BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
Jane Forrest - Chair
Jane Forrest, the founder of Vim Arts & Events has been fully immersed in the arts as a performer, administrator, technician, manager, director, writer, planner, and enthusiastic patron her whole life. Jane is an experienced arts administrator with an eclectic 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.
Megan Jolly - Deputy Chair
Megan studied theatre and education at UTAS then taught Drama, English and Dance in Australia and England. Following time in London she moved to the United States and worked as an event planner for several years. She returned to Tasmania in 2008 and in 2009 graduated from UTAS with a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts in Theatre. In 2010 she worked as the Program Manager for Junction 2010, the Regional Arts Australia national conference that was held in Launceston. The conference included the inaugural Junction Arts Festival. In 2011 she graduated from UTAS with a Master of Contemporary Arts in Theatre. She has been actively involved with local community theatre companies as an actor and director since her return to Tasmania. She currently works as an Electorate Officer for Senator Peter Whish-Wilson. She is a current participant in the Tasmanian Leaders Program.
Cheyne Mitchell - Artistic Director
Cheyne graduated from the UTAS School of Visual and Performing Arts in 2006 with a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts, majoring in Theatre, also completing a BCA with Honours in 2007.
He has worked for a number of Tasmanian theatre companies in varied roles including Mudlark’s Rooted, Action and The Possum. He is the ‘most capped’ actor in Mudlark’s exciting One Day projects and has also directed multiple works for the event. Cheyne performed on serval occasions for the former CentrStage Theatre Company in Love, Tamar Tidings, Who’s Afraid of Working Class?, Some Girl(s), Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Osama the Hero, When the Rain Stops Falling, The Goat, and the Australian premiere of Stephen Sewell’s The Photo.
Cheyne has performed with the Cue Theatre Company presenting the Port Arthur summer play series. He has worked with Three River Theatre Company in Twelve Angry Men, performed with Launceston musical society, and played Dr Dillamond in Encore Theatre Company’s award winning production of Wicked.
Cheyne has directed major musical productions for Launceston College since 2011. He has also been the Artistic Director and a founding member of the Relevant Theatre Company, where he has directed and performed in both Pronoun and WILD as part of the 2017 and 2018 Junction Arts Festivals.
He has worked for a number of Tasmanian theatre companies in varied roles including Mudlark’s Rooted, Action and The Possum. He is the ‘most capped’ actor in Mudlark’s exciting One Day projects and has also directed multiple works for the event. Cheyne performed on serval occasions for the former CentrStage Theatre Company in Love, Tamar Tidings, Who’s Afraid of Working Class?, Some Girl(s), Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Osama the Hero, When the Rain Stops Falling, The Goat, and the Australian premiere of Stephen Sewell’s The Photo.
Cheyne has performed with the Cue Theatre Company presenting the Port Arthur summer play series. He has worked with Three River Theatre Company in Twelve Angry Men, performed with Launceston musical society, and played Dr Dillamond in Encore Theatre Company’s award winning production of Wicked.
Cheyne has directed major musical productions for Launceston College since 2011. He has also been the Artistic Director and a founding member of the Relevant Theatre Company, where he has directed and performed in both Pronoun and WILD as part of the 2017 and 2018 Junction Arts Festivals.
Alexander Wells - Secretary
Alex graduated from UTAS with a Bachelor of Arts and Laws with First Class Honours in 2016. Upon completion, Alex returned to his home town in Launceston and completed his Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Tasmania and the High Court of Australia at the end of 2017. He now works predominantly in civil litigation, criminal law and commercial law with Bishops Barristers and Solicitors.
Beyond being a lawyer, Alex has always had a passion for the arts. He began performing when he was the tender age of 5 through what was then P.C.Y.C Youth Theatre. He has also been involved in numerous productions with Encore Theatre Company.
Alex is exciting to be a part of the wonderful team at Mudlark and to be able to combine his two passions: the Arts and Law.
Beyond being a lawyer, Alex has always had a passion for the arts. He began performing when he was the tender age of 5 through what was then P.C.Y.C Youth Theatre. He has also been involved in numerous productions with Encore Theatre Company.
Alex is exciting to be a part of the wonderful team at Mudlark and to be able to combine his two passions: the Arts and Law.
