Artistic Director - Toni Main
Toni graduated from the directing course at the Flinders University Drama Centre with honours in 2005. She was also the recipient of the Minter Ellison Rising Star Award (2005). She has recently returned from Paris where she studied two courses at L’Ecole de Jaques Le Coq focussing on her passion for physical theatre and mask performance. Her theatre directing credits include A Stab in the Dark by Alex Vickory-Howe (2008), Away by Michael Gow (2008), Two by Jim Cartwright (2006), Out of the Boot for Urban Myth Theatre (2006) The Bank Job by Alex Vickory-Howe(2006). Harm’s Way by Mac Wellman (2005), Dreaming by Peter Barnes (2004), After Dinner by Andrew Bovell (2004), Dreamtown by Melissa Reeaves (2003). She has a strong enthusiasm for mask performance of which she has directed and co-created two performances using the Libby Appel mask performance technique: The Hidden Family of Her (2007) and Everybody go to the Left Side of the Room (2006). She currently works for Flinders University Drama Workshop and is a tutor at SYTE and Trinity College where she delights in working with participants from 8 to18yrs. Future productions for Toni main include A Girl Story (working title) as part of Higher Ground's Hot House Residency. She is also a co founder of Instigate Theatre Productions.
Executive Officer - Rebecca Johns
Rebecca went to Vanuatu a Re-Design Coordinator, working on the re-design of displays for the Vanuatu National Cultural Museum. She was involved in managing small-scale construction works within the museum building, co-ordinating educational activities at the museum, as well as promotional and fundraising work for the re-fit project and the museum itself. Since returning to Australia in 2007 Rebecca has undertaken her Masters in Management for Arts and Cultural Organisations at the University of South Australia.
Workshop Coordinator and Business Development Officer - Kaliopi Eleni
Kaliopi has worked in many facets of the film industry, locally and internationally. Mainly an actor and presenter working across feature films, domentaries, television soaps, series, dramas, commercials and interactive media. After living in California for 14 years she returned to complete an Honours degree in film making from Flinders University in 2006. Kaliopi produced and directed a short documentary, which won the 2007 SA Short Screen Award for Best Documentary. Kaliopi provides coaching in self-image, personal branding, communication, audition techniques and survival skills. Currently hosting Channel Nine's 'Out of the Ordinary' with Rob Kelvin, her past TV credits include Mcloeds Daughters, Nash Bridges and the Bold and the Beautiful. Film credits include 'Ten Empty' and 'Closed for Winter'. Theatre credits include Kate from 'The Taming of the Shrew' Mrs Warren in 'Mrs Warren's Profession', Leonata in 'Much Ado about Nothing' and the Maid in Toy Kushner's 'The Illusion'. Theatre companies she has worked with in California are the Tony Award winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, San Francisco Shakespeare and Napa Valley Shakespeare.
Tutor - Trish Herreen
Trish has been a regular Syte tutor since 2005. Trained as an actor and instructor of Laban Acting Methodology at The Centre for the Performing Arts, also completed studies in Community Services/Disability and Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy. After performing with State Theatre, Magpie, Junction and Optima Training & Management, Trish began working as a drama tutor with Onshore, Patch Theatre, Urban Myth, Inkpot, Concordia College, Corner House, CanTeen, Tutti Kids @ Minda Inc, Raw Energy Youth Group, Southern Youth Exchange, ArtSmart and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme. Trsih currently teaches twelve drama classes a week, works part time as a Child Advocate with the Care & Protection Unit of Youth Courts SA and runs a small business as Tanjella the Magical Fairy. Trish is passionate about the power of arts programs to provide opportunities that inspire young people while developing skills that ensure they meet the challenges of their own lives.
