A Very Naughty Christmas 2023

WOODWARD PRODUCTIONS Since its inception in 2016, Woodward Productions has produced more than 20 musicals, concerts, and plays.

Woodward Productions has a focus on gateway theatre, which attracts new audience members into our arts economy and aims to tell stories that engage all of our diverse Australian communities.

The company has a history of developing and touring theatre including A Very Naughty Christmas, the adults Christmas comedy show which will be presented in 2023 for the seventh consecutive year, Sherlock Holmes in The Mystery of the Valkyrie, the smash hit play which opened at QPAC in 2023, Caroline O’Connor’s latest concert From Broadway With Love, Boys of Sondheim (Brisbane and Sydney), and Weathering Well (24 date tour of regional Qld).

The company has also premiered two queer musicals, Yank! A WWII Love Story and Bare: The Musical, as a part of Brisbane’s MELT Festival.

ALEX WOODWARD

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CREATOR Alex has been touring and producing live music and theatrical events since 2006. Studies include a bachelor’s degree in music theatre and a post-grad in business and artificial intelligence. In 2016 Alex founded Understudy Productions (now Woodward Productions) with the aim of creating performance opportunities for the growing pool of talent based in QLD who felt the need to move interstate to build their careers.

In the last 5 years, Alex has been the sole producer on more than ten productions.

Alongside his producing experience, Alex has an extensive performing history with some of Australia’s biggest companies including Sydney Theatre Company and The Gordon Frost Organisation.Alex has also worked with some of Queensland’s biggest arts organisations including Brisbane Festival, QPAC and Prospero Arts.

DAN VENZ CREATOR

Dan’s love for the stage began in preschool, directing (and starring) in his own sandpit scenes, and after a small 12 year hiatus, he began his professional career with Raw Dance Company, touring Australia as a dancer in Urban Wonderland. Dan has many onstage credits including Spring Awakening (Hanschen), Wizard of Oz (Tinman), The Neverending Story (Atreyu), Cats (Skimbleshanks), and the BOY&GIRL cabaret series’ as well as multiple corporate and festival engagements. Off stage, Dan is also a commercial, cabaret and musical theatre choreographer, creative and director, curating performances for events such as Brisbane Festival and Creative Generation for the past 5 years. Dan is also a Creative/Choreographer for Oscar ProCo’s Boy & Girl series. Since its inception in 2017, Dan has been the lead creative on A Very Naughty Christmas, as well as choreographed and performed in Sweet Charity and Yank! A WWII Love Story for Woodward Productions.

CLAIRE DIX

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Claire joined Woodward Productions in 2023 as Associate Producer and General Manager.

Claire has a Bachelor of Music and recently concluded her third Brisbane Festival as Producer on Erth’s Shark Dive and critically acclaimed dance theatre production Salamander. Claire brings her passion for events and commitment to delivering exciting and engaging works to Brisbane, making it a hub for the creative arts. Claire has spent the last 3 years travelling around Australia’s Arts Festivals delivering events in various roles including logistics, event management and delivery, operations and more.

A NOTE FROM THE PRODUCER ALEX WOODWARD Did you know we’ve been doing this for 7 years!?!? What the f*ck. Amazing!

First and foremost, thank you to the incredible actors, creatives and production team who work on this show. Without you this show wouldn’t happen year after year. Dan Venz - you are beyond incredible and I’m so grateful you came on board back in 2017 to do this show. Thank you to all the performers and creatives over the years who’ve made this show what it is.

There are countless to name!

Thank you to Claire, my associate producer, you’ve come on recently and entered the cyclone with amazing proficiency and calmness! Chi, thank you for being the marketing dream queen, love love love you!

To our originating performers Aurélie Roque, Emily Kristopher and Stephen Hirst who’ve been here since 2017. Thank you for coming back year on year to deliver amazing and new writing and performances - the show wouldn’t be the same without you!

Matthew Semple for always coming up with hilarious content for the show. It’s been 7 years you’ve been working on this and we couldn’t do it without you.

