Contact

Simon Wellington

Simon joined the Performing Lines team in June 2024, as Executive Producer and CEO. Simon is an arts manager, programmer and producer who has worked in Australia, Indonesia and the United Kingdom for nearly three decades. Since commencing his career in Hobart with Salamanca Theatre Company and Salamanca Arts Centre, roles have included general manager for Griffin Theatre Company at the Stables Theatre in Kings Cross, general manager for the western Sydney based Urban Theatre Projects, and programming and producing for festivals and events, including Ten Days on the Island and the Australian Theatre Forum. From 2015, Simon was based in Cambridge, UK, working for Arts Council England with theatres, arts centres, festivals, galleries and museums across the East of England. Most recently, he was Chief Executive of Hobart’s Theatre Royal.

Megan Roberts

Megan is an arts manager and performing arts producer with more than a decade of experience in the sector. She was Executive Producer for Spare Parts Puppet Theatre from 2012 to 2017 where she worked to develop new artist training and audience engagement initiatives and reinvigorated the company’s touring programs.

Most recently she was Associate Producer for Perth Festival under Wendy Martin’s Directorship (2017 & 2018 Festivals) and Producer for Proximity Festival; Australia’s first one-on-one intimate performance Festival.

Megan has also held marketing positions with Darwin Festival, Artrage / Fringe World, and Country Arts WA.

Kath Papas

Kath is a leading independent producer with extensive history in supporting the creation, realisation and touring of contemporary performance work by highly respected artists and companies. She is especially known for her work on projects which cross artforms and cross cultures, and for her focus in the Asia-Pacific region. Kath has also done significant work at sector level, most recently over 4.5 years at ILBIJERRI Theatre Company and APAM as Senior Producer mentoring emerging First Nations producers in international engagement. Over the course of her 20+ year career in the arts, Kath has produced dozens of seasons of acclaimed original work, international co-productions and tours in Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea and China; events, festivals and initiatives. Kath is delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Performing Lines team and artists in this role.

Nathan Jayawardena

Nathan is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years’ experience. He has worked in variance accounting/finance roles across several different industries including manufacturing, hospitality and labour hire. He worked at Spotless in the Treasury Department where he helped to manage cashflow. He also worked at Skilled Engineering where he led the development of new budget and forecasting templates. More recently, he has worked at CSL where he has helped to streamline and automate many financial processes.

Kar Chalmers

Kar has worked in the performing arts for over 20 years as a marketer, publicist, producer, and general manager.

She built the reputation and brand of the Old Fitz Theatre as general manager/producer for independent theatre company the Tamarama Rock Surfers (2002-07). In subsequent years she was Associate Producer/Marketing Coordinator with Performing Lines (2007-10), Marketing Manager at Arts on Tour (2014), Australian Theatre for Young People (2015-20) and Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre (2020-24). She has also run karpublicity since 2011.

With experience building comprehensive marketing campaigns directly with artists, for arts organisations and presenting venues, Kar has been privileged to work with companies including erth, Monkey Baa, Force Majeure, Marrugeku, Branch Nebula and playwrights including Suzie Miller, Kate Mulvany and Sue Smith.

With a commitment to support artists and a passion for the promotion of the Australian performing arts sector, Kar is delighted to return to Performing Lines.

Dr. Jonathan ‘Jonni’ Homsey

Dr. Jonathan ‘Jonni’ Homsey has a deep passion for the arts, starting with street dance in 2002. Born and raised in Hong Kong and the USA, he has become a leader in artist-run initiatives (ARIs), dance, theatre, and visual arts. His awards include the 2013 Melbourne Fringe Award for Best Emerging Producer, the 2021 Green Room Award for Best Dance Production for “I Am Maggie,” and the 2024 City of Melbourne Arts & Heritage Collection Residency.

