OUR PEOPLE

Our People

JANE JOHNSON - Artistic Director

Jane is an actress and director and has worked with organisations including; Archipelago Productions, Tasmanian Theatre Company, Blue Cow Theatre, Mudlark, Tasdance, Theatre North, Ten Days on the Island, Tasmania Performs, Terrapin Puppet Theatre, The Unconformity, Tasmanian Regional Arts, The Australian Script Centre and JUTE. Jane was a founding member and co- artistic director of Mudlark Theatre, and the founder of Launceston Youth Theatre Ensemble.
Acting credits include; The Winter’s Tale (Blue Cow) The Bleeding Tree (Archipelago/Blue Cow), The Mares (TTC/Ten Days on the Island), The Tree Widows, Two Pairs of Shorts (TTC), Caravan Boat Treehouse, The Sea Project, Beautiful: a Ghost Story, Cross, Voices from the Grave, Rooted, What is the Matter with Mary Jane?, One Day Projects (Mudlark), Dancing Back Home (Mudlark/JUTE), Ghosts of the Olympic (Jane Woollard/Junction Arts Festival), Our Path (Theatre North/Ten Days on the Island), Timon of Athens (independent), F:emails, Hit and Run, Hedda Gabler, A Doll’s House (CentrStage), Cosi, Little Murders, The Importance of Being Earnest, Dead White Males (TRT), The Coming of Stork, Leaving (SSTP), Romeo and Juliet (LC), as well as countless creative developments and script readings.
Directing credits include: I Am A Lake, Café (Mudlark), Chasing a Sound Like Rain (Ten Days on the Island/LYTE), A Number (CentrStage), Our Path (associate director: Theatre North/Ten Days on the Island), assistant director to Paige Rattray for The Midlands (Mudlark), and as rehearsal director for Happy Me (Tasmania Performs).
Other significant theatre experiences include: an international theatre residency with Artistic Fraud and Theatre Newfoundland Labrador (Newfoundland, Canada), a Tasmanian theatre residency with acclaimed (New York based) Elevator Repair Service, and as co-director of an international youth theatre tour, The Island Exchange Project (touring an original Tasmanian theatre work to Canada in 2011).
Jane was the joint 2020 recipient of the Tasmanian Theatre Award for Outstanding Performance in Professional Theatre for The Mares (Tasmanian Theatre Company and Ten Days on the Island).

COREY ACKERLY- General Manager

Corey holds a Degree in Commerce, and completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Tasmania in 2004. Corey has career experiences in a number of managerial and operational positions in both private and public sector industries.
Corey’s experience includes over 10 years branding and marketing experience with the iconic Boags Brewery. During his time his responsibilities included developing the extremely successful national advertising campaign “Who is James Boag?”, managing sponsorship partnerships of events such as Festivale, Victorian Beer and Wine Festival, Moonlight Cinema’s and Good Food & Wine Shows nationally.
After leaving Boags Corey worked for Tourism Tasmania on Destination promotion and wholesale tourism product development before moving to the Tasmanian Department of Economic Development , Export and Trade Unit. Corey worked with Tasmanian enterprises to increase their internal capacity and opportunities to export interstate and overseas. Corey developed and managed trade missions to overseas markets to support businesses in the agricultural, mining and Food & Beverage sectors.
Most recently Corey was employed as the Operations Manager for the Launceston Tornadoes Basketball Club where he oversaw all operational aspect of this highly visible, community supported professional sporting club.
Corey has also been extensively involved in a variety of local community organisations in administrative and volunteer roles.

GRACE ROBERTS - Producer / Community Engagement Coordinator

Grace Roberts is a multidisciplinary artist with a passion for theatre and performance. A graduate of the University of Tasmania and holder of a Master of Fine Arts in post-dramatic theatrical design, she is Co-Artistic Director of the award-winning IO Performance. Formerly a lecturer at UTAS and Charles Sturt University, she supports emerging artists through education and collaboration. Grace has worked across lighting, set, and projection design, acting, stage management, and makeup. Grace thrives on adaptability and continual growth as an arts practitioner.

CLARE SPILLMAN - Producer / Tour Manager

Clare Spillman is a seasoned Arts Manager and Producer with over two decades of experience in producing and production management. Since arriving in Tasmania, Clare has worked with organisations such as Ten Days on the Island, Big hART, Nevertheless Productions, MADE, as well as the biennial event Paper on Skin. Clare has also left an indelible mark on the cabaret scene, independently producing sell-out shows like After Hours Cabaret and The Barn Door Cabaret. Renowned for her meticulous attention to detail and strategic planning, Clare consistently delivers high-quality, transformative experiences to diverse audiences throughout Tasmania and across Australia.

NELSON CLAY - Artistic Intern

Nelson's spark for theatre started at College, performing in productions such as 'You Still Here?' by Patricia Cornelius. In 2023, Nelson was in the IO Performance production of 'The Dark Room' where he was nominated for a Tasmanian Theatre Award, for Youth Achievement in Community Theatre.
He had the wonderful opportunity to work on the creative development for 'The Box' in 2023 and performed the role of Jhye for the Tasmanian premier in 2024. Nelson's hobbies include football, playing guitar and drawing.