Thank you to the one and only Joel Devereux for images to post to the high heavens, the brill design work from Sean and the team at Dowling Design, Optikal Bloc for the videos for us to rave about our show, Ben Murray and PQI for making us sound sexy for the last 6 years, Bambrick Media (in particular Denise and Campbell) for telling Brisbane to come and see this show, Sophie and Mandy at Novotel South Bank for taking care of our interstate peeps, Megan, Jess and Tilly at SCA for being legends, Nina and Kiara at Archie Rose for making sure the gin is always flowing, Kris Stewart for giving us the chance to put this show on back in 2017. Jesse from Digital Lighting Solutions for giving us our neon flex dreams, and a massive thank you as well to Professor Paul Sabey, Head of Performing Arts, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, for his generous support of this production.

In Melbourne we need to thank the amazing team at The Alex and in particular Allan who helped us get this show into their gorgeous space and Patrick and the team at Fever for taking a leap and working with us for the first time.

And duh! The audience!

Thanks for coming back year after year to enjoy the silly season in the best possible way.

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A VERY NAUGHTY HISTORY FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN 2017, DOWNSTAIRS IN THE VISY THEATRE AT BRISBANE POWERHOUSE

IN 2018 THE SHOW CONTINUED AT BRISBANE POWERHOUSE AND WELCOMED 2000 PATRONS

IN 2019 THE SHOW MOVED AWAY FROM HAVING A STORYLINE AND BECOME MORE OF THE VARIETY COMEDY CONCERT IT IS TODAY

IN 2020 WITH NEW COVID RESTRICTIONS ON AUDIENCE CAPACITY WE MOVED INTO THE POWERHOUSE THEATRE AND WE WERE THE VENUE’S BEST ATTENDED SHOW OF 2020.

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IN 2021 WE CONTINUED UPSTAIRS AT THE BRISBANE |POWERHOUSE TO OUR BIGGEST AUDIENCES EVER.

IN 2022 WE TOOK A HUGE LEAP OF FAITH AND MOVED THE SHOW TO THE ROUNDHOUSE THEATRE, LA BOITE IN ORDER TO PUT THE SHOW BACK INTO A 3 SIDED SETTING.

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QUEENSLAND CAST ALEX GIBSON-GIORGIO Training: National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney (Diploma of Musical Theatre) and at the Victorian College of Arts, Melbourne (Bachelor of Fine Arts – Musical Theatre).

Theatre credits include: Nelson Riddle in Sinatra The Musical (World Premiere Birmingham UK); Ramon in Zorro the Musical (Charing Cross Theatre London); Sal in Rags (Park Theatre London); Everything’s Coming Up Sondheim (Chapel off Chapel, Melbourne); Mitch in Yank! (Brisbane Powerhouse); Eddie in Mamma Mia! (Australian Tour); Ensemble and Understudy Jafar in Aladdin (Capitol Theatre, Sydney); Ensemble in Georgy Girl (Australian Tour) and Ensemble in Anything Goes (Opera Australia). Film credits include: Casanova in Time Bandits (Apple TV); Paddy in One Day (Netflix); George in Not Quite Cricket (Superwisp Productions).

Recording credits include: Rags (2020 London Cast).

AURÉLIE ROQUE Originally from the States, Aurélie studied Vocal Performance and Dance at the UMKC Conservatory before moving to Brisbane almost 10 years ago. Some of her reviewed performances include Glinda in The Wizard of Oz Arena Spectacular Australian tour, Morticia Addams in the Brisbane premiere of The Addams Family Musical, Leading Player in Pippin, Joanne in the 20th Anniversary of Rent, Susan in [Title of Show], Madame Peacock in Cluedo, A Very Naughty Christmas, and Uncle in Boy&Girl. In the past few years, Aurélie entertained international audiences with her most recent cabaret Ruby Slipper Chronicles, choreographed for the 24 Hour Musical Project, Prima’s Spamalot, the Brisbane premiere of Big Fish The Musical, as well as several shows in Taiwan. She has also performed alongside such notable performers as Rue McClanahan, Clay Aiken, Simon Gallaher, and Nancye Hayes.

CAITY PLUMMER Caity graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre, 2020. Since graduating, Caity has hit the ground running as Ensemble and cover for the Ballet Girls in Billy Elliot (Matt Ward Entertainment), Betty and understudy for Cynthia Weil in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Matt Ward Entertainment), Colette and Cagelle in La Cage Aux Folles (Showtune Productions), and was the Dance Captain and On Stage Swing in Bonnie and Clyde (Josh Robson Productions). Caity has received many Arts awards, all to which she used to train with Ann Reinking and The Verdon Fosse Legacy In New York City, as well as creating, producing and performing in ‘Caity Plummer ft. Jack Earle’s Big Band’ at the Jazz Lab in Melbourne. Caity is proudly represented by Ian White Management.

