Director - David Lloyd
WALTER
SHALOM KAA
NEŽA STRENČAN CAROL
DAWN
KTIMA HEATHCOTE
ISAAC GRESHAM
ASH CHARLES
TOM JAX
JULES GABOR
CAT HART
PIP O’SHEA
CREW
STAGE MANAGER
ELI BACHER
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
CAT HART
LIGHTING DESIGNER
IONA FRANCIS
PRODUCER
SALLY CRAWFORD
POSTER DESIGN
BETH O’SHEA
DAVID LLOYD DIRECTOR
David is an international award-winning Director, Choreographer and Performer. David trained at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, working as an international performer, director and choreographer for over 25 years with many international companies including Royal Opera House London, Sadlers Wells Theatre, Jasmin Vardimon Company, Neon Dance, Bare Bones Dance Company, Jean Abreu Dance, Fin Walker, Mad Dogs Dance Theatre, Gary Clarke, Protein Dance Company, DanceXchange, and among others.
As a performer David worked for Jasmin Vardimon Company since 2009, touring Nationally and Internationally with works including: Alice, Tannhauser, Pinocchio, Maze, Park, Yesterday, Freedom, 7734 and Justitia to name a few. David has also worked as a rehearsal director for Jasmin and was a mentor/rehearsal director when she created ‘in between’ for the National Youth Dance Company in association with Sadler’s Wells.
In 2017 David setup The Mischief Company becoming Co-CEO Artistic Director alongside Natascha Metherell touring THE GIRL WITH THE TALE, RED, NEVERLAND (Nominated for best performance of the year 2021), DOGVILLE, PURGATORY: Nothing to Say, BLUE (R and D), BLACKROCK, PARADISE, among others touring, nationally and internationally. In 2019 David opened a Master of Arts Program for Dance City and Sunderland University under the title Advanced Dance Performance becoming program leader and artistic director until 2020 before moving to an associate artist in 2021.
David is now working as a Drama Teacher at Mackillop Catholic College and will be heading back to UK to create a new work for the JV2 Company PARTY MONSTER VOL.1 to premiere in 2025 at Sadlers Wells and tour the UK.
JULES GABOR AS ASH
Jules Gabor (she/her) is a multifaceted creative who has been performing around Darwin in multiple different forms. She has appeared in productions of Aladdin the Musical (Kassim) and Mulan the musical (Ensemble) as well as assistant director of ROTTEN, a Darwin Fringe Festival Show. Primarily a dancer, Jules is a passionate dancer who specialises in styles of contemporary, hiphop and K-Pop working alongside PSYCHE Dance Crew and Tracks Dance Company. She is excited to get back into acting as Ash in Darwin Theatre Company’s A Hit And Miss Christmas!
SHALOM KAA AS WALTER
Award-winning Maori artist Shalom Kaa is the allround entertainer, whether it be in lead roles Jesus Chris Superstar, Twelfth Night, The Crucible, or winning awards for sell-out stand-up comedy seasons at Darwin Fringe Festival. In the past year or so, he directed the space-themed Romeo & Juliet, produced and hosted Carols By Candlelight, starred in two short films, played Che Guevara in Evita, hosted Tropicon and The Brolgas, seven performances at Sydney Fringe Festival and reached the NT Raw Comedy finals - again. Shalom is never more at home than when he is on stage: "It's my safe space".
ISAAC GRESHAM AS TOM
Isaac’s creative history lies in musical theatre. He has previously performed as one of the FBI Agents in a musical production of “Catch Me If You Can” and as Michael Darling in “Peter Pan”. After a year and a half hiatus from musical theatre and the creative arts, he moved to Darwin and jumped at the chance to get involved in the local arts scene. Isaac’s favourite part of performing is making people laugh and putting smiles on their faces. A Hit and Miss Christmas with Darwin Theatre Company offered the perfect opportunity. Working with a skilled creative team, Isaac has refined his acting skills, particularly through exploring method acting.
CAT HART AS CHARLES
Cat is a professionally trained theatre and film artist, director, and producer based in the Territory. As a founding member and Artistic Director of taiNTed Theatre Company, they have an extensive background in the arts, with numerous stage, TVC, and short film credits. Recent roles include Chloe in Bear (DIFF Film, 2024), Authority in Mad Are We (Darwin Fringe, 2024), and Rachel in RSVP (Darwin Fringe, 2022). Other notable performances include Edna in An Inspector Calls (DTC, 2022), Katerina in Taming of the Shrew (taiNTed Theatre, 2021), and Maria in Twelfth Night (DTC/taiNTed Theatre, 2020). Cat is passionate about empowering new artists and teaching the joy of theatre, working as a teaching artist for various Top End arts organizations and independently.
KTIMA HEATHCOTE AS DAWN
A journalist by trade, Ktima works in marketing and media and is trying her best to write a book. This is her second foray into acting. She made her debut stage performance in 2023 as Friar Laurence in Shalom Kaa’s innovative version of Romeo and Juliet: Star Crossed Lovers. Ktima loves telling stories. She loves the theatre. She has fond memories of watching pantomimes as a kid, enthralled by the stories, magic and characters, especially the villains. Ktima has gone from playing a male priest to a happy hippy theatre company secretary in Hit & Miss Christmas and hopes there will be many more characters in the worlds of theatre, film, or TV that she can explore and play with.
NEŽA STRENČAN AS CAROL
Neža is a versatile actress from Slovenia. She began her career more than 20 years ago, making a name for herself with roles in different plays (Checkov, Shakespeare, Flisar ...) and musicals (Company, Madagascar, Sound of Music, Veronika Deseniska ...). With a passion for theatre and film, Neža has also been involved in life behind the stage/screen such as stage managing, producing, event coordinating. She joined the Darwin performing art scene six months ago with Darwin Musical Theatre' shows and this will be her first as a part of Darwin Theatre Company!
