Sam Trubridge (Director/Designer)
British-born Sam Trubridge was trained at Elam School of Fine Arts, Slade School of Fine Arts (London), and recently completed his Master’s in Design at Massey University, Wellington. He directed and designed The Playground’s first production, The Restaurant of Many Orders: an ‘international work in progress’ shown at Sadler’s Wells in London, Wellington, Auckland, Prague, Florence, Prato, and Rome. Prior to this he directed film and theatre in London and Auckland, such as the short film Mobiles (Raindance 2002), a short film The Harvest (Hiroshima Short Film Festival 2004), Henry V (Auckland’s 36th Summer Shakespeare), and The Tempest in Auckland’s Tepid Baths. He has published articles in Illusions (NZ), and Theatre Forum (USA).
Philippa Gander (Sleep Scientist)
Philippa completed her doctorate in chronobiology (the study of biological clocks) at Auckland University in 1980, then moved to Harvard Medical School in Boston as a Senior Fulbright Fellow. In 1983 she was recruited to join The NASA Ames Research Centre in Mountain View, California. In 1996, a Repatriation Fellowship from the Health Research Council of NZ enabled her to return to establish the Sleep/Wake Research Centre, now at Massey University. Central to Philippa’s research is how the circadian biological clock drives body and brain function through daily cycles, and the consequences of working against these rhythms; for example in shift work and jet lag. Much of her work has had an applied focus, developing scientifically-based strategies to minimize the health and safety risks associated with shift work and transmeridian flight. This has included developing programmes with the aviation and trucking industries, which have been implemented globally.
Bevan Smith (Composer/ Sound Designer)
Bevan likes writing and producing albums and making music for Japanese commercials, but also enjoys creating soundscapes for film, theatre and dance. He has composed music for the documentary Touching the Void and Lisa Densam’s dance work No Such Place. He runs Involve Records, and composes music as Skallander, Signer, and Aspen.
Elizabeth Barker (Choreography and Dance)
Elizabeth trained at London’s Laban for Dance. She performs for Ajose-Cutting Dance (UK) and Aranea (Ireland): both companies which focus on the integration of live music and dance. Her previous performance credits include creating several leading roles for the award winning Punchdrunk Theatrical Experiences (The Firebird Ball, Sleep No More, and Marat/Sade), Welsh National Theatre, Backlight Dance Project, Transitions Dance Company, and Richard Move. Her current interests lie in performing and choreographing using Neuro-Linguistic programming and visualisation techniques as a tool for holistic expression and connection in performance. She is also an experienced dance teacher and freelance costume designer, designing most recently for the critically acclaimed In Your Rooms for Hofesh Shechter (Sadler’s Wells, London, and tour).
Maria Dabrowska (Choreography and Dance)
Maria graduated from Unitec with a Bachelor in Performing and Screen Arts, majoring in contemporary dance. She has produced and co-produced over 30 choreographies in Wellington and Auckland, dancing for The Body Cartography Project, FUSE productions and Rifleman Productions, and working with Malia Johnston, Guy Ryan, Alex Duncan, Jacob Sullivan, Alex Leonhartsberger, and Katherine Van Beek. Maria has created and toured shows Heavenly Burlesque, Evil Fiona’s Love Test, and toured her choreography INK around NZ and Australia.
Ella Robson-Guillfoyle (Eurydice)
Ella is a dancer, actor and physical theatre performer. She graduated from The Laban Centre for Dance, London, and has a post graduate diploma in professional acting from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She interned with Random Dance Co, and was a member of Sadler’s Wells Youth Dance Company. Her performances include Digit01 and Graphite with Wayne McGregor, Twist with Robert Hylton, and Alice in Wonderland at the Battersea Arts Centre.
Jamie Burgess graduated from the National Academy of Singing & Dramatic Art (NASDA) in Christchurch in 1999. He has performed with Canterbury Opera (South Island Tour of The Barber of Seville), at the International Busker's Festival, Showbiz Christchurch. Capital E National Theatre for Children (On Our Street) and Wellington Musical Theatre (Cats). A skilled musician and composer, he performs music with The Improvisors, Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT) and cabaret group Blondes Just Off Broadway; musically directing the NZ International Arts Festival production of Battalion. In 2008, his first full length play Shoes premiered at BATS and early in 2009 performed his new musical Becoming The Courtesan (BATS).
Joshua Rutter is a Unitec graduate with a Bachelor in Performing and Screen Arts, majoring in contemporary dance. He also holds a CircoArts (Circus) diploma from Christchurch Polytechnic. He has danced for Michael Parmenter, Hans Van Den Broeck, Malia Johnston, Alyx Duncan, Alexa Wilson, and Julia Sadler, and for a number of projects with Winning Productions. As a choreographer, his company Release Candidate has presented work at the Christchurch Body Festival and the Auckland Fringe Festival. He is a core member of Vivid Performance Group, which has seen him perform throughout Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
Marcus Mcshane has designed lights at Wellington's Circa and BATS Theatres as well as for Capital E National Children's Theatre. Highlights include Blackbird, Who Wants To Be 100?, Kiwi Moon, Love Song, Bombshells and A Bright Room Called Day (which saw him nominated for Lighting Designer of the Year at the 2007 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards). He has designed installation works for Lion-Nathan (Nightlight), Wellington City Council (The All-Devouring Art-Beast, with Andrew Shaw), and for Afterburner (winning several Wellington design awards and exhibiting at the Prague Quadriennale). The design for Sleep/Wake won Best Design in the 2008 NZ Fringe Festival.
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