FESTIVAL RETURNS 7 - 9 JULY 2026
FESTIVAL RETURNS 7 - 9 JULY 2026
Our Team
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COMPANY MANAGER
Alessandra Alessio is a Naarm-based Stage Manager completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts Production at the Victorian College of the Arts. Central to her practice is a commitment to excellence, driven by a genuine passion for theatre and a sustained optimism toward continual learning. She hopes that her name will become synonymous with hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm.
Alessandra's stage management credits include ‘Do Not Pass Go’ Secondment (Melbourne Theatre Company), ‘The Anatomy of a Suicide’ (Heartstring Theatre), ‘The Dilly Dally of Death and Dying’ Stage Manager (A Fairy Lucid Production), and ‘Αριάδνη / Ariadne’ (La Mama Courthouse).
Alessandra is proud to be the Company Manager and Co-Lead for MUSE Festival 2026 and truly believes in the power of storytelling and new work.
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PRODUCTION MANAGER
Peter Liptai is an emerging Melbourne theatre practitioner completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production) at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). As a lighting designer and stage manager, Peter enjoys a hybrid, multidisciplinary practice focusing on integrating creative design and innovative technology for live performance.
His credits at the VCA include Lighting Programmer and Operator for ‘Into the Woods’ and Stage Manager for ‘Pluriverse’. Peter looks forward to developing his practice as the Lighting Designer for ‘We Are All Animals’ and Deputy Stage Manager for ‘Legally Blonde’ during the 2026 VCA graduate season.
Peter is excited to Co-Lead MUSE Festival 2026 as the Production Manager and support the work of fellow young artists.
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EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Rosie Gaden is a Naarm based theatre maker, currently undertaking her second year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre) at VCA. She is thrilled to be an executive producer of MUSE, after putting on her first original work at MUSE Festival 2025. ‘Imaginarium of a Not So Princess’ was an eclectic movement based theatre piece, in which Rosie co-devised, co-performed and co-directed.
She originated her love for theatre as a performer, starring in a range of community shows (most recently as ‘Pain’ in Altona Theatre’s ‘Hercules’ pantomime). With a range of skills in devising, writing, directing, dance and designing, Rosie is looking forward to realising the multi-disciplinary vision of the Muse Festival, and providing an inclusive platform for emerging artists.
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EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Minka is a Naarm based multidisciplinary artist currently studying at the Victorian College of the Arts for Theatre Making. They enjoy creating both theatrical and film works, and recently have been investigating the convergence between the screen and live performance.
She began performing at six years old as a competitive gymnast and circus performer, before rekindling her love for theatre in 2020 when she began attending classes at St Martins Youth Arts Centre. She graduated in 2024 from VCASS in their theatre arts program, receiving the academic visual arts award.
Minka's art draws from the deep and personal, creating youthful and heartfelt empathetic works that focus on the intersection between the personal, political and the feminist. Focusing on human connection while critiquing the problematic world we live in. Her credits include ‘The Imaginarium of a not-so-princess’ 2025 Minka Lukey and Rosie Gaden for MUSE, ‘And then there was night’ Pony Cam 2023, and ‘Gene Tree’ by St Martins 2023, ATYP YABbies, 2023, and CAMP with Back to Back Theatre and RAWCUS.
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EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
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DANCE COORDINATOR
Leyla Boz is a choreographer and performer originally from Meanjin/Brisbane, now based in Naarm/Melbourne. Her practice explores interdisciplinary collaboration across theatre, film, and digital media.
Currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), Leyla is also in her third year with Yellow Wheel Pre-Professional Company. She previously trained with Merge Dance Theatre (2020–2021) and the Australasian Dance Collective Youth Ensemble (2022).
Leyla has performed in works by artists including Melanie Lane, James Batchelor, Yumi Umiumare, Kyall Shanks, Phillip Adams, Liesel Zink, and Amy Hollingsworth. In 2025, she was awarded the Chunky Move Internship, supporting her development in company practice. Her choreographic work merges concept and physicality, often presented through a range of formats. Selected works include ‘ROLL2DIcE’ (Trip the Light, Yellow Wheel), ‘CTHULHU’ and ‘2’ (MUSE Festival), and ‘Finding Common Grounds’ (MUD Festival).
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MUSIC COORDINATOR
Lyndon Riggs is a Melbourne-based musician, composer (and weather forecaster) currently completing a Bachelor of Music (Jazz & Improvisation) at the Victorian College of the Arts.
Lyndon performs across a range of small ensemble settings, including his own funk-fusion project ‘Sonic Fuze’ and as part of the local Ska-band ‘Skabhangers’. His work often involves complex harmony contrasted with catchy melodies, and with a focus on groove. Alongside performance, Lyndon has contributed music to student theatre and film projects, and led ‘Sound Logic’ in last year’s festival, an experimental project combining coding and live improvisation. He is interested in developing new approaches to live performance, particularly through the use of technology and audience interaction.
