A unique opportunity for creative skills development, dive deep into new ways to create original, arresting theatre. Join M’ap Boulé writer, creator and performer, Nancy Denis for this intensive workshop designed for local artists and creatives.

This intensive workshop invites local artists to explore creating performance through connection to community and embodied practice. Nancy Denis guides participants through exercises, intention setting, and conversation to uncover the essence of authentic storytelling, with insights into the development of her acclaimed work M’ap Boulé. Participants will gain practical tools to find comfort and confidence in performance and expressing on stage, through cultivating connection between audience and performer.

For local artists or creatives seeking clarity, understanding and new perspectives on what ‘community’ means to each of us, this workshop will help uncover how we connect with each other, the audience and ourselves. Nancy will also unpack the creation of M’ap Boulé and share how she forms and creates new ideas. So, if you have an idea or something you are already working on, this workshop is an excellent foundation for you to share your vision with like-minded people and tap into the invaluable edge that community brings.

About The Artist

Nancy Denis (pronounced deh-knee) is a bold multidisciplinary artist working across theatre, television, film and music. Her work spans Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir, Ensemble Theatre and Hayes Theatre Company, with screen credits including ABC’s Cleverman, Netflix’s 600 Bottles of Wine and Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby.

She is the creator of the touring original play with songs Ma’p Boulé, a work exploring her Haitian ancestry, originally developed in collaboration with Urban Theatre Projects and now produced by Performing Lines. Nancy continues to develop new work as both performer and director.

@thenancydenisshow

Creative Team

Nancy Denis – Writer and Creator
Nancy Denis is a bold multidisciplinary artist working across theatre, television, film and music. Her work spans Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir, Ensemble Theatre and Hayes Theatre Company, with screen credits including ABC’s Cleverman, Netflix’s 600 Bottles of Wine and Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby.
She is the creator of the touring original play with songs Ma’p Boulé, a work exploring her Haitian ancestry, originally developed in collaboration with Urban Theatre Projects and now produced by Performing Lines. Nancy continues to develop new work as both performer and director.

Liza-Mare Syron – Dramaturg
Liza-Mare has family ties to the Birrbay people from the Mid North Coast of NSW. A theatre maker and academic, she is a founding member of Moogahlin Performing Arts.
She is currently the Associate Dean Indigenous Faculty Arts, Architecture, and Design and a Scientia Senior Lecturer at the School of Arts and Media at UNSW. As a theatre maker, Liza- Mare’s directorial roles include, The Fox and the Freedom Fighters (Performance Space
2014), Broken Glass (Blacktown Arts/ Sydney Festival/Moogahlin 2018), The Weekend (Sydney Festival/ Moogahlin 2019), Rainbows End (Darlinghurst Theatre /Moogahlin), and God’s Country (NIDA). Liza- Mare also works as a dramaturge on various independent projects across the country. Her most recent work is a collaborative project called Ngapan Yaan Niibi Aanimitaagzi for the 2022 Sydney Biennale exhibition.

Anthea Williams – Director
Anthea is an award-winning theatre and film director. She is also a Churchill Fellow and develops both theatre and screen writing. Anthea’s other directing credits include Sleeplessness (Carriageworks), Winyanboga Yurringa, Hir, Kill the Messenger, Cinderella, Forget Me Not, and Old Man (Belvoir), Since Ali Died (Griffin and Sydney Festival), Flight Paths and The Things I Could Never Tell Steven (National Theatre of Parramatta), Two Cigarettes, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Turf, suddenlossofdignity.com, and the musical The Great British Country Fete (The Bush, London), among others.
From 2011 to 2017 she was Associate Director – New Work at Belvoir. From 2007 to 2011 Anthea was Associate Director at London’s Bush Theatre. Anthea’s short film Safety Net was part of the official selection for the Sydney Film Festival, Slamdance and was shortlisted for the New Zealand International Film Festival’s Best Short Award.

Carl St Jacques – Composer
Carl St Jacques was one of Sydney’s most creative and open-minded viola players. In his work, he explored a myriad of styles such as folk, jazz, and free improvisation, combining his sound with voice and loop pedal creating an original and exciting hybrid of sound worlds.
Miami-born, Carl had international classical training including at Indiana University and Verbier in Switzerland. He played with Sydney Symphony Orchestra and has held positions Miami Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and Southwest Florida Symphony as well as many chamber groups and has performed around the world in over 20 countries. He performed regularly with a wide range of Sydney-based groups ensembles such as Miriam Lieberman, George Dukas and the d strings (Greek and classical fusion), Ephemera Ensemble.

Victoria Falconer – Musical Director
Victoria Falconer (she/her) is a celebrated cross-disciplinary performance maker, music director, multi-instrumentalist, and creative mentor of Filipina-English heritage. She is co-Artistic Director of Hayes Theatre Co in Sydney alongside Richard Carroll, and was recently named among the 40 Under 40 Influential Asian-Australians in Arts and Culture (2024). Notable work as a musical director includes My Brilliant Career (Melbourne Theatre Company), In The Heights (Sydney Opera House), Ride The Cyclone (Hayes), M’ap Boulé (Performing Lines) and Once (Darlinghurst Theatre/Black Swan State Theatre). Recent commissions as lead creative/performer include Smashed: The Nightcap (Sydney Festival 2024), The Sight (Dark Mofo 2023), and The Vali Myers Project (Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Frank Ford Commission winner 2022).
As a cabaret artist, Victoria has performed on stages from Soho Theatre and Southbank Centre in London to Club Cumming NYC, Edinburgh Fringe, Glastonbury Festival and Woodford Folk Festival. She has hosted events at Victoria’s Pride, Sydney Mardi Gras, and Bi Pride UK. Accolades include winning Adelaide Fringe’s Best Cabaret Award twice, a Green Room Award for Best Cabaret Ensemble, and multiple nominations for both Sydney Theatre and Green Room Awards for musical direction.

Mick Stuart – Drums/Polymba
Mick is a self-taught multi- instrumentalist, instrument maker, performer and actor. After many years of performing in bands, he found himself in the theatre as part of the Company B production of Casey Bennetto’s Keating!- The Musical as lead guitarist, saxophonist and the part of ‘Cheryl Kernot.’ This ran for two years and following that he toured in such other productions as Eddie Perfect’s Misanthropology, Legs On The Wall’s My Bicycle Loves You, Ben Walsh And the Orchestraof the Undergrounds’ adaptation of Shaun Tan’s The Arrival, and from 2013 to 2020 he was the band leader and a co-creator of Strut & Fret’s circus shows Limbo and its prequel Limbo Unhinged which enjoyed sold out seasons throughout the world and Australia.

Kween G Kibone – Performer
Kween G is an experienced cross- cultural communicator and facilitator, in demand as a host and performer. Kween G is an Afro-Australian icon, often described as ‘consciousness- raising.’ The Sydney hip hop artist released Sensible Rebel this year, an EP informed by her own lived experience and an interrogation of the current socio-political climate. You can catch Kween G with Senegalese master drummer & dancer, Yacou Mbaye, at Lazybones in Marrickville, in the Afro-fusion band Afrombollo.

Alec Steedman – Violin/Saw/Vocals
A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts Musical Theatre program, Alec is a multidisciplinary artist who works as an actor, singer, multi-instrumentalist, musical director and composer.
Credits include Bright Star (Sport For Jove), Ride The Cyclone, A Little Night Music, Young Frankenstein (Hayes Theatre Co.) Once (Darlinghurst Theatre Co. & Black Swan State Theatre), As You Like It (Queensland Theatre), Twelfth Night (Melbourne Theatre Company), Hamlet & Measure for Measure (Pop Up Globe), One Hour, No Oil (KXT). Alec was also a top 30 finalist in the Rob Guest Endowment and holds his AmusA diploma on the violin.
Alec’s original musical ‘Silver Tongue’ is currently programmed for its world premiere season at Hayes Theatre Co in 2026, and was a top 5 finalist in the APRA Music Theatre Professional Development Awards in 2024 and 2025.

Andy Freeborn – Piano/Vocals
Andy Freeborn (they / them), is a queer Australian writer, musician and theatre-maker. Andy’s work centres around stories of hope, while priding themselves on their inventive expression and use of piano arrangements for theatre. A sound designer, composer, lyricist, arranger, musical director and orchestrator, some of Andy’s credits include: Artefact The Musical Workshop (Lincoln Elliott) Musical Director. Judy! (Little Triangle) Musical Director & Arranger. Death to a Butterfly & Alice. Composer, Lyricist, Orchestrator. The Strong Charmion. Sound Designer. Silver Tongue! (Hayes Theatre Co.) Pianist and arranger. Theys at the Hayes! (Hayes Theatre Co.) accompanist and co-arranger. Everything is Shit! Writer and Performer. As part of Mardi Gras 2026, they will be performing their second autobiographical cabaret Brand New Dress at QTOPIA.
Currently Andy is focusing on artistic practices that support sustainable development goals, while continuing to arrange and compose for musical theatre and cabaret in Australia.

Karen Norris – Lighting Designer
Karen Norris is from Aotearoa of Moriori Maori decent. Karen has designed for theatre, music, dance and installations throughout Australia and Europe.

Recent designs:
Barbara and the Camp Dogs Belvoir Street Theatre, TWO Performing Lines, Sugar Land ATYP, The last Five Years & The Appleton Ladies Potato Race Ensemble Theatre, Blak Box & M’ap Boulé Urban Theatre Projects, 宿 (Stay) S Shakhidharan Sydney Festival, Choir Boy National Theatre Parramatta, Sleeplessness Carriageworks, Set Piece Anna Breckon Nat Randal, Action Star Adelaide Festival, – Broken Glass -The Weekend – Rainbows End – The Last Shot – Cutter & Coota – Mooghalin Performing Arts, The Dreaming – Skin -Terrain -LORE – Dance Clan 2023 -Yuldea Bangarra Dance Theatre, Francis Rings NAISDA, Songs Not To Dance To & Champions Martin del Amo, On View Sue Healey, Hiding in Plain Sight – CELLA Germany Narelle Benjamin, KOTAHI Atamira Dance Company NZ, plenty serious TALK TALK Vicky van Hout, Red – The Point Liz Lea Dance, Silence Karul Dance Projects Blak Dance, Explicit Contents Rhiannon Newton, The Complications of Lyrebirds Jasmin Sheppard, Dance X Australian Ballet, Winyanboga Yurringa & Sunshine Supergirl – Andrea James, The Visitors – STC & Mooghalin Performing Arts.

Maitê Inaê – Set and Costume Design
Maitê is an artist, mother and set builder working in the music and creative arts industry. Through her creative production design she transforms spaces and relationships between ideas and reality. She primarily creates work for live performance including theatre, dance and music videos under the alias @nu.creativepro.
She is a Sydney based artist working on Darug, and Gadigal land. Working as a set builder for NIDA’s 2014 production of Kandahar Gate, Directed by Jeff Janisheski, Writing for Performance – A Personal View, written & directed by Michael Gow, The Greeks (Hecuba, Agamemnon & Electra), directed by John Sheedy, she went on to build many of their 2015 – 2020 seasons of shows. She collaborated on music festival installations for Subsonic 2016 to building for Sydney Theatre Company’s NO PAY? NO WAY! by Dario Fo, Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, to operating the flys and automation system for THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY By Oscar Wilde Adapted and directed by Kip Williams.