ARTISTS

 

Outer Urban Projects has uncovered, connected and developed a community of 150 emerging and established artists working across diverse forms and genres, that support, nurture and excite each other.

 

TANGATA TUPOU | VOCALIST 

Tangata is a distinct and highly original vocalist – there is a true brilliance in her vocal timbre and she is a unique guitarist who boasts an effortless and beguiling rhythmic style. She always astonishes audiences with her talent and charisma. She has been an asset to Outer Urban Projects’ many exciting productions and collaborations.

 

MELAIA VUGONA SADRANU | VOCALIST / MUSICAN  

Melaia is well recognised around the NSW Creative Arts Industry for her special soulful powerful singing. In 2016, Melaia graduated from the Talent Development Program (TDP) and was given an opportunity to do a recording session with Sony as a farewell package from TDP including a 2 year mentoring contract with The Voice Finalist 2012-Diana Rouvas. She is also now a vocal mentor and teaches in church choirs. Melaia aspires to write songs, to teach, to heal others with her music and to become an inspiration and a great role model to others.

 

SAHRA DAVOUDI | ACTOR

Sahra Davoudi graduated in art and architecture at the University of Tehran with a Bachelor of Theatre Art in 2009. Sahra was involved in many student productions as a writer, actor, costume and set designer. Her dissertation thesis was an adaptation of the short story by Raymond Carver – ‘Neighbours’. Sahra has featured in campaign videos for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and has worked as an actor and writer with Outer Urban Projects in their dance theatre work, VESSEL at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Fringe (2017) and The Audition, at La Mama Theatre. She was finally granted Asylum at the end of 2019.

 

MILAD NOROUZI | WRITER / SINGER, SONGWRITER & PERFORMER

Milad Norouzi is a rapper, singer-songwriter and performer. Milad’s creative life began in the underground rap studios of Tehran. He joined Outer Urban Projects in 2015 after attending it’s remount of Poetic License at Darebin Arts Centre. He has transformed and re-birthed as a writer, and performer/actor and has also been a Community Support Worker with Outer Urban Projects. Apart from gigging on Outer Urban Projects’ social enterprise platform, Milad has written and performed in major works, Poetic License at fortyfivedownstairs (2017), Grand DiVisions: A Moved Urban Cantata, Arts Centre Melbourne (2015), Liberian Boy (2018), Newsboys 125 BPM (2018), Hume Studios Residency (2019) and most recently in The Audition (2019).

 

RUCI KAISILA | MUSICIAN / PERFORMER

Ruci is a musically gifted performer in gospel and soul. In 2012, Ruci’s compelling vocals won the Tükçe Olimpiyatlari National Australian Competition. A competition where non-Turkish artists perform poetry, drama or music in Turkish language. Ruci won the State & National finals and was sponsored to travel to Turkey for the International finals where she competed with singers from North & South America, Japan, Brazil, Russia, Poland and England. Ruci has featured in a number of Outer Urban Projects’ new Australian works including Grand DiVisions: A Moved Urban Cantata presented at Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Festival 2015, Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre opening of Poetic License, among many performances at events through the company’s social enterprise. Ruci performed in a major festival work, Anthem touring to Melbourne, Sydney and Perth Festivals 2019 – 2020.

 

JOSEPH KELLY | MUSICIAN / CELLO 

Began studying the cello with Brian Blake at age seven and has recently completed a Bachelor of Music degree at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Joseph received the Lilo Nassau Cello Scholarship in 2018 – 2019 and is currently studying under the leading cello pedagog, Edith Salzmann. Joseph attended the Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camps in 2017 & 18 and in 2019, performed as a member of the Australian Youth Orchestra for its season of Parsifal with the Victorian Opera conducted by Richard Mills. Joseph was chosen to be Co-Principal Cello of the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, performing four full scale programmes and touring internationally to Singapore and China. In 2019 Joseph premiered a highly virtuosic duo work by Kate Tempany with triple-Grammy-winning international flutist and ex 8th Blackbird member, Tim Munro.

