including architecture, dance, public art and sound.  Michelle has more recently become a design mentor and teacher and is enjoying these new exchanges with Tasmanian design students across cultures, age and abilities.    

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.

Greg Wells & The Blackwater Band

Greg Wells & The Blackwater Band are a five piece band from Hobart playing their original folk/roots/storytelling style songs. The band comprises Al Campbell (bass guitar), John Britcliffe (drums), Emily Wolfe (violin), Dave Elliston (mandolin) & Greg Wells (guitar & vocals).

John McCormick

John McCormick is a technology based artist with a major interest in movement. John is a lecturer and researcher at the Centre for Transformative Media Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology where he investigates artistic practice in mixed reality environments, robotics, artificial intelligence and human movement. John has collaborated on works worldwide, including at ISEA, SIGGRAPH, Melbourne Festival, SIGGRAPH Asia, Ars Electronica Futurelab and Art Science Museum Singapore.

Adam Nash

Adam Nash is an artist, composer, programmer, performer and writer working in virtual environments and generative platforms. His work has been presented all over the world, including SIGGRAPH, ISEA, ZERO1SJ, the National Portrait Gallery and Venice Biennale. He is Associate Professor (Virtual Interior) in the Interior Design discipline, School of Architecture and Urban Design, RMIT University. 

Alethea Coombe

A diverse musician, Alethea plays casually with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Van Diemen’s Band, has programmed multiple concerts at the Moonah Arts Centre (Hobart), and has featured as soloist with the Melbourne Metropolitan Sinfonietta premiering Michael Mathieson-Sandars’ violin concerto, Jongleur Histories, which was written for her. She collaborates with a number of sound artists and visual artists, exploring technology and improvisation. Their collaborative work has been featured at a number of Hobarts galleries and museums. She has been the recipient of a number of federal and state grants for development and residencies in Australia and abroad. Alethea has performed with internationally acclaimed ensembles ELISION, eighth blackbird and Ensemble Interface, and has performed at soundSCAPE (Italy), Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival (Finland), the International Summer Course for New Music at Darmstadt (Germany) the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (Townsville), The

Unconformity (Queenstown), Dark Mofo (Hobart) and MONA FOMA (Hobart and Launceston).

Jem Nicholas
Jem Nicholas is a facilitator, actress and mover who has recently relocated to Hobart from Melbourne. She has a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Monash University, and has appeared several productions, including as Sylvia in Australian premier of ‘You are the Blood,’ by Ashley Rose Welman. Directed by Peter Blackburn, Carrie in ‘Rules for Living,’ Red Stitch Actors Theatre, directed by Kim Farrant, and Florence in ‘Dr Blake Murder Mysteries, Season 5,’ ABC, directed by Diana Read. She received critical acclaim for her work ‘Child’s Play,’ a one-woman show written and performed by Jem, directed by Jessica Stanley.  She has done further training with Peter Kalos – The Melbourne Actors Lab, Patsy Rodenburg – Voice Master Class, Carl Ford and Susan Batson at the Susan Batson Studio – New York, and is currently training in the Alexander Technique with Penny McDonald.

Tom Robb
Tom Robb is a Hobart-based freelance drummer, electronic musician and educator currently engaged in many musical projects, ranging from free improvisation, jazz, noise music, and music therapy. As a performer, Robb has been fortunate enough to work with some of the most accomplished musicians and ensembles in Australia, including Greg Kingston, John Hoffman, Tim Green, Rugcutters Quartet, Eugene Ball, Zac Hurren, and Scott Tinkler.  Robb’s recorded work has been released on Chemical Imbalance (SYD), Supersonic (BRIS) and Green Chimneys Records (BRIS), as well as being involved in numerous independent releases.

Lachlan Johnson | Cello

​Lachie is a Hobart-based cellist and teacher, performing regularly in a wide variety of local ensembles, including stints as principal cellist with the Hobart Chamber Orchestra, the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music Symphony Orchestra, and the Tasmanian Discovery Orchestra.  He undertook a Bachelor of Music studying under Markus Stocker at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and continued studies with Sue-Ellen Paulsen at UTas, where he received the university medal in 2016.

