CAST, CREW, MUSICIANS + ARTISTS

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

I have memories of ‘borrowing’ my father’s Playboy and Penthouse magazines as a child of 10 years old and being intrigued by the images of the naked women that lay beneath the covers. I read the stories in these magazines and was exposed to my first erotic tales. These images and stories always fascinated me – what was it like to be one of these adult women living in these stories? I grew up and found out.
Through my studies and work as performer, eroticism has often influenced and informed the work I create. The idea to create The Living Museum of Erotic Women came about by my desire to explore, celebrate and research the many women in history who have been revered and exulted as a result of being considered an erotic woman who brought about change, pushed boundaries, caused scandal and bore names such as ‘whore’, ‘slut’ and ‘witch’. The inspiration for the museum began 3 years ago during an intensified conversation about eroticism with my confidante and The Living Museum’s composer David Shea. It has seen one season (2014) and has since been re-developed for its second season, only made possible by the magnificent Bernie Clifford of Bernzerk Productions who has been a dear friend and believer in my work since 2003. This project would not be possible without his endless support. Nor would it be possible without Georgia-Alice of Bernzerk Productions, the hard-working crew and the brilliant cast who have worked passionately in collaboration with myself, and my wonderful assistant Jayde Kirchert, in creating and bringing to life the stories of these women. Through months of exploration and development I am thrilled to open the doors to the hearts and spirits of the characters in The Living Museum of Erotic Women 2015!

CAST

ANNA KENNEDY

Marie Bonaparte – Venus of Urbino – English Tea Party

Anna Kennedy is a Melbourne-based actor, theatre-maker and producer. She recently co-created and performed in Since the Death of Sarah Kane at La Mama Theatre and produced four shows in collaboration with VCA graduates and Darebin Arts for FR!SK at True North Arts Festival. Earlier in 2015 she produced and performed in a collaboration with VCA graduates and Living Positive Victoria for their ENUF Stigma Campaign.
In 2014 Anna graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre Practice), co-creating and performing in Lucky Country for the Melbourne Fringe Festival, Plus Sign Attached directed by Maude Davey and The GL*RY Project directed by Alyson Campbell. In 2013 she played The Corset in A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf, adapted and directed by Peta Hanrahan.
Prior to VCA, Anna performed at Brisbane Arts Theatre and Metro! Arts in Brisbane. She has acted in a number of short films, as well as the feature film Bad Behaviour directed by Joseph Sims. Anna trained at Queensland Actors Playhouse from 2009-2012.
She is a proud member of Actors Equity Australia.

BELLA DE JAC

Aphrodite – Mata Hari – Witch

Bella de Jac is a respected Australian burlesque and cabaret performer working in the industry for over 7 years. Recently voted in at number 6 in the 2014 21st Century Burlesque Magazine Top 10 Australian Performers, she was also voted Most Glamorous & People’s Choice Victoria 2014 by her peers at the annual Bustie Awards, the Australian Burlesque Industry Awards night.
Along with an impressive list of titles and performance credits, she also has a bachelor degree in Performance Studies and recent high profile shows include headlining tours with the Australian Burlesque Festival, New Zealand Burlesque Festival and the Perth International
Burlesque Festival.
Bella was also invited to perform at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender, and has taken her smouldering brand of tease to the stages of Las Vegas, New York & San Francisco.
She is also the Managing Director of the Australian Burlesque Association, dedicated to creating Australia’s first Burlesque Museum.

BICKY LEE

Izumo-no-Okuni – The Rock Goddess – Witch

Rebecca Lee – Bicky – is from New Zealand and is based in Melbourne after graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) with a Bachelor of Dance in 2012 and the Friends of the VCA Encouragement Scholarship.
Bicky has performed with a number of artists including James Batchelor’s 2013 work ‘Ersatz’ and his award winning 2014 work ‘Island’. She has worked with youth dance companies such as QL2, Yellow wheel, and fLing Physical Theatre and developed her interactive work for children ‘Fey’ with Artplay in 2013.
Bicky teaches the BusyFeet program to children with disabilities. Bicky has an ongoing interest in gender and feminist issues stemming from her work ‘Man Up and Do a Solo’ performed at the 2012 Melbourne Short+Sweet Dance festival where she was awarded Most Outstanding Female Performer and at the 2013 Dark Mofo Festival in Hobart.
She performed her work ‘Project:Girl’ in the Melbourne Fringe Festival at Dancehouse and in the Wellington Dance Festival at Whitireia Theatre.
Bicky writes articles that discuss feminist issues for the online magazine Fabulously Feminist.

