FANGIRLS

Yve Blake

Yve Blake (she/her) is a playwright, screenwriter, and songwriter, born and raised on Gadigal land. After premiering at Belvoir and Queensland Theatre in 2019, FANGIRLS returned in 2021 for a national tour, and now Yve is peeing-her-pants to know that this show is on at the Sydney actual Opera House?! This production of FANGIRLS has also been awarded the 2019 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Mainstage Musical, and the Matilda Award for Best Musical or Cabaret. Yve’s work on Fangirls scored her the 2021 Green Room award for New Australian Writing for Musical Theatre and the 2020 AWGIE award for Music Theatre, and also scored her an Aria award nomination for Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album. Yve is an alumni of the Royal Court Writers’ Programme, a recipient of the ATYP Rebel Wilson Theatre-maker scholarship, and has been a visiting artist at Princeton University. Her 2019 TEDxSydney talk about Fangirls has been promoted to an official TED talk on TED.com, where it has been viewed more than 1.4 million times. Her current commissions include a co-written feature film for Aquarius films, and a movie musical for Mark Gordon Productions. For more info, head to yveblake.co

Paige Rattray

Paige (she/her) is currently Sydney Theatre Company’s Associate Director, after holding the role of Associate Artistic Director at Queensland Theatre. Prior to that, she was Sydney Theatre Company’s Richard Wherrett Fellow and has previously directed Blithe Spirit, Death of a Salesman, Triple X (with QT), The Deep Blue Sea, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, How to Rule the World, Black is the New White, Australian Graffiti, Power Plays and Boys will be boys for STC. She also worked as the Production Dramaturg on The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Other directing credits include, for Belvoir: Fangirls (with Queensland Theatre in association with ATYP and Brisbane Festival). For Queensland Theatre: Hedda, Scenes from a Marriage, Switzerland. ARTHUR: Bright World, The Sea Project, Return to Earth, The Myth Project: Twin, The Mesh, The Midlands, Dirtyland, Cut Snake. Griffin Theatre Company: Heartbreak Hotel. Milk Crate Theatre: This House is Mine. ATYP: Out of Place.

Blake Appelqvist

Blake Appelqvist is a Māori (Ngāti Porou) and Swedish multidisciplinary artist who graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre). 

This year has Blake playing “Tommy Albright” in Brigadoon (Neglected Musicals) + “Clyde Barrow” in Bonnie and Clyde(JRP) at the Hayes Theatre and their previous musical theatre credits include; “Oaken” in Frozen (Disney Theatricals), “Esteban” in Kiss of the Spiderwoman (MTC), “Miss Understanding” in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and an “Angel” in Kinky Boots (both with MCG). 

In 2019, Blake originated the role of “Sir Garfield Barwick” in The Dismissal (Squabbalogic) and was first showcased at the Hayes Theatre playing “Sir Galahad” in Spamalot (One Eyed Man Productions) and “Paul Owen” in American Psycho (BB Arts/Two Doors) 

Blake portrayed “Harry” in the Aria Nominated Fangirls World Premiere Cast Recording (Ghostlight) and is thrilled to play the role in the upcoming season at the Sydney Opera House

Danielle Barnes

In a career spanning 30 years, Danielle’s versatility has allowed her to work across a huge range of material from 70’s Disco to Classical, from comedy to straight Theatre.

In 2021, Danielle Barnes played Caroline in Belvoir’s production of FANGIRLS, for which she was nominated for a Green Room Award (Best Musical Theatre Artist, Supporting). Her previous credits include the Gordon Frost production of Dream Lover covering Polly, the Hayes Theatre Company’s production of Dogfight as Mama, and a national tour of They’re Playing Our Song as Sonia Walsk opposite her husband Scott Irwin. Just prior to that she travelled to Beijing to create and perform in the bilingual Cho Cho with the National Theatre of China.

