THE KITCHEN SINK

Shane has been a director, actor, dramaturg and producer for the last twenty years. Following training at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, he has worked for all of New Zealand’s major theatre companies including Auckland Theatre Company, Downstage, Circa Theatre, Bats, Fortune Theatre and the NZ Actors Company. From 2001 to 2014, Shane was the Artistic Director of Silo Theatre. During his tenure, he directed some of the company’s most celebrated productions including ANGELS IN AMERICA, SPEAKING IN TONGUES, PRIVATE LIVES, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS, TRIBES, TOP GIRLS, TARTUFFE, THE ONLY CHILD, THE BROTHERS SIZE, WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING, THAT FACE, RUBEN GUTHRIE, HOLDING THE MAN, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, THE REAL THING, THREE DAYS OF RAIN, DYING CITY, TAKE ME OUT, SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER and BASH. He was named one of the Aucklanders of 2005 by Metro Magazine and in July 2007 was named one of the Most Influential People under 40. Shane was selected by Creative NZ to participate in the Future Leaders Programme and he has also undertaken professional development at the Donmar Warehouse and Young Vic in London and Public Theater in New York. He is the recipient of three Auckland Theatre Awards and has been awarded Director of the Year by the NZ Listener four times. In 2014, Shane was commissioned by Auckland Live to create BOTH SIDES NOW: JULIA DEANS SINGS JONI MITCHELL for the inaugural Auckland Cabaret Season. This production has since played to capacity attendance at festival engagements across New Zealand. Shane relocated to Australia in 2014 and has since directed THE PRIDE for Darlinghurst Theatre, STRAIGHT for Kings Cross Theatre and sell out productions of COCK and THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA VON KANT for Redline. His other recent work includes productions of VENUS IN FUR for Auckland Theatre Company, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE for Silo Theatre, UNCLE VANYA for Court Theatre and THE THINGS BETWEEN US for CAF.

Ben grew up in Perth and is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. His onscreen work includes Aussie dramas LOVE CHILD and NEIGHBOURS and mini -series BROCK, ANZAC GIRLS, and DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND alongside Toni Colette and Simon Burke. On stage Ben has appeared in FALSETTOS for the Darlinghurst Theatre Company, ONLY HEAVEN KNOWS at the Hayes Theatre and Cameron Macintosh’s LES MISERABLES. Twitter @benhall23 Instagram: benhall23

One of Australia’s most exciting and talented young actors and directors, Duncan Ragg graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and L’École Philippe Gaulier. His acting theatre credits include COCK (Auckland Live/ Silo Theatre), WRITING FOR PERFORMANCE (Michael Gow, NIDA) and KANDAHAR GATE (Stephen Sewell, NIDA). In 2016/17 he wrote and directed THIS, THIS IS MINE for The Corinthian Food Store, as well as assisting Judy Davis in directing Brian Friel’s award-winning FAITH HEALER (Belvoir). In 2017 he will appear in Australian feature film 2:22 and British feature NIGHT OF THE LOTUS, shot in Tanzania last year. Duncan is thrilled to be making his Ensemble Theatre debut.

Originally from Perth, Contessa graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in 2012. Since graduating her theatre credits include: TONGUE TIED (New Fitz Program); A MYSTERY OF LOVE AND SEX (Darlinghurst Theatre Company); ALL MY SONS, CHILDREN OF THE SUN (Sydney Theatre Company); RED RABBIT/WHITE RABBIT (Freefall Productions/KXT); TINY REMARKABLE BRAMBLE (KXT/Invisible Circus); FRACTURE (New Ghosts Theatre Company/Redline Productions); UNFINISHED WORKS (Bottom Productions); MINUSONESISTER (Stories Like These/Griffin Theatre Company); THIS HOUSE IS MINE (Milkcrate/Darlinghurst Theatre Company); LORD OF THE FLIES (US-A-UM/Malthouse Theatre). Contessa is a proud Member of MEAA

Charles is a set and costume designer for theatre, opera, dance and film. A recent graduate of NIDA, Charles also studied architectural design at Monash University.