Lyndon is excited to join MUSE 2026 as Music Coordinator to support the work of fellow emerging artists and help the festival strike the right chord.
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ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER
Harvey Lansley(he/him) is a Sound, Vision and production designer based in Naarm, Melbourne. Currently completing his bachelor of fine arts in production at the Victorian College of the Arts(vca)
Harvey’s credits included sound designer on ‘marry me a little’ dir Noah Gullan. sound/vision tech on ‘we are the animals’ 2026 vca dance company. Crew on ‘Legally blond’, ‘School of rock’ and ‘Mamma Mia’ at the National Theatre
Harvey is excited to be the assistant production manager for the 2026 Muse festival.
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ARTIST REPRESENTATIVE
Imogen (She/They) is a Naarm and Djilang based Theatre-Maker in her second year at VCA.
They have performed in 5 Locktin (MUSE 2025, and Netherworld Festival 2025), and in Wastoids (MUSE 2025). Prior to attending VCA they have worked as a stage manager and assistant director for a high school production of Alice By Heart (2024).
Imogen is super excited to be one of your artist reps for MUSE 2026 and can’t wait to work with you all.
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ARTIST REPRESENTATIVE / WELLNESS AND WELFARE
B. Kiki Wickramasinghe (they/them) is a theatremaker, musician and performer based in Naarm and Magadjin. They are currently in their second year of completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in Theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts.
Their most recent performance credits include Pelvic Girdle (MUSE (Mess), 2025) (of which they also co-directed), 5 LOCKTIN (MUSE, 2025 and The Netherworld Festival, 2025), Hear Me Out (MUSE 2025) (of which they also co-devised), and Last Impressions (Four Letter Word Theatre, 2025). Kiki also recently took on the role as an assistant choreographer for The Pirates of Penzance (MacRobertson Girls’ High School and Melbourne High School, 2025). As well as being a physical performer, they have also trained as a percussionist.
Kiki is inspired by the wonderful yet abhorrent world in which we live and aims to create work that is accessible for all audiences. Their projects often tend to be both physically and sonically inclined and heavily analyse humanity's relationship with itself and the world, both in a social, emotional and political context, whilst maintaining a blatantly obtuse sense of humour.
Kiki is very excited to be one of your artist representatives this year and looks forward to a wonderful MUSE season.
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WELLNESS AND WELFARE
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WELLNESS AND WELFARE / MARKETING
Sabrina is a Theatre-maker, Performer and Writer based in Naarm. She is currently a student at the Victorian College of the Arts in a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre.
They debuted as a producer, playwriter and director, in ‘5 Locktin’ (MUSE Festival 2025 & Netherworld Festival 2025). His credits as a performer include a supporting role in both ‘Wastoids!’ (MUSE Festival 2025), and ‘Spruik’ (Dead End Collective at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2025), and as a participant in ‘Make Some Space’ (Performing Lines at Footscray Community Arts). They have also been a production assistant (design and marketing) for Slanted Theatre, as well as a photographer at MUDfest 2025.
Sabrina is a keen maker who is immersed in all ends of theatre, and endeavours to cultivate inclusive and creativity-first theatre spaces and practices.
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MARKETING
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MARKETING
Sophie Sykes is an Australian Stage Manager, currently studying at Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) completing a Bachelor of Fine arts in Production. Sophie has a passion for stage management in musical theatre, whilst intrigued to explore more diverse repertoires.
Some of Sophie’s stage management credits include ‘The Little Mermaid Jr” and “Aladdin Jr” (Perform X academy 2026) and “Six (Teen Edition)” (Onstage 2026) and Assistant Stage Manager on “Into the Woods” (VCA 2025). Sophie also has a strong interest in marketing and is the current marketing manager for The Broadway Mindset.
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COSTUME AND PROPS MANAGER / VENUE TECHNICIAN
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VENUE TECHNICIAN
Tim (he/him) is a Naarm/Melbourne based lighting designer and stage manager studying at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Tim is passionate about assisting develop original and established theatre works that celebrate the art of storytelling. He was raised on Kaurna Land, Adelaide, where his love for live performance began with performing in community theatre and playing in jazz ensembles.
His recent credits include Assistant Stage Manager on ‘Into The Woods’, and Lighting Designer for ‘The End Is Never The…’ Tim is the proud recipient of the 2025 Daryl Wilkinson Encouragement Award for commitment to stage management.
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VENUE TECHNICIAN
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VENUE TECHNICIAN
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VENUE TECHNICIAN