 

NATASHA HANNA | MUSICIAN / VIOLIN

Natasha is fast becoming a well-known name in Melbourne’s orchestra scene. The eldest of eight children of a musical family from Roxburgh Park, she began violin at three years of age. In 2014 Natasha was the principal 2nd violinist for the Melbourne Youth Orchestra and collaborated with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra on their tour to New Zealand. She was violin concertmaster in 2012 & 2013 for Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight conducted by John Foreman. For Outer Urban Projects Natasha has performed in Urban Chamber – Beyond at The Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre, MIAF (2013). Grand DiVisions – A Moved Urban Cantata at Fairfax Studios, Arts Centre Melbourne, MIAF (2015), Liberian Boy (2018), Newsboys 125BPM (2018), Hume Studios Residency (2019), Future Echoes Festival – Arts Centre Melbourne. Natasha is a lead performer in the Outer Urban Projects’ String Quartet.

 

JOSEF HANNA | MUSICIAN / VIOLIN

Playing the violin at 4. Josef is currently studying under Sophie Rowell. Josef has been a member of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra (MYO) since 2012. In 2015 was appointed the position of Concertmaster. He has performed at various venues with MYO including Deakin Edge – Federation Square, Iwaki Auditorium, Hawthorn Arts Centre, Windsor Hotel and Melbourne Recital Centre. Josef is currently 1st violin of the MYO String Quartet. Joseph performed in Outer Urban Projects’ work Grand DiVisions and gigs on the social enterprise in the company quartet.

 

RENAE SHADLER | ACTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER & DANCER

Renee is an actor, choreographer and dancer based in Melbourne and Berlin. Her work includes dance, experimental performance and embedded community projects. Since studying at the Victorian College of the Arts in Acting (BA Drama Performance, 2010), Adelaide Centre for the Arts in Dance and École Philippe Gaulier in Clown, Renae has continued to explore detailed physicality, spoken word and the larger dramatic gesture with warmth and sensitivity. Her work examines humans’ role in the greater global ecology. Renae has performed for Triage Live Art Collective (AU/DE), One Step at a Time Like This (AU), Blackhole Theatre (AU), Maybe Together (AU), Dee & Associates (AU), Dewy Dell (IT) and Alexandra Pirici (RO), among others. As an installation artist she has worked at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Australian Centre of Contemporary Art and Neue Berliner Kunstverein.

 

TARA JADE SAMAYA | DANCER & CHOREOGRAPHER 

Tara is a recipient of the Helpmann and Greenroom Award for Best Female Dancer in Australia for her work in Common Ground by Chunky Move. Tara has been nominated for Greenroom and Helpmann Awards in 2010, 2012 & 2017. Tara has worked with Australian Dance Theatre, Chunky Move, Douglas Wright Company, GUTS dance, Prue Lang, Lina Limosani and Al Seed, she was appointed Artistic Associate in 2016 with Chunky Move and now dances at The Staatsballett Berlin. Tara’s is half of The Samaya Wives collaboration with Pippa Samaya. At Outer Urban Projects, Tara has tutored and created choreography with an ensemble of young dancers for the 2018 Signal Program. Tara is a choreographer on the company’s major work VIGIL, in development.

 

THOMAS E. S. KELLY | CHOREOGRAPHER & DANCER

Thomas is a proud Bundjalung-Yugambeh, Wiradjuri and Ni-Vanuatu man. A NAISDA Dance College graduate, Thomas is an artist that works with multiple art forms including, choreography, dance, theatre, music composition, puppetry and teaches. In 2017 Thomas founded and became Artistic Director of Karul Projects and is currently a company member of the Tasdance Makers Company. Thomas’ performance credits include, Long Grass – Vicki Van Hout, Am I – Shaun Parker & Company, and choreographic credits include, [MIS]CONCEIVE, CO_EX_EN Karul Projects, and VESSEL by Outer Urban Projects (2017). Thomas creates work that offers audiences an opportunity to learn about Aboriginal Australia and where that fits into to the modern world. Acknowledging the past, to understand the present, to better the future, knowledge is a source of power and it must be shared.

PIPPA SAMAYA | FILMMAKER & PHOTOGRAPHY

Pippa is photographer/filmmaker, with two overlapping specialisations of practice: dance/movement, and humanitarian documentary. Awards include two-time winner of the International 60 Second Dance Film Competition (Denmark/Finland), Australian Dance Award for Excellence in Dance on Film, SALON exhibit at CCP, Best Film at FAD Film Festival (US), Best Music Video at the NIMA awards, finalist in the National Photography Prize, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale and IRIS portraiture prize (PCP). Pippa has worked extensively with the contemporary dance industry in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Pippa’s humanitarian documentary work evolved from several years traveling with NGO One Voice to remote villages in India and Nicaragua, and a Syrian Refugee camp in Greece.