ETOILE MARLEY

Host Marlene Dietrich – English Tea Party – Private reading room

Etoile Marley is a multi-faceted performer known for being a dancer, singer, actress and burlesque artiste.
She began dancing at the age of 7 and trained in circus as a teenager before beginning a love affair with cabaret and physical storytelling.
She founded her own business in entertainment Beebop Arts in 2008, specialising in stilt dance, roller-skating and skipping.
Bijou the French Jewel is her burlesque alter ego, who is a trail blazer of the Australian neo burlesque industry winning “Entertainer of the year”, “Miss Tassle Twirl Australia” and the “Miss Revival” titles in the nationwide Miss Burlesque Australia competition.

FLEUR DEAN

Catherine the Great – Lili St Cyr – Witch

As a maker and performer, Fleur has co-devised and performed award-winning productions, trained with the New York SITI Company in Suzuki/Viewpoints technique, with Leisa Shelton in Corporeal Mime, has a Postgrad Dip of Animateuring and a Masters of Theatre Practice from the Victorian College of the Arts.
Fleur is a founding member of Big hART – one of Australia’s most critically acclaimed arts and social change organizations – co-creating new works with unusually inspiring communities and individuals around the country from 1992-98.
Fleur is an IRATA Level 3 Industrial Rope Access Technician, which means she hangs off buildings and fixes them. Drawing her arts and tradey tickets together, Fleur has performed on ropes in the Spiegeltent, Well Theatre’s Libro de Revoluciones in Mexico and tonight’s pre-show abseil referencing Lili St Cyr’s rope routine.
On telly recently, Fleur has appeared in ABC’s Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Time Of our Lives and Party Tricks.

MARISSA BENNETT

St Teresa of Avila – Messalina – English Tea Party

Marissa studied at the Victorian College of the Arts. Her stage credits include ‘Distant Lights From Dark Places’, ‘The Seagull’, Season at Sarsaparilla’, ‘The Cherry Orchard’  ‘Our Country’s Good’ for The Adelaide Fringe and Theatreworks, ‘Cosi’ and ‘The Crucible’ for Complete Works Theatre Company, ‘Diving For Pearls’ for Hit Productions, ‘Ambition’ for Baggage Productions and Dark Light for Melbourne Writers Theatre and Flesh Eating Tiger for the Owl  and Cat.
Marissa has facilitated projects for young people with Rawcus Theatre and Phunktional Arts and is an ensemble member and Artistic Associate with The Artisan Collective, for whom she has appeared in ‘Two’, ‘Self Torture and Strenuous Exercise’ and ‘Breathe a Little and Call it Life’.
Marissa’s directing credits include ‘Mirror Mirror’ for Watch Them Wonder and The Artisan Collective, The Vagina Monologues and ‘Before The Spring’ for Melbourne Fringe.

REBECCA WEMM

Salome – Joan of Arc – English Tea Party

Bec has always been drawn to dance, taking to the stage at the age of 3, exploring many dance styles such as Classical, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, pole and chair dance.
Completing a Diploma of Dance Teaching and Management in 2006, she has since pursued a career in her passion.
Teaching Jazz, tap and contemporary over Melbourne since 2006. Bec discovered her love for Burlesque in 2010 and has since created her Burlesque alter ego ‘Shirley Strumpet’.
As a student at Bottoms Up! She has performed in many end-of-year shows such as Monsterotica, Kapow, Underworld and Faerie Tales and has performed in numerous shows over Melbourne such as Scandalous at The 86 and placing second at Baby Bombshells in 2011.

ROCHELLE FONG

Khutulun – Ruan Lingyu – Witch

Roshelle Fong is a performer, filmmaker and Leap Year baby
who tries to experience life as ‘Play School: The Glitch Opera’ whenever possible.
She proved she knew how to work a womb from embryonic stages and completed ‘The Actor’ part-time course at NIDA in 2007.  Since then she has produced and performed in numerous film, spoken word, stand-up comedy, theatre and performance art pieces around Canberra and Sydney, including Woodford Folk Festival, RAW Comedy Festival, YouAreHere Festival and Australian Poetry Slam 2014 at the Sydney Opera House.
Her short documentaries, music videos and films (not all about poo) have screened at festivals worldwide and on prime time television, and won various prizes.
Roshelle moved to Melbourne to be a part of the Living Museum of Erotic Women and won’t be leaving any time soon.

STEPHANIE OSZTREICHER

Frida Kahlo – Lola Montez – English Tea Party

Stephanie completed her formal training in Paris at Lecoq from 2010-12 and at the Ballarat Arts Academy in Acting from 2006-08. She was a key member of the interdisciplinary arts organisation Forest Collective from 2010-14 as their operations manager and has worked on several successful projects with them as a director performer and writer.
Her credits with Forest Collective include Shared Lines 2013, premier opera Calypso 2013 and Love Dogs 2010. Her greatest achievement to date has been the creation of Holy Dying, staged at La Mama and Burrinja Arts Centre in 2014 of which she wrote performed and directed.
Other performance credits include The Hills Are Alive Music Festival (2013/14), cine/dance film Line of Bearing (2013) Exodus (2013 Bone Marrow Theatre), A Midsummer Nights Dream (2009-10 Oz Acts) and Spider in the Rose (2009 Melbourne Writers Theatre).
Stephanie was a proud recipient of the Ian Potter Cultural Trust in 2012 and is currently completing a GD in Art History at The University of Melbourne.