Michael Fortescue | Double Bass
Michael’s early musical training was in Canberra, playing with Canberra Youth Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, and Australian Youth Orchestra. After a year with Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, he moved to Tasmania to study with Jan Sedivka at UTAS. He commenced work with TSO in 1976. He undertook studies in 1988-89 with Francois Rabbath at Conservatoire Lili et Nadia Boulanger Paris IX. He left TSO in 2013. He is former board member of TSO, deputy chair Music Fund of Australia Council, chair of Music Panel of TAAB, president of Hobart branch of Musicians Union and lecturer in double bass and improvised music at UTAS. Currently chair of Kickstart Arts and freelance specialist in whiskers and kicks.

Michael Mathieson-Sandars | Creative Consultant
Michael Mathieson-Sandars is a Hobart-based Australian composer. He is a co-founding member of new music ensemble Kupka’s Piano, alongside whom he has collaborated with Ensemble Interface (Germany), Makeshift Dance Collective (Brisbane) and received funding through Arts Queensland and the Australia Council for the Arts. He completed his Honours in Music at the University of Tasmania Conservatorium in 2016, and his Bachelor of Music at the Queensland Conservatorium in 2013, studying with Gerado Dirie, Maria Grenfell and Don Kay. Michael has attended a number of international music festivals and conferences, including soundSCAPE (Italy – 2013) highSCORE (Italy – 2013) CoMA (UK – 2013) International Summer Course for New Music at Darmstadt (Germany 2014, 2016). For these courses he was awarded PPCA Performers Trust Award for overseas study (2016), Ian Potter Cultural Trust for overseas study (2014) and had lessons with Rebecca Saunders (Germany) Brian Fernyhough (US) Liza Lim (Aus/UK) Michael Finnissy (UK). Michael and Alethea have collaborated on new musical works since 2011; recent major works include “For Reza Berati” for violin, flute and dancer, as well as Jongleur Histories – a violin concerto commissioned by the Melbourne Metropolitan Sinfonietta.

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.

Tash Parker
Tash Parker (PARKER)  is a multidisciplinary artist and musician born in Western Australia and raised on a tropical fruit farm in the North East Kimberley, now based in Launceston Tasmania.  Her music is a powerhouse of retro-futurist electronica that soars with glossy synths and commanding vocals.

Her artistic practice is centred around reactionary works in collaboration with musicians, visual artists and technology artists to curate multi-sensory experiences:

“I write about what is real and happening whether that be about my own relationships and experience in my body or an imagined reality of a space travelling future ancestor.” –PARKER

Briony Law
Briony Law is a visual artist currently based in Brisbane, Australia who works primarily with sculpture, moving image and installation. Her practice explores aspects of human ecology, urbanisation and the complex systems of mediation at play in parks, reserves and conservation areas. Her work observes social practices in these places and notions of nature connectedness
www.brionylaw.com

Gina Thorstensen
Gina Thorstensen is an artist, illustrator, animator based in Oslo, Norway. She holds a masters in VR filmmaking and has worked on award winning animated films and music videos (Gotye – Giving Me A Chance).  Gina has exhibited in Barcelona, Berlin & Copenhagen and has a strong practice in collaboration with fashion designers, musicians, artists and filmmakers.
www.ginathorstensen.com

Hans Van Vliet
Long time collaborator with Tash Parker, Hans Van Vliet is a live musician (Wafia, PARKER, Hunz & 7 Bit Hero) a music producer (PARKER, Hunz & 7bit Hero) and an animator/game designer based in Brisbane. He is the creator of 7bit Hero, an interactive live performance video game, the Creative Director for Kids psychology game, Rumbles Quest and Game Director for Children’s book app Kindergo.

