Artist Company

ACTORS
Billy Fogarty (they/them/theirs)
Bryan Probets (he/him/his)
Chenoa Deemal (she/her/hers)
Christen O'Leary (she/her/hers)
Emily Burton (she/her/hers)
Giema Contini (she/her/hers)
Kevin Spink (he/him/his)
Ngoc Phan (she/her/hers)
Patrick Jhanur (he/him/his)
Roxanne McDonald (she/her/hers)
Sean Dow (he/him/his)
Will Carseldine (he/him/his)
CREATIVES
Sanja Simić, Director, (she/her/hers)
Nadine McDonald-Dowd, Director, (she/her/hers)
Nigel Poulton, Director - Fight & Intimacy, (he/him/his)
Darren Yap, Director, (he/him/his)
Chloe Greaves, Set / Costume Designer, (she/her/hers)
Justin Harrison, Video Designer, (he/him/his)
Ben Hughes, Lighting Designer, (he/him/his)
Brady Watkins, Sound Designer / Composer, (she/her/hers)
Saffron Benner, Dramaturg, (she/her/hers)
Ellen van Neerven, Writer, (they/them/theirs)
Merlynn Tong, Writer, (she/her/hers)
Anika Vilée, Company Manager, (she/her/hers)
#ACTORS
Billy Fogarty
Billy is an Actor and Drama Instructor who is in their first professional year in the arts industry. Billy is passionate about absolutely obliterating gender binaries – in art, life and personal identity. They believe art holds the power and potential to be a home for those who have always been told they don’t belong. Billy believes what the arts industry needs right now are people who are willing to take risks in order to make the industry more inclusive and accessible. Their list of show and work credits include: as a Drama Instructor, for shake & stir theatre co.,, as an Actor The Crucible (2021), A Dream Play (2021), Round Heads and Pointed Heads (2020) USQ, and Cross My Heart (2017) Empire Youth Arts.
Bryan Probets
Bryan is an actor who has worked in the arts industry for the last 25 years. He is passionate about many things, including the mystery of acting, music, nature, history and the connection with family. Bryan feels that art prevails when creativity is unleashed, cutting through lies to reveal truth in all its strengths and vulnerabilities. He strongly believes what the arts industry needs right now is to be respected and understood, that it cannot be placed in the 'too hard' basket. It needs to be at the forefront of everyone's lives, not simply a hobby. Bryan’s list of show credits includes Young Rock (TV Series 2021), A Christmas Carol (2021) shake & stir theatre co., The 39 Steps (2018) Queensland Theatre, Pirates of The Caribbean (2019) Film, and As You like It (2012) La Boite Theatre.
Chenoa Deemal
Chenoa is an Actor, who has worked in the performing arts industry for the last sixteen years. She is passionate about diversity and diverse stories. Stories that bring a new lens and perspective to our stages, especially those that challenge the colonial / heteronormative frame of mind. Chenoa believes that what the arts industry needs right now is more, more diversity, more stories, more support, more opportunities. Chenoa’s most recent list of show credits include: Cursed (2020) Belvoir, Black Cockatoo (2020) Ensemble Theatre Company, The 7 Stages of Grieving (2017, 2019) Grin & Tonic, Queensland Theatre and Australian Theatre Company, The Longest Minute (2018, 2019) Queensland Theatre, Holy Day (2019) The New Natives Theatre Company.
Emily Burton
Emily is an Actor, Theatre-maker and Teaching Artist who has worked in the industry for 12 years. She is passionate about making people feel things – believing that art connects us to our emotions, and it alone has the ability to change us in ways that nothing else can. Emily feels what the industry needs right now is compassionate leadership with authentic communication and transparency. Her list of show credits include: as an Actor, Naked & Screaming (2021) La Boite Theatre, Oedipus Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (2015) Queensland Theatre, A Tribute of Sorts (2012/2014) La Boite Theatre. As a puppeteer, Storm Boy (2019) Queensland Theatre, and The Wider Earth (2018) Sydney Festival.