VICTORIA MANTYNEN

Host Isis – Witch – Private reading room

At the age of 23 Victoria Mäntynen has completed her B. Theatre (Specialisation Musical Theatre) at Central Queensland University in 2012. As she continues to embarked on her journey to follow her passion and love of theatre she strives to expand her knowledge and skills by immersing herself within the arts.
Victoria has been privileged to be involved in; appearing as Williamson in ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ (Directed by Rob Forza); Princess Aurora in ‘Sleeping Beauty, the musical’ (produced by Make Believe Theatre); Muriel Eubanks in ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ (Directed by Dale Pengelly); and Florence Vassey in ‘Chess’ (Directed by John Wregg).
She has also performed in ‘Cabaret’ (Directed by Dale Pengelly); ‘Anything Goes’ (Directed by Thern Reynolds); and ‘Sweet Charity’ (Directed by Chloe Dallimore).
Prior she has also appeared in numerous musicals such as ‘Joseph And He’s Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’, ‘Guys And Dolls’, ‘Godspell’ and featured in ‘Beauty And The Beast’ as Belle at Aitken College. Victoria has also been very fortunate whist being a member of the Australian Girls Choir performing in ‘The Boy From Oz’ (starring Hugh Jackman), QANTAS commercials, MCG Grand Finals, FINA World Championship, Bledisloe Cup, and G’day U.S.A just to name a few.

JACQUIE THOMAS

Maypole

Jacquie has always had a love of dance, stepping on stage for the first time aged 5.
She was Classically trained with the Southern Ballet Company in New Zealand for 17 years.
Moving to London she delved into the circus arts and trained and performed extensively throughout Europe and England with acro-contemporary troupe Zoid Induction.
On moving to Australia in 2001, she created dance trio Hektix.  With the resurgence of Burlesque in Melbourne she co-founded and performed with the notorious neo-burlesque troupe Voodoo Trash Dolls!
This was where her fiery alter ego Sparkarella was born. During this she discovered pole dancing and quickly began teaching for PoleStars and incorporated this into the Burlesque scene.
Currently Jacquie performs as a solo artist, choreographs and produces events within Bottoms Up!, trains and mentors students, dances and performs tango, burlesque and pole, and can often be seen with an angle grinder!
Jacquie is the co-founder and co-creator of Bottoms Up! Burlesque & Pole School.

CREATIVES

WILLOW J CONWAY

Director

Willow J is a graduate of ACARTS (formally CPA– Adelaide) and has been based in Melbourne since 2002 working extensively as an actor and burlesque performer. Trained in many different acting techniques, as well as dance and movement forms including butoh, tango, performance art, and Bouffant with acclaimed master Phillippe Gaulier, she is able to bring a lot of versatility and physicality to characters and direction.Willow has been making theatre since 1992 and has worked in Japan, Europe and USA and across Australia with many different companies, in many different mediums ranging from experimental and shock theatre to cabaret, burlesque, physical theatre, independent and community theatre.
Some of Willow’s credits include 2012 Green Room Award Winning production DasSHOKU SHAKE!, (45 Downstairs and Darwin Arts Festival 2013, Japan 2014), Measure for Measure (ACARTS-Adelaide), All of Which Are American Dreams (Theatreworks), The Stitch (Carlton Courthouse), Empire (In a car on the street – Melbourne and Adelaide Fringe Fest), Elmo (LA Mama), Empire (Melbourne Fringe, Adelaide Fringe), Parallels (Feature film), Sensing Murder (TV series), Prostitute – Who Is She (Fitzroy Reading Room), Last Man Standing (TV Series), numerous TV commercials, and has worked with the as a performer with notorious neo burlesque troupe Voodoo Trash Dolls (2003 – 2012) and as guest burlesque performer at The London Burlesque Festival 2011, The Australian Burlesque Festival 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend 2013 in Las Vegas. Willow is the co-founder of Bottoms Up! Burlesque & Pole School.

JAYDE KIRCHERT

Assistant Director

Jayde trained at the Victorian College of the Arts, completing a Bachelor of Music Theatre in 2011. At VCA she performed as Julie in excerpts from ‘Carousel’, Alaura/Carla in ‘City of Angels’ (both directed by Gary Young).
Upon graduating she toured with GFO’s Australian production of ‘Annie’ as a Boylan Sister and in the adult ensemble.In 2013 she directed Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for the theatre company she founded and was also Assistant Director to Nancye Hayes OAM for VCA’s production of Summer Rain.
In 2014 she wrote and directed ‘Nude’, a new cabaret featuring the songs and stories of Marilyn Monroe, which premiered at the 2014 Melbourne Cabaret Festival. In January this year she directed the sold out season of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ performed at Como House. She recently directed a reading of Andrew Byrne’s new musical ‘Holding Room’ and will direct the return season of ‘Nude’ at The Alex Theatre St Kilda in August. She has also appeared in a TVC for Open Universities Australia and is featured in a variety of video art projects which have had screenings internationally.
She recently completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Anthropology, in which she undertook a research thesis on the relationship between one’s perception of the materials within and beyond one’s body and how that relates to the performance of one’s self in the world. Her research interests include the body, religion, performance, materiality and biomedicine.

