Our Committee

Tropical Arts Committee

The Committee is an elected group of volunteers who take active roles ensuring Tropical Arts fulfils its mission and continues to evolve.  It’s a hands on committee with operational tasks shared between it’s members.  The committee also convenes sub-committees which can then involve other Tropical Arts members and invites expertise from the broader network of the arts community.  The current sub-committees are 1.  Strategic Planning and 2.Training

Avril Duck – President

Alicia Jamieson -  Secretary

Katrina Humphrey – Treasurer

Kevin West – Committee Member

Warren Clements – Committee Member

Velvet Eldred – Committee Member

Doug Robins – Committee Member

Heidi Davies – Committee Member

Lyndell Brownlee – Committee Member

Gio Funari – Committee Member

Just a little about us!

Avril Duck

Avril has a passion for diversity on stage.  She has directed the first 5 “Shakespeare at the Tanks” productions:  The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure, Romeo and Juliet and a Midsummer Night’s Dream, and is currently preparing for Measure for Measure.

As a Community Theatre Director, in 2012 Avril was engaged by Mental Illness Fellowship NQ to develop a performative presentation for Carers of people with a Mental Health issues for the annual national TheMHS Conference.   Also in 2012, Avril teamed up with Melissa Robertson to facilitate Connecting Community Voices II on the Cassowary Coast for FNQ Volunteers and was Participant Coordinator for Song Connection a socially inclusive choir.  Past projects include writer “When the Wheels fall off the World” (Festival Cairns August 2010 & 2011); Director “The Angel’s Whip” by John Lipscomb at JUTE Theatre 2008; Gordonvale community productions 2004, 2005, 2006 Writer/Director “Lysistrata: A Passion for Peace“; “B.A.D. Company” and “Legends of the Pyramid“; “Playing Mother” 2007-9 – Writer/Co-ordinator; “Connecting Community Voices” Workshop series with FNQ Volunteers 2009;

Personal Motto – Theatre is the answer to everything.

Lyndell Brownlee

Lyndell is ‘Jack of All Trades’ with a real passion for new tricks. Lyndell comes to Tropical Arts with skills in Costume Design & Stage Management, is currently studying Event Management with Eco Tourism and PR, and is qualified in Retail & Hospitality Management. Lyndell has a brain full of creative ideas just waiting to burst free.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ 2011 - Costume Design & Stage Manager  ‘Measure 4 Measure’ 2010 – Costumes Design Assistant, Wardrobe Assistant, Merchandise Manager and Volunteer Coordinator, ‘Merchant of Venice’ 2009 - Costume Designer and Wardrobe Coordinator. Lyndell has worked as a Creative Assistant on the ‘Playing Mother’ project, Props Assistant  for Choral Societies ‘Oliver’, ‘Mr Pinstripe Suit’ & ‘The Producers’ and Assistant Stage Manager to the Cairns Little Theatre production of  ‘Same Time Next Year’ and Front of House for ‘Parramatta Girls’ and ‘Fawlty Towers’.Dec 2011 – Jan 2012: Costume Coordinator for ‘Chinaman Creek’ a film about the history of the Chinese community in FNQ.

 

Warren Clements

Born in Katherine NT, Warren holds a key position within the Internationally Acclaimed Tjapukai company based in Cairns, Queensland. With 20 years experience in all aspects of performance including Dance, Music, Presenting, Stage Management, Theatre and Film Directing, Video Production and Theatre Design, Warren is in his element when onstage. In 2009 he played the role of Will in ‘When the Wheels Fall Off the World’ and also Antonio in Tropical Arts ‘Merchant of Venice’. In 2008 he played the role of Caliban in ‘The Tempest’. In 2007 he co-starred in two International film productions. In 2006 he toured Europe, Japan and Singapore as a cultural representative for the “Chang Brothers Travels Show”. In 2006 Warren also was a co-writer for a local film focusing on local people and impressions of Cairns.

In 2005 Warren was involved in a short documentary with Japan Tourism Commission. In 2003 he went on a 21-day promotional tour of Taiwan as Dancer and Cultural Representative. In 2002 Warren did 3 Singapore tours as a Cultural Representative and Troupe Manager as part of the launch of Australian Airlines connection from Singapore. In 2000 Warren travelled to Athens and was the Director/Choreographer for the indigenous section of the Flame Handover Ceremony.

Kevin West

Kevin was a founding member of TARTS 2007. Kevin provides  artistic support to TARTS Productions and lends his professional skills as a Structural Engineer where required. TropArts performances were as the “Duke of Milan” in 2008 The Tempest and “Duke” and “Old Gobbo” in 2009 Merchant of Venice. Kevin’s theatre experience has largely been with the PNG based Port Moresby Arts Theatre where he has directed 13 plays over a period of 18 yearsand more recently appeared in several plays as an actor.

PNG Directing credits include “The Last of the Knucklemen” “Cabaret” adapted from movie, stage musical and play “Cosi” and plays adapted from film “Blues Bros” “Life of Brian” “Dr Strangelove” “Casablanca”. PNG Acting credits “Riff – Raff” in Rocky Horror Picture Show ,”Elwood Blues” in Blues Bros ,”Mikado” in the Mikado, “Lloyd Dallas – the Director ” in Noises Off, “Agamemnon” in Agamemnon, “Oberon” Mid Summer Nights Dream. He was a part of the inaugural Actor/Director workshops with Jute Theatre in 2005. Kevin participated in the Enter Stage Write programme for 2006 in the Actor/Director stream with Jute Theatre. Kevin has appeared in several Jute monthly play readings including development scripts during the 2005 and 2006 Playwright’s Conference. In 2005 Kevin appeared for the Cairns Little Theatre as “Sidney Bruhl” in Deathtrap, subsequent performances have been in “The Weekend”, “Rabbit Day”, and “Amadeus”.