Highlights from the last decade include Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as Marion, Mila Kuntz in Fat Swan, Julie Jordan in Carousel opposite David Campbell, Nikki Burns in Oh! What a Night! opposite Martin Crewes, and Maria Elena Holly in Buddy!. Danielle has also won a Green Room Award for playing Diva in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Danielle’s other professional credits include The Boy from Oz, The Full Monty, Sweet Charity, Beauty & the Beast, The Sign of The Seahorse, The Voyage of Mary Bryant, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Hello Dolly, Me and My Girl, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Chair in the Landscape.

Manali Datar

Manali Datar (she/her) is an Indian-born multi-disciplinary artist. Whilst graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2018, Manali originated the coveted role of Rose Granger-Weasley in Michael Cassel Group’s Australian production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. In 2021, she was Directorial Assistant to Dean Bryant on Merrily We Roll Along at Hayes Theatre Company and recently directed the first workshop of Threadbare, a new queer Australian play by Tomas Parrish-Chynoweth. Also a musician, Manali is part of the duo ultrafine, who released their first single, SIGNS in 2021. This year, Manali made her debut in Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Anchuli Felicia King’s White Pearl as Priya Singh and will go on to originate the role of Emilia Bassano (1) in the Australian premiere production of Emilia. Manali is thrilled to be bringing the role of Edna to life in FANGIRLS at the Sydney Opera House. She lives and works on Wurundjeri and Gadigal land and acknowledges that sovereignty was never ceded.

Tonieka Del Rosario

Tonieka graduated from NIDA with a Diploma of Musical Theatre in 2020. Most recently Tonieka played the role of Jean in Brigadoon for Neglected Musicals. Prior to that, Tonieka featured as Lisa and covered the lead role of Sophie in Mamma Mia! for Packemin Productions. Tonieka is excited to be joining the cast of Fangirls and making her Sydney Opera House debut! 

Jesse Dutlow

Jesse is a rising talent based in Melbourne, Australia and makes his professional theatre debut in FANGIRLS. His theatre and television credits include Once on This Island (2022) as Daniel Beauxhomme and The Voice Australia (2017). He is currently studying to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Children’s Literature and Masters in Secondary Teaching at Deakin University. Jesse is excited to continue his pursuit of his passion for music and acting.

Milo Hartill

Milo graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) in 2021 and completed her Diploma of Musical Theatre at WAAPA in 2018.  Whilst at VCA, she performed as Charity in the graduating production of SWEET CHARITY, Agnes in THE HELLO GIRLS and self-devised MONGREL.  Milo received the 2021 Lionel Gell Foundation Scholarship for Music Theatre at VCA and was a finalist for the Inaugural AOC Initiative organised by Tarik Frimpong.

Tomáš Kantor

Tomáš (they/he) is a Melbourne-based actor performing across music theatre, cabaret, stage and screen.

They trained at RADA before completing their Bachelor of Fine Arts at the VCA in 2019, starring as ‘Gabey’ in their graduating production of On The Town (VCA). In 2021, Tomáš made their professional debut in FANGIRLS (Belvoir) and went on that year to perform as ‘Chino’ in the national tour of West Side Story (Opera Australia/GWB). Further recent credits include Brigadoon (Neglected Musicals/Hayes), Meow Meow’s Pandemonium (MSO/Arts Centre), Next to Normal (James Terry Collective), The Gruffalo (CDP), and Morning Melodies 2018 & 2019 (Arts Centre).

Tomáš is ecstatic to return to FANGIRLS for its Sydney Opera House season with this glorious cast. Catch them next back at the Opera House understudying Lysander and Demetrius in The Lovers (Bell Shakespeare). 

Tomáš is proudly represented by the superstar team at Ian White Management.

Hannah McInerney

Hannah McInerney is an actor and musician from Sydney and a VCA Music Theatre graduate. Her theatre credits include ensemble in Catch Me If You Can by LPD & Hayes Theatre, Ilse in Spring Awakening by Stageart, Ivy in Bare The Musical by Stageart, Daisy in the Gathering by Vic Theatre Co and Ensemble/Rose Cover in Dogfight by Doorstep Arts. 

Hannah also tours nationally/internationally as a backing vocalist with Australian singer Meg Mac. Her TV credits include; Telstra’s Android Campaign TVC 2022, Triple J’s Like a Version and One Night Stand 2019. 

Mel O’Brien

Mel O’Brien is a graduate of both NIDA and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Alongside creative partner Samantha Andrew she has made waves as a writer and comedian with original cabaret works No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret (Green Room nominated for ‘Best Writing’) and SHIT-WRECKED! which have toured the country to sold-out crowds, won the ‘Best Cabaret’ weekly award at Adelaide Fringe 2022 and this year had the pair nominated for the prestigious Golden Gibbo Award at the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Other credits include ‘Muffin’ in the Australian premiere of Voldemort and the Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody (Salty Theatre), ‘Didi’ in Starstruck (RGM Productions), ‘Bonnie- Mae’ in Miracle City (Festival of Emerging Artists), ‘Angel’ in The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven (Midsumma), ‘Pitti-Sing’ in The Mikado (Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Victoria), Tinder Tales: A New Australian Musical (MICF) and Girls Are Hot! (Midsumma). Mel is also a classically trained opera singer with credits including Dialogues of the Carmelites, Orfeo and Passion, Lament, Glory and is currently undertaking her Masters of Music (VCA) under the close tutelage of Antoinette Halloran.

David Fleischer

David (he/him) is a designer working with leading theatre, dance and opera companies across Australia. His work has been hosted by prominent arts festivals, and has toured extensively both nationally and abroad. His most recent credits include Impermanence, Ab Intra and Ocho for Sydney Dance Company; Opening Night and A Room Of One’s Own for Belvoir St Theatre; L’amant Jaloux and Griselda for Pinchgut Opera; Sydney Theatre Company’s Blithe Spirit, Death of A Salesman, Playing Beatie Bow, The Deep Blue Sea, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Harp In The South, Saint Joan, Top Girls, Chimerica, Speed The Plow, The Golden Age, Children of the Sun, Romeo and Juliet and Fury. David is currently designing a work for Queensland Ballet.

Emma Valente

Emma (she/her) is a freelance director, dramaturg, lighting designer and occasional trouble maker. She is the Co-Artistic director and Co CEO of feminist theatre company THE RABBLE.

Emma is the recipient of the Creators Fund grant from Creative Victoria, a Sidney Myer Fellow, Curator at Large (performance) at The SUBSTATION and a recipient of the Green Room Technical Achievement Award.

Emma is an award-winning Lighting Design and has worked for many major theatre companies across the country including: Belvoir Theatre, Queensland Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Fraught Outfit, Sisters Grimm, Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre, Women’s Circus, Theatreworks, CarriageWorks, La Mama and many more. Emma also founded an initiative to increase gender equity in the technical design sector with Theatre Network Australia.

Alice Chance

Alice Chance (she/her) is a sought-after composer, conductor, arranger, vocalist, and lyricist. A three-time finalist in the APRA Art Music Awards for Vocal/Choral Work of the Year, Alice has worked with ensembles including Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Children’s Choir, Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir, Ensemble Offspring, The Song Company, and Moorambilla Voices, with whom she appears in the documentary Wide Open Sky.

Alice is the original vocal arranger for FANGIRLS and music-directed its premiere season in 2019. The same year, Alice was a member of Australia’s national jury for Eurovision. Alice is currently based in Paris studying a masters in Composition with composer Régis Campo. (École Normale de Musique de Paris, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin). She also enjoys writing, running, and making YouTube videos about learning French.

David Muratore

David Muratore (he/him) is an ARIA Nominated Music Producer, Songwriter, Mix Engineer, and Multi-Instrumentalist living and working on Gadigal land, Sydney. David’s music production work for FANGIRLS has been awarded the 2019 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Mainstage Musical and the Matilda Award for Best Musical or Cabaret. David recorded, produced and mixed the Fangirls Original Cast Recording which scored him an ARIA Award nomination for Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album. He also created sound design for the new Australian work ‘Queen Fatima‘ for Sydney Festival 2021.