Charles’ theatre designs include: A SMOKE SOCIAL (Darwin Festival); BUYER AND CELLAR and THE KITCHEN SINK (Ensemble Theatre); SMURF IN WANDERLAND (Griffin Theatre/National Theatre of Parramatta); the Helpmann Award nominated FLY (Lano and Woodley national tour, Token Events, set); THE WHALE (Old Fitz), UNFINISHED WORKS (Seymour Centre); co-design THE GRAND HOTEL (Sydney Grammar); KANDAHAR GATE, and WRITING FOR PERFORMANCE (NIDA). Charles was associate set designer for MURIEL’S WEDDING – THE MUSICAL (Sydney Theatre Company/Global Creatures). Charles’ opera designs include: THE CORONATION OF POPPEA (Pinchgut Opera); BIOGRAPHICA (Sydney Chamber Opera/Sydney Festival); OH MENSCH! (SCO, costume); HANSEL AND GRETEL directed by Michael Gow (Queensland Conservatorium); and associate set design for CARMEN and THE MERRY WIDOW (Opera Australia). Upcoming work includes design for: THE REVUE for Sydney Theatre Company; and ARTASERSE for Pinchgut Opera.
Charles was nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award for THE WHALE. Charles is a lecturer and mentor for NIDA’s undergraduate design programme. View Charles’ designs at: charlesdavisdesigner.com

Alexander is a Sydney based Director and Lighting Designer. Recent credits include: As Lighting Designer: Sydney Theatre Company: CLOUD NINE. Griffin Independent: NOSFERATUTU,  THOMAS MURRAY and the UPSIDE-DOWN RIVER. Sydney Chamber Opera: VICTORY OVER THE SUN. Old Fitz: 4:48 PSYCHOSIS, DOUBT, CRIMES OF THE HEART, THE JUDAS KISS, THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA VON KANT, THE WHALE, MEN, FREAK WINDS, HOWIE THE ROOKIE. Old 505 Theatre: THE BLOCK UNIVERSE, HILT. ATYP: WAR CRIMES, MOTH, BETWEEN US. Sydney Dance Company: PPY15: REVEALED. Hayes Theatre: DOGFIGHT. CRITICAL STAGES: SONGS FOR THE FALLEN. As Assistant/Associate Lighting Designer: AN INDEX OF METALS. Alexander was a participant at the 2014 Watermill Center International Summer Program and was also awarded the 2013 Peter Baynes Memorial New York Scholarship and the 2014 Leslie Walford AM Award. Alexander holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Production) and Masters of Fine Art (Directing) from NIDA.

Marty is a composer and sound designer for the stage and screen. He graduated from AFTRS in 2011 where he studied Screen Music. As a composer and sound designer for theatre his credits include THE PRIDE, DEATHTRAP and CONSTELLATIONS (Darlinghurst Theatre Company), AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS WITH ANIMALS I’VE FUCKED (UNHAPPEN), ON THE SHORE OF THE WIDE WORLD, SWEET NOTHINGS and THE KNOWLEDGE (Pantsguys Productions), COMPASS (ATYP), THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE (Griffin Independent), 4000 MILES (Mophead/Catnip Productions), GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (seriousboys) and GREAT EXPECTATIONS (ATYP Under the Wharf). Marty also composes for film as well as trailers and documentaries for Belvoir, Griffin and Darlinghurst Theatre Company.

Ruth is a freelance Stage and Production Manager, and is delighted to be back at Ensemble Theatre as Stage Manager for SORTING OUT RACHEL. Her previous credits with Ensemble Theatre are THE KITCHEN SINK, THE BIG DRY and BLOOD BANK.

Other theatre credits include: NOSFERATUTU (Critical Stages/Griffin Independent and Glen St), THOMAS MURRAY and THE UPSIDE DOWN RIVER (Critical Stages/Griffin Independent and NORPA), MACBETH, TWELFTH NIGHT, HAMLET, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, COMEDY OF ERRORS, THE TEMPEST and TAMING OF THE SHREW (Sport for Jove), BLOOD.SEX. TEARS (The Grand Caravan), PLATONOV (Mophead/ Catnip/ATYP), ON THE SHORE OF THE WIDE WORLD (Pantsguys/Griffin), PUNK ROCK (Pantsguys/ATYP), THROUGH THESE LINES (NSW regional tour), SCENES FROM AN EXECUTION and BLUE ANGEL HOTEL (Old Fitz), BITE ME (ATYP), and JERUSALEM, THE WEIR and WAITING FOR GODOT amongst many others at New Theatre. Ruth is a proud member of MEAA.

Amy Hume is a voice teacher at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), and is Founder of one of Sydney’s leading voice businesses, Viva Voice. She was a Voice/Dialect Coach at MATILDA THE MUSICAL in Sydney; most recently she was Dialect Coach for Critical Stages’ national tour of STONES IN HIS POCKETS. Other credits include productions for Belvoir, Sport for Jove, Old Fitz, NIDA, Shakespeare & Co (Massachusetts), The Shakespeare Forum (New York) and Columbia Stages (New York). Amy is also Voice and Accents Tutor at ATYP. She is a Designated Linklater Teacher and holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Voice from Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) with First Class Honours. Through Viva Voice, she regularly facilitates corporate voice and communication training for organisations across different industries.