Common Thread's Creative Mentors
ARTISTS' PROFILES
Lucas Thyer from PixelFrame, original COMMON THREAD creator, joins the team again in 2008 to bring his special skills in film and media production and extraordinary creative talent to our project, mentoring students in film production.
Lucas, a graduate of Griffith Film School, is a director & creative producer from PixelFrame Film & Television Production Company. He has directed & produced music clips, television commercials, promotional videos, animations & short films for government & commercial clients, locally, nationally and internationally. His work has won several awards and been screened around the world. Website: www.pixelframe.com.au
Scott Witt joins COMMON THREAD for the first time this year, courtesy of QTC, long-term COMMON THREAD partner. Scott brings his extensive experience in circus, physical theatre, stage combat, directing, acting & more recently, writing for theatre, to his role as co-director for this year's production.
Scott has been acting, fight directing, directing and clowning around on stage, television and in film for over 20 years, working with many companies including Queensland Theatre Company, La Boite Theatre, Zen Zen Zo, Bell Shakespeare Company & many independent feature and short films. In addition to working with the QTC as a Director & Writer, Scott acts as a Fight Director and Movement Consultant on many of the Company’s productions. He was President of the Society of Australian Fight Directors Inc. from 1996-2007 and is an Honourary Member of the British Academy of Dramatic Combat, Honourary Fight Director of Fight Directors, Canada, Affiliated Member of the Art of Combat (USA) and a Honourary Fight Director of the Independent Fight Directors Guild of America. Scott received a Matilda Award for his Direction of "Road to the She-Devil’s Salon" (QTC). His adaptation and direction of Scapin (QTCompany/State Theatre Company SA) received a 2004 Mo Nomination for Best Theatre Production. He also received two Matilda Awards in 2005, for Best Director, "A Christmas Carol" (QTC) and Contribution to Brisbane Theatre. Most recently his work as writer & director featured in this year's Out of the Box (Brisbane Arts Festival for under 8's) with the acclaimed "Funny Voices".
Andrew Cory returns to COMMON THREAD this year, courtesy of QTC, having mentored student clowns for last year's production. This time Andrew brings his skills as a movement artist & director to develop students' skills in story-telling through mask & grotesque movement & characterisation.
Andrew has worked professionally in Australia, Asia and Europe as an actor, movement director and clown. "An Exploration of The Caucasian Chalk Circle" (Education Performance) was Andrew’s first work with QTC. He has also worked with independent and professional companies in Australia including Queensland Ballet, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, The South Australia State Theatre Company, Queensland Opera and studied at Ecole Philip Gaulier (London), Centre Selavy Mask School (France), Todo Performance Academy (Denmark) and the School for Mime Theatre (USA). Andrew has been a movement and theatre tutor for the Acting Dept. of QUT, NIDA Extension Program, Griffith University, Shafston University and the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA). In 2003 Andrew started his company Red Spoon to produce original works inspired by movement and clown. In 2007 he was appointed as the Artistic Development Coordinator of Backbone Youth Arts Inc.
Alonna Scott from Circa joins COMMON THREAD for the first time to share acrobatic and circus theatre skills and concepts.
Alonna has been involved in the circus industry for over 21 years and has been working as a professional circus performer and trainer for over 10. Her training began at the age of 7 with the Flying Fruit Fly Circus. Since then she has gone on to complete a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Dance and Drama at Melbourne's Deakin University as well as completing a Bachelor of Circus Arts at the National Institute of Circus Arts. After finishing at NICA in 2003, Alonna moved to Brisbane where she has been teaching circus classes for a number of different companies including Circa, Flipside Circus and Vulcana Woman's Circus. Her work as an aerialist has seen her performing both nationally and internationally.
Jason King, Martial Arts trainer, acrobat, clown and actor is working with a select group of participants to develop "something different" for this years performance.
