PRESIDENT

Alex Ben Mayor
Elected April 2009

Alex Ben Mayor is a performance maker, dramaturge and project manager who has recently returned to the Territory after 10 years working in Melbourne. Alex has written, performed, produced, reviewed, directed and programmed theatre while also completing a Bachelor of Creative Arts and Diploma in the History and Philosophy of Science (University of Melbourne 2001) and Postgraduate Diploma in Animateuring (VCA, 2003). From 2004 - 2006 he worked with Malthouse Theatre, firstly as Program Manager and then as part of the Dramaturgy and Artistic teams. His work has been commissioned for the Keene/Taylor Theatre Project and his latest work C (299792458) was a finalist in the American STAGE Science/Art Script competition 2007. A focus on science-inspired performance work began in 1999 (Feet, MIAF/VCA)  followed by Darwin’s Dangerous Idea, MIAF/ La Mama 2001 and On Intoxicated Ears Melbourne Fringe 2004. Alex has worked as a writer, producer, performer, director and dramaturge for Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Fringe and International Arts Festivals, Performing Lines, Chunky Move, BalletLab, La Mama, ANPC, Keene/Taylor Theatre Project, Black Lung. He recently returned from International touring with outdoor performance/public installation company Well and is a performance reviewer for RealTime Arts.

VICE PRESIDENT

Mary Fox

Elected April 2009

Mary Fox is a retired general manager, school principal and active volunteer within the Darwin community. Mary has been involved with Darwin Theatre Company since the early 1990s as a Board member and volunteer. Mary has been on the Darwin Theatre Company Board of Management for over a decade and brings a wealth of knowledge from the education, performing arts, management and community sector as a resource to DTC.

SECRETARY

TBA

TREASURER

Chelsea Diprose

Elected April 2009

Chelsea Diprose - Currently working as the Prouction Assistant for the Darwin Symphony Orchestra she loves a challenge and thives on problem solving. Chelsea is passionate about many aspects of the arts in particular performing arts and appreciates the value of taking performance into regional Australia. Her dream is to own her own "Almost Cabaret Theatre Restaurant" and spent 2007 in Broome working in hospitality to gain experience; In 2006 Graduated from Edith Cowan University - Bachlor of Arts in Contemporary Performance in Perth which is where she found her excellent organisational skills and love for self devising and site specific work. Prior to moving across the country away from home town 'Geelong, Victoria' Chelsea was activily involved in the Courthouse Youth Arts Centre, engaging in many memorable workshops, performances and mentorships.

Public Officer

Doug Gillanders
Elected April 2009

Doug Gillanders is a sole trader Consultant providing Business and Training Services across the Territory. Extensive human resources and management experience complimented with a background in Adult education; Doug has served on a variety of different school and not-for-profit boards over the past ten years. Doug has an interest in supporting community events and not-for-profit organisations, his involvement in the arts sector has recently been strengthened with consultancies in several organisations at a managerial/business process and corporate governance level.

ORDINARY BOARD MEMBER

Kate Wyvill

Kate Wyvill is an actress, playwright, director and producer who has recently returned to Darwin after ten years in the UK.Kate was born in the UK in Liverpool. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Social Science she left England in 1982 for Sydney to become the manager of ‘Lifeguard’, the Australian subsidiary of the family’s manufacturing business in the UK. In 1986 she undertook a three year professional acting course with the Q Theatre in Penrith and then worked in Sydney as an actress in theatre, film and radio and used her management skills in theatre administration for two small theatre companies.

In 1992 she relocated to Darwin to take up the position of Joint CEO and Administrator for Darwin Theatre Company with Patrick Mitchell as the Artistic Director. Kate was then approached to take up the position of General Manager of the Darwin Performing Arts Centre, now called DEC; she held this position until the birth of her first child in 1995. She returned to the stage in 1996 to play ‘Kyra’ in David Hare’s ‘Skylight’ directed by Noel Tovey for DTC. She also held various acting workshops for DTC, directed and performed play readings.

In 1998 she returned to the UK for ten years with her husband and children. It was during this period whilst raising their three children that she set up her own theatre company and wrote, produced and performed the stage play ‘Going Potty’. The show premiered in 2004 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it was very favourably received by audiences and critics. During 2005 she extended the script into a three act play and in 2006 with Arts Council England funding and business sponsorship she toured ‘Going Potty’ in the West Midlands culminating in 2007 with a 4 week season in London.Kate returned to Darwin with her family in July 2008. In October 2008 she held an acting workshop in character development for DTC. She is currently developing her next play ‘Marbles’ and a film script ‘The Fiduciary’. She is also planning on staging ‘Going Potty’ at DEC’s Studio Theatre at the end of this year.

Kate brings to DTC her direct experience of working for the company in the past, her skills in producing theatre and raising finances and twenty years experience in the industry.She is a member of MEAA & British Actors Equity.

ORDINARY BOARD MEMBER

Samantha Young

Elected April 2009

Samantha has played various roles in her arts career, from technical support to writing, directing, producing and professional acting.  Samantha studied at Hayman Theatre as part of a Bachelor of Communications and Cultural Studies for Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia. During her  two years of study she was involved in the production of over 40 performance works, ranging from small installations to state-wide tours. Samantha has also performed in many musicals outside of her study with Hayman Theatre, most notably two international tours and performing the lead role of “Fairy Blackstick” in the original production of the “Rose and the Ring” at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. In 2004 Samantha was accepted in to the full-time acting course at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (N.I.D.A) Sydney and graduated in 2007 with Bachelor of Dramatic Arts (Acting). During her study at N.I.D.A, Samantha was privileged to work with the Sydney Theatre Company as part of the project ‘The Lost Echo’ directed by Barrie Kosky and Tom Wright. Other career highlights include working with John O’Connell (choreographer for BazMark films and the 2008 Academy Awards) and Gale Edwards (most recently directed Rocky Horror Show and Jerry Springer the Opera). Since graduation Samantha has worked on the feature film;  ‘ Three Blind Mice’ directed by Matthew Newton which was released at the Sydney Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival and is now in distribution in the United States. She has been involved in the creation of new works in the Sydney co-operative theatre scene and has been commissioned to direct ‘Evil Dead- The Musical” for Paul Stryker Productions in the United Kingdom. Samantha is currently based in Darwin and seeking to develop new opportunities in both theatre and film.

ORDINARY BOARD MEMBER

Robert (Bob) Scheer

RElected April 2009

Bob is Head of Arts at St Johns College and has toured Withnail and I  for Cyclone Theatre Co and Nimrod and performed in children’s TIE companies in Sydney. Bob sang and arranged for the a capella quartet Cornucopia. Bob’s DTC performances include Roadhouse (with Knock’em Down),  To The Inland Sea, Site and Sound Homeshow, Radioplay, Great Expectations, Tin Hotel and The Threepenny Opera. Radio includes Uncle Slaughter for ABC Airplay. DTC Playreadings include School For Scandal, The Shadow, Under Milkwood . Direction includes playreadings of A Cheery Soul  and Sonneteering and Shakespeare’s Chicks. Bob brings to DTC a wealth of knowledge in theatre and education.