Our People
Our Team
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is made up of a small team of dedicated individuals based in Fremantle Western Australia, led by a committed Board and with over 60 artists, we are a diverse group who work together to deliver programs to over 200,000 people each year.
Our Staff
Philip Mitchell
Philip Mitchell is an award-winning director and puppeteer with nearly three decades experience working in puppetry in Australia. He has been Artistic Director of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre for 20 years.
As an Artistic Director Philip’s passion is to create and commission contemporary puppetry works that explore the boundaries of the artform. Emotional literacy is at the heart of all the work Philip creates believing it is essential for the development of a healthy community.
Large scale works, interactive and experiential puppetry and the tension between the performer and the puppet drives his exploration in puppetry.
For SPPT he has directed award winning shows including The Arrival, winner of the WA Equity Guild Awards Best Production. Farm nominated for six PAWA Awards, On Our Beach an interactive immersive work Best Production in the 2020 PAWA Awards. The One Who Planted Trees, 2022 PAWA award for best Mainstage production, Beanstalk, 2022 PAWA award for best New Work
Prior to his move to Western Australia, Philip trained as a teacher, at the University of New England, and has facilitated literally thousands of workshops and artist in residencies for young people over his 30 year career. He also studied with Josef Krofta and Petr Matasek in the Czech Republic and attended the Prague School of Alternative Theatre and Puppetry at DAMU. He worked for more than 10 years as a puppeteer, teaching artist, performer, director, and co-devisor in Tasmania.
Philip Mitchell
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Michael Barlow
Michael is a director, writer and puppeteer who joined Spare Parts Puppet Theatre through the company’s training program in 1992. As a performer, he toured extensively for the company for many years before his appointment as Associate Director in 2007. As a director, his productions have been presented nationally, including The Little Prince, The Night Zoo, and Roald Dahl’s The Twits. He has also worked internationally as an adapting writer/animator of Shaun Tan’s The Arrival.
Michael’s work explores contemporary performance by re-contextualising puppets, objects, and performers on an animated stage, and investigates themes of connection and identity. He enjoys sharing his love of puppetry with young and emerging artists through the company’s training programs and the puppetry unit Spare Parts delivers for the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
Michael Barlow
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Katie Henebery
Katie is a passionate arts professional with experience spanning philanthropy and fundraising, corporate partnerships, human resources, artistic and general management, compliance, policy, and strategic development. Katie was previously Manager, Philanthropy and Partnerships and Head of Executive Office at the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Katie worked as a research partner on various projects for REĂ Consulting between 2018 and 2022.
Katie is proud of her work with the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre team, and is passionate about continuing to nurture this 40-year-old organisation, grow its audience, community engagement and creative learning programs and reputation as a centre for excellence in puppetry internationally.
Katie has a background in university administration – working in various management and operational roles at the University of Sydney before coming to work in the arts. Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours I) in Philosophy and Music from the University of Sydney.
Katie Henebery
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Monique Beaudoire
An unwavering belief that creative expression and storytelling can change people, places and communities fuels Monique’s passion as an arts manager and emerging arts leader. Since 2008 she has worked in senior development roles with leading Western Australian arts organisations Perth Festival, Black Swan State Theatre Company and Barking Gecko Theatre, collaborating with some of Australia’s most innovative artists and arts workers to deliver world class experiences for communities near and far. Her experience spans theatre, orchestral music, dance, visual arts, contemporary music, literature, opera and large scale public events.
Monique specialises in engaging and managing stakeholders, building a network of ambassadors who enable artists to create work to enrich our community. She has cultivated and managed a diverse range of business, philanthropic and government partnerships across a variety of sectors including resources, finance, professional services, hospitality and tourism. Through transformative and authentic leadership, strategic focus and boundless optimism, Monique has fostered high-performing teams that have raised significant fundraising income for arts programs and projects.
Monique has been a Non-Executive Director on the Board of ThinIce Productions and Barking Gecko Theatre.