EMILY KRISTOPHER Meet Emily Kristopher, a Brisbane-based comedy dynamo and stage sensation. She’s been lighting up A Very Naughty Christmas for six unforgettable years, and in 2023, she stole the show at the Brisbane Comedy Festival with Two Man Tarantino. Beyond the stage, Emily shines as a YouTube star on the popular channel Crackers Milk, where her comedy contributions have made her a beloved figure and a rising online sensation. When she’s not commanding the stage or the internet, you might catch her lending her voice to commercials on tv and radio, and starring in various other ad campaigns.

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QUEENSLAND CAST OLIVER CLISDELL Oliver is a passionate performer, known for entertaining audiences through his versatility and rigour. In 2023, Oliver graduated from the Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre (QAEMT, previously QCGU). During his studies, Oliver appeared as Baldwin Blandish/Dance Captain in Cry-Baby, Ensemble/Bert Barry Cover in 42nd St (Dir. Alister Smith), Featured Performer/Swing/ Dance Captain in Working: Localised (Dir. Elise Grieg), Ram’s Dad/Hipster Dork/Kurt’s Dad Cover in Heathers & Sid Sorokin in The Pajama Game (Dir. Penny Farrow). In 2020, Oliver obtained a Diploma of Musical Theatre from NIDA, where he worked with the likes of Phillip Quast, Simon Burke AO, Anne-Maree McDonald, and Danielle Bilios. Oliver is excited to be making his professional debut in this year’s production of A Very Naughty Christmas and would like to thank everyone who has supported him in getting to this moment in his career.

PATRICK WHITBREAD Since graduating WAAPA (2014) this is Patrick’s third time coming back to A Very Naughty Christmas. Patrick has also performed in Australian tours as ensemble and Bert understudy in Mary Poppins (Michael Cassel Group); Elder Smith (u/s Joseph Smith) in The Book of Mormon (GFO); Ensemble (u/s Farrah, Young Bernadette) in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (Michael Cassel Group); Ensemble (u/s Magnus, Balloon Man, Sergei) in Matilda the Musical (Royal Shakespeare Company/ Louise Withers and Associates); Ensemble (u/s Bruce Woodley) in Georgy Girl: The Seekers Musical (Georgy Girl Productions/Sue Farrelly); Coricopat (u/s Munkustrap, Tugger, Alonzo, Macavity, Skimbleshanks) in Cats (The Really Useful Group). He was also a dancer for The Veronicas ‘Revenge is Sweeter’ tour 2009.

STEPHEN HIRST Stephen is a seasoned performer with a rich tapestry of experience in theatre and film. He has portrayed iconic characters, such as Macbeth in the acclaimed production of Macbeth at Brisbane Shakespeare Festival, Job in Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes at Offside Theatre, and Howie in Rabbit Hole at Ad Astra. Stephen’s versatility shines through roles like Oscar Lindquist in Sweet Charity, Woodward Productions, Carlson in Of Mice and Men with Ad Astra, and Zac/Justin in “Cosi” with That Production Company. He also co-starred in the comedy “Two Man Tarantino ‘’ with More Than Magic at Brisbane Powerhouse. Stephen’s on-screen presence is equally impressive, having worked with Baz Luhrmann on the Elvis Presley film and appearing in various TV commercials and films. His expertise encompasses physical theatre, improvisation, and clowning, and he has collaborated with esteemed companies including Oscar Theatre Company, Matt Ward Entertainment and the Brisbane Powerhouse.

TAYLAH FERGUSON Taylah is an experienced performer with over a decade of performance credits expanding across the globe. Taylah began her career working upon Norwegian Cruise Line, completing 7 contracts as a production dancer, dance captain and an aerialist understudy. She then took up residency in Germany at the award-winning cabaret theatre the Alexander Kunz Theatre & the Palazzo Mannheim. Since returning home she has worked extensively in the cabaret show Finesse Burlesque and A Very Naughty Christmas since 2021.