PIP O’SHEA AS JAX
Pip O'Shea has been with Big Dog Salad since their first Darwin Fringe show, Big Dog Salad LIVE (2021), which was reprised at Adelaide Fringe (2023). They’ve appeared in Last Call (2021), Under the Table (2022), A Showcase of Shorts(2023), and Romeo and Juliet (2023), and helped create the 2023 SPARK film Hephaestion. Pip’s recent credits include Musicals Through the Ages, Cabaret at the Railway, and their award-winning solo show Sex Toy Story (Best Spoken Word and Ideas, Darwin Fringe 2024). They also reprised their role in Under the Table 2 and did lighting and tech for King Paddy. Pip hit the Darwin Festival stage for the first time with an updated Big Dog Salad LIVE! Perhaps after DTC’s A Hit & Miss Christmas, they might take a break!
ELI BACHER STAGE MANAGER
Eli is a proud trans non binary person who is making their Darwin Theatre Company debut…offstage. They have production and direction experience, writing and starring in the 2024 Darwin Fringe production of Survival of the Unfittest (Helix Theatrical). They also have acting experience in HAIRSPRAY (2016), Grease (2018), Dance Mums: A Parody (Fame Train) and FIASCO (2023 dir. Thomas Midena). They hope to learn new techniques through their stage management of this production. Eli Bacher is a proud member of the Media, Entertainment Arts Alliance (MEAA).
IONA FRANCIS LIGHTING DESIGNER
Iona began her career as an actor, professionally trained for theatre and film, before expanding her talents behind the scenes. At 18, she made her debut as a stage manager with Slide Youth Dance Company. A year later, she co-founded the local production group Big Dog Salad, which has since achieved sell-out seasons at the Darwin Fringe Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, and Darwin Festival. Iona's creative pursuits also include photography, where her work has been recognized as a finalist in prestigious competitions like Sydney's Head On Festival and the Sony World Photography Awards. In 2021, Iona ventured into playwriting through ATYP’s Fresh Ink Program, continuing to develop her skills in short films and plays. Her expertise has grown to encompass writing, lighting design, production management, set design and floristry. Recently, she took on key roles as the technical director for Darwin Pride Festival's King Paddy, and as the Assistant Director and Producer for Darwin’s upcoming feature film, TRACY. Iona’s diverse artistic journey reflects her dedication to exploring and mastering various aspects of creative production.
DIRECTOR NOTES
Observation:
Emma Woods’ play immediately resonated with me as a poignant reflection of the challenges facing theatre companies in today’s cultural and economic climate. It beautifully captures the tension between sustaining artistic innovation and navigating a world where funding cuts threaten the very existence of the arts At its core, the play explores generational clashes, the delicate balance between tradition and progress, and the genuine struggles of achieving inclusivity in a rapidly evolving, and often unforgiving, cultural landscape.
This is a work that invites audiences on an emotional and thoughtprovoking journey—a story that compels them to reflect while also allowing them to lose themselves in its narrative. It’s a piece that embodies both intellect and heart, blending moments of lightness with profound depth.
Psychological Analysis:
What struck me most was Emma’s ability to breathe life into her characters through richly layered text. The characters are bold, vibrant, and intricately connected, their relationships growing ever more entwined as the story unfolds. As a director, I saw an opportunity to delve deeply into these layers, working with the cast to uncover the nuances of each character's journey
To achieve this, we dedicated extensive time to building a credible and authentic community within the company. We employed Stanislavski techniques to evoke genuine emotions and connections, ensuring that every interaction felt lived and truthful The goal was to excavate the depths of Emma’s text, providing the actors with a solid foundation to explore the richness of their roles on stage.
The Experience:
As a director, I wanted to immerse the audience in the raw, often chaotic, creative process of theatre-making. This production showcases not just the triumphs (HIT) of artistic collaboration but also its challenges (MISS) the moments of uncertainty, missteps, and resilience. It is a testament to the collective journey of creating theatre: messy, inspiring, and deeply human. Through this lens, the play offers a window into the political and personal stakes of creating art in today’s world. It explores the intimate dynamics of a rehearsal room, where ideas are born, debated, and shaped in a crucible of collaboration. The "hits" and "misses" are equally significant they remind us of the courage and vulnerability required to create something meaningful.
DIRECTOR NOTES CONT’D
Believability:
Authenticity was at the forefront of this production. It was crucial that the audience not only see but feel the reality of the Hit and Miss Theatre Company. Every detail, from the way the actors inhabited their characters to the relationships they formed on and off stage, was meticulously crafted to create a sense of genuine connection. From day one, the company embraced the identity of the Hit and Miss Theatre Company, warming up, rehearsing, and even bonding outside the studio as their on-stage personas. This process helped forge a family dynamic that feels tangible and relatable. Additionally, I worked closely with each actor to ensure their characters were extensions of themselves, adding layers of authenticity and relatability to their performances
This production represents months of dedication, exploration, and love. It isn’t a laugh-out-loud comedy but rather an intimate observation a conversation about the trials and triumphs of the creative process. My hope is that it invites audiences to not only watch but also connect, reflect, and engage in this shared journey.
THANK YOU
SPONSORS
BUNNINGS
DARWIN CARPETS & VINYLS
SUPPORTERS
TIFFANY JANSEN - LIGHTING
PROGRAMMER
BRETT BACHER - SET TRANSPORT
ANGUS ROBSON - LIGHTING CONSULTANT
TOMM LYDIARD - TECHNICAL SUPPORT
MICHELLE GRAF - MARKETING SUPPORT