Kevin Spink
Kevin is an Actor, Director and Voice Artist and has worked in the arts industry for the last 18 years. Kevin is passionate about everyday stories; the ordinary and the extraordinary, that by sharing people’s stories and ideas it provides a better understanding of our own lives; it is the thread between community and existence. He believes what the arts industry needs right now is incredible leaders, creators and audience members to take-action based on what is right and give a pulse back to the heart of the community – our stories. Some of Kevin’s works include: Director, Writer and Producer for A Man and a Cat – Film (2011) Two Tone Productions, and Director of Antigone (2019), Hydra (2019), Twelfth Night (2018), at Queensland Theatre, in addition to a host of Directing screen credits for ITV and feature films.
Ngoc Phan
Ngoc is an actor who has worked in the industry for over 15 years. She is passionate about storytelling, new works, diversity, good food, community, entertainment, connection and collaboration. Ngoc believes what the arts needs right now is financial support; so it can show its superpowers and create work that speaks to this time in history. Her list of show credits include That's what she said (2020) The Good Room, Kidnapped (2020) Feature Film Steve Jaggi Company, The Village (2018) La Boite Theatre, The Mathematics of Longing (2018) La Boite Theatre, and Streetcar Named Desire (2016) La Boite Theatre.
Patrick Jhanur
Patrick is an Actor who has worked in the industry for the last 15 years. He is passionate about telling stories that make an audience feel connected to community; feel seen and feel heard. Patrick believes what the arts industry needs is to represent itself as a space, a home and a community for all. His list of show credits include: Banging Denmark (2019) Sydney Theatre Company, Single Asian Female (2017, 2018 and 2019) La Boite Theatre, RIOT (2018) ABC, Terrestrial (2018) State Theatre Company, and Australian Open (2020) Kings Cross Theatre.
Roxanne McDonald
Roxanne is an Actor who has worked in the industry for the last 30 years. She is passionate about helping Indigenous communities with the skills she’s learnt through the arts. Roxanne believes that art is about telling stories that resonate with people, and having the ability to transform the viewer into seeing another perspective and challenges their perceptions. Her recent list of show credits include Our Town (2021) Queensland Theatre, From Darkness (2019) La Boite Theatre, Lysa & The Freeborn Dames (2018) La Boite Theatre, Rovers (2019, 2020, 2021) Belloo Creative, Winyanboga Yurringa (2019) and Parramatta Girls (2007) Belvoir Theatre.
Sean Dow
Sean is an actor who has worked in the industry these last 14 years. Besides acting, he is passionate about working alongside other creatives in uplifting First Nations voices – and arts from a grass roots perspective. Sean is tired of apologies. He believes what the QLD arts needs is more BLAK voices, representation and sage spaces to do so. Sean’s list of show credits include Krakouer! (2009-2011) Deckchair Theatre, In the Nyitting Time (2009) Yirra Yaakin Theatre, My Story Your Story (2015) Artslink QLD, Hoods (2019) Queensland Music Festival, and Kaarla Kaatijin (2018) Yirra Yaakin Theatre.
Will Carseldine
Will is an Actor who has been working in the industry for four years. He is passionate about exploring toxic masculinity in hope to help create a better, healthier, more empathetic and compassionate generation of men. Also food. Will feels the arts can’t afford to do boring work anymore – it needs exciting work that shows the real Australia and the people that live here. His list of show credits include: Major Arcana (2021) La Boite, Queen’s City (2021) Digi Youth Arts, One Bottle Later (2020) The Good Room, The Dark Room (2019) QUT, and Ivanov (2018) QUT.
Giema Contini
Giema is an Actor who has worked across multiple forms of performance and theatre making for over 10 years. She is passionate about Truth-telling, being kind and compassionate and most of all, her dog Georgie. Giema believes that the arts industry needs advocates, artists, recovery strategies, collaboration and community, dedicated and authentic support from the government, legends, lovers, kindness and more. Giema’s most recent list of show credits include: Bluey’s Big Play (2020) AKA Productions and Ludo, The Lost Lending Library (2018 & 2020) Punch Drunk, Imaginary Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Festival 2018, Awesome Ocean Party (2015, 2016, 2019) Anywhere Theatre Fest, Melbourne Fringe, Wonderland Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, The Arrival (2018) Red Leap Theatre (NZ) and Out of the Box Festival, Young Hearts Run Free (2017) Brisbane Festival & HOTA.