Jacob Collings
Jacob is a Nipaluna based filmmaker who is driven by conveying the internal feelings of life and telling the stories of those around him. He has engaged in projects with National Geographic, ABC, Channel 7 and STAN, He got his start as a freelancer, working on music and Arts projects across Australia.

Jaymis Loveday 
Jaymis is a video director and creative technologist. He pushes the dimensions of video and live performances by mixing VR, robots, cameras, 3D printers, drones, music, electronics, computer gaming, programming, lighting, animation, and explosions.  He is a live VJ performer for bands 7bit Hero, Tim Shiel and Nonsemble, and the creator of Cinema Swarm: the Autonomous Subject Tracking Robotic Camera System.
www.jaymis.com

Lillian Bell
Lillian Bell is an offgrid artist based in regional Victoria.  Lillian uses drawing, sculpture, ceramics, light, found objects and stop motion animation to tell imagined histories of women.  She shines a light on possible hidden and untold stories buried by the patriarchy.

Ursula Woods
Ursula Woods is a filmmaker based in southern Tasmania. She is a current member of the Australian Directors Guild (ADG), Women in Film and Television (WIFT) and Wide Angle Tasmania. Ursula is best known for her short film Clockumentary, which was selected and shown at a variety of festivals including the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2020 and Far South Film Festival 2021.
www.ursulawoods.com

Emma Anglesey
Emma’s songs have been playlisted by Double J and ABC Radio and used by Triple J to advertise Unearthed. Emma has performed at Woodford Folk Festival, A festival called Panama, Falls Festival, Party in the Paddock, Dark Mofo and Mona Foma, and toured with Guy Pearce, The Waifs and JUNO award winning Canadian band The East Pointers. In 2018 she showcased at Australia’s SXSW BIGSOUND.

Emi Doi
Emi Doi is a 23-year-old keyboardist, vocalist and songwriter, currently creating and working in her hometown of nipaluna, Hobart. A local music enthusiast and current member of local indie-pop four-piece ‘ACRES’, she has performed across a range of venues and festivals throughout Tasmania, including the Falls Festival and Party in the Paddock, supporting the likes of the Rubens and the Creases. She has recently jumped on board as a keyboardist for Hobart-based artist CELESTE and Launceston-based artist PARKER.

Michelle Boyde – Costume Design
Michelle is a freelance Tasmanian designer working across costume, fashion, stage and film.   Her work has been commissioned by numerous high profile cultural organisations including Chunky Move Dance Co., Melbourne Fashion Week, Mona, Dark Mofo and Design Tasmania and her designs have graced the backs of a plethora of independent artists locally and abroad.
www.boyde.com.au

Allison Bell
Award winning Soprano Allison Bell is one of the leading and most exciting performers of 20th and 21st century music of her generation. Allison is also a celebrated voice teacher and peak performance coach, teaching both privately and within young artist programs and universities. Allison is a mentor and coach to the next generation of singing stars – from professional opera and classical singers to cross-over performers such as Kate Miller-Heidke, Allison’s students are leaders in their genres, internationally.
www.allisonbellsoprano.com

VR equipment provided by Soma Lumia
www.somalumia.art

Tash Parker (PARKER)  is a multidisciplinary artist and musician born in Western Australia and raised on a tropical fruit farm in the North East Kimberley, now based in Launceston Tasmania.  Her music is a powerhouse of retro-futurist electronica that soars with glossy synths and commanding vocals.

Her artistic practice is centred around reactionary works in collaboration with musicians, visual artists and technology artists to curate multi-sensory experiences:

“I write about what is real and happening whether that be about my own relationships and experience in my body or an imagined reality of a space travelling future ancestor.” –PARKER

Briony Law
Briony Law is a visual artist currently based in Brisbane, Australia who works primarily with sculpture, moving image and installation. Her practice explores aspects of human ecology, urbanisation and the complex systems of mediation at play in parks, reserves and conservation areas. Her work observes social practices in these places and notions of nature connectedness
www.brionylaw.com