SIIRI METSAR | SOUND DESIGNER

Siiri’s work encompasses all things audio, from the demands of popular Australian music festivals and international touring, audio production in many of Melbourne’s theatres and halls, to long-standing associations with the Famous Spiegeltent and Strut & Fret Production House, ABC Radio National and Womadelaide.

KUSH KUCHIANG | ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Kush loves building new things and transforming it into something impactful and for positive change. In collaboration with the Nuer Community Foundation of Australia and City of Monash, Kush successfully inaugurated Rise of South Sudan in 2018. This annual benefit concert celebrates Melbourne’s vibrant South-Sudanese and wider African populations, highlighting individual artistic excellence and collective creative capacity. She is also the creator of Blaxcellence, a networking platform for Afro Diaspora, First Peoples and black identifying creatives.

 

MIGUEL RIOS | MEREDITH O’SHEA | PHOTOGRAPHERS / FILM MAKERS

Miguel and Meredith are partners in work and life. Multi-award winner; photographer and film maker Meredith O’Shea and musician/film maker Miguel Rios are visual story tellers. Together they create film clips, documentaries and editorial videos. Meredith’s work as a photojournalist has brought heartbreaking and inspiring stories of human struggle and triumph to the front pages of The Sunday Age for over 15 years, featuring regularly with other media outlets such as The Guardian Australia. Her work has been exhibited internationally to great acclaim. Miguel brings rich experience to the production team. Raised in Far North Queensland he has filmed and edited projects for over 25 years.  Miguel is a multi skilled musician, song writer and recording artist. Miguel’s early work life as an acupuncturist informs his art making with a sensitivity and a deep understanding of the human condition.

 

GINA GASCOIGNE | LIGHTING DESIGNER

Gina is a Lighting Designer and a stalwart of Melbourne theatre. She has done lighting designs for productions and companies including ‘Maude Davey My Life in the Nude’ and ‘Into the bloodstream’ tour Archie Roach, Circus Oz and the Women’s Circus. She often operates her own lighting designs and exhibits as a visual artist. Her organic aesthetic compliments Outer Urban Projects’ community cultural development process.

 

VAHIDEH EISAEI  | MUSICIAN 

Vahideh is an Iranian-Australia Qanun player. Based in Melbourne, Vahideh has performed with many ensembles throughout Europe, the Middle East and Australia. Her primary mode of expression is via the Qanun; an instrument of rare beauty – known for is delicate tones, and extrovert virtuosity. Her work with the Chamkam and Sarv ensemble in Melbourne has had audiences enthralled. Vahideh recently performed in the critically acclaimed theatre work The Audition by Outer Urban Projects.

 

MARY SITARENOS | ACTOR 

Mary is an actor and director who has worked for over 20 years in alternative and mainstream theatre film and television.  Mary’s theatre credits include Tes Lyssiotis’ The Forty Lounge Cafe and Tom Lindstrom’s Heroic Measures (Playbox); Too Young For Ghosts (Janis Balodis) and Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Melbourne Theatre Company); Jean-Pierre Mignon’s Chekhov Trilogy (Anthill); and Blood Moon (Tes Lyssiotis), Song of Songs (Robert Draffin), Pericles and The Idiot (Theatre Works). She performed in and co-wrote with composer Richard Vella the contemporary opera Last Supper. It toured Japan in 1995 and had seasons in Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmania. For the Melbourne Festival she appeared in Paul Carter, David Chesworth and Ariette Taylor’s Sabat Jesus (Playbox). Mary’s previous work with Jenny Kemp includes The White Hotel and Good Night Sweet Dreams.

ADRIENNE CHISHOLM | COSTUME & SET DESIGNER
Originally trained as a Graphic Designer, Adrienne studied Theatre Design at the Victorian College of the Arts. Since then has designed sets, costumes and puppets for Back to Back Theatre, Melbourne Workers Theatre, Spanda Productions, Circus Oz, Danceworks, ‘The Wiggles’, The Eleventh Hour, Playbox, Petty Traffikers, Paradigm Productions, Polyglot, Gasworks, ‘Chookahs’ Festivals for the Victorian Arts Centre, Sydney Theatre Company and recently POOR BOY for Melbourne Theatre Company.

