Biographies

Gideon Obarzanek Deviser/Performer

Gideon Obarzanek is a director, choreographer and performing arts curator.
Gideon founded dance company Chunky Move in 1995 and was CEO and Artistic Director until 2012. His works for Chunky Move have been diverse in form and content including stage productions, installations, site-specific works, participatory events and film. These have been performed in many festivals and theatres around the world including Edinburgh International, BAM Next Wave NYC, Venice Biennale, Southbank London and all major Australian performing arts festivals.
In 2013 Gideon was a resident artist at the Sydney Theatre Company where he wrote and directed ‘I Want to Dance Better at Parties’. He later co wrote and directed a documentary screen version with Mathew Bate winning the 2014 Sydney Film Festival Dendy Award. Gideon is a recipient of an Australian Creative Fellowship working with theatre, dance and documentary filmmakers to develop projects with simultaneous live and screen outcomes.


Lucy Guerin Director and Choreographer

Born in Adelaide, Australia, Lucy Guerin graduated from the Centre for Performing Arts in 1982 before joining the companies of Russell Dumas (Dance Exchange) and Nanette Hassall (Danceworks). She moved to New York in 1989 for seven years where she danced with Tere O’Connor Dance, the Bebe Miller Company and Sara Rudner, and began to produce her first choreographic works. She returned to Australia in 1996 and worked as an independent artist until 2002 when she established Lucy Guerin Inc in Melbourne to support the development, creation and touring of contemporary dance works. Recent productions include Conversation Piece (2012), Weather (2012) and Motion Picture (2015). The Dark Chorus, a new Lucy Guerin Inc work, will premiere in Melbourne Festival 2016.
Guerin has toured her work extensively in Europe, Asia and North America and to most of Australia’s major festivals and venues. She has been commissioned by several companies internationally, most recently, Lyon Opera Ballet (France), Skånes Dansteater (Sweden), The Young Vic (London) and Rambert (London).

Brian Lipson Deviser/Performer

Brian Lipson studied Theatre Design in London; designed for Lindsey Kemp and Ballet Rambert. In the 1970s and 80s he was key member of three important English experimental companies. He later acted regularly at National Theatre, Old Vic and Royal Court.
He moved to Melbourne in1997 and acts often at Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse, Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir, Bell Shakespeare and with many independent companies including The Family, Hayloft, Eleventh Hour, Stuck Pigs Squealing and Chunky Move. He is also a director.  His solo show A Large Attendance in the Antechamber which he wrote, designed and performed – toured widely and was acclaimed at festivals in Australia, UK and USA.
He has been nominated for 8 Green Room Awards and won 4. He received an Australia Council Fellowship in 2011. His new solo show EDMUND. THE BEGINNING premiered at Arts House last year and is soon to tour.


Bosco Shaw Lighting Design

Bosco Shaw works primarily as a Lighting and Set Designer.  His interest is in work that involves bodies and movement, how light feeds and influences the performing space and collaborations that propose alternate light sources and means. He has worked for companies and festivals in Australia and around the world. He has recently worked on design projects for Dance North, Chunky Move, Woodford Folk Festival, Matthew Sleeth, Luke George and Lee Searle.


Wendy Lasica Producer

Wendy Lasica, is a leading cultural producer with a master degree in urban planning. She has established a niche practice that operates in the space where cities and culture connect.
Wendy produced the long-running A Large Attendance in the Antechamber with Brian Lipson (2000-2007), which won 2 Green Room Awards. In 2015 she produced EDMUND. THE BEGINNING with Brian Lipson that also won them a Green Room Award.
Recent strategic planning projects include a new Clunes Booktown Festival plan and development of a permanent cultural function for a new CBD mixed use building.    She is a regular panel member and MC and has presented for Open House, Arts House’s The Supper Club, MPavilion and Planning Institute of Australia.