Who is Leisa Prowd?
I’m a physical theatre performer, dancer, life model and mother, now based in Naarm, Melbourne. I work as a freelance performer, but I’m currently working with a small company down in Leongatha in South Gippsland – which kind of feels as though I’m returning to my roots as I was born down that way.
I live with my two adult kids – Jordan and Riley. We have two dogs, two cats and two aquariums full of cold and tropical fish.
I’m the co-creator of Exhibit with Emma J. Hawkins and am so excited to be bringing this work to life. Emma and I had been talking about creating a work together for such a long time, so it’s been a joy to be able to get together to explore our whacky ideas and see them come to life!
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I’d hire a producer for Exhibit to do all the admin and necessary behind-the-scenes stuff! It has been quite the experience not only creating, rehearsing, and performing a work, but doing the necessary admin and people-wrangling as well.
Full disclosure here though, Emma J has taken on the majority of those tasks and has done so brilliantly… but I know it’s been a monumental job, so to have someone else take on the role of Producer would have meant that she and I could dedicate all of our time to actually creating the work.
Who inspires you and why?
My parents. They are both in their early 80’s and have been married for just over 60 years. They are two of the most selfless people; community minded, always willing to help others in need. They raised 7 kids on one wage and knew how to make ends meet.
Our fun as a family consisted of being out in nature – long beach or bush walks, swimming in the ocean or in the river. Mum and Dad taught me how to be resilient and resourceful. I am so very proud of them and proud to be their daughter.
My late best friend, Pam also inspires me. We had such a wonderful, easy, funny friendship and loved each other so much that we could tell each other all the hard things and be secure in the knowledge that we would still stand by each other.
On her last conscious day, people came to visit her and she spent that time encouraging them, giving them loving advice, and letting them know how much they meant to her. Her last words to me were, “My life was richer with you in it.” I want to live like that.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I would ensure there is strong and sustainable funding for the arts, and for the full participation of people with disabilities in the arts – as independent artists and creatives, as cultural workers, and as audiences.
Disabled people must be supported not only to access the arts, but to earn a living through them, contribute to the cultural fabric of our society, and have the opportunity to tell their own stories. These stories are inherently political because they challenge whose bodies, voices and experiences are valued and represented in our culture.
I believe art is the lifeblood of culture. It is where we share stories, experiences and perspectives; where we come together and build connection and understanding. People want and need art, yet it is becoming increasingly difficult to make art, earn a living as an artist, and ensure that the work is accessible to everyone.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
The last holiday I took was to Halkidiki, just south-east of Thessaloniki in Greece. I was invited to stay with my friend Karla, who lives there, so I got the real local experience. It was heaven. We were only a kilometre away from the local beach, so we went swimming every day.
Karla took me to all the good cafes and restaurants to experience genuine Greek cuisine, prepared by locals. There were amazing walks in nature, we went snorkeling in crystal clear waters. I just loved being out in nature and having a different cultural experience.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I’d take them to the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens. Back in the 80’s, before it was curated, my siblings and I used to explore that area a lot. It now has an Australian garden filled with native flora. If you walk around mindfully you may even spot some bandicoots, wallabies, and koalas. There are plenty of picnic areas, BBQs, and walking tracks to amble or hike along. It’s a great place to go if you want to experience some of the Australian bush without having to travel too far from the city.
What are you currently reading?
Stealing by Margaret Verble. I found this piece of historical fiction by chance at a discount bookstore and have only just started reading it. It is about Kit, a Cherokee child who was taken from her family in the 1950’s and sent to a Christian Boarding School.
She is stripped of her family, her heritage, and force-fed Christian indoctrination, however Kit also keeps her own journal which helps her preserve a sense of who she is and where she came from. I’m totally engrossed in this novel. It’s helping me return to my bookworm self!
What are you currently listening to?
Movie scores. My two soundtracks currently on repeat are the Project Hail Mary score by Daniel Pemberton and The Bear: The Final Season by Christian Lundberg. The Project Hail Mary score is so diverse, using instruments, samples from the environment, voice, and body percussion to layer sound to build a scene and the drama behind it. The sound makes my soul soar!
Incidentally, Dan West, our sound designer for Exhibit also composed our score from vocalizations and sounds from Emma J. and I! It was such an interesting process and now I find myself looking for other artists who use the same technique.
I stumbled upon The Bear: The Final Season by accident when I was looking for music to use during Exhibit rehearsals. The mood seemed to suit some of what we were exploring. Since then, I’ve started watching the series. It’s so intense!
Happiness is?
Happiness is a decision. It’s not necessarily the choice to feel happy, because we don’t really have control over the feelings that arrive. Happiness is not denial, pretending everything is OK. It means choosing to look for the reasons to keep going, continuing to find the beautiful, funny, interesting, pleasurable and curious things about life.
It’s about looking for what is still possible and running towards it. Happiness is acknowledging what happened to you, what you carry, and yet still choosing to live a life of joy and purpose.
Since the death of my daughters in 2022 and 2024, I walk with intense grief every day, but I have decided to continue to look for glimmers in each day; and in them, I find the beauty and joy that my daughters brought to the world. And so, I am happy.
What does the future hold for you?
I’m not really sure what the future holds for me, but I hope it includes touring Exhibit to regional areas and interstate festivals – maybe even international festivals!
I would like to continue teaching and mentoring other artists – either with or without disabilities. I’ve managed to have a career in an industry that doesn’t know what to do with bodies that don’t conform to rigid standards, so I’d love to work with others who love art, love dance, and love movement and want to share that passion with the world.
The older I get, the less concerned I am with whether my art fits neatly into a category, whether it be dance, movement, spoken word, physical theatre, or even disability arts. I’m more interested in my changing body, its history, its inherent politics, and how I can continue to show what is possible to others. I want to always be curious about my own body, and I hope I can continue to experience joy in this industry for years to come.
Leisa stars with Emma J. Hawkins in Exhibit – which will be presented at La Mama Courthouse, as part of the 2026 Melbourne Fringe Festival, from 30 September – 4 October. For more information, visit: www.lamama.com.au for details.
Image: Leisa Prowd (left) and Emma J. Hawkins (right) – photo by Nicole Tsourlenes