Monique Beaudoire
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Grant Watson
Grant is a passionate marketer with over 10 years’ experience in traditional and digital marketing in the government, corporate and not-for-profit sectors. He has worked with clients and organisations across nearly all industries including retail, automotive, home building, local government, education and aged care.
Grant is that rare combination of someone with a love for both numbers and creative storytelling. Integral to his process is his passion for data and research, customer experiences and results-based, creative marketing strategies.
Grant holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Advertising from Curtin University.
Grant Watson
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John Michael Swinbank
John Michael Swinbank has managed the company’s publicity since 1999. Prior to this appointment, he was with West Australian Ballet from 1994-1998. His 20+ year professional practice includes all disciplines in the arts and culture sectors, including theatre, dance, music, visual arts and PR management of over 20 arts festivals. He holds a Master of Communication Management from Murdoch University and has ongoing research interests in strategic communications, propaganda and visual communications, especially the Vietnamese Propaganda Art from 1946-1975. Please contact John Michael for any publicity requests regarding Spare Parts Puppet Theatre.
John Michael Swinbank
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Megan Fitzgerald
Megan graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) in 2010. Since graduating Megan has worked on an array of theatre shows and events throughout Australia from small local shows to large scale outdoor events. Working in many roles over the years Megan has had a particular focus on Stage Management, Production Management, Lighting Design and Tour Management.
Over the last decade Megan has worked with a variety of companies in both a freelance capacity and in full time roles including Sydney Festival, Melbourne Festival, Melbourne Theatre Company, Belvoir Theatre Company, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, and Polyglot Puppet Theatre. Since setting down a base in Western Australia, Megan has worked for companies including Black Swan State Theatre Company, Western Sky Projects, and Fremantle Theatre Company. Megan is also passionate about teaching and held the position as lecturer in Stage Management at the University of Wollongong for several years.
As Creative Producer Megan works between the administrative side of getting Theatre and Event works on the road and, along with the Production Manager, ensuring a smooth-running theatre season here in The Spare Parts Theatre.
Megan Fitzgerald
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Ben Nelson
Ben Nelson is a professional production manager and creative problem solver. Originally from an industrial maintenance and labouring background, he switched to a career in the arts in 2012 working with local bands in Albany (WA) before joining the Albany Entertainment Centre as acting Head of Audio. Here he expanded his technical theatre skills working with various touring productions until he was drawn to Perth to work on new creative productions.
He has had the privilege of managing the creative production of various new works including Whoosh! and Wonderbox (Perth Fest 2023) with Sensorium Theatre and Black Brass (Perth Fest 2021, Sydney Fest 2022), Children of the Sea (Perth Fest 2021) with Performing Lines WA.
As an adult convert to the arts, he is a believer in the fulfilling and enlightening nature of theatre and is passionate about accessibility for people of all ages and backgrounds whether they are audience or hoping to build a career in the arts.
In his role as Production and Technical Officer, Ben works in the practical side of getting shows up and running, including building sets and repairing puppets.
Ben Nelson
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Harrison Lorenz-Daniel
Harrison Lorenz-Daniel (he/him) is an emerging maker, director, writer, and performer based in Boorloo.
Since graduating from WAAPA in 2023 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Performance Making), his current creative practice centres around devising theatre with and for young people, with him currently researching this further through an Honours Degree in Performance Making at WAAPA.
Harrison debuted as a performer in both the debut and subsequent performances of The Blue Room Theatre’s Bad Feminist, as part of the 2023 Summer Nights season. He is currently developing a new work for young people titled ‘Where the Footpath Swallows Me Up’. This will be the second work Harrison has directed for young people, following the day the moon fell from the sky., as part of the 2023 TILT season.
When not performing, he fosters a love for magic and music, which often seeps into his creative theatrical practice.
Harrison is incredibly excited to deepen his relationship with Spare Parts.
Harrison Lorenz-Daniel
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Una Minello
Una Minello is an accomplished creative with a degree in Arts Management from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Her journey in the arts began with a strong foundation in classical dance and music, providing her a passionate appreciation of artistic expression.