Jonni specialises in partnerships and advocacy. He was the Partnerships Manager at Dancehouse (2018-2022) and bolstered dance advocacy for Ausdance New South Wales and Victoria (2016-2018). He is proud to serve as Acting Chair for Weave Movement Theatre and Co-Chair of Cypher Culture’s Street Dance Advisory Panel.

Jonni is also an emerging philosopher and holds a Doctorate of Creative Industries from Queensland University of Technology, where he researched choreographic empowerment strategies through models of co-design and Participatory Action Research.

Esther Beixuan Geng

Esther is a multidisciplinary arts manager, producer, curator and marketer with a decade of academic and professional experience in arts and cultural fields, both internationally and locally. She holds a Master of Arts and Cultural Management from the University of Melbourne, with a background in art history, screen studies and education. 

Previously at Shanghai Children’s Art Theatre, she collaborated with companies across Europe, Asia, Oceania and North America, leading award-winning immersive theatre projects for children with disabilities and co-developing China’s first sensory-friendly children’s theatre. She also curated sector initiatives including the TYA Forum and Performing Arts Fair, and co-curated the inaugural Shanghai International Children’s Theatre Festival, all under ChinaSPAF (China Shanghai International Arts Festival). 

Now based in Melbourne, Esther focuses on independent theatre exploring social relevance and amplifying underrepresented voices, grounded in access, care and connection. A 2025 participant in Performing Lines’ National Producers Platform, she is excited to begin her new chapter with the company, connecting bold and diverse works with audiences across Australia and beyond. 

Su Goldfish

Su Goldfish is a freelance arts worker, filmmaker, and financial wrangler. Latest film project is the documentary THE LAST GOLDFISH which is currently available on Stan, 7Plus, Foxtel and Binge – www.thelastgoldfish.com

Currently producer of the queer, insurrectionary, science fiction, climate change religion, CREATION, instigated by artist Deborah Kelly. Recruiting now – www.creationtheproject.com

Su has been working in the arts industry for over 30 years from Mardi Gras workshop artist and Club Bent performer to being manager and producer at the UNSW Creative Practice Lab up until 2020. Currently Su is  Adjunct Associate Lecturer School of the Arts and Media at UNSW.

Dominic Lui

Dominic (he/him) a multi-arts producer, maker and performer based on Gadigal Country.

Alongside his independent practice, he has worked across programming, producing, marketing, administration and advocacy, including as Projects Producer at Omega Ensemble and Digital Content Coordinator and Administrator at Contemporary Asian Australian Performance.

He holds a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and, in 2024, completed Advertising Council Australia Award School, with two briefs on the wall.

Nick Glen

Nick is a Melbourne based Production Manager and Lighting Designer. He is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, majoring in Lighting Design and Technical Management.

Nick has designed, production and tour managed shows around Australia, China, Japan and New Zealand, including Black Ties (Australian & New Zealand), Heart is a Wasteland (Australian Tour), The Frock (Japan & Australian tours), Romeo & Juliet (China), Broadway Love Tour (China), Which Way Home (Australian Tour) and many shows for SCIMM Dance Company and Federation University.

During Nick’s university studies he interned with well known Lighting Designer, Donald Holder as Assistant Lighting Designer on Broadway, New York. He also was selected to attend the Beijing International Design Biennial in 2013, collaborating with other designers from around the world.

Bella Thompson

Believing in a hands-on approach to every role she undertakes, Bella has been able to get a variety of experience in a myriad of roles, including as a production manager, technician, and designer. Having worked on developments, independent shows, and large scale performances, with companies such as Global Creatures, GWB Entertainment and the City of Sydney, Bella has gained an insight into a range of vastly different productions, as well as the ability to work with and lead different teams. Being passionate about supporting independent and emerging practitioners, and in cultivating a unified company, Bella is thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of the Performing Lines team.

Eleanor Weller-Brown

Eleanor Weller-Brown is a Perth-based Production and Stage Manager with a passion for bringing performances to life through planning and execution. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Theatre and Stage Management from NIDA, graduating in 2022.

