Shy Magsalin is the co-Creative Director of Q Theatre at The Joan, Penrith. She is a theatre maker, performer and intimacy director specialising in physical actor training and physical dramaturgies. She has worked and trained locally in Sydney, interstate and internationally across the United States, Europe and Japan. As a UWS Theatre Nepean alumni and a long-time Western Sydney resident, Shy invests in creating more opportunities for emerging Western Sydney theatre and performing artists to study and work locally. Shy is also the Artistic Director of the performance ensemble Ninefold, a company committed to examining rigorous performance-making and creating sustainable cultures for artists who want to explore ongoing ensemble work.

Rowan is a theatre practitioner, director and Co-Creative Director of Q Theatre Company. A graduate of Theatre Nepean and the Australian Film, Television and Radio school, he has worked extensively in youth arts, most notably with Q Theatre and Australian Theatre for Young People, creating and delivering artistic programs that connect young people with theatre in inspiring ways. Rowan is an advocate for the transformative power of drama in education contexts. He has contributed to innovative programs that promote the use of creative pedagogies in classrooms, and has spoken at theatre and education conferences locally and overseas about the benefits of embedding arts-focused learning across all areas of the curriculum.

Adis Regar is a digital designer and academic researcher, with her area of research and practice being the intersection between transmedia storytelling, digital performance, user experience design and drama education. Originally trained as a production designer in the United States, she studied Interaction Design at University of Sydney and conducted doctoral research at University of South Australia. She has presented her design works and research output at various festivals and conferences and was published as part of the Routledge Companion for Drama Education. Adis’ past theatre employment includes the Harris Theatre for Music and Dance, the House Theatre, and Festival 56 in Chicago, Illinois.

Kate is an artist facilitator and Disability support worker. She signed up for a Studio Q class as a teenager and loved it so much she never left. At Q Theatre Kate is a Project Officer as well as a teaching artist to Access Red and Green. She also supports creativity at Bus Stop Films, and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s theatre ensemble ‘Performing Hearts’ based at St Ives Lifestyles. Kate’s work in theatre and disability reflects her unwavering dedication to empower others through the transformative power of storytelling. Showing audiences that everyone is able to contribute in their own way and shine.

Brianna (Bria) McCarthy is a Wiradjuri artist and arts worker at Q Theatre. She started Studio Q Drama classes at 5 years old and, after completing the program, has gone on to build a career as a writer, director and puppet artist. She is passionate about fostering the creativity of young people in Western Sydney, and is often found with a herd of 10-year-olds in tow at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre.