People

STAFF

Joanne Kee – Executive and Creative Producer

Joanne is responsible for the artistic and strategic pathway of the Company. She was co-Artistic Director and founder of the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival, Artistic Director at Sydney Improvised Music Association, General Manager of The Song Company, Business Manager of Programming Sydney Opera House, ran a national contemporary music touring project, Sound Travellers, set up creative development and performances residencies for artists and has also worked at the Arts Council of England and Carnivale, multicultural arts festival. As a producer she has toured internationally award winning work. She has been on the boards of Create NSW Theatre, Music Australia, Sydney Fringe Festival, Glebe Chamber of Commerce and was Chair of Ausdance NSW and chair of the working group that set up Critical Path.

Since launching National Theatre of Parramatta Joanne has produced the following shows Swallow by Stef Smith, Director Kate Champion, Stolen by Jane Harrison, Director Vicki Van Hout, The Cartographer’s Curse by Paula Abood, Director Paula Abood, Who speaks for me? By William Yang and Annette Shun Wah, Directors William Yang and Annette Shun Wah, Hakawati by Wayne Harrison, Director Wayne Harrison, Smurf  in Wanderland by David Williams, Director Lee Lewis, The Incredible Here and Now by Felicity Castagna, Directors Jeneffa Soldatic and Wayne Harrison, The Red Tree by Shaun Tan, Adapted by Hilary Bell, Director Neil Gooding, Flight Paths by Julian Larnach, Director Anthea Williams, The Girl The Woman by Randa Sayed, Director Dino Dimitriadis, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam by Peter Goldsworthy, Adaped by Steve Rodgers, Director Darren Yap, Grounded by George Grant, Director Dom Mercer, Girl in the Machine by Stef Smith, Director Claudia Barrie, Take Two:Comedy of Errors by Hilary Bell, Director Stefo Nantsou, White Pearl by Anchuli Felicia King, Director Priscilla Jackman, Lady Tabouli by James Elazzi, Director Dino Dimitradis, Things I Could Never Tell Steven by Jay Bryant, Director Anthea Williams, Queen Fatima by James Elazzi, Director Paige Rattray, Sorry Mum by Pippa Ellams, Director Hannah Goodwin and Tasha O’Brien, Let me know when you get home by Miranda Aguilar, Director Valerie Berry, Zombie Thoughts by Jennifer A. Kokai & Oliver Kokai-Means, Director Warwick Dodrell, Orange Thrower by Kristy Marilier, Director Zindzi Okenyo, Declan Greene, Guards At The Taj by Rajiv Joseph, Director Bali Padda, Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World by Javaad Alipoor, Director Javaad Alipoor, Nothing By Pelle Koppel, adapted from the novel by Janne Teller, Director Erin Taylor, A Practical Guide to Self Defence by Yen Yang, Directed by Dom Mercer, Choir Boy, by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Directors Dino Dimitiradis and Zindzi Okenyo, Girl Band by Katy Warner,  Director Lucy Clements Fade by Tanya Saracho, Director Jen Soldatic, Girls in Boys Cars by Felicity Castagna, Adaptation Priscilla Jackman, Director Priscilla Jackman, Karim by James Elazzi, Directors James Elazzi and Shane Anthony, Yoga Play by Dipika Guha, Director Mina Morita

Phil Spencer –  Producer

Phil Spencer is an experienced creative producer, festival director and arts educator who has worked with some of Australia’s best-known arts organisations to create a wide range of works for the stage both nationally and internationally. Phil has a passion for new writing, developing emerging artists and curating exciting and accessible events for audiences. Phil was Artistic Associate at Griffin Theatre for five years. Whilst at Griffin Theatre he worked on dozens of new works and founded BATCH Festival and the Griffin Scratch program. Phil was co-festival director for Bondi Festival for almost ten years and has most recently worked as producer in the Kids, Families and Creative Learning team at Sydney Opera House.

Vanessa Hyde –  Company Coordinator

Vanessa (she/her) is an Arts Manager and Creative Producer with extensive experience working in community arts and cultural development. She was General Manager and then CEO of CuriousWorks from 2012 to 2022 and has previously worked in various festival producing roles including co-founding and producing Festival Mata Air, a high-profile environmental arts festival in Indonesia (2006-2009). She has served on the board of Sydney Culture Network and Komuitas Tanam Untuk Kehidupan (TUK) and has produced several community initiatives including FUNPARK, Gang Festival and Walking on Water.

Vanessa has a strong commitment to community empowerment through the arts and is a deep believer in the power of story. She speaks fluent Bahasa Indonesia and graduated from Sydney University with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), majoring in Anthropology.

Leigh Russell – Project Officer and Community Engagement

Leigh Russell has a background in Arts administration, management, marketing and is a producer of community initiatives. She has worked for the Australian Major Performing Arts Group (AMPAG), Screenwise, Short and Sweet Theatre Festival and the Eastern Suburbs Children’s’ Festival. She is the industry and jury liaison for the Academy accredited Flickerfest International Short Film Festival and programmer for the FlickerUp youth strand. She is the co-founder and editor of Film in Revolt; a platform for youth in Australia to explore film. Her community initiatives include Hello Bookcase, Hello Library, Project remake and Arts Rocket. Leigh was on the jury for the 2017/2018/2019 SAE ATOM Awards and has been on the selection committee for Flickerfest, the 2018/2019/ 2021 Scout Film Festival and the 21st WOW Film Festival. You can also find her co-hosting the arts program Cannonball on Orbital radio.  Leigh graduated with a Bachelor of Communication – Media Major.  

Rachael Adamson – Emerging Producers Placement*

Rachael is an emerging Sydney based producer dedicated to developing and sharing performance works with comedy, dynamic physicality, theatrical flair, and, most importantly, heart. Rachael and her theatre company RaCreate continue to produce exciting new work, and new imaginings of older work, across the independent theatre sector, regularly selling out audiences at many of Sydney’s popular independent venues. Her multidisciplinary and independent background has seen her hold many roles across the technical, creative and production areas of theatre, including completing a national tour as the Company Manager on RENT the musical.

Rachael also has her own creative practice where she engages her background as a molecular biologist to explore and create biotechnological plant performance. She has recently developed, produced and performed the cutting-edge immersive plant performance installation Verdance: An Exploration of Symbio-Sonics (2023).

*This position is supported by Creative Australia and Australian Chamber Orchestra

Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta, as the producing arm of Riverside, is supported by a team of technical, marketing, finance and administration staff. 

RIVERSIDE THEATRES LEADERSHIP TEAM

Director Craig McMaster
Marketing & Communications Samantha Attard
Operations Manager Mike Brew
Coordinator – Ticketing & Box Office Dave Fili
Executive and Creative Producer, National Theatre of Parramatta Joanne Kee
Business Manager Tanya Sampson
Program Manager Catherine Swallow