Oliver Twist Writer and Performer

Moving from Rwanda to Brisbane in 2014, Oliver Twist is making waves as one of Australia’s unique and exciting young comedians. Oliver bases much of his writing

and performance on his turbulent personal experiences, from which he has cultivated an extensive and dynamic comedy career over the last four years. A RAW Comedy National Finalist in 2017, he has opened for Wil Anderson, Becky Lucas and performed has alongside the likes of Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish. Also a playwright, Oliver’s work FEAR was picked up by Griffin to be staged for their 2020 Season. After waiting out a pandemic and a change in title, Oliver’s debut play Jali is the first performance work to be featured on Griffin’s stage since its temporary closure. An exceptional storyteller full of sharp wit, Oliver Twist is fast becoming known as an electrifying, one-of-a-kind young talent.

Erin Taylor Director and Dramaturg

Erin is a director and dramaturg. In 2019, Erin directed the sold-out production of Kasama Kita by Jordan Shea as part of Belvoir 25A. Other theatre credits include:

as Director: for Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre: Everything You Ever Wanted; for KXT bAKEHOUSE: A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing; for the Old 505: An Intervention, BU21; for Red Line Productions at the Old Fitz: SLUT (which was nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award in 2016). Her credits as assistant director include: for Ensemble Theatre: Baby Doll, Folk. In 2017, Erin was a mentee in Melbourne Theatre Company’s Women in Theatre Program. As a dramaturg, Erin worked regularly with Playwriting Australia as a script assessor and has read for both Sydney Theatre Company’s Patrick White Award and the Griffin Award. In 2019, Erin was the recipient of the Sandra Bates Director’s Award from Ensemble Theatre.

GRIFFIN THEATRE COMPANY

BIOGRAPHIES

16 –– 27 MARCH

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY OLIVER TWIST

GRIFFIN THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS

Griffin Theatre Company and the SBW Stables Theatre operate and tell stories on the unceded lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the oldest continuous living culture on the planet, with more than 60,000 years of storytelling practice shaping and underpinning all aspects of Australian culture. It is a privilege that we do not take lightly: to work on this land, and to tell stories on its soil.

Jali: noun: a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician.Refusing to be defined by a turbulent past, comedian and performer Oliver Twist uses his exceptional storytelling abilities to reflect on his time as a refugee and to unpack what his life looks like now.In this one-person show that is as delicately told as it is captivating, Oliver uses personal anecdotes, drama and humour as a powerful antidote to trauma.Originally part of Griffin’s 2020 Season, Jali makes a splash in 2021, tapping into feelings of isolation and hopelessness, and transforming them into a story that is clear, resilient and bright.Jali is a vibrant and emotional journey that patiently proves there is light at the end of the tunnel.

SPECIAL THANKSAustralian Theatre for Young PeopleCentury VenuesEnsemble TheatreAlex FenshawSteve Francis

Lee LewisDominic MercerRogue ProjectsThe Temperance SocietyIan Turland

Griffin acknowledges the generosity of the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation in allowing it the use of the SBW Stables Theatre rent free, less outgoings, since 1986.

Emma Diaz Producer

Emma is an acting graduate of WAAPA, a producer of film and theatre, and the creator of Aya Productions. Some of Emma’s producing credits include: for

Griffin (Griffin Lock-In): Don’t Go To Bed with The Dollar Bin Darlings; for ATYP: Moth; for Belvoir 25A: Kasama Kita, Shepherd, Yarramadoon the Musical; for Depot Theatre: Dirty People; for KXT bAKEHOUSE: A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing, Tonsils and Tweezers; for Red Line Productions at the Old Fitz: Amongst Ruins (Snake Eggs Hatch), Threnody. In film, Emma has produced short films that have travelled to festivals such as Cinefest Oz, Southern Screen and Flickerfest, and she was producer’s assistant on the highly acclaimed documentary Martha: A Picture Story. Emma is Spanish, Japanese Australian and grew up in Hong Kong.

Chrysoulla Markoulli Composer

Chrysoulla Markoulli is a Sydney-based award-winning screen and theatre composer. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours)/Bachelor

of Education from the University of New South Wales, receiving First Class Honours in Composition. Her recent theatre credits include: for ATYP: Fight With All Your Might the Zombies of Tonight, Impending Everyone, Intersection: Arrival, Moth, Oedipus Doesn’t Live Here Anymore; for Belvoir: My Brilliant Career; and for New Ghosts Theatre Company: Iphigenia in Splott, Yen. On screen, Chrysoulla’s short film credits include; Barnacle Face, Cnut, The Shot. Chrysoulla’s music has been played in the Sydney Opera House, Art Gallery of NSW and Perth Concert Hall, and has been acknowledged in several competitions, including the Scorelive Competition (2020 Runner Up), Glories of the Score Student Screen Music Competition (2018 Winner), and Artology Fanfare Competition (2016 Winner).

Jennifer Jackson Stage Manager

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts from UNSW majoring in Theatre & Performance and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Theatre & Stage Management) from NIDA.

She has stage managed a number of productions at UNSW, NIDA, and independently, with organisations including Belvoir 25A, Outhouse Theatre Company, and Contemporary Asian Australian Performance. Jen hopes to help bring to life stories of all kinds that challenge, entertain, reflect, make us feel, think, and examine ourselves— the kind of stuff that made her fall in love with theatre in the first place.

Phil Spencer Dramaturg

Phil is a writer, performer and co-artistic director of Bondi Festival. Originally from the UK, he now lives in Sydney with his young family, where he makes

comedy, theatre and stories for radio. His most recent theatre credits as writer/performer include: for The Arches Glasgow/Battersea Arts Centre (UK)/Melbourne Fringe: Bluey; for The Chaser’s Chris Taylor & Andrew Hansen (Australian Tour): One Man Show; for Critical Stages (NSW Tour)/Sydney Theatre Company’s Rough Draft Program: Hooting & Howling; for Giant Dwarf: No Standing. No Dancing.; for Tin Shed Theatre Company (Australian & UK Tours): You and Whose Army?; and for Tin Shed Theatre Company (NSW Tour)/The Old Fitz: Boxing Day. Phil’s credits for radio include: for ABC Radio’s Radio National Fictions: No Standing. No Dancing.; and for ABC Radio’s Radiotonic/Sydney Writers’ Festival: All Lost in the Supermarket. He was the recipient of Peggy Ramsey Foundation Award for Writers and is a regular guest on the popular Story Club podcast.

Kelsey Lee Production and Lighting Designer

Kelsey is a lighting, set and costume designer for theatre and film. Her recent credits as lighting designer include: for ATYP: April

Aardvark; for the Australian Chamber Orchestra: There’s A Sea In My Bedroom; for Belvoir: A Room Of One’s Own; for Belvoir 25A: Extinction of The Learned Response, Kasama Kita, Skyduck; for Darlinghurst Theatre Company: Comedy Kiki, I’m With Her; for Ensemble Theatre: Outdated; for Green Door Theatre Company: Good Dog, If We Got Some More Cocaine I Could Show You How I Love You; for National Theatre of Parramatta and Sydney Festival: Queen Fatima; for NIDA: Lulu: A Modern Sex Tragedy.

GRIFFIN THEATRE COMPANY