During her studies, Una worked and gained valuable experience across a diverse range of arts organisations both private and non-for profit. She completed her final secondment at STRUT dance where she developed skills in event management, philanthropy and customer relationship management. She has also worked freelance in marketing and social media management, where furthered her skillset in digital marketing and content creation. Since completing her studies Una has continued her work in arts management, focusing her work in arts education and the delivery of arts programs for the early years.
Una is committed to making the arts accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. With four years of hands-on experience working with children in various artistic programs, she has become an advocate for arts education as an integral part of a child’s development. She firmly believes that nurturing creativity and artistic expression from a young age not only enriches lives but also moulds well-rounded individuals.
Una Minello
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Erin Shepherd
Erin recently graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University, where she completed her Arts Management degree. Her studies further inspired her passion for the arts and culture, and equipped her with the essential skills needed to work in the field of arts management.
During her time at WAAPA, Erin was able to take part in a number of practicums, including a notable internship for Regional Arts WA, where she was responsible for assisting with communications, stakeholder engagement and event planning. She also served as Secretary for the Arts Management Student Organisation, where she facilitated professional development and networking opportunities for her peers.
Originally from Geraldton, located on Southern Yamatji land, Erin is deeply committed to community and regional development. She aspires to champion the arts in regional Australia, providing services and events that contribute towards a more culturally vibrant landscape. Erin firmly believes in the power of the arts to enrich peoples’ lives, allowing for emotional expression, and open minds to new perspectives and stories.
Erin Shepherd
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Our Board
David Mofflin
David has extensive experience in the successful growth and management of businesses, both within Australia and Internationally. He has spent over 30 years in the engineering sector, during which time he has been actively involved in overall business management, strategic planning, business acquisition, project advisory services, project due diligence, technology commercialisation, project management, structural design, and university lecturing.
David is currently Deputy Chair of the Kimberley Ports Authority, and past non-executive Director of Engineering Education Australia. Previously he was employed by Evans & Peck, an engineering advisory firm, to develop bankable feasibilities and delivery strategies for multi-billion-dollar resources developments. Prior to this, David was for over 20 years a senior executive and Director at WorleyParsons, playing an important role in the development of major new growth initiatives within the company. In particular, he was involved in the initial establishment and growth of WorleyParsons’ Infrastructure business.
David has a PhD from the University of Cambridge, and a First-Class Honours Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Western Australia. He has been actively involved in the broader engineering profession, including time as Chair of the WA Centre for Engineering Leadership and Management, and as a WA Division Committee member of Engineers Australia.
David Mofflin
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Lisa Hamilton
Trained as a lawyer and specialised in industrial relations and employment law before taking a new career direction in the oil and gas industry where she has spent the last 17 years. Lisa has held a number of other Board positions and is a former director of the Ngarluma Yindjibandi Foundation and the Dampier Port Authority.
Lisa Hamilton
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Philip Mitchell
Philip Mitchell is an award-winning director and puppeteer with nearly three decades experience working in puppetry in Australia. He has been Artistic Director of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre for 20 years.
As an Artistic Director Philip’s passion is to create and commission contemporary puppetry works that explore the boundaries of the artform. Emotional literacy is at the heart of all the work Philip creates believing it is essential for the development of a healthy community.
Large scale works, interactive and experiential puppetry and the tension between the performer and the puppet drives his exploration in puppetry.
For SPPT he has directed award winning shows including The Arrival, winner of the WA Equity Guild Awards Best Production. Farm nominated for six PAWA Awards, On Our Beach an interactive immersive work Best Production in the 2020 PAWA Awards. The One Who Planted Trees, 2022 PAWA award for best Mainstage production, Beanstalk, 2022 PAWA award for best New Work
Prior to his move to Western Australia, Philip trained as a teacher, at the University of New England, and has facilitated literally thousands of workshops and artist in residencies for young people over his 30 year career. He also studied with Josef Krofta and Petr Matasek in the Czech Republic and attended the Prague School of Alternative Theatre and Puppetry at DAMU. He worked for more than 10 years as a puppeteer, teaching artist, performer, director, and co-devisor in Tasmania.