David has produced and mixed for local, national, and international artists totalling millions of streams and has been nationally recognised for his remix work on multiple occasions by radio monolith Triple J. He proudly presents Fangirls’ first official remix of ‘Let Them’ under the pseudonym Wax Ecstatic, available on Spotify.

Zara Stanton

Zara (she/her) is an accomplished Music Director, Performer, Arranger and Composer with a Bachelor of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Zara’s credits as Music Director include Bonnie & Clyde (JRP), Every Musical Ever (Adelaide Cabaret Festival), The Deb (ATYP), The Boomkak Panto (Belvoir), and Associate Music Director for A Chorus Line (DTC).

Zara has been Music Director for FANGIRLS since 2020, and her work on the show has yielded an ARIA award nomination for Best Musical Theatre Album, and a Green Room Award nomination for Best Music Direction. Zara also earned a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Music Direction for the Hayes Theatre Co. production of HMS Pinafore.

Zara is incredibly passionate about promoting representation in musical theatre, particularly for artists of Asian heritage and for female and non-binary musicians and creatives.

Michael Waters

(He/him) Original sound designs include: Hairspray, Cinderella, The Woman In Black, Muriel’s Wedding, My Fair Lady, Hugh Jackman’s Broadway to Oz and The Boy From Oz, Doctor Zhivago, The King And I, The Tap Pack (USA tour 2020), Bran Nue Dae, Dream Lover, Mamma Mia!, Chess, Atomic (Sydney & Off Broadway), Priscilla Queen Of The Desert and Dirty Dancing. Operas include: The Rabbits, Dead Man Walking, Orpheus In The Underworld, and Plácido Domingo & Katherine Jenkins in Concert.

Michael’s awards include: Helpmann for Best Sound Design; Muriel’s Wedding; The King And I; The Woman In Black; Dusty – The Original Pop Diva; Green Room Awards for Best Sound Design; My Fair Lady; Dirty Dancing; Italy’s DAPA Award for Best Sound Design: Priscilla Queen Of The Desert.

Matt Erskine

Matthew (he/him) is a skilled sound engineer and designer with a broad range of experience in Queensland’s theatre scene, musical theatre and the live music industries. He has a passion for finding creative design and engineering solutions to unique challenges. Matthew is the Managing Director of CrossPoint Sound, a sound design and engineering company based in Brisbane QLD.  Matthews Design credits include; For Queensland Theatre Company; A Country Song, The Holidays. Old Fashioned Production Company; Becoming Bill (A musical by Bradly McCaw). He has been Head of Sound/Sound Engineer for many Queensland Theatre productions including Emerald City, Death of a Salesman, Noises Off, and the national tour of Black Diggers. Other credits include Songs for Nobodies (national tour), Country Song (tour). Matthew also enjoys mixing live music and comes from a background of mixing everything from heavy metal to jazz and world music. He is also credited for a live recording released by Vieux Farka Toure on his album “LIVE” in 2010.

Leonard Mickelo

Leonard (they/them) is a descendant of the Kulalli and Bidjara clans, and identifies as non binary. Leonards foster mum opened their heart to dance at the age of 10. They trained in jazz, tap, musical theatre and contemporary, under the direction of Fiona McIvor and Sandra Breen. Leonard joined Bangarra Dance Theatre in 2006 and danced with the company for 12 years.

To Leonard, Bangarra plays an integral role in today’s modern world, as it’s important to learn and share Australia’s first nations traditional culture and history. Bangarra has opened and strengthened Leonard’s spirit. Leonard has toured with Bangarra to New York, Paris, London, Beijing, Istanbul, Budapest, and Berlin. Leonard also performed in the musical Priscilla, Queen of The Desert (Michael Cassel Group) in 2018 and toured with The Sapphires (HIT Productions) as their choreographer in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Leonard also choreographed Fangirls musical (Belvoir) for which they were nominated for best Choreographer in the Sydney Theatre Awards in 2019.