Tutor - Elleni Karagiannidis
Ellenigraduated in Hons. from the Flinders University Drama Centre in 2007. During her time there she appeared in numerous stage productions including Beckettworks, directed by Dr. John Green, Abi Morgan’s Splendour and Sam Shepard’s The God of Hell. Elleni’s film credits include Rena Where Have You Bean?, The Threat That Came From Beyond Tomorrow to Destroy Us All and The Green Bucket’s The Masterpiece. Elleni's passion for children's theatre has found her working with the Little Big Book Club on their touring show 'Rhyme Time', which is planned to tour in the coming year. She is also devising a children's theatre piece with fellow actor Stephanie Pinnock and directing graduate Toni Main, which will premier in May and tour nationally later in the year. Elleni passion for children and the theatre has found her teaching Drama at various schools to students aged from 7 – 17. Elleni is also a founding member of new theatre company five.point.one, whose aim is to stage contemporary plays that have not been staged in Adelaide before. She is excited to announce five.point.one's premier of 'Osama the Hero' later in the year.
Tutor- Karen Holmes
Karen was drawn into theatre during high school and followed the desire to create by completing a BA (Drama/ English) and forming a travelling troupe called ‘Coathanger Theatre Co.’ who presented self devised performances and toured Victoria and South Australia for two years. Since 1994, she has worked with amateur and professional companies (Theatro Oneiron and Nomad Productions) to develop skills in acting, script writing, lighting design and puppetry. She completed a 12 month ‘Acting for Film and TV’ course and has completed a Bachelor of Education at Flinders Uni and works at various southern schools.
Tutor- Scott Hewitt
Scott Hewitt started his acting career by attending Southern Youth Theatre Ensemble from 1997-2003. From there he went on to study with the Adelaide Centre for the Arts for three years. Upon graduating, Scott hit the road with Adelaide's Splash Theatre Company for a year. Performing children's theatre all over South Australia and Victoria, he enjoyed many roles such as Hugh the Russian Camel, Twinkletoes the fairy, and ALL THREE of the 3 Little Pigs! Scott is also the creator of "The Scott and SkullBoy Show". A ventriliquist act with a difference, intergrating live action with animated footage. Scott and SkullBoy have appeared in several Adelaide Fringes and also fundraising events and comedy nights, winning 2nd prize for the Helpmann Academy Foundation Front Party in 2005. Scott has had the opportunity to work one on one with Shane McNeil, director of Smoking Gun productions, in a mentorship scheme with the Helpmann Academy. With Shane, Scott developed a self inspired character and unleashed him on the streets documenting Adelaide's very first Zombie March. After taking a break and travelling Europe for a year, Scott has come back to performing on stage, in short films and developing his passion for animation.
Tutor - Alex Vickery-Howe
Alex is an award winning playwright and published academic. In 2008 his play A Stab in the Dark was launched at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, directed by Toni Main with design by Rebecca Johns. Later that same year, he toured to Okinawa, Japan with the bilingual, bicultural rock musical Once Upon a Midnight which played to rave reviews and sell out houses at 'Music Town' in Okinawa City, where it opened the Kijimuna Festival, before returning to Australia as the headline act of the Adelaide Oz Asia Festival. He is currently working on a novelization of Once Upon a Midnight as well as a feature film screenplay and a new theatrical work commissioned by SAYAB. As an academic, he has published work on global youth culture and the role emerging artists have to play in the future of intercultural collaboration. He looks forward to working with emerging writers as part of SYTE
Tutor - Krystal Brock
Krystal is a 2008 acting graduate from the Adelaide Centre for the Arts. During her final year at AC Arts she performed in 'The City of Angels', 'The Merry Wives of Windsor', 'Feston' and 'Party Time' as well as assistant directing 'Three More Sleepless Nights' and 'City of Angels'. In 2002 she was an assistant director at the French Woods Festival of Performing Arts in New York, where she assisted on three full scale productions over a period of nine weeks. These productions were 'Our Countries Good', 'You're a Good Man Charlie Brownd 'The Lucky Stiff'. A long time SYTE participant, Krystal completed the SYTE assistant tutor program.
Tutor - Amelia McDonell
Amelia has been a SYTE participant for many years. Her credits include '15 minutes' and 'Ugliophobia'. As part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival Fresh Bait Program 2008, Amelia worked with guest mentor Simone Avramides to create a short film, 'Super Duper'. Amelia's directing debut was 'At Night', a physical theatre piece which was performed over five different community events. She also attended ATYP's National Studio in 2006.