LAURA MALIA PEARSE

Costume Designer
Costume Assistants: Breanna Handfield and Doris Pearse

Laura Malia Pearse who hails from Melbourne’s inner North is an up and coming player on the theatrical arts scene. Since graduating from Swinburne University in2013, Laura has hit the ground (‘boards’) running and with her creative flair and eye fordetail, is quickly gaining recognition for her work. Costume design includes WHO YOU YOU ARE (Nick Backstrom), ALICE IN NEVER NEVERLAND (Australian Shakespeare Company) and THE ANZAC CENTENARY: VICTORIA’S JOURNEY OF REMEMBRANCE (Cultural Infusion). Laura has also assisted in various construction and backstage roles on production’s including MARY POPPINS (Disney/Cameron Mackintosh),KING KONG (Creature Technology company), NIXON IN CHINA (Victorian Opera), LATRAVIATA (Victorian Opera) and THE GOOD PERSON OF SZECHWAN (Malthouse Theatre).Off stage, design work includes upcoming feature film EXPERIENCE THE KNOWING and Hot Shots selected short film THE DISAPPEARANCE OF WILLIE BINGHAM as well as varied private commissions including Circus and Cabaret.
The creations in THE LIVING MUSEUM OF EROTIC WOMEN have been none short of a storm in a haberdashery store! 567 metres of chiffon, silk, lace, leather, trims and cotton, 5,436 beads, 2,000 metres of thread, five heads of wig hair and 750 hours of cutting, threading, stitching, weaving and beading have gone into the costumes you see tonight! Asked what she found the most challenging part of the brief, Laura said ‘trying to explain to my Nannu (Grandfather) why I was sewing giant penises on a dress in our dining room!’

DAVID SHEA

Composer

David Shea is a composer working with combinations of acoustic and electronic instruments, samplers, turntables, and collaborations with filmmakers, artists, writers, choreographers and directors.
Originally from New York, he grew up during the 1980s and 1990s playing in the ensembles of John Zorn and the East Village improvisation and experimental scenes composing, playing turntables and sampler and collaborating with many artists in the US and Europe including Mr Bungle and Scanner. Studying composition and electronic music for a brief time at the Oberlin Conservatory, his approach has been one of experience through self investigation and a strong connection to the influence of others’ work.
Since 1992 he has recorded twelve CDs with his own ensembles, chamber orchestras, soundtracks, and solo works and has toured throughout Europe, the US, Asia and Australia since the late 1980s. David’s works include: I, The Prisoner, Tower of Mirrors, Satyricon, Eastern Western Collected Works, Triptych.
A fulltime lecturer at Melbourne University, David is now based in Melbourne and has created the record label, Metta Editions, and is focusing on the Austral-Asian region and contemporary classical, electronic and traditional music and film/visual collage works.
David’s recently recorded new work, Rituals, was released this year under the Room 40 label..

CREW

BERNIE CLIFFORD

Producer – Director of Bernzerk Productions

After completing degrees and post graduate studies in science, nursing and the media arts Bernie ran a media production and exhibition company Bernzerk Productions winning two international short film awards in New York and screened in the international film school in Havana Cuba. In 2006 Bernie became the Industry and Audience Development Manager for Arts Access Victoria (Arts Victoria’s peak body for disability and the arts).
The role was to provide training and education to create audience sustainability and growth within the arts industry.
From 2007 Bernie became a DDA and accessibility consultant with the goal to build a company that could fund his future entertainment and arts projects. This company is called Before Compliance Pty Ltd.
It has created the seed money to establish Bernzerk Productions Pty Ltd which now has established Lorne Film now in its 3rd year (an annual international film festival – NOV 15th-17th 2015), The Pivitonian Cinema (a 7 day a week art house cinema in Geelong, the media production of the international sex education webinar series “The Anatomy of Sexual Pleasure” for sex educator and counselor Cyndi Darnell (currently in post-production) and are currently partnering with 3 amazing Melbourne musicians to help them realise the completion of their music projects.
The Living Museum of Erotic Women is the first major theatrical production showcasing the talents of the creator and director Willow J, the amazing cast and the sensational crew. It also establishes Bernzerk Productions as an independent company that can produce elaborate and interesting theatrical events. The production will also highlight this new and exciting venue as an event space for exhibition and performance.
Bernzerk Productions is interested in all art forms and is open to discuss your future creative project and the hire of the End-to-End building for your next event.

