...it was important not to conceive MAPS as a mere 'service' to artists, but rather as the foundation for an equal creative partnership between producer and artist.
John Baylis, Former Theatre Board Director, Australia Council for the Arts
Staff
Wendy Blacklock Executive Producer
Wendy spent a large part of her life as a performer working in radio, stage and television. For the last 29 years she has devoted her energy to developing, producing and touring Australian artists and small companies. To do this she created an Australian Content Department at the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, and this then became Performing Lines. Wendy has won many awards for her services to the arts and these include an Order of Australia, a James Cassius Award and a Drovers' Touring Legend from the APACA presenters. More satisfying is the number of performances she has organised for Australian artists both nationally and internationally.
Fiona de Garis Producer
Fiona de Garis is the Perth based Producer of Performing Lines WA. Previously an itinerant project, company and stage manager, for 14 years Fiona worked for many of Australia's leading performing arts organisations from WA Opera to Playbox. Work in opera, theatre, fine music, street theatre, dance and even eventually circus took her round Australia and overseas. A major career highlight was Fiona's work on 11 tours of the site specific Urban Dream Capsule directed by Neil Thomas. As Company Manager, Fiona dealt with everything from risk management planning for Brazilian soccer riots, to plumbing disasters (frequent) and pesticide poisoning (happily infrequent!).
Fiona enjoyed many roles with the Perth International Arts Festival, including a 2006 contract as Programme Manager for the Statewide reading initiative One Book. In 2007 Fiona became Associate Producer of the 20th UNIMA Congress and World Puppetry Festival, delivering a programme including 11 invited International companies and over 20 Australian productions in just 12 months. Meeting Mr Squiggle in person was an undoubted highlight!
Sarah Rowbottam Communications Manager
Since graduating from Curtin University in 2006 with a double BA in Art and Communication and Cultural Studies, Sarah has spent the last two years jumping between various roles at Perth arts organisations; Perth Festival, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Biennale of Electronic Arts Perth, STRUT dance and Tura New Music. Adamant that she can juggle the hats of marketing, public relations, design and whatever her boss Fiona can throw at her, Sarah has now settled into a life at Performing Lines WA where she is content with having theatre and dance artists as her new best friends.