Sharon Millerchip

(She/her) Credits include Caroline in Fangirls, Velma Kelly in Chicago (Helpmann Award) Belle in Beauty And The Beast (Mo Award), Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show (Helpmann Award) Roxie Hart in Chicago (Helpmann Award) Anita in Westside Story,  Demeter in Cats, Meg Giry in Phantom Of The Opera and Love Never Dies (Sydney Theatre Award), Catherine in Pippin (Helpmann nom) Charity in Sweet Charity (Helpmann nom) Cordelia in Falsettos and Red Ridinghood in Into The Woods for the STC (Syd Theatre Award).

Most recently Maggie in North by Northwest, Joan in Small Mouth Sounds, Penny in Appleton Ladies Potato Race, Shirley Valentine and Bombshells (Syd Theatre Award).

Currently Associate Director SIX The Musical, was Resident Director/Choreographer on the Disney’s Aladdin and Resident Director on Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom. sharonmillerchip.com

Jonathan Ware

Jonathan (he/him) made his mainstage debut as Dramaturg on FANGIRLS (Belvoir, Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival in assoc. ATYP). Other credits include Dubbo Championship Wrestling for Hayes Theatre Company. He originally trained as a Stage Manager (VCA) and then worked in London for Sonia Friedman Productions, Sadler’s Wells and DigitalTheatre.com.

Following further study at Melbourne Law School (Juris Doctor) and VCA (Masters of Dramaturgy), he joined Sydney Theatre Company in 2017 where he currently works as Assistant Company Manager/Artistic Administrator. Awards: 2021 NSW Music Theatre Fellow (Create NSW/Hayes Theatre Co); for FANGIRLS includes AWGIE, Green Room Award and ARIA nomination.

Justin Harrison

Justin (he/him) is a sound and video creative working in theatre, film and television.

His most recent credits include, An Ideal Husband for LaBoite, Ishmael and The Wider Earth for Dead Puppet Society and Lucky and the Flight of the Sky Puppies for Cairns Children’s Festival.

Other theatre work includes video and sound design for MTC, STC, Queensland Theatre, MetroArts and Dead Puppet Society, and has been the resident designer of the Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe since 2009.

In film and television, his recent credits include 6 Festivals (2022), campaigns for The Coffee Club, Princess Polly, Volvo, RedBull, HP, and Mack as well content for ABC, Discovery and RedBullTV networks. In 2021 he was awarded three medals at the BADC awards, and was previously awarded the inaugural Matilda Award for Projection Design in 2016.

Laura Farrell

Laura Farrell (she/her) is a Voice and Dialect Coach living and working on Gadigal land. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Voice from NIDA; a Post Graduate Diploma in Voice from the Victorian College of the Arts; and a Bachelor of Music Theatre from the Victorian College of the Arts. A current lecturer for NIDA’s BFA, Laura has also taught on multiple Sydney actor training programs, including NIDA’s Diploma of Stage and Screen and Diploma of Music Theatre, Actors Pulse, Sydney Acting Studio, Actors Centre Australia and The University of Wollongong.

For Belvoir, Laura’s coaching credits include Into The Woods, directed by Eamon Flack (2023), Blue, directed by Deborah Brown (2023), Jungle And The Sea, directed by Eamon Flack (2022), Tell Me I’m Here, directed by Leticia Caceres (2022), Fangirls, directed by Paige Rattray (2022) and Counting And Cracking, directed by Eamon Flack (2022).  

Other credits include Pear Shaped, directed by Miranda Middleton (Rogue Projects, 2023), F*** It Bucket, directed by Alyssa McClelland (LeftBank Productions UK, 2022),  Reluctant Sea Shanty for UNHCR, directed by Kyra Bartley (FINCH, 2022), Picnic At Hanging Rock, directed by Claudia Osbourne (NIDA, 2022), Paper Stars, directed by Miranda Middleton (Salty Theatre, 2021) and Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again., directed by Heather Fairbairn (NIDA, Sydney 2021). 