GEORGIA-ALICE STRINGER

Bernzerk Productions

Georgia-Alice is passionate about helping people with passion.
Based in and around Melbourne, she exudes dexterous expertise in psychology, counseling, arts and music project management, performance stage management, HR management and all-round people skills.
A dream believer at heart and no stranger to diligence, she holds esteemed academic and resourceful qualifications in sex therapy, counseling and behavioural psychology, intercultural communications and global public relations.
When she isn’t working on her latest vocational endeavour, Georgia is a dedicated and proud representative of Melbourne’s renowned music and arts scene, wholeheartedly supports local talent in its many forms, and loves nothing more than discovering the potential in people.
Georgia is currently a project manager for Bernzerk Productions.

TIM BURGIN

Set Design

Tim has experience on a large body of work including feature films, theatre, documentaries, short films, music videos and art installations. They include the feature film Canopy (2013), documentary Dirt Business, The History of Mining in Australia (2013); Monash, The Forgotten ANZAC (2008); and music videos for CocoRosie, Spiderbait and Paul Kelly.
After graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts School of Film & Television, he worked under the mentorship of veteran Australian production designer Neil Angwin.
Films Tim has worked on have screened at many festivals including Berlin, Palm Springs, Toronto and Cannes. As an artist Tim also works in photography, video, sculpture and location specific installations.
His work has been exhibited at The Melbourne International Arts Festival, The Melbourne Writers Festival, and The Edinburgh Film Festival.
He is also a founding member of the artist collective Gädda, Scout & Luxemburg and is represented by Kick Gallery in Australia.

ALEJANDRINA DE LA ROSE

Makeup

Alejandrina De La Rosa was born in Mexico city in 1981 and has been a Body Painter since the age of 18.
Her work has been shown in galleries and publications in both Australian and Mexico.
In 2015, she founded a school dedicated to educating and growing the medium of Body Art.
Her passions are for expressing the close relationship between pleasure & pain when informed by darkness or joy.
In her work, body is not merely the canvas, but the key that adds the element of sensuality sexual power.

GUIDITTA MAURI

Bernzerk Productions – Social Media

Giuditta Mauri is from Como, the spectacular Italian city. Giuditta completed her early studies in Latin, Old Greek, History of Art and Philosophy. Giuditta moved to Milan where she graduated in Fashion Communication and Marketing at the European Institute of Design (IED) in 2013. With an undeniable flare for fashion, Giuditta is passionate about superbike racing, independent magazines, travel and experimenting in new mulita and the creative world.

LISA NICHOLS

Production Manager

Lisa has worked in the Melbourne theatre scene for the last 2 decades, wearing numerous hats throughout that time. She began as a playwright and director before embracing production and stage management roles.
After producing several shows through her own production company, Missing Link Productions in the late 90’s she discovered juggling young children with theatre hours a challenge and took the cushy gig of teaching Live production, Theatre and Events at Holmesglen TAFE.
She went on to coordinate the course until it’s closure in 2013. With a passion for fringe theatre, Lisa continued to do ‘love jobs’ while teaching.
The variety of artistic mediums and the unique concept of The Living Museum of Erotic Women ticked all Lisa’s passion boxes and she is thrilled to be involved in this exciting production.

ANGLE LEGGAS

Video & Photography

Angel Leggas has worked in the Melbourne professional & independent arts scene for over twenty years as an actor, writer, director, producer, photographer and videographer.
After an extended hiatus during which time he raised a young family, he founded his own production company – 3 Fates Media in 2011 and has since produced numerous theatre works including the sold out season of ‘Triage! A Nursing Cabaret’ as part of the 2013 Melbourne Cabaret Festival, the silent comedy ‘Last Mime Standing’ for the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Box Office smash and 2013 Green Room Nominated Cabaret – ‘The Yummy Burlesque Hour’.
His production company 3 Fates Media is an official partner of the Melbourne Short + Sweet Festival and provides photography services showcasing each and every performance over the month long festival.
In 2014, Angel wrote, directed, produced and filmed 2 advertising campaigns for AFL Victoria as well as producing and directing the exciting new cabaret ‘Janeen from Clarinda’ starring Suzie McCann and producing another sell out season of ‘The Yummy Burlesque Hour’ at Melbourne’s iconic Butterfly Club. 2015 will see Angel producing and directing a brand new stage show for Zya Kane (working title – ‘The Sixth Element’) as well as Producing ‘Sure Sign of Love’ for the Melbourne Fringe Festival starring Elena Gabrielle.