#CREATIVES
Sanja Simić
Sanja is a Theatre Director and Creative Producer who has worked in the arts industry for 12 years. Sanja is passionate about contemporary theatre practice, supporting Australian work and artists, and advocating for change across the arts sector and beyond. She feels what the sector needs right now is better leadership, more support, a reminder that what we do matters and that the best outcomes come from deeply collaborative, committed, and considered partnerships. Her list of Directorial credits include Naked & Screaming (2021) La Boite Theatre, Lysa & The Freeborn Dames (2018) La Boite Theatre, PLASTIC (2017) Bodysnatchers at Old 5050 Theatre, Encounter (2016) Bodysnatchers at La Mama Theatre, Blood Pressure (2012) Bodysnatchers at Old Fitz Theatre.
Nadine Mcdonald Dowd
Nadine is a creative, who has worked in the arts industry for almost 30 years. She is passionate about community, legacy, truth telling, our voices and our stories, and taking back what is ours. Nadine believes the arts industry needs to be dismantled, that culture should not be an ‘industry’, and it needs to return to basics. Her list of credits includes Co-writer on The Longest Minute (2018) Debase, Jute, Queensland Theatre, Creative Producer for First Nations Festival (2018), and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (2018).
Nigel Poulton
Nigel is a renowned Movement, Intimacy and Fight Director who has worked in the arts industry both nationally and internationally for more than 20 years. Nigel is passionate about collaboration, creativity, storytelling and the creative process, and believes implicitly in the value of theatre as agent of advocacy and empowerment. He is of the opinion that what the arts needs right now is to move beyond symbolic representations of social and political ideas, to step forward and provide honest support and encouragement in a way that makes it a sustainable, viable and meaningful; that is accessible and relevant to as broad a cross section of the community as possible. Some of Nigel’s recent show credits include: Triple X (2021) Queensland Theatre, Playing Beattie Bow (2021) Sydney Theatre Company, Rent (2020-2021) Sugary Rum Productions/Sydney Opera House, Escape from Spiderhead (2020-2021) Netflix, and Hamlet (2020) Bell Shakespeare.
Darren Yap
Darren is a Director and Actor who has worked in the industry for more than 30 years. He Is deeply passionate about the live theatre experience and an audience sharing in the moment, sharing a story. Darren feels diversity in our stories is essential if we’re going to bring new patrons to the theatre. Darren’s list of show credits includes Ghost the Musical (2018) Tokyo Art & Live City, Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam (2020) Belvoir Theatre, Letters to Lindy (2019) Merrigong Theatre, and Diving for Pearls (2017) Griffin Theatre
Chloe Greaves
Chloe is a Set & Costume Designer who has worked in the industry for the last 14 years. Chloe is passionate about creating visual worlds that add dramaturgical meaning to the story they are telling. She believes the arts industry in Australia needs a cultural shift in which the general population can see and appreciate its value. Her list of show credits as Set & Costume Designer includes The Magic Pudding (2018) Victorian Opera, Blak Cabaret (2015) Malthouse Theatre, Barbara and The Camp Dogs (2017) Belvoir Theatre, Come into my head (2012) Montaigne Music Video, and Rule of Thirds (2016) Chunky Move.
Justin Harrison
Justin is a Sound and Video Designer who has worked in the field for the last 12 years. He is passionate about innovation, a commitment to ongoing learning, teaching, technology and art in all its forms. He is a strong believer that art has the ability to change perspectives, thoughts and feelings and what is needs right now is financial support, safety and space to create. Justin’s list of work credits includes video design for Fangirls (2019) and Storm Boy (2019) at Queensland Theatre, Laser Beak Man and Glass Half Full for Dead Puppet Society, and sound design and composition for The Wider Earth NHM (2016) Queensland Theatre.