KRISTY FAIRBAIRN - Finance Manager

Kristy Fairbairn is the CEO and founder of The Business Oasis.
Kristy and her team are passionate about supporting organisations to have the best financial systems and processes to ensure smooth financial management. They love getting into the detail so are a natural fit to provide bookkeeping and support services.

Board Members

Jane Forrest, Chair

Jane Forrest is the founder of boutique arts management consulting company, Vim Arts & Events. Her professional work focuses on strategic development with Tasmanian arts companies and major events. Jane is also an experienced arts administrator with a broad background encompassing marketing, human resources, events, stage management, project management, governance, strategic planning and grant writing. With a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (Theatre) and a Graduate Certificate of Business Management, plus 10 years of corporate, not-for-profit and arts industry experience, Jane has a unique mix of skills which allows her to understand the creative process and how to develop the inherent creativity of an arts organisation into strong management practices.

Zoë Vandervelde - Vice Chair

Zoë is a theatre creative with a rich involvement with the Tasmanian Theatre scene, working professionally in theatre, fundraising and the events industry. Completing a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts at the University of Tasmania in 2014 she has gone on to stage manage, design, direct, produce and perform for many of the local theatre companies in Tasmania. Having performed and directed for Mudlark’s One Day Projects and stage managed for Mudlark’s 2021 production of Caravan Boat Treehouse.

She is also trained in Event Management and is a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA). Zoë is based in Hobart and spends her time as Associate Producer at Terrapin and as the State-wide Manager Community Fundraising at Cancer Council Tasmania. Bringing skills and experience in marketing, fundraising and theatre producing to the Mudlark Board.

Ian Dickinson - Treasurer

Ian is a semi-retired Chartered Accountant who joined the Board in 2022. With over forty years working in the accountancy profession and industry, in both England and Australia, Ian brings a wealth of experience in the areas of finance and governance.

A lifelong volunteer Ian has served on several boards and committees in the not for profit sector and has also assisted in organising competitions, events and coaching.

Sheryl-Lee Schuch

Sheryl-lee is a partner in a local boutique law firm. Originally hailing from Brisbane, she moved with her young family to Launceston in late 2002 for a change of pace and climate. She began her career in Crown Law in Brisbane then worked in a number of government departments in legal and policy roles. Upon arrival in Tasmania she had a slight change in career, working for two Tasmanian Senators before returning to the law and eventually setting up her own firm.

Outside of the office Sheryl-lee is passionate about yoga, bushwalking, her garden and family. Whilst she says she does not possess an ounce of artistic talent she has always had a great love of the arts, particularly art house and foreign films, theatre, ballet and music of many genres.

Brooke Everingham

After graduating with a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (Theatre) from the University of Tasmania, Brooke has spent over 15 years working in the Arts across Australia. Brooke has worked as an actor in theatre and film and television, including for Mudlark Theatre in their 2015 work, The Possum. Brooke has taught acting to people of all ages (in particular to children and young people) in Tasmania, Queensland and Romania. She was Artistic Director of Riverland Youth Theatre, SA, in 2014. For 7 years Brooke worked in Outback Queensland as Program Manager and Festival Director for the Shockwave Program, mentoring rural young people in event management and creative practice. Currently, Brooke works in Philanthropy for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and is completing her Masters in Primary Teaching at UTAS.
Brooke has experienced first-hand the life changing impact creativity has on our health, wellbeing, and sense of belonging – no matter who we are or where we're from. She’s thrilled to be part of the Mudlark board.

Ian Wright

Ian is an accomplished leader and former CEO of a Tasmanian wide provider of children’s disability services. He has had 30 years’ experience in public practice accountancy and auditing. His passion for serving the community is evidenced by numerous Board positions.

Darren Willmott

Darren has worked extensively in theatre production as stage manager and operator, production and operations management, lighting, set and sound design. Darren is currently the Production Manager and a Lighting Designer for Tasdance, recent productions including, Voltage, Identity , Cross Currents, Artery, Image, Heart Matters, and Pulse, and has toured to extensively Victoria and NSW, Regional Tasmania, Bass Strait Islands and New Zealand. Darren is also an artistic associate for Mudlark Theatre and recent productions include The Sea Project, Beautiful, Dancing Back Home, Action and Cross. Previous roles include, Scotch Oakburn College’s Performing Arts Centre Coordinator, Production Manager (UTAS School of Visual and Performing Arts), Head Technician/Operations Manager (Devonport Entertainment and Convention Centre,) Production/ Company Manager (Ten Days on the Island), Lighting Design and Technical Direction (Slipstream Circus, Circus Risque, Three River Theatre, Launceston Youth Theatre Ensemble, Musical Society and Encore). Darren is a graduate University of Tasmania, Bachelor of Performing Arts.