LANA DE JAGER

Graphic Designer

Lana De Jager is a Melbourne-based graphic designer and has worked in the industry for the past two decades. She believes that, unlike love, there is a limited supply of time, and now only chooses to work on projects that give both the designer and client pleasure, be they serious or otherwise. She embraces collaboration and figuring out new ways to do things.
Lana earned her university degree in South Africa (Visual Communication) and initially followed the path of most designers: corporate and agency work. It wasn’t until she (literally) ran away with the circus in 2006 – specifically The Famous Spiegeltent and all its motley crew – that she made the jump to freelance work, selecting only clients and projects that would make a difference to people’s happiness levels. This includes projects in the arts and for local community as well as in environmental and social sustainability.
When she’s not at her computer she’ll be on the farm walking her dogs, foraging for wild mushrooms, fixing fences to prevent the goats from destroying the veggie patch or mixing a mean whisky sour.

SAMANTHA SULTANA

Merchandise

Samantha Sultana is a Melbourne based, Vintage Inspired, Independent Fashion Designer who has designed & created for High St Boutiques, chain and Department Stores locally & internationally, over the past 20 years. She also works her magic backstage, in celebrity wardrobe and seamstressing the world of Rock n Roll and Theatre… gaining some Front cover fans along the way.

GUEST ARTISTS

Carina Waye

as Marilyn Monroe

Carina is a Melbourne based performer with a Bachelor in Music Theatre from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) 2011. During her time at VCA, she played the role of Bobbi/Gabby in ‘City of Angels’ directed by Gary Young, Velma in ‘West Side Story’ directed by Martin Croft, and was part of the ensemble in the new Australian musical ‘Dreamsong’ directed by Michael Gurr.
In 2013, Carina appeared in the Magnormos production of ‘Flowerchildren: The Mamas and Papas Story’ as Mama Michelle and Jill Gibson understudy and ensemble. In 2013 – 2014 Carina performed the role of Daphne Blake in ‘Scooby Doo Live! Musical Mysteries’ and as Daisy in the Australian tour of ‘Peppa Pig Live! Treasure Hunt’, both with Life Like Touring.
Most recently Carina performed and co-produced ‘Nude’, a one woman show based on the life and influence of Marilyn Monroe at Chapel off Chapel as part of the 2014 Melbourne Cabaret Festival. In Jan 2015 Carina produced a sell out season of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at Como House with Citizen Theatre. As well as her stage credits, Carinais a presenter on the Channel 31 TV Show, ‘Behind The Words’ and has been a proud member of Equity since 2011.
www.carinawaye.com

Zya Luna

as Ching Shih

As a performer, director, producer and teacher, Zya has been working in theatres, at festivals, pubs, clubs and various dark alley ways over the past 20 years. Zya has worked, performed and trained in Australia and internationally. She has been a member of neo burlesque troupe ‘Voodoo Trash Dolls’ 2008/2012 and worked as part of theatre companies, Metamorphic Ritual Theatre 1999/2004 and Chapel of Change Butoh/Dance Company 2002/2003. Zya spent a year in Paris training, performing and as assistant director with Michiko Gaulier (Ecolle Phillip Gaulier) and company ITAP 2009/2010. More recently she can be found around town in her alter ego character Ms Zhing (MC) Mastering a Ceremony or cavorting about in a comic act, she is also part of the buxom duo Bettie and Page. Zya was a performer at last year’s Living Museum – Tied Together still at The Donkey Wheel House, some other credits that sound good are, she has performed at the Speigeltent, ( Bettie and Page) Thornbury theatre,( MC Red Riding Wolf – BUB ) Regal Ballroom, ( Voodoo Trash Dolls), Brighton Festival England, ( MRT), Atelier Theatre de Montmartre, Paris France ( ITAP MC/act), Gas Works (Chapel of Change) to name a few. Zya’s works also include physical theatre, burlesque, cabaret, butoh, performance art, film, ritual and experimental theatre, her love is for the bouffon and clown. With a passion for the quirky, dark and absurd she has found a way to express this through the freedom and guise of being a performer, she pours this into her style and enjoys sharing this through her teaching and directing. She has trained in many different acting and movement disciplines and somewhere in between completed a Diploma of Theatre.

Rachel Payne

as Cleopatra

Being drawn to the art of tease, the tongue-in-cheek humour and the classic glamour that burlesque encompasses, Rachel has been training with Bottoms Up! since 2009. As her alter ego Freckles Blue, she received 2nd Runner Up in Miss Burlesque Victoria in 2011, as well as 2nd in the Australian Burlesque Festival’s Baby Bombshells with the Bottoms Up! Troupe.
In 2012 Rachel moved to Paris where she collaborated with artists and actors alike, performing in venues across Paris and London before returning to Melbourne with a new found passion for performance art with a dark edge.
Since her return Rachel has performed at numerous events across Melbourne, including alongside her drag-king darling Ziggy Discoballs, she performed at the Australian Burlesque Festival’s Empress Erotic, a collaboration that has seen her nominated in the 2014 Busties for Best Duo.
2014 also saw Rachel delve into the world of immersive theatre as part of the production Tied Together Still: The Living Museum of Erotic Women, where she embraced characters such as Manet’s Olympia and Kiki De Montparnasse.
In the latest instalment of The Living Museum of Erotic Women Rachel explores the Queen of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, and the seduction of love and death.