Ben Hughes
Ben is a Lighting Designer who has worked in the arts industry both nationally and internationally for more than 20 years. He is incredibly passionate about collaborating on new works that are relevant and speak to society today; whether it’s theatre, dance, or opera. He believes the arts industry is vital for a functioning society and needs to be valued. Ben’s list of latest work credits includes Naked & Screaming (2021) La Boite Theatre, Triple X (2020) Sydney Theatre Company, The Neighbourhood (2020) La Boite Theatre, Antigone (2019) Queensland Theatre, Let Me Tremble (2019) The Danger Ensemble, and L’Appartement (2019) Queensland Theatre.
Brady Watkins
Brady is a Sound Designer, Composer and Audio Technician, having worked and created in the arts for the last seven years. Brady is passionate about being part of a team that transforms words on a page into a detailed immersive world. She believes what the arts industry needs right now is to re-evaluate the stories we tell; to determine what is important to showcase to the world and our community. Her list of show credits include: Sound Designer for Wisdom (2020) Queensland Theatre, The Neighbourhood (2020) La Boite Theatre, Composer/Sound Designer for The Revisionist (2020) The Refraction Theatre, Reagan Kelly (2019) Rocket Boy Ensemble, and Sound Consultant/Operation for Antigone (2019) Queensland Theatre.
Saffron Benner
Saffron is a Dramaturg and has worked and created in the arts industry for the last 25 years. Saffron is passionate about telling stories and believes what the arts industry needs right now is fearlessness. Her list of recent show credits include: Binnaburra by Maddie Nixon (2020) QPDA, Playlab Sparks program (2019, 2020), Three Sisters (2020) QUT, Well Bless (2020) Melbourne Fringe Festival and Motive (2019) La Boite Theatre.
Ellen Van Neerven
Ellen is a Writer and Editor and has worked in the field for the last ten years. They are passionate about creating new work for audiences and is of the opinion that art has the power to connect people. Ellen believes the arts industry needs First Nations led autonomy over our stories. Their list of written works include: Flock (2021), Throat (2020), Comfort Food (2016), Heat and Light (2014). Theatre work includes Swim (2022), Honey, I'm Home (2020), and audio work includes, Tiddafly (2018).
Merlynn Tong
Merlynn is an Actor and Playwright, who has worked and created in the arts industry for eight years. Merlynn is passionate about experiences that move us, stories that arrest the soul, and transformative works that summon a shift in our beings. She believes the arts industry needs a spectrum of voices, truth, magic, hope, wonder and inclusiveness. Her list of show credits include: Golden Blood (2021) Griffin Theatre/Melbourne Theatre Company, Antigone (2019) Queensland Theatre, Good Grief (2019) Queensland Theatre, (The Scene Project) Blue Bones (2017) Playlab Theatre, and Ma Ma Ma Mad (2016) Wax Lyrical.
Anika ViléE
Anika is a Company Manager and Stage Manager, having worked in the arts industry for the past twenty-one years. She is passionate about providing a secure space for everyone to share their stories. Fairness. And Lego. Anika believes that the arts industry needs collaboration, trust, empowerment, national-focus, recognition of cultural significance, stability, and joy. Her most recent list of work includes: Associate Producer, Planning Coordinator and Deputy Company Manager for Opera Australia (2010-2020), Extras Casting Coordinator for The Ring Cycle (2013, 2016) Opera Australia, Stage Management for: The Narcissist (2008), The Chairs (2010) La Boite Theatre, Stage Management / Puppeteer for: Puss In Boots (2006) Queensland Theatre.
#ABOUT
22 Handpicked Actors & Creatives
La Boite's Artist Company is a progressive and diverse collective of professional actors and theatre-makers who have been handpicked to lead La Boite's mainstage season, artist development programs and youth and education offerings over the next 18-months.
Funded, in part, by an investment of almost $1M through the Federal Government's Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund.
Diversity sits at the core of the Artist Company, which includes First Nations, LGBTIQ+ and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse artists, as well as spanning a broad spectrum of ages, lived experiences and backgrounds.