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 + Treasurer
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.
Zoë Vandervelde - Secretary
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.
Darren Willmott - Board Member
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.
Kate Gaul - Board Member
Kate Gaul is a theatre director, producer and designer. NIDA 1996 (Directing Course), Anne Bogart SITI Company NYC 2005. Associate Director Ensemble Theatre 2004/5. Festival Director World Interplay 2009/11. Festival Director Short Play Festival Canberra 2013 - 2015, Cabaret Sydney 2014, Mardi Gras Parade Creative Director 2015/16. Kate’s directing credits include plays, opera, physical theatre, devised works and classics for theatre companies and schools in Australia. Kate has won numerous awards across the fields of directing and design. She is Artistic Director of Siren Theatre Co where her passion is for text-based drama challenges artists and audiences to have bold imaginative experiences. Most recently, Kate directed a gender-bending HMS Pinafore for Hayes Theatre and its NSW tour in 2020. HMS Pinafore is part of the 2021 Sydney Festival program. www.kategaul.com
Sheryl-Lee Schuh - Board Member
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.
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.