Jason has over ten years' experience as an actor, clown, singer & a qualified Stage Combat Instructor & Fight Director. He has worked with The Australian Acting Academy, The Actor’s Conservatory, The Actor’s Workshop, The Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, Academy of Screen Performance, James Cook University, USQ and QUT as well as many theatre companies in South East Qld including Queensland Theatre Company, Nash Theatre, Harvest Rain Theatre Company, Brisbane Arts Theatre, Ignatians Musical Society, and dozens of smaller community and school groups. He has also worked on a number of Film & Television projects and is chief instructor at his own martial arts academy.
Kaitlin Bell joins Common Thread for the first time this year as choreographer to help the students to tell their story through their enthusiasm for dance.
Kaitlin is a performer and choreographer working in Brisbane. Since completing a Bachelor of Creative Industries in Dance in 2007, Kaitlin has toured in the Queensland Arts Council's schools show, Be the Beat. When not touring throughout Queensland, she teaches for several schools and private dance schools in Brisbane. Website: www.kaitlinbell.wordpress.com.
Euan Gray is working with the Common Thread music team this year to write and arrange the original song for this year's production.
Euan is the lead singer & songwriter for emerging Brisbane Band The Rooftops. With the band, he produced their first album, Storm Season, in 2005 to critical acclaim. The album's single, Making Photographs, enjoyed regular airplay on 4Triple J and was selected to use on a feature film. With the band, and as a freelance musician, Euan has performed across the country and in New Zealand. He frequently collaborates with other bands and musicians to write and record and is currently recording his second album. Euan is also a Master's student in Music Therapy, a discipline which uses music as a tool to help people with challenges.
David Lazar has worked with local primary school musicians for several years as an instrumental music specialist particularly with Beginner Band Camps. He joins Common Thread for the first time this year composing & recording music for the students' film projects while mentoring students in understanding composing music for film.
David is a Brisbane musician – composer, performer and teacher. He has been playing piano for 20 years, and is thankful for his diverse training in both classical and modern styles. He holds a C.Mus.A (AMEB) in classical piano performance, and an A.Dip.A (ANZCA) in modern piano performance, and continues to play to audiences regularly. As a film composer – David has provided scores for a wide range of projects from short films, documentaries and promotional videos. He received a Master of Music from the Queensland University of Technology in film and television composition, in 2005. David also teaches piano to a number of students of all ages, both privately and at Bulimba State School. Website: http://david-lazar.blogspot.com
Sally Peters, local artist and Balmoral SHS & Seven Hills SS parent, is working with students on visual designs & special prop production, again "something diferent" for this year's project.
Sally is an artist based in Brisbane (Positive Art Space at Camp Hill) who is inspired by creativity expressing the 'human being', from the spiritual to cross-cultural to human emotion. In this project the interest is fun in working as a group from concept development to the actual physical props ... "a really amazing group of talented young people have come together to evolve as artists in themselves". Sally begins with a series of design and practical visual arts workshops to add an extra dimension to this year's project.
Jo Cruickshanks, an Artist/Sculptor from the north of England, is working with year 9 & 10 art students from Balmoral & inspiring Year 6 & 7 students from Seven Hills SS to create an installation, "something different" in their art curriculum as part of this year's COMMON THREAD.
Jo's artwork is predominantly 'site specific ephemeral installation work' focusing on environmental issues, education and awareness. Jo has worked with schools and adult education groups in the UK, Spain, WA and throughout Queensland for the past several years. She tells us she is excited to meet this creative group of young people and to work with them on their installation. Website: www.jocruickshanks.com
Since 2004 Common Thread has enjoyed Creative Partnerships with:
- PixelFrame
www.pixelframe.com.au
Qld Theatre Company
www.qldtheatreco.com.au
Red Spoon
www.redspoon.com.au
Markwell Presents
www.markwellpresents.com
deBASE
www.debaseproductions.com
Drama Qld
www.dramaqueensland.org.au
Frank Theatre
www.ozfrank.com
Phluxus Dance Collective
www.jwcoca.qld.gov.au/03_enews/newsletter.asp?ID=348
Zen Zen Zo
www.zenzenzo.com