Throughout her studies and professional career, Eleanor has gained diverse experience across the industry, taking on roles such as Stage Manager for Swim (Griffin Theatre Company), Venue Supervisor for King Lear (Bell Shakespeare), and Company, Stage Manager for Just: Live Onstage (Redline Productions), and Technical Swing for Darkness: A Theatrical Experience which then progressed into a resident Venue Manager and Lighting Designer Role for 5 Eliza St.

Eager to embrace new challenges, Eleanor thrives in dynamic environments and is always looking for opportunities to learn and grow. She is excited to be a part of the Perth Performing Lines team and contribute her skills to the vibrant arts community.

Vanessa Wright

Vanessa Wright is a creative producer and programmer with experience in multi-arts festivals and grass roots creative spaces. For the past 5 years, Vanessa has been the Senior Producer at Darwin Festival, producing a diverse program of bold contemporary work that has championed independent and Northern Territory artists. Vanessa began her career in Canberra, as a Co-Producer and later a Managing Producer of You Are Here Festival (2011-2016), supporting emerging and experimental artists to develop and present new work. She has also worked as a Producer on Liveworks Festival for Performance Space (2017), a Creative Producer for Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres (2015-2016), and a Producer for Melbourne Fringe Festival (2015-2016). She has participated in Next Wave’s Kickstart Helix program (2018) and is an Australian member of the Asian Producers Platform. Vanessa is passionate about creating and nurturing opportunities for artist development, building strong creative communities and connecting artists and audiences.

Thom Smyth

Thom Smyth (he/him) is a producer and marketer with a keen interest in socially-engaged and queer experimental performance.

Thom is a Producer with national creative producing company Performing Lines, moving into the role from a previous position as company Marketing Manager (2014-2020).

He has held positions with Performance Space, Force Majeure, Proximity Festival – Australia’s only one-on-one performance platform; Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and The Blue Room Theatre. He has a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism / Politics) from Edith Cowan University, completing his studies with a secondment at The Jakarta Post in Indonesia.

Jane Schon

Jane Schon is a multidisciplinary artist, producer, and former journalist, who began her career in Meanjin, before moving to Naarm, and now works and lives on Gadigal country. She is a calm, judicious and ethically minded producer with a particular interest in physical theatre, documentary theatre making, and queer performance art. Having trained and worked as a theatre maker and performer herself, Jane intimately understands the joys and challenges of producing new work. She graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts (BFA Theatre) in 2020, off the back of a year’s training with Zen Zen Zo physical theatre and over 10 years’ work with independent artists and organisations in Meanjin. Jane has been working with Performing Lines since August 2022. Prior to this, she spent two years as a Community Outreach Producer at the Victorian College of the Arts/University of Melbourne while simultaneously working on numerous freelance theatre and film projects as a director, performer, sound designer, producer, and dramaturg. Her artistic process and approach to producing has been strongly influenced by her connections and experience working with artists and companies such as Roslyn Oades, Born in a Taxi, Rawcus, and Riot Stage.

Nelson Lee

Nelson Lee (he/him) is a producer raised in Aotearoa/New Zealand and based in Sydney/Gadigal. Holding a Bachelor of Arts & Advanced Studies (Theatre & Performance Studies / Marketing) from the University of Sydney, Nelson began his career producing for Slanted Theatre and Sydney University Dramatic Society (SUDS) in 2022/3. From there, Nelson has gone on to produce for Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta (NTofP) and Little Goat Arts and Entertainment. Outside of his producing practice, Nelson has held customer service roles with Foundation Theatres, Riverside Theatres, and Sydney Theatre Company. Nelson is thrilled to be returning as an Associate Producer after participating in the Performing Lines NSW Producing Platform in 2023.

