STEP UP @ KXT ON BROADWAY
STEP UP is a philosophy - a way of working in our sector that connects artists, builds pathways and opportunities, nurtures new work. A year long program supporting a team of emerging and early career artists.
The bAKEHOUSE team of Suzanne Millar, John Harrison and Andrew McMartin, supported by Charlie Vaux, work closely with a team of emerging and early career practitioners - designers, directors, writers, producers, actors, and technicians - to create a bespoke program of support.
INTRODUCING
THE 2024 STEP UP TEAM
TOBY BLOME You likely have seen Toby on stage at KXT, Ensemble, Sport for Jove, the Old Fitz, and others. Toby is one part of the dynamic team behind Everything But the Kitchen Sink festival that has been at a couple of venues in Sydney. This year Toby is focusing on developing their producing skills and to continue to develop as a writer
BEN BAUCHET has a background in comedy who now works primarily in music composition and sound design. A co-founder of young company Grow Bad, Ben aims to deepen their music practice and expand their writing: they say “I went to write about life in all its complexity and experiment with the ways you can tell a story”
CHRISTOPHER BRYANT is an accomplished Australian and international artist, touring and staging work that busts open form and content. You may have seen Christopher on stage, most recently in their 2023 season of New Balance at the Old Fitz. We’re excited to support them as they further expand their practice as a theatre maker and develop their new work, State of Play
MATT BOSTOCK is an emerging playwright, with a passion for telling socially impactful stories, and a belief that the stories on our stages can provide connection and community. Currently working between stage and screen Matt is looking to deepen his understanding and connection with theatre. In 2023 he aims to find guidance and support as he further develops his next work
LU BRADSHAW is an emerging director, most recently at the helm of Come Again staged here at Broadway as part of the Purple Tape venue takeover season. We’re thrilled to be working with Lu as they expand their directing practice and champion trans storytelling in theatre
MADISON CHIPPENDALE, CHARLOTTE SALUSINSZKY AND SOPHIE FLORENCE WARD 3 for the price of 1! Ghouls is a collective of theatre makers united by a desire to create bold new work. They will be spending the year developing a new piece of contemporary Australian theatre that blurs the line between performance and séance.
SHAYNE DEGROOT Shayne’s debut play Dog will launch at KXT in May this year. They’re an actor / playwright, who wants to explore and develop dramaturgy skills, see more work on our stages about mental health, and gender queerness, and they’re looking to build community within the often impenetrable theatre world here in Sydney
JADE FUDA was in pre production for her season as part of the KXT Pop upstairs program when COVID locked everything down. Since then they’ve performed with companies like Sport for Jove, staged their own work at popup spaces around Sydney, and co-produced last year’s hit The Face of Jizo at the old Fitz. During 2024 they will be picking up that covid abandoned project and looking to further develop their directing skills
AMELIA GILDAY is working at the cutting edge of theatre, integrating AV into design and looking at crossovers with screen and stage. Their most recent project was collaborating with a Japanese collective on an award winning film now showing in Tokyo. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about AV in live performance it’s that we need more experts with more expert skills! KXT is excited to support Amelia as they look to further establish their company Moon Bureau, expand and establish their directing practice, and build new relationships and collaborations.
SAMMY JING We first met director Sammy when they staged an early read of Rhomboid, and off the back of that read we programmed the show almost immediately, and in 2023 Sammy received the inaugural KXT Award for Emerging directors for that season. From Sammy’s application: “I like work that has a strong sense of style and personality. Work that makes you feel and think and cry and most importantly laugh. Work that has an opinion” We’re excited to see where this year takes Sammy.
EEZU TAN is a young playwright and director passionate about highlighting Asian-Australian stories and tackling the climate crisis. Eezu is spending the year strengthening their playwriting skills, further developing their current script, and building collaborations with other theatre makers. We’d also like to draw your attention to their work with arts driven grass roots organisation Climate Writers
KATE WILKINS was a part of the dynamic ensemble of Dumb Kids that took the KXT stage by storm in 2023. They’re an improv and comedy performer, with an ambition to develop original work, and intend to spend the year finding out ways to make that happen.
ADAM YOON having previously worked with Little Eggs Collective and Ninefold, Adam’s previous work has been explorative and experimental. Adam has a particular interest in working with youth at risk. Over the coming year he is looking to build collaborations, extend his interdisciplinary practice and explore ways that arts can intersect with youth support.
This program is supported by SBW Foundation
KXT STEP UP TEAM 2021-22
KXT STEP UP TEAM 2018
Amy Morcom; Beth McMullen; Derbail Kinsella; Elijah Williams; Eve Beck; Hannah Goodwin; Jessica Adie; Joshua McElroy; Kate Walder; Luke Carson; Rebecca Blake; Tabitha Woo; Tom Mesker; Trishala Sharma
KXT STEP UP 2020 - the KXT COVID RESPONSE
in response to the closure of theatres in 2020, KXT moved some opportunity programs to digital, and launched additional new initiatives.
Phone A Friend is a personalised mentoring program assisting early career artists to stay connected in the time of COVID.
The Laboratory is a bAKEHOUSE / Montague Basement partnership developing work, and offering peer networking and dramaturgical support.
BounceBack is a digital program of personalised meetings guiding producers through budgets, marketing and promotional campaigns, design, personnel, and product delivery, designed to equip producers and production companies to quickly deliver quality productions when trading recommences, and investing in the success of their seasons and new work for other venues
STEP UP is a philosophy ~ a way of working in our sector that connects artists; builds pathways; nurtures new work
The Step Up Festival is dedicated to The Next Big Thing. Come meet our Step Up team and take a peek at their work. Discover new plays in development. Take a first glance at the work of some of Sydney's newest and most exciting emerging artists: writers, directors, producers, designers all testing their wings.