Alison Tuskin - Treasurer
Alison has over thirty years experience in administration and financial book keeping. She has completed Certificate IV in Business Administration and is currently employed as a Business Support Officer for the Department of Education. Alison has a very strong personal interest in the behind the scenes aspect of theatre and performing. She uses her administrative, financial and catering skills to support the staging of musical theatre, dramatic works and dance shows staged by various groups in the north of Tasmania.
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.
Zoë Vandervelde
Zoë is a local artist who has a rich involvement with the Tasmania Theatre scene. She completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts at the University of Tasmania in 2014 and has gone on to stage manage, design, direct and perform for many of the local theatre companies. Most notably having stage managed for Mudlark’s 2015 production of The Possum.
In 2017 she worked with Launceston Christian School on their ‘Musical of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’, and as stage-manager for Three River Theatre Companies production of The Season at Sarsaparilla. More recently she has performed with Encore Theatre Company, Launceston Musical Society and Three River Theatre. She also has directed for a number of Mudlark’s One Day productions. Her experience as a theatre maker and her professional work in various management roles gives her a great foundation for working in creative development.
In 2017 she worked with Launceston Christian School on their ‘Musical of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’, and as stage-manager for Three River Theatre Companies production of The Season at Sarsaparilla. More recently she has performed with Encore Theatre Company, Launceston Musical Society and Three River Theatre. She also has directed for a number of Mudlark’s One Day productions. Her experience as a theatre maker and her professional work in various management roles gives her a great foundation for working in creative development.
Maeve MacGregor
Maeve is a Tasmanian based, nationally transient theatre maker, arts advocate, consultant, teacher and student. She is currently studying a Masters of Cultural Leadership at NIDA, and holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) also from NIDA. She was a finalist for the Coffee Club Arts and Fashion Award at the Tasmanian Young Achiever of the Year awards, 2016, and was the recipient of the Theatre Council of Tasmania’s 2016 Andrew Jones Travel Scholarship. Maeve interned for PlayWriting Australia’s 2012 national play festival and was also accepted in to their 2015 New Work Director’s Studio. She was a Tasmanian independent delegate to the 2017 Australian Theatre Forum, and a delegate to the 2017 Australian Youth Theatre Forum on behalf of Terrapin Puppet Theatre. From 2014 – 2017 she was the Artistic Director of Loud Mouth Theatre Company, of which she was a founder.
Maeve currently works as the marketing co-ordinator for the Tasmanian Theatre Company, and co-owns Hop Skip Jump: a catering business providing curated craft bars for weddings and events anywhere in Tasmania with a focus on locally produced beers, wines and spirits. Alongside her arts practice she works in a freelance capacity regularly as a producer, acting teacher, audition coach, marketing consultant and researcher for Tasmanian arts organisations including Tasmanian Theatre Company, Tasmania Performs and Terrapin Puppet Theatre. In 2018 she delivered a Tasmania Performs report entitled A financial investment & social impact comparison of the Tasmanian Racing & Arts Industries, and her work as a director has been nominated for numerous awards.
Maeve's advocacy and arts practice are often intertwined. She threatened Leo Schofield with a bogan flashmob once, and in April 2017 co-created, directed and produced The Lachlan Philpott Bloodrite, to provide an opportunity to swear in blood to a five year moratorium on Shakespeare and pledge allegiance to living writers. Maeve has sworn this oath, too. She has been a proud member of MEAA since 2014.
Maeve currently works as the marketing co-ordinator for the Tasmanian Theatre Company, and co-owns Hop Skip Jump: a catering business providing curated craft bars for weddings and events anywhere in Tasmania with a focus on locally produced beers, wines and spirits. Alongside her arts practice she works in a freelance capacity regularly as a producer, acting teacher, audition coach, marketing consultant and researcher for Tasmanian arts organisations including Tasmanian Theatre Company, Tasmania Performs and Terrapin Puppet Theatre. In 2018 she delivered a Tasmania Performs report entitled A financial investment & social impact comparison of the Tasmanian Racing & Arts Industries, and her work as a director has been nominated for numerous awards.
Maeve's advocacy and arts practice are often intertwined. She threatened Leo Schofield with a bogan flashmob once, and in April 2017 co-created, directed and produced The Lachlan Philpott Bloodrite, to provide an opportunity to swear in blood to a five year moratorium on Shakespeare and pledge allegiance to living writers. Maeve has sworn this oath, too. She has been a proud member of MEAA since 2014.