Samantha Butterworth

Samantha is a Programmer and Creative Producer based in Melbourne. Samantha is thrilled to join the team at Performing Lines. For the last 5 years, Samantha has worked as Arts Programmer at Darebin City Council where she programmed and delivered the annual Darebin Arts Speakeasy season, amongst a slate of other activities. Previously, Samantha has worked as the Creative Producer of Elbow Room, as Tour Coordinator with Regional Arts Victoria (where she has also been engaged to produce both 2014 & 2015 Showcase Victoria events in conjunctions with the Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres), Producer of the inaugural Poppy Seed Festival, Operations Manager for Red Stitch Actors Theatre; Administrator for Rollercoaster Theatre Company; and has sat in many roles as a Freelance Producer.

Carmen Lai

Originally from Singapore and now based in Naarm/Melbourne, Carmen holds a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (Theatre) from the University of Tasmania and has worked in various roles with arts organisations including Asia TOPA, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Theatre Company, Theatre Network Australia, and Stage A Change. As a multidisciplinary artist, her work has been showcased at venues like Wyreena Arts Centre, Frankston Arts Centre, fortyfivedownstairs, Dark Mofo, and Sawtooth ARI. Carmen is thrilled to collaborate with Performing Lines to support artists in developing and presenting the best, most exciting version of their work. 

Zadie Kennedy Mccracken

Zadie Kennedy Mccracken is a writer and performing arts producer living on unceded Wurundjeri Country. Their writing has appeared in Gems Zine and Voiceworks, and onstage for La Mama Theatre, Melbourne Fringe, and Theatre Works. As a producer, Zadie has worked with MPavilion, Darebin Arts, Pony Cam, St. Martins Youth Arts Centre, Melbourne Fringe and Melbourne Theatre Company, championing youth theatre, queer storytelling and experimental forms.

Sinsa Mansell

Sinsa is a proud Trawoolaway women from larapuna the Northern region of lutruwita Tasmania. She is a program producer and project officer, as well a co-founder, performer, and choreographer with the successful pakana kanaplila a traditional/contemporary Tasmanian Aboriginal dance troupe.

Working nationally and internationally, Sinsa has been pioneering ways to reclaim ancient cultural traditions, as well as being involved in broad range educational experiences. Sinsa’s work generates critical awareness of the rich cultural heritage and continuing practices of her ancestors. She is committed to opening opportunities for the broader community to engage with the local First Nations peoples.

In 2021 Sinsa created and performed in BACK (co-directed with Kate Champion) and produced by Performing Lines TAS for the Ten Days on the Island Festival. In the same year she was one of 15 artists selected nationally for the Hobart Current Exhibition curated by Rosie Dennis for the City of Hobart and Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

During 2021 she was a lead creative for Illuminate, a Tas Dance production featuring five Tasmanian dance companies. For Mona Foma 2022, Sinsa is Director and lead Choreographer of tuylupa (a spark of fire) with pakana kanaplila, Tas Dance, Skinnyfish Records and Soma Lumia (postponed due to Covid).

Sinsa sat on the Ministerial Arts and Advisory Council for State Growth and the First Nations Advisory Group for APAM in addition to advisory panels for the Moonah Arts Centre, Ten Days on the Island Festival and the Walantanalinany Palingina (WaPa) Program. She’s also been a member of the assessment panels for Arts Tasmania, Australia Council of the Arts and Constance ARI.

Sinsa is a mentor and support for a range of organisations and many of the palawa arts opportunities for her community come through her roles with the Situate North Program, the Tarraleah Residency and Moonah Arts Centre Seed opportunity.

For film Sinsa has appeared in Leah Purcell’s A Drover’s Wife and is currently filming Deadloch for AMAZON.

Sinsa began her role as Associate Producer with Performing Lines TAS in February 2022 and starts her year as the tour manager for the state-wide tour of Outside Boy, a Second Echo Production.