Tash Collop

as Cutie Honey/Wonder Woman – East Meets West Super Heroine

Tash Collop is an actor, dancer, burlesque artist and recipient of a Bachelor of Performing Arts from Monash University. She draws from her wide performance history of contemporary dance styles and dramatic forms ranging from butoh, Dadaism and Theatre of the Absurd, and challenges ideas of beauty and sexual norms, as well celebrating the inner madness which exists in us all. She is widely seen performing as her burlesque alter ego ‘Zia Electric’, who is all about high voltage women; from fem-bot fantasy, sweet technological miscreant, cyber-punk go-go dancer, bloody dreamer to spellbinding gothic delight. She was recently awarded 1st Runner Up at Burlesque Idol Melbourne 2015, and has ‘Electrified’ audiences at Grrl Fest, Fringe World, Federation Square, Melbourne Fringe, The Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Steam Theatre, Monster Fest, The Masked Carnivale, ’Melbourne’s Biggest Halloween Haunted House Party’ at The Marquee, DV8, Club Voltaire, The 86, The Brunswick Hotel, and shall be performing at the Australian Burlesque Festival and Miss Burlesque Australia.

MUSICIANS

Tania Bosak

musician – Tuesday 12th of May

Tania Bosak is a Melbourne gem – eclectic and talented – she is a Churchill Fellow, diverse percussionist, has worked as a stand-up comedian, and currently heads her Balkan-punk-jazz orchestra Tania Bosak & The Barefoot Orchestra. She is known for her Balkan defection dance parties and events and more recently for her sold out season of her composed theatre work, Miss Jugoslavia and the Barefoot Orchestra.

Liz Stringer

musician – Tuesday 19th of May

With a reputation for utterly captivating live shows and a string of albums already behind her, Liz Stringer has established herself as one of Melbourne’s most exciting and talented musicians. Described by the Herald Sun as “an old-fashioned, Springsteen-style storyteller with a soulful, mature voice”, Stringer combines intimate, complex narratives with haunting vocals to create unique contemporary roots music.

The Sideshow Brides

musicians – Tuesday 19th of May

Sisters Layla and Rhianna Fibbins craft a unique blend of country/rootsy/folk with haunting harmonies and captivating melodies that only blood sisters can create. Drawing from their fascination with early day carnival women, they call themselves The Sideshow Brides, and with banjo, acoustic guitar and stom box in tow, they set out to make their mark on traditional folk & country.

Kylie Auldist

musician – Tuesday 2nd of june

Kylie Auldist is Melbourne’s very own soul diva. Now fronting her own band The Glenroy Allstars, and releasing her 4th solo album very soon, she works and records with bands like Cookin on three Burners and The Women of Soul. Kylie is perhaps best known for her work locally and internationally with the Bamboos, with whom she will be touring in June.

VISUAL ARTISTS

TARYN VAN KAN

Risqué is a photographic essay that depicts liberated women who chose to disrobe for art and entertainment, referencing key figures from different decades who were pioneers in a new genre. Whether it was for stage, film or print, each of these women brought their individuality, sexuality and courage to the work.

I am a stripper, a burlesque performer and a costumier. I have performed burlesque around the globe, stripped in clubs throughout Australia and worked as a costumier at The Australian Ballet, The Malthouse Theatre and Victorian Opera. I am a designer and creator of bespoke costumes for numerous individual performers.
As a costumier I have studied costume history and set design, period hairstyles and makeup techniques. I have pored over photographs of people through the ages, relishing in the details of the garments and styling. As a professional stripper I am interested in the evolution of club stripping and the social attitudes towards the women who choose this vocation. I have studied the origins of pole and lap dancing and when the laws were amendment of laws in this industry. I have experienced first hand the prejudice and the celebration of this work. As a burlesque performer I have been hugely influenced by performance genres that pioneered the way for the Burly Q performers today. I have explored many different genres including Tableaux Vivant, Vaudeville, the Ziegfeld Follies, Weimer, Cabaret, Drag, Performance Art, Exotic Dancing, Go-Go, American Burlesque from the 30’s and 40’s, as well as the resurgence of burlesque in the 90’s. As a woman I am fascinated by our naked form, the incredible beauty of our diversity, our power to transform, the many ways in which we have been censored and have transcended censorship.

NADA DECAT

Nada DeCat cut her teeth in San Francisco as a performance artist specializing in political theatre.
She is now living in Sydney and concentrating on oil painting. She also produces work in video projection and in sound.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

I want to make easily-understood art that avoids the twin pitfalls of over-intellectualism and pandering illustration – allowing my work to speak for itself.

