Georgia Adamson, Alice Babidge, Victoria Campbell, Susanna Dowling, David Fleischer, Cameron Goodall, Anna Martin, Renee Mulder, Stefo Nantsou, Gideon Obarzanek, Julia Ohannessian, Zindzi Okenyo, Richard Pyros, Sophie Ross, Tahki Saul, Imara Savage, Jo Turner, Kip Williams.

In 2012 STC's resident actors (Cameron Goodall, Julia Ohannessian, Zinzdi Okenyo, Richard Pyros, Sophie Ross and Tahki Saul) are joined by a larger number of multi-disciplinary Artists in Residence.  The diverse group of artists includes former Artistic Director of Chunky Move, Gideon Obarzanek, directors Kip Williams and Imara Savage, designers David Fleischer and Renee Mulder, teaching artists Georgia Adamson and Victoria Campbell and the writer/director team Susanna Dowling and Jo Turner.

"Sydney Theatre Company is uniquely fortunate in being able to support a resident community of artists," says co Artistic Director Andrew Upton. "This will be the third incarnation of the Company's resident artists program, following on from The Actors Company and The Resos. We are trying to get the most out of the generous support we receive in terms of realising projects that the Company couldn't do alone. Particularly in the areas of art form development and community cultural development."

Since 2007, supported by Arts NSW and by philanthropic partners, STC has engaged resident artists to work in the Company on twelve month contracts. The first group, The Actors Company, had a focus on large scale main stage work. In 2009 the model was re-shaped into The Residents, a smaller and more flexible group of actors which engaged in main stage, art form development and educational work for the Company. In 2012 the model evolves further, encompassing a more varied group of artists working with the Company across the year with mix of longer and shorter term contracts to develop new projects according to specialised skills and interests.

Each of the Artists in Residence is associated with specific STC projects and activities. For example, Gideon Obarzanek will work on the creation of two new theatre hybrid works with the resident actors as well making contributions to the development of the Company's repertoire. As one of the Residents, actor Cameron Goodall's roster includes working on those projects with Obarzanek, performing in STC shows The History of Everything and Under Milk Wood and workshopping a new work with a visiting international playwright.

"In their time with us, The Resos became a terrific resource for developing new work," says Upton. "They're creative and curious. They work quickly and have become extremely intuitive as a group, not only with each other, but with visiting artists. This method of working would not have had the chance to evolve without the artists in residence support."

Resident Designer Alice Babidge will design STC's new bar, create costumes for STC's Under Milk Wood and Face to Face and take a mentoring role with fellow Artists in Residence, young designers David Fleischer and Renee Mulder. Director Imara Savage will be involved in workshops for The Secret River and with a visiting international playwright. She will assist with STC activities such as directing audition workshops and developing a project through our Rough Draft program and directing a play in our 2013 season.

Playwright Jo Turner and director Susannah Dowling will work on a major regional outreach project in Armidale NSW that will lead to a production featuring local New England performers alongside professional actors. Georgia Adamson will not only work in primary school classrooms delivering STC's School Drama program (in which STC artists are teamed with teachers to impart the use of theatre skills in enhancing literacy and cross-curriculum outcomes) but will also assist in further developments of the model.

For all of the Artists in Residence, STC is committed to providing professional development opportunities, access to key personnel and resources, and encouragement and support for them to pursue their own interests and projects away from STC.

 

Money Shots, 2001. Photo: Brett Boardman