Nicole Winspear

With a Fine Arts degree in Ceramics and Textiles and a Diploma in Fashion Design (Advanced Tailoring), Nicole has built a diverse and dynamic career across theatre, television, film, and the performing arts sector. Her design credits include set and costume design for Big Monkey Theatre, Blue Cow Theatre and the Tasmanian Theatre Company, as well as short films and costume work for film and TV.

In her time at the Theatre Royal, Hobart she served as Program Lead for takara nipaluna (Nunami Sculthorpe-Green), over two years and led key areas of staff development as Policy and Procedure Lead, with a strong focus on team culture, training and mediation. She also collaborated with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra to deliver front-of-house services for concert seasons.

At Performing Lines, Nicole brings her deep respect for artists and her broad industry experience to champion bold, artist-led work.

Jen Leys

Jen commenced with Performing Lines in 2018. She produces projects, new works and tours with West Australian artists, including Laura Boynes (Equations of a Falling Body), Mararo Wangai (Black Brass), Emma Fishwick (From Here, Together – In Development), Jo Pollitt & Maitland Schnaars (The Simmering – In Development), Ian Wilkes & Poppy van Oorde-Grainger (Galup) and Katt Osborne & Tarryn Gill (UNHEIMLICH). She has led artist and producer development initiatives for Performing Lines including Singapore Producers Platform (2018/19), Producer Lab (2020), Local Giants Regional Producers Platform (2022) and the Kolyang Program of Industry Development Initiatives (2024+). Jen has worked for Shaun Parker & Company, FORM Dance Projects, Strut Dance, Black Swan State Theatre, PAC Australia and touring agency Askonas Holt Ltd (UK) representing Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker and Bangarra Dance Theatre. She seconded with Tokyo International Arts Festival, and LIFT Festival (UK) whilst completing an MA in Performance & Culture, Goldsmiths College. Jen specialised as an independent producer in creative development to presentation, touring and artist management services after receiving an Australia Council Independent Producers Grant (2012/13), enabling her to represent Australian contemporary performance makers including Narelle Benjamin, Rhiannon Newton, Alex Desebrock and Aimee Smith.

Melanie Julien-Martial

Melanie Julien-Martial is a theatre producer and occasional director. She has produced many shows and developments, including Two Canaries (Alexa Taylor), Cephalopod (Squid Vicious), The Jellyman (Rhiannon Petersen), The Bleeding Tree (Ian Michael), Little Women (Mel & Sal), and The Big Sea (Frances Barbe). She has worked as Associate Producer and Program Coordinator at The Blue Room Theatre; Associate Producer at Performing Lines WA; Associate Producer Film & Performance at Perth Festival; and most recently as Interim Producer at Perth Institute of Contemporary Art. Melanie is passionate about the sustainability of independent artist’s careers and environmental sustainability within the arts sector.

Joo Tan

Joo Tan is an arts administrator whose journey from her roots in Singapore has led her to the vibrant city of Boorloo (Perth). With a childhood steeped in the arts and non-profit sector, Joo’s early exposure nurtured a passion for the creative world. Her journey to Australia has been a colourful tapestry of cultural exploration and artistic discoveries. In her most recent role as Regional Curator at The Junction Co (Kariyarra Country, Pilbara WA), she exhibited her vision and skills by spearheading regional programming, exhibition programs and broader curatorial projects. Embracing the unique spirit of the Pilbara, she dedicated herself to engaging and empowering regional artists and communities, fostering artistic development and belonging in her previous role as Exhibitions and Community Programs Coordinator. Before relocating to the Pilbara, she honed her understanding in accessibility and inclusion while working with DADAA, where she actively contributed to its access programs.

Joo’s dedication to the arts led her to complete a Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management) at WAAPA, where she developed her skills in people and business management. Her diverse expertise has enabled her to facilitate immersive, inclusive experiences that resonates with audiences of all backgrounds as she continues her journey as Associate Producer at Performing Lines WA.