Staff
Fenn Gordon CEO
Fenn was appointed CEO of Performing Lines in June 2011. She moved from New Zealand to Australia in 2007 to join Performing Lines as the producer responsible for international projects. She worked with many of Australia's leading artists including William Yang, Gavin Webber and Grayson Millwood, and the late Tanja Liedtke. From 2009 - 2011 she was the Director, Market Development of the Australia Council, responsible for implementing strategies to develop markets for Australian artists and organisations nationally and internationally. Before crossing the Tasman, Fenn worked as an independent producer in New Zealand for eighteen years, where she managed the national and international careers of independent artists Douglas Wright, Flight of the Conchords and Miranda Harcourt amongst many others. She has written and taught extensively about touring and producing in the performing arts.
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!
Rachael Whitworth Producer
After graduating in 1992 from the Victorian College of the Arts with a BA in Dance, Rachael moved to Western Australia to work as a dancer with the West Australian Ballet. In 1995 she joined Buzz Dance Theatre where she worked as a contemporary dancer, teacher and choreographer for three years. Between 1998 and 2000, Rachael worked as an independent dancer on numerous projects before diversifying her practice and performing, and collaborating with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre for nearly a decade.
Whilst performing, Rachael completed a Graduate Diploma in Arts and Entertainment Management at Deakin University, graduating in 2000. After securing a full-time management position at Spare Parts Puppet Theatre she was able to work as Associate Producer leading up to the 20th UNIMA Congress and World Puppetry Festival. Working as a producer with Performing Lines is an exciting transition for Rachael as she is able to work closely with artists, using her experience as an independent practitioner, whilst applying and extending her knowledge of project management. And best of all, she gets to do this with Fiona and Sarah!
Sarah Rowbottam Communications Manager
Since graduating from Curtin University of Technology in 2006 with a double BA in Art and Communication and Cultural Studies, Sarah has spent the last four 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.
In addition to Performing Lines WA, Sarah is a practicing artist and emerging curator. In June 2010 she curated Rounds, a group show featuring the work of nine WA emerging artists, in the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts' Central Galleries, and co-published the Rounds book, a 192-page publication compiled of artist interviews, documentation and in-depth essays written by eight WA writers.
Tom Cramond Intern
Currently studying Arts Management at The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Tom joined Performing Lines WA in early 2011 as our bi-weekly intern. Tom has a strong background in visual arts and theatre production and looks forward to learning as much as possible about producing in WA.
Wendy Blacklock Founder of Performing Lines
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.