Ren Kenward

Carissa Licciardello

Carissa Licciardello is a Resident Director at Belvoir. She was previously an Artistic Associate for the company and its inaugural Andrew Cameron Fellow. She graduated from NIDA’s Directing course in 2017.

Her credits include: for Belvoir – as Director/Co-Adaptor, A Room of One’s Own; as Associate Director, Fangirls 2019; as Assistant Director, Counting & Cracking; Ghosts. For Sydney Theatre Company, as Assistant Director, Rules for Living. For 25A Downstairs Belvoir: Extinction of the Learned Response; The Maids.

Carissa is also a recipient of the 2020 Glorias Fellowship.

Hannah Goodwin

Hannah Goodwin (she/her) is a director who lives and works on Gadigal land. She is currently Resident Director at Belvoir Street Theatre. Her work includes Wayside Bride by Alana Valentine (Belvoir), Light Shining in Buckinghamshire by Caryl Churchill (Belvoir), The Sorry Mum Project by Pippa Ellams (National Theatre of Parramatta, Bondi Feast), A Girl in School Uniform (Walks into a Bar) by Lulu Raczka (Kings Cross Theatre), and The Carousel by Pippa Ellams (Shopfront Arts Co-op, Downstairs Belvoir, Merrigong X, Kings Cross Theatre). As assistant director: Black Brass by Mararo Wangai (Belvoir), Stop Girl by Sally Sara (Belvoir), My Brilliant Career by Kendall Feaver (Belvoir), Packer and Sons by Tommy Murphy (Belvoir), and Love by Patricia Cornelius (Darlinghurst Theatre Company).

Hannah was the 2020-2022 Andrew Cameron Fellow at Belvoir and the 2019 recipient of the ATYP Rose Byrne Leadership Scholarship.

Ella Griffin

Ella is a Sydney-based Stage Manager and graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Theatre & Stage Management) at NIDA. As Stage Manager, her credits include: for Belvoir: FANGIRLS (Sydney Opera House season), for Performance Space: Set Piece (Sydney Festival & RISING 2022), for Darklab: Winter Feast (Dark Mofo 2022), for Griffin Theatre Company: Dogged, for Force Majeure: Lak Malual Paru (2021 Developments), for Legs On The Wall: Trestle (2020 Development). As Assistant Stage Manager, her credits include: for Opera Australia: The Phantom Of The Opera (HOSH 2022), for Bangarra Dance Theatre: Spirit (2021 Regional Tour), for RGM Productions: Jean Paul Gaultier: Fashion Freak Show (2020 Russia Tour), for Sydney Theatre Company: Mary Stuart, The Picture of Dorian Gray (Swing), Wonnangatta (Swing), for Belvoir: Winyanboga Yurringa, for Griffin Theatre Company: City of Gold. Ella is delighted to be joining Belvoir once again as Stage Manager and show caller of Into The Woods.

Adrienne Patterson

Adrienne (she/her) is in the business of making theatre happen, and works across multiple capacities with a focus on Stage Management. She holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and a Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services (NIDA). She has toured Australia as a puppeteer and assistant stage manager with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s ‘The Arrival’ (2017) and CDP Theatre Producers ‘Magic Beach’ (2020-2021). Her stage management credits include ‘A Little Piece of Ash’ (JackRabbit Theatre 2019), ‘Trevor’ (Outhouse Theatre Co 2019), ‘Te Molimau’ (Black Birds 2019), ’Kasama Kita’ (Aya Productions 2019), ’Spamalot’ (One Eyed Man Productions 2020 East Coast Tour), ‘Well Behaved Women’ (Michelle Guthrie Presents 2021), ‘Once’ (Darlinghurst Theatre Company 2021), ’The Deb’ (Australian Theatre for Young People 2022) and ‘Every Musical Ever’ (One Eyed Man Productions 2022). Adrienne continues to expand her practice based on a strong belief in the role of theatre to elevate diverse voices and create representation in the arts.