JUTE Theatre’s production coordinator, Elisha Oatley has been named one of Cairnseye magazine’s 'Women to Watch in the Arts'. This prestigious award will be announced in the magazine’s May issue published later this month.
JUTE’s artistic director, Suellen Maunder said Elisha is a truly deserving recipient whose passion and creativity for theatre is fast tracking her career in the arts.
“Elisha is extremely driven and theatre orientated. She is very entrepreneurial and I believe she will achieve everything she sets out to. Her future aims are to branch out and write, design and produce theatre that changes the way people view issues of modern society.”
JUTE Theatre is currently training Elisha to be a production manager. Since starting with JUTE, Elisha has coordinated Half Way There by Mary Anne Bultler; The Shining Path by Victoria Carless; and Macbeth by William Shakespeare, adapted by Scott Witt. Elisha is currently coordinating Dancing Back Home by six regional playwrights and Enter Stage Write, a program developed by JUTE to support regional playwrights to develop their work.
Elisha has studied film and theatre with the Australian Acting Academy, Trinity School of London and Australian Music Examination Board for six years. She has just graduated from JCU with a Bachelor in Creative Industries (Theatre). It was during her final year at university that Elisha became a full time Production Coordinator for JUTE Theatre.
Last year Elisha and three peers from university started their own theatre company to support emerging regional theatre practitioners. After a couple of months Pop Robot Theatre have completed their first tour and are focusing on their next production.
Elisha is particularly proud of her involvement as a founding member and Artistic Associate for Pop Robot Theatre. PRT aim to support young emerging actors, directors, designers in Cairns.
“JUTE is very supportive of this emerging company and very proud that their young employee is a driving force of a company of young emerging theatre makers dedicated to developing professional theatre opportunities in this region,” said Suellen.
Keep an eye on what Elisha and the rest of the JUTE team are up to via their website: www.jute.com.au.