In our world which defines itself through bold expressions of capitalism and patriarchy, I pride myself on developing my own visual language with delicate and subtle treatment of subjects – such as used condoms – in an effort to bring out humanity’s suppressed contemplative nature.

There is no way for me to avoid being part of a classist system, but I also want my work to contrast with the callousness and cruelty that this often entails.

Society wants to steal my time and my life.

I take it back for my artwork as an act of resistance.

www.nadadecat.com

7 SHORT FILMS, CURATED BY ANNA BROWNFIELD

1. Anna Brownfield: Only in your dreams, Honey!

2. Anna Brownfield: Object

3. Anna Brownfield: Shanti Tongues the Dragon

Since graduating from RMIT Media Arts with honours, award winning feminist erotic filmmaker, Anna Brownfield, has gained extensive media attention for the originality of her work. Coming from an experimental and art film background, she has progressed towards narrative film while retaining a unique and highly arresting style through her production company Poison Apple Productions. Her films look at strong female characters, female gaze, sex, sexuality and domestic craft.
Her work has screened at numerous festivals here and overseas including International Women’s Conference (Beijing), WOW Film Festival (Sydney).
Her first feature film ‘ The Money Shot’ closed the 2005 Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF) and won Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Male Lead
Her second feature, ‘The Band’ has screened at Cannes Film Market (France), opened the Berlin Porn Film Festival (German, 2009), has sold to numerous territories around the world and won “Hottest Feature” at the Feminist Porn Awards 2010 in Canada.
“Making it Handmade!” is her first documentary, premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival 2010, has also screened at Down Under Film Festival (Berlin, Germany), Wave Rock festival(Perth, Australia), Festival of Unpopular Culture (Adelaide, Australia) and had its TV premiere on ABC2 in 2011.
Currently, she is making a film about feminist pornography around the world entitled “Doing it Her Way”. Recently, she has collaborated with Petra Joy Award winner, Morgana Muses and their first film endeavour, Music Box won an honourable mention at Cinekink in New York, USA.
She is currently in post production of her latest erotic feature entitled “The Bedroom”. Set in one bedroom over six decades, it looks that the changes in sex and sexuality in Australia.
To find out more about her work visit poisonappleproductions.com.au.

4. Michelle Flynn: Liandra Love, Part 3

Michelle Flynn founded Lightsouthern Studios in 2011. She produces beautiful, fresh, sunkissed, Australiana for the Adult entertainment industry.
Sexy and bold Lightsouthern is celebrating people celebrate themselves and their sexuality in a unique and ethical manner, resulting in producing quality product that goes on to ‘tell a story’ of people who feel good about themselves.
Michelle’s films have screened a numerous festivals around the world including Cinekink, New York, USA and Berlin Porn Film Festival and she won Best Adult Production Company at the Eros Shine Awards, 2013, Australia.

Ms. Naughty (aka Louise Lush) is a writer, editor, blogger, entrepreneur and filmmaker with a passion for making better porn. She’s been curating and creating adult content online since 2000. Her site BrightDesire.com features her filmed and written work. It won Best Website at the Feminist Porn Awards in 2015. She also co-owns ForTheGirls.com, one of the first adult sites for women. Her short film “Dear Jiz” won Best Experimental Short at Cinekink in 2014 and her films have screened at numerous international festivals. She lives with her husband in a small Australian
town, surrounded by Fundamentalist Christians.
To see more of her work visit BrightDesire.com.

At the age of 47 Morgana left her loveless, sexless marriage to embark upon a journey of sexual discovery by making and performing in erotic films. Her films have had critical acclaim winning the Petra Joy award in 2012, an honourable mention at Cinekink film festival, 2014 in New York, USA and most recently winning Hearttrob of the year, 2015 at the Feminist Porn Awards in Toronto, Canada. Her films have also screened at the Berlin Porn Film Festival, Germany and the European Independent Film Festival, Paris, France.
Morgana hopes her films provide encouragement, to women over 40 to give themselves permission to pursue and explore pleasure, that we are all deserving and entitled to…without shame, guilt, ridicule and judgement attached.
To find out more about her work visit permission4pleasure.com.

Melbourne-based Gala Vanting is an award-winning erotic film producer, sex worker, educator, pleasure activist, and erotic imaginist. She draws from a diverse background in the sexuality field and brings a queer feminist approach to her work. Central to all of this is the core value of intimacy and the democratization of sexy.
Gala Vanting began Sensate Films with Aven Frey to produce premium-quality erotic media in Melbourne, Australia. Our work values process over product, aesthetic reverence for diverse forms of human intimacy, and hybridized modes of storytelling – blending fantasy with documentary, the self-conscious with the un-conscious, and the many shapes of the ‘real’.
To find out more about her work visit msgalavanting.com and sensatefilms.com.