2012 Creative Team

Neill Gladwin – Creative Director

Neill has worked in both the subsidised and commercial theatre and festival industries in Australia and internationally. In his freelance capacity, his work ranges from large-scale events, including Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies, to physical theatre, opera and Shakespearean adaptations.

Neill trained at Victoria’s Rusden State College and became half of comedy duo Los Trios Ringbarkus – the first Australian comedy act to win the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Perrier award for Best Comedy (1983). His performance work also includes feature films and television. He has directed productions for many of Australia’s major theatre companies and independent theatres. His productions include Lano & Woodley – Fence & Curtains, Tripod, The Suitcase Royale and the Australian Outback Spectacular.

Neill now divides his time between directing large-scale circus, theatre and event productions. This will be his third Victorian State Schools Spectacular.

See: Interview with Neill Gladwin, Creative Director

 

Chong Lim – Musical Director

One of Australia’s most experienced musicians, musical directors and composers for internationally renowned talents, Chong Lim has come on board as the VSSS Music Director for 2011.

He has been the Music Director for John Farnham, Channel 7’s Dancing with the Stars, the Closing Ceremony of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, The Logie Awards, Kylie Minogue’s Intimate and Live Tour, and the stage version of Dirty Dancing. He has also worked on the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

Interview with Chong Lim, Musical Director

 

Kelley Abbey – Dance Director

Kelley has over 20 years’ experience as a performer, dancer and choreographer for theatre, film and television. A leading lady in musicals like Sweet Charity and Fame – The Musical, Kelley has won as many hearts as awards.

Kelley choreographed and directed Fame the musical and choreographed Grease and Hugh Jackman's Boy From Oz in the arena. She has choreographed television shows such as The Logies, MTV Awards and Packed to the Rafters. Kelley was also the special guest judge and choreographed group routines for So You Think You Can Dance (Australia). This has led her to be invited as the only Australian choreographer to create group routines for the American So You Think You Can Dance. In 2008 she was the Australian judge on the NBC American series Superstars of Dance, working alongside famous dancers such as Michael Flatley.

Kelley also choreographed the Oscar winning film Happy Feet and was honored at the choreographic media honors in Hollywood for her work.

Adam Lowe – Creative Producer

Adam has over 15 years’ experience in creating and managing theatre, international tours, cultural, ceremonial and sporting events. He has worked in commercial and musical theatre throughout Australia and Asia, including The Full Monty, The Producers, and The Production Company.

His work as Managing Director of the Adam Lowe Group includes the Victorian State Schools Spectacular 2008 and the 2009 musical Barnum. He has produced the Midsumma Festival 2009–11, and produced and co-directed the opening celebrations of the 1st Asia Pacific Outgames in 2008.

Adam’s work in the Middle East includes the Jeddah Economic Forum and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 15th Asia Games 2006 (Doha, Qatar). He has worked in international stadium theatre, including the Australian 1998 Grease tour and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Trevor Jones – Associate Musical Director

Trevor is a conductor, musical director, singing teacher, accompanist and choral director.

He is the 2011 Recipient of the Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors. As a conductor in opera and musical theatre, Trevor’s credits include Orpheus in the Underworld, Dear World and The Last Five Years.  He was the conductor of the Monash University Choral Society 1999–2005 and founded Choristry in 2008.

His extensive choral repertoire includes classics by Mozart, Bach, Puccini, Orff and Britten. Trevor also regularly performs contemporary Australian music with his choirs.

Deon Nuku - Associate Dance Director

Deon has worked extensively as a dancer and actor in film, television and theatre. His theatre credits include West Side Story, Red Hot and Rhonda, Sisterella, Oh What A Night, Get Happy, Fame, Footloose and Saturday Night Fever.

He has also worked with international artists such as Macy Gray and Kylie Minogue. Deon’s television credits include the ARIA music awards, X-Factor (UKTV), Hey Hey Its Saturday, In Melbourne Tonight, Australian Film Industry Awards, The Good Friday Appeal, The Logie Awards, Fast Forward and Neighbours.

