The Besen Family Artist Program offers four placements a year for artists to experience professional development at Malthouse Theatre. For 2021, the recipients are Aiv Puglielli (Sound Design & Composition), Alice Qin (Directing), Karine Larché (Set & Costume Design) and Nofar Szumer-Menashe (Lighting Design).
Now in its 17th year, the program has cultivated a new generation of ambitious theatre-makers with 2020 recipients including Hannah Fallowfield (Directing), James Henry (Sound Design & Composition), Rachel Lee (Lighting Design) and Morgan Rose (Dramaturgy).
The recipients are provided with opportunities to work across multiple projects at Malthouse Theatre between July to December 2021, including a broad experience of the company’s operations plus connections with a range of practitioners, all under the guidance of a dedicated mentor.
The four artists are offered a bespoke program of workshops to assist in professional development goals and also receive $4,000 for the equivalent of four weeks’ full-time employment.
“We’re thrilled to continue this pivotal program for early career designers and directors, giving them practical experience and mentorship with a major theatre company,” said Malthouse Theatre New Work Manager, Mark Pritchard.
“There are no automatic pathways in the arts, but this program has a history of helping us making strong connections with talented independent artists. At a time of huge flux in the industry, we’re excited to be providing important development and growth opportunities for young artists.”
Aiv Puglielli (Sound Design & Composition)
As an Italian-Australian dual national, LGBTQIA+, multidisciplinary artist, Aiv works as a composer (both in fixed notation and via improvisation-based techniques), voice artist, producer, and actor. Recent credits include the Binary Coalescence Project, The House on Fire at the Edge of the World, and Lady Moon and the Gondolier.
Alice Qin (Directing)
Alice is a Melbourne based theatre-maker, actor, educator, and director. She’s currently assistant director on Lifespan of a Fact (MTC). Her previous work with Malthouse Theatre includes performances in the Suitcase Series production Atomic in 2018 and 2019, as well as Little Emperors in 2017. She was the assistant director on Golden Shield (MTC 2019) and a participant in the MTC x CAAP directing initiative. She was also the directing mentor on the 2020 Melbourne Fringe and Green Room multi award-winning (Luò yè gui gen) Getting Home.
Karine Larché (Set & Costume Design)
Karine is a Set and Costume designer based in Melbourne. Recent credits include design for Nothing, directed by Alonso Pineda Garcia, Pool (No Water), directed by Leticia Cáceres, and Project F, choreographed by Prue Lang. Previously, Karine has worked as costumier for a decade in France and in Australia, mainly at the Australian Ballet. Karine has recently graduated with a Master of Design for Performance at VCA.
Nofar Szumer-Menashe (Lighting Design)
Nofar is a passionate early-career lighting technician and designer, constantly striving to identify new and inventive lighting techniques. Recent credits as lighting designer include Purim Spiel: The Handmaid’s Tallis (Phoenix Theatre: Melbourne Purim Spiel), Pinocchio (Phoenix Theatre: Wonderland Theatre Company), and Brick (Melbourne Fringe Festival: Yvonne Martin).
For more information about the Besen Family Artist Program, visit: www.malthousetheatre.com.au for details.
Image: Top row, 2020 Placements: Hannah Fallowfield, James Henry, Rachel Lee, Morgan Rose. Bottom row, 2021 Placements: Karine Larché, Aiv Puglielli, Alice Qin, Nofar Szumer Menashe (supplied)