Cast Profiles

Tell us a little about yourself!

I am a performer and visual artist. My performance is informed by acting, clowning, dance and storytelling, and often combined with hand-crafted costumes, installations and soft sculptures. I’m passionate about the role of art in the community and have been facilitating theatre-making classes and processes for a range of groups, styles and settings since 2012.

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What role have you had in the development and creation of this work?

I've been lucky enough to be a support artist for many of the workshops, including screen acting, cabaret, set and costume design and the live narrative workshops. Now I'm having a fabulous time as a supporting performer, working with the ensemble, creating a character and performance for the live aspect of the show.

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What was your favourite workshop throughout the process of making ‘Natural Order’?

I can't pick just one! The cabaret workshops with Tim Hansen were really special. A lot of our participants were unsure about doing the workshop because they thought they couldn't sing or write songs but were persuaded to give it a go... And ended up totally surprising themselves by coming up with really amazing work - it was like an internal tap was switched on! And screen acting with Graeme Rhodes really built up the emotional connection and trust in the ensemble working on it, and the courage to be honest and open in performance.

 

What is something you will take away from ‘Natural Order’?

How generous the Milk Crate community is with stories, wisdom and humour! We're making work about serious issues, but at every turn, we've found joy and fun in extremity and ridiculousness.

 

What is something you would like audiences to take from this show?

A sense that many experiences that feel very lonely, are actually shared by many people. A glimpse of the wisdom, wit and creativity that is so rich within the Milk Crate community. And a feeling for the care and energy that so many people have put into this project.

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Photo by Patrick Boland

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Alicia Gonzalez is a practising and dedicated actor and teaching artist specialising in clowning and the creation of original and physically-told narratives. She’s taught clown at several performance schools around NSW, perhaps most importantly The Clown Institute. Alicia makes her own muesli and eats breakfast every day.

 

Why do you think it is important to bring 'Natural Order' to the public?

It’s a true collaboration, illuminating important social issues.

 

What is something you’ll take away from 'Natural Order'?

A real sense of community, of a shared voice.

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Why did you join/take part in Milk Crate Theatre?

Milk Crate Theatre is a family. It’s good to be back. I’m proud of this work.

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Photo by Patrick Boland

Tell us a little about yourself!

I am an actor, deviser and physical theatre performer.

 

What is your connection to Milk Crate Theatre?

I have worked with Milk Crate for over a number of years. Coming in and out of their workshop programs helping out where I can in my capacity as an artist.

 

In your own words, how would you describe 'Natural Order'?

This show is a system designed to filter you through different art forms and crushing bureaucracy. As the walls move around you one begins to wonder who is really here to help who?

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What excites you about this show?

I am excited to see all of the different elements that the participants have created coming together in cohesion. I love that this work asks its audience to be a part of the systems that it has created in such a way that it resonates with the lived experiences of the artists who made it.

 

What do you want people to know about this show?

That this all comes from real experiences with our own societal structures and systems.

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Photo by Patrick Boland

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Pauline is a writer, poet, and actor. She completed Milk Crate Theatre's Pathways program and co-facilitated 'Interim' with 107 projects and residents from the Waterloo Housing Development in 2019.

 

How have you been a part of 'Natural Order'?

Some of the incredible workshops I’ve enjoyed attending include Set Design workshops, Cabaret workshops, and the scriptwriting workshop. In the Set Design workshop, I stuck BBQ skewers into foam shapes with David Capra. I waved my pretend lighter in the air as the awesome Tim Hansen on the keyboard at OLC turned the immortal line “sit in that chair” into a rock ballad in the Cabaret workshop. “What would get my character going in the morning?” I wondered about scriptwriting with facilitator Sarah Emery.

 

In your own words, how would you describe 'Natural Order'?

'Natural Order' is strange, at times darkly funny, interactive journey through a fictional world created with film, song, sound, movement, and live performance. It reflects the lived experiences of oppressed people in society who feel powerless in dealing with the absurdities of a system with constantly changing rules and shifting walls in which it seems almost impossible to flourish.

 

What excites you about this show?

'Natural Order' gives people the opportunity to be involved at so many levels whether it's moving sets around, being in a film, creating soundscapes, or performing. I have learned so many new things like how to write a song and what words rhyme with 'styrofoam cups (We came up with 'please shut up').

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Photo by Patrick Boland

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I am recording an album or cd, a hip hop cd. I love sport, rugby league, boxing and most sports.

 

In your own words, what is 'Natural Order'?

Love-hate, peace-war, death-life, money-poverty, black-white, light-dark, sun-moon.

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What role have you had in the development and creation of this work?

Scriptwriting, trying to be supportive to other cast members, acting and singing.

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Why did you join/take part in Milk Crate Theatre?

I love acting and meeting like-minded people.

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Photo by Patrick Boland

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Matthias is a graduate of the University of Western Sydney Macarthur. Major productions for Milk Crate Theatre include ‘The things that are left behind, ‘This House is Mine’ and ‘Feast’. Matthias also enjoys creative writing and reading.

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What role have you had in the development and creation of this work?

I became a staff member of DAVO in acting for the camera and assisted in the creation of the DAVO orientation film.

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What was your favourite workshop throughout the process of making 'Natural Order'?

‘In the beginning’ with Kay Armstrong, which led to the creation of the DAVO orientation video

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What is something you would like the audience to take from this show?

The people building systems should make provisions for the ones that are left behind. i.e. The people who slip through the cracks.

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Photo by Patrick Boland

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I enjoy writing short stories and poetry, I enjoy knitting and talking about politics and social stories. I have lived in many different countries such as Canada, America and England.

 

In your own words, what is 'Natural Order'?

Looking at systems. Looking at different skills through the workshops. All different views have been put together to create the natural order.

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Why do you think it is important to bring 'Natural Order' to the public?

To get different perspectives on different government services. For them to be more accepting, to improve systems and help them understand them. And for them to enjoy.

 

What is something you’ll take away from Natural Order?

More confidence, got to meet new people. Getting to work with new people, being able to create new goals.

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Photo by Patrick Boland

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Hi! I began participating in Milk Crate’s drama workshops at Exodus Foundation in Ashfield this year and was told about the opportunity to be in ‘Natural Order’ so I decided to come along. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

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What was your favourite workshop throughout the process of making 'Natural Order'?

Fantastic exercises like … too many thanks. I love them. Cool.

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What is something you’ll take away from 'Natural Order'?

I will take everything – but can I give? That’s what I want to take, to learn how to give.

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What is something you would like the audience to take from this show?

To inspire them.

 

Why did you join/take part in Milk Crate Theatre?

Because it’s the best place in the world to be.

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Photo by Patrick Boland

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I enjoy drama and working with Milk Crate Theatre. I love reading Australian True Crime, I’m a red belt in GKR Karate, and love cooking.

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In your own words, what is 'Natural Order'?

'Natural Order' is about waiting in the system and not knowing if we are going to be seen or we just live our lives in a waiting room.

 

What role have you had in the development and creation of this work?

Writing the script. Organising songs for the anthem, attending Live Narrative and filming days at Giant Dwarf.

 

Why did you join/take part in Milk Crate Theatre?

Because I’m part of a team, I love working on characters and doing the filming. Working alongside people and making friends.

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Photo by Patrick Boland