Gina Thorstensen
Gina Thorstensen is an artist, illustrator, animator based in Oslo, Norway. She holds a masters in VR filmmaking and has worked on award winning animated films and music videos (Gotye – Giving Me A Chance).  Gina has exhibited in Barcelona, Berlin & Copenhagen and has a strong practice in collaboration with fashion designers, musicians, artists and filmmakers.
www.ginathorstensen.com

Hans Van Vliet
Long time collaborator with Tash Parker, Hans Van Vliet is a live musician (Wafia, PARKER, Hunz & 7 Bit Hero) a music producer (PARKER, Hunz & 7bit Hero) and an animator/game designer based in Brisbane. He is the creator of 7bit Hero, an interactive live performance video game, the Creative Director for Kids psychology game, Rumbles Quest and Game Director for Children’s book app Kindergo.

Jacob Collings
Jacob is a nipaluna based filmmaker who is driven by conveying the internal feelings of life and telling the stories of those around him. He has engaged in projects with National Geographic, ABC, Channel 7 and STAN, He got his start as a freelancer, working on music and Arts projects across Australia.

Jaymis Loveday 
Jaymis is a video director and creative technologist. He pushes the dimensions of video and live performances by mixing VR, robots, cameras, 3D printers, drones, music, electronics, computer gaming, programming, lighting, animation, and explosions.  He is a live VJ performer for bands 7bit Hero, Tim Shiel and Nonsemble, and the creator of Cinema Swarm: the Autonomous Subject Tracking Robotic Camera System.
www.jaymis.com

Lillian Bell
Lillian Bell is an offgrid artist based in regional Victoria.  Lillian uses drawing, sculpture, ceramics, light, found objects and stop motion animation to tell imagined histories of women.  She shines a light on possible hidden and untold stories buried by the patriarchy.

Ursula Woods
Ursula Woods is a filmmaker based in southern Tasmania. She is a current member of the Australian Directors Guild (ADG), Women in Film and Television (WIFT) and Wide Angle Tasmania. Ursula is best known for her short film Clockumentary, which was selected and shown at a variety of festivals including the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2020 and Far South Film Festival 2021.
www.ursulawoods.com

Emma Anglesey
Emma’s songs have been playlisted by Double J and ABC Radio and used by Triple J to advertise Unearthed. Emma has performed at Woodford Folk Festival, A festival called Panama, Falls Festival, Party in the Paddock, Dark Mofo and Mona Foma, and toured with Guy Pearce, The Waifs and JUNO award winning Canadian band The East Pointers. In 2018 she showcased at Australia’s SXSW BIGSOUND.

Emi Doi
Emi Doi is a 23-year-old keyboardist, vocalist and songwriter, currently creating and working in her hometown of nipaluna, Hobart. A local music enthusiast and current member of local indie-pop four-piece ‘ACRES’, she has performed across a range of venues and festivals throughout Tasmania, including the Falls Festival and Party in the Paddock, supporting the likes of the Rubens and the Creases. She has recently jumped on board as a keyboardist for Hobart-based artist CELESTE and Launceston-based artist PARKER.

Michelle Boyde – Costume Design
Michelle is a freelance Tasmanian designer working across costume, fashion, stage and film.   Her work has been commissioned by numerous high profile cultural organisations including Chunky Move Dance Co., Melbourne Fashion Week, Mona, Dark Mofo and Design Tasmania and her designs have graced the backs of a plethora of independent artists locally and abroad.
www.boyde.com.au

Allison Bell
Award winning Soprano Allison Bell is one of the leading and most exciting performers of 20th and 21st century music of her generation. Allison is also a celebrated voice teacher and peak performance coach, teaching both privately and within young artist programs and universities. Allison is a mentor and coach to the next generation of singing stars – from professional opera and classical singers to cross-over performers such as Kate Miller-Heidke, Allison’s students are leaders in their genres, internationally.
www.allisonbellsoprano.com

VR equipment provided by Soma Lumia
www.somalumia.art