He was a featured dancer in the films Moulin Rouge and Scooby Doo. Deon is a member of the Wickid Force breakdance team, Australia’s leading breakdance champions.

Troy Phillips - Associate Dance Director

Troy recently worked as the resident choreographer for the musical Hairspray and was part of the choreography team for the 2011 Pan Arab Games (Doha, Qatar).

After graduating in Dance at the Victorian College of the Arts, Troy has garnered extensive musical theatre credits, including My Fair Lady, Sisterella, Chicago, Singin’ in the Rain, Get Happy The Musical, We Will Rock You, Sunset Boulevard, Hugh Jackman – The Boy From Oz and Guys and Dolls.

His film credits include Moulin Rouge, Scooby Doo, Bootmen and Happy Feet. Television credits include appearances on The Logie Awards, In Melbourne Tonight, The Midday Show, Ocean Girl and the Australian Idol Unforgettable Special.

Paul Yarnall - Associate Producer

Paul has a strong background in both the theatre and events industries in Australia and overseas.

He is currently the Production Coordinator for the Adam Lowe Group. He has undertaken stage management roles for The Royal Easter Show Arena Spectacular (Sydney), The Boy From Oz (Sydney Tour 2011), Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony (Auckland) and the Pan Arab Games Opening Ceremony (Doha, Qatar). Paul currently production manages the Midsumma Festival, as well as the St Kilda Pride March. He has previously worked as the VSSS Technical Manager.

Jan Goodall - Choral Director

Jan Goodall is a recently retired, class music specialist teacher and children’s choir conductor. Currently, Jan conducts the Victorian State Schools’ Choir (VSSC) and was in charge of the massed choirs at the State Schools’ Spectacular in 2008 and 2010.

In 2011, the VSSC sang at the Government House reception for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip. While teaching, her school choirs were highly successful in local and interstate competitions and music festivals. Jan has adjudicated choral competitions and in 2011, for the education division Victorian Opera, ran a four week conducting course for teachers of school choirs. She has written a series of workbooks for use in Kodaly class music programs and although a Canadian, she has “called Australia home” for many years.

Janine Maunder - Music Tutor (Backing Vocalists)

Janine’s professional career has taken her to concert venues, festivals and theatres both internationally and in Australia, including recent performances at the Sydney Opera House and the famous Carnegie Hall in New York.

She has lent her vocals to many of Australia’s greats including John Farnham, Kate Ceberano, David Hobson, Renée Geyer, Delta Goodrem, Guy Sebastian and Jimmy Barnes.

TV credits include “Dancing With the Stars”, “Hey Hey It’s Saturday” “It Takes Two”, and “Goodmorning Australia”.

If that isn’t enough, she was a voice in the theme song for “Neighbours”, a member of Melbourne's acclaimed "Adoration on the Gospel Train", and is a recording artist in her own right with multiple album releases in Europe.

Isaac Lummis – Costume Designer/Coordinator

Isaac finds himself in a space oscillating somewhere between costume designer, dressmaker, textile artist and ironing lady. 

Isaac has been involved in creating costumes for the last 12 years and part of the Performing Arts Unit since 2008. His extensive costume design credits include La Cage Aux Folles, Melbourne Loves the Burlesque Hour, Waltzing the Willara, The Greeks – Electra and Orestes, Down Pour, Oliver!, As You Like It and KissXX. He also curated the Vivien St James – Costume Retrospective for the 2010 Midsumma Festival. Isaac has also worked as a maker and art finisher on theatre productions Irene in Concert, Strange Bedfellows – A New Musical, The King & I, The Boy from Oz, The Drovers Wife, Velveteen Rabbit and The Odyssey.

Interview with Isaac Lummis – Costume Designer/Coordinator