THE CREATIVE TEAM ANNA KERRIGAN Director Anna trained at Bretton Hall in the UK and gained a BA (Hons) in Theatre Acting in 2002. As an actor, Anna has worked with a number of companies in the UK and Australia, including Wigan Pier Theatre Company where she was a company member for two years, Whiplash Theatre Company (Oh What a Lovely War), Powerhouse Theatre (Company), Experimental Theatre (East, A Doll’s House), Pickles Productions (Schools Tour), Catapult Theatre Company (Catapult Cream) and the New Theatre (A Servant of Two Masters, Bazaar and Rummage). She has also featured in a number of short films and commercials and has extensive experience as a vocalist with various bands and acoustic duos. As a director, Anna has worked on a large number of scripted and devised productions, with and for young people, through Wigan Pier Theatre Company, Barking Gecko Youth Theatre Company, Tantrum Theatre Company, Mad Cow Theatre Company, Australian Theatre for Young People, Stone Gang Show and as Assistant Director for Sydney Theatre Company - Next Stage. Anna has extensive experience in the youth theatre sector, working with companies and schools over the past 20 years. She has held positions with Barking Gecko Theatre Co (Participation Co-ordinator), Tantrum Theatre Co (Workshop Co-ordinator) and Australian Theatre for Young People (Workshop Manager) before joining the ASPIRE program as Artistic Director in 2012. Anna was also selected to be part of Melbourne Theatre Company’s 2018 Women in Theatre Program. In her role as ASPIRE Artistic Director, Anna has written and directed 11 major productions. She has been instrumental in building a performing arts program that operates across the Catholic Schools of the Maitland Newcastle Diocese, with a focus on original work and empowering students to create their own theatre, music and artwork. Billy Elliot the Musical is Anna’s debut as director with The Very Popular Theatre Company. DAN WILSON Musical Director Dan is currently the Head Teacher of Creative & Performing Arts at Lambton High School. He is most known in Newcastle as the Musical Director and Conductor of Star Struck at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, for which he was nominated for the Telstra ARIA Award for Music Teacher of the year. He has also conducted productions of Jersey Boys, Chess, Mamma Mia!, Rock Of Ages, The Witches Of Eastwick, Into The Woods, Disney’s High School Musical, Oliver, Grease, Annie, Wuthering Heights and Jesus Christ Superstar. In Sydney, he has played in the orchestra for the original Australian productions of Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, The Phantom Of The Opera, Wicked, Disney’s The Lion King and Side By Side By Sondheim. In 2013, he was the Music Producer and Assistant to John Foreman for the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony. As an arranger, he has provided arrangements for the Hunter Singers, Silvie Paladino, Marina Prior, Erin James, Tyran Parke, Lucy Durack, Debra Byrne, Avagail Herman and the casts of Wicked and Love Never Dies. Dan has also been Musical Director for The Rumour’s You Oughta Know: The Songs Of Alanis Morrisette, In The Air Tonight: A Night Of Phil Collins and, most recently, B & B: A Night Of Benny And Bjorn, starring Silvie Paladino. Dan is the resident Musical Director for The Very Popular Theatre Company. 18
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