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QUEENSLAND CREATIVE TEAM ALEX WOODWARD

BEN MURRAY

CLAIRE DIX

JOSH MCINTOSH

DANIEL VENZ

ISAAC LUMMIS

ALISTER SMITH

EMILY KRISTOPHER

DOMINIC WOODHEAD

STEPHEN HIRST

JAKE BRISTOW

MATT SEMPLE

TOM COLLINS

CHI NEWTON

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER & CREATOR ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREATOR, WRITER, DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER CO-DIRECTOR & WRITER MUSIC SUPERVISOR MUSIC DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE MUSICAL DIRECTOR

TRENT SUIDGEEST

SOUND DESIGNER SET DESIGNER

COSTUME DESIGNER SKIT WRITER SKIT WRITER SKIT WRITER

MARKETING AND SOCIALS

LIGHTING DESIGNER

PRODUCTION TEAM

MUSICIANS

NICOLA TAYLOR

JAKE BRISTOW PIANIST

TOM COLLINS GUITAR & BASS

CHRIS EVANS DRUMMER

PRODUCTION & STAGE MANAGER

MADDY STUART

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

HAMISH ELLIOT SOUND OPERATOR

CAITLIN SCOTT SOUND TECHNICIAN

LACHLAN VAN DER KREEK

SOUND TECHNICIAN/QLAB PROGRAMMER 9

VICTORIA CAST REBECCA ROLLE Rebecca’s love for performance first developed while growing up in Egypt, which drove her to complete her Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

Most recently she appeared in the Sydney Fringe Festival’s headline show The Marvellous Elephant Man as Nurse Faith. Rebecca has toured extensively with CDP in their productions of The Gruffalo’s Child, The 91-Storey Treehouse, The 13-Storey Treehouse, Dog Man: The Musical, Guess How Much I Love You, Room on the Broom and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Her other credits include: Olivia in Twelfth Night (Fingerless Theatre), Sirius in Alphabetical Sydney (Critical Stages) and Ensemble in Sweet Charity (Woodward Productions).

JOE KALOU Joe, known for his role with the recent cast of Hi-5, toured internationally and performed on Channel 9’s Carols By Candlelight and Season 17 of the Hi-5 TV series. Joe played a string of solo shows in LA, London and Manchester and has supported the likes of Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, Glenn Shorrock and Toni Childs. Previously he toured for many years as a vocalist, guitarist and flautist in The Rock Show with Jon English. Joe has performed a number of exciting roles including Benny in the sold-out production of In The Heights at The Sydney Opera House (Blue Saint Productions) and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (Packemin Productions). He currently plays the role of Seb in the new Australian musical, BANANALAND. Joe makes an appearance in Wolf Like Me on Stan and plays a supporting role in the feature film, The Edge, available to stream in 2024.

JORDAN TWIGG Jordan is a highly accomplished and versatile actor whose passion for performing was discovered at a young age. Jordan proudly graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University with a Bachelor of Musical Theatre in 2019. Some of Jordan’s most recent credits include the role of Leslie in Billy Elliot with Matt Ward Entertainment, as well as the roles of Lucille and Marilyn in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, also with Matt Ward Entertainment. Additionally, Jordan has showcased her talent in original works, such as Anarchy, a new musical written and composed

by Jordie Race-Coldrey and touring regional Victoria with Thomas Currie for his original cabaret, Basically Nocturnal. Hailing from Ipswich, Queensland, Jordan is excited to bring some festive devilry to Melbourne audiences this Christmas.

KATE YAXLEY Kate, a shameless Christmas enthusiast, studied at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, graduating with a Bachelor of Musical Theatre in 2016. She most recently starred in Queensland Theatre’s hit Australian musical The Sunshine Club. This is Kate’s third consecutive year performing in A Very Naughty Christmas. Her other credits include: Animal Farm (Shake & Stir Theatre Company), The Mystery of Valkyrie (Woodward Productions), Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts (Shake & Stir Theatre Company), Songs from Stage and Screen (The 7 Sopranos), touring with Echelon Productions & National Theatre for Children, Sweet Charity (Woodward Productions), The Spirit of Christmas (QPAC) The Gruffalo’s Child (CDP), and I Really Don’t Care (Melbourne Cabaret Festival). Television: White Fever (ABC).