 

Adrienne received the Green Room Award for her set design for THE BURLESQUE HOUR. Adrienne was a founding member of the highly acclaimed ‘The Keene Taylor Theatre Project’, designing sets and costumes for all of their seasons. Adrienne designed THE LOWER DEPTHS for Ariette Taylor Productions and CAFE REBETIKA! for The Follies Company and COSI for Hit Productions. She was also Parade and Float Designer for the 2009 Moomba Waterfest.

AMBER MCARTNEY | DANCE ARTIST

Amber is a Melbourne‐based freelance dance artist. Since graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2012, she has worked for several Australian companies and independent artists. She is a long‐time collaborator of James Batchelor, an integral part of the creations Island, Metasystems, Deepspace and Redshift. She has performed for Chunky Move Token Armies, Lucy Guerin Inc. Metal, Antony Hamilton Projects Number of the Machine, DanceNorth OneInfinity, Tasdance Reactor. Amber has been working closely with Prue Lang since 2011, performing in Space Project, Stellar Project, Project F, Yoni, Accumulation, and A Ten Minute Event of Live Abstraction.
As a founding member of the acclaimed David Chesworth Ensemble, John McAll has performed internationally in New York City, Slovenia, extensively through the UK, South Africa and Paris, France. He regularly tours Australia and Europe with The Black Sorrows, appears at a diverse range of music festivals with the Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, performs and writes for Eugene Hamilton and the Money, and performs live jazz regularly in Melbourne with Brian Abrahams’ District 6, the B# Big Band, Nichaud Fitzgibbon, Alyce Platt, Rebecca Barnard and Jane Clifton.

 

EVRIPIDES EVRIPDOU | MUSICIAN

Born in Cyprus and migrated to Australia at the age of fifteen years old. Since the age of six, he has studied mandolin, piano, clarinet, saxophone, guitar and bass and completed courses in Classical and Jazz guitar and composition. Influenced by the strong rhythms and melodies of a Mediterranean culture, the freedom of Jazz, the discipline and elegance of Classical and Flamenco styles of music, and his deep experiences as a long‐term meditator, he has found his ‘sound’ and fulfillment in expression through his original compositions which he adapts for Film, TV, DVD, Video games and Multimedia. Evripides has gained a reputation as an inventive and electrifying player by taking bass playing to the extreme through innovative use of his six and seven string basses and a variety of electronic effects.

 

JOHN MCALL | MUSICIAN
John is a pianist, composer, arranger, and producer with experience ranging from jazz, pop, blues, rock contemporary classical, afrobeat and theatre. He has worked with Ross Wilson, David Campbell, Debra Byrne, Renee Geyer, Nina Ferro, Ruby Carter and Vince Jones. For a time he was part of 1980s pop group I’m Talking. In August 2012 John McAll joined forces with Joe Camilleri to create a big band called The Voodoo Sheiks. He subsequently became Keyboardist for Camilleris band The Black Sorrows. John McAll graduated with a Bachelor of Arts University of Melbourne Faculty of VCA and MCM in 1983 and has worked predominantly as a live musician ever since. John McAll launched his debut recording as band leader and composer in June 2009 with Black Money on independent label Audacity Media. The band performed at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz in October that year, and the album was rated in the top Albums of the year by Herald‐Sun Jazz reviewer Roger Mitchell in December.

NIHARIKA SENAPATI | DANCE ARTIST

Niharika is a freelance artist who works in a variety of contexts as a dancer, actor, sound designer and teacher. Since 2012, she has been performing and touring with Chunky Move, working closely with director Anouk van Dijk as a dancer and choreographic assistant. She has performed extensively in Chunky Move works, some including An Act of Now (2017 and 2012), Anti‐Gravity (2018 and 2017), Rule of Thirds (2016) and Depth of Field (2017 and 2015).

PHILIP REX | MUSICIAN

Philip is one of Australia’s most in demand musicians, being a leading exponent of the Double Bass. His musical skill and versatility has been noted by musicians and critics everywhere.
Philip Rex is one of Australia’s most in demand musicians, being a leading exponent of the Double Bass; and also plays the Tuba and Electric Bass as his second instruments. His musical skill and versatility has been noted by musicians and critics everywhere. Rex has made an impression as one of the truly versatile players of his instrument, and aside from his experience in the jazz field, plays regularly in Reggae, Tango, Funk, Brazilian, Cuban, and even Electronic Dance acts.

STELLA HORTA | CINEMATOGRAPHER & FILM MAKER

Stella is a a freelance filmmaker and studies at UDK Berlin. she develops projects in the fields of experimental film, narrative film and new media.

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