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MADELINE PRATT After years of extensive dance training, Maddy moved to Ballarat for her studies in Music Theatre at Federation University, graduating 2017 and recently studied at the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts on a Music Theatre scholarship. Some credits include; Maureen - RENT, Heather Duke/Dance Captain - Heathers: The Musical, Val - A Chorus Line, Velma Kelly - Chicago, Marcy - Dogfight and Warner Bros The Masked Singer. Maddy also works for companies such as Fresh Creative Entertainment and The Entertainment Store where she performed at Carols By Candlelight and more. They have choreographed numerous productions such as Stranger Sings, Priscilla Queen of The Desert, Wicked and Legally Blonde as well as assisting workshops for the new Australian musical Paper Stars with Salty Theatre’s Hatch Lab. Maddy has also created various new works including their physical theatre/dance production Moments and their current roving burlesque comedy cabaret Undress Me, I’m Yours.

SHAY DEBNEY Shay Debney is a multi-faceted creative that trained at both The Australian Ballet School and The Victorian College of the Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre in 2015.

Shay has appeared in Strictly Gershwin (Queensland Ballet), Mack & Mabel (Hayes Theatre Co), Lord of the Flies (Matthew Bourne/New Adventures), The Wizard of Oz (GFO), Bright Star (Pursued

by Bear) and Singin’ in the Rain in the Concert Hall at QPAC, among others. Earlier this year Shay debuted at Adelaide Fringe and Newcastle Fringe, taking out the award for ‘Best Show’ in Newcastle, with an original absurd clowning show The Red Light. More recently, Shay debuted their solo show do you mind? at Melbourne Fringe to rave reviews. This is Shay’s fourth year performing in A Very Naughty Christmas and he is stoked to be in Melbourne’s first ever season.

TIM PAIGE Tim Paige studied acting and voice at the Victorian College of the Arts and Tasmanian Conservatorium, respectively. His theatre credits include Macbeth and Comedy of Errors (Pop Up Globe); The Dream Laboratory, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Twelfth Night (Essential Theatre); Himmelweg (The Smith Co); Absurd Person Singular (Mofo Theatre Co). Musical Theatre; Pacific Overtures and Company (Watch This) His directorial credits include assistant director As You Like It (Melbourne Theatre Company); assistant director of Pop-up Globe’s Melbourne season; resident director for Pop-up Globe, Sydney; director Villainy; founder and director of Shakespeare. Tim is an International Fellow of Shakespeare’s Globe and a proud union member (MEAA). He also LOVES Christmas and his split personality allows him to appear on both the naughty and nice list at the same time.

JOSHUA SPINIELLO Originally from Adelaide, Josh moved to Melbourne to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), graduating in 2024. During his studies, Josh performed as a soloist in Marry Me A Little (dir. Tyran Parke) and served as dance captain under choreographer Andrew Hallsworth in the latest production of Morning Melodies (dir. Tyran Parke). Most recently Josh was a part of VCA Company 23’s production of Heathers (dir. Alister Smith). Josh is excited to join A Very Naughty Christmas’ Melbourne premiere and would like to thank his teachers, friends and family for supporting him in following his passions. Merry Christmas and have a safe and happy New Year!

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VICTORIAN CREATIVE TEAM ALEX WOODWARD

BEN MURRAY

CLAIRE DIX

JOSH MCINTOSH

DANIEL VENZ

ISAAC LUMMIS

ALISTER SMITH

EMILY KRISTOPHER

MARTINE WENGROW

STEPHEN HIRST

DOMINIC WOODHEAD

MATT SEMPLE

DECLAN O’NEILL

CHI NEWTON

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER & CREATOR ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREATOR, WRITER, DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER CO-DIRECTOR & WRITER MUSIC DIRECTOR

MUSIC SUPERVISOR

SOUND DESIGNER SET DESIGNER

COSTUME DESIGNER SKIT WRITER

SKIT WRITER

SKIT WRITER

LIGHTING DESIGNER

MARKETING AND SOCIALS

MUSICIANS

PRODUCTION TEAM

MARTINE WENGROW

NICOLA TAYLOR

SAM AINSLIE

EMILY GILHOME

FACU ALVAREZ

KATIE HEAD

PIANIST

GUITAR & BASS DRUMMER

PRODUCTION MANAGER STAGE MANAGER

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

BRADY WATKINS SOUND OPERATOR

LACHLAN VAN DER KREEK

SOUND TECHNICIAN/QLAB PROGRAMMER 12

KICK OFF THE FESTIVITIES IN STYLE

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS PRESENTING AND MEDIA PARTNER

ACCOMODATION PARTNER

VENUE AND TICKETING PARTNERS

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