Philip Mitchell
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Katie Henebery
Katie is a passionate arts professional with experience spanning philanthropy and fundraising, corporate partnerships, human resources, artistic and general management, compliance, policy, and strategic development. Katie was previously Manager, Philanthropy and Partnerships and Head of Executive Office at the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Katie worked as a research partner on various projects for REĂ Consulting between 2018 and 2022.
Katie is proud of her work with the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre team, and is passionate about continuing to nurture this 40-year-old organisation, grow its audience, community engagement and creative learning programs and reputation as a centre for excellence in puppetry internationally.
Katie has a background in university administration – working in various management and operational roles at the University of Sydney before coming to work in the arts. Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours I) in Philosophy and Music from the University of Sydney.
Katie Henebery
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Dr Leah Mercer
Associate Professor at Curtin University where she teaches into the Theatre Arts major, Leah is also the Co-Artistic Director of the multi-award winning company The Nest Ensemble, which she co-founded in 2004. The Nest Ensemble generates performances that deal in ideas, imagination and transformation. A theatre director and collaborative performance maker with a particular interest in the creation of new works, Leah was awarded Best Director at the 2015 PAWA Awards.
Dr Leah Mercer
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David Hansen
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Nadia Martich
Nadia Martich is a proud Gamilaroi and Bigambul woman hailing from north-western NSW who now calls beautiful Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar home.
Nadia is an artist working in visual art, theatre, dance, and puppetry and enjoys creating, devising, performing, and mentoring.
Nadia trained at NAISDA Dance College, graduating with the prestigious Chairman’s award of excellence in 2015. And has since been lucky to share her culture and perform in Scotland, Canada, and Hawaii as well as throughout regional WA and NSW, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane mainstages.
When asked to choose her favourite performance experiences Nadia shared, ‘Transformation’ Banff Arts Centre Canada, CO_EX_EN- Karul Projects, Panawathi Girl by Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, and Show Day by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre.
Nadia also works as a student support officer for Yalari, a non for-profit organisation offering boarding school scholarships to Indigenous students from regional and rural Australia. In this role Nadia supports the Yalari boarding students in their secondary school journey at MLC Claremont.
Nadia Martich
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Our Artists
Life Members
Philip Mitchell
Philip Mitchell is an award-winning director and puppeteer with nearly three decades experience working in puppetry in Australia. He has been Artistic Director of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre for 20 years.
As an Artistic Director Philip’s passion is to create and commission contemporary puppetry works that explore the boundaries of the artform. Emotional literacy is at the heart of all the work Philip creates believing it is essential for the development of a healthy community.
Large scale works, interactive and experiential puppetry and the tension between the performer and the puppet drives his exploration in puppetry.
For SPPT he has directed award winning shows including The Arrival, winner of the WA Equity Guild Awards Best Production. Farm nominated for six PAWA Awards, On Our Beach an interactive immersive work Best Production in the 2020 PAWA Awards. The One Who Planted Trees, 2022 PAWA award for best Mainstage production, Beanstalk, 2022 PAWA award for best New Work
Prior to his move to Western Australia, Philip trained as a teacher, at the University of New England, and has facilitated literally thousands of workshops and artist in residencies for young people over his 30 year career. He also studied with Josef Krofta and Petr Matasek in the Czech Republic and attended the Prague School of Alternative Theatre and Puppetry at DAMU. He worked for more than 10 years as a puppeteer, teaching artist, performer, director, and co-devisor in Tasmania.
Philip Mitchell
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Michael Barlow
Michael is a director, writer and puppeteer who joined Spare Parts Puppet Theatre through the company’s training program in 1992. As a performer, he toured extensively for the company for many years before his appointment as Associate Director in 2007. As a director, his productions have been presented nationally, including The Little Prince, The Night Zoo, and Roald Dahl’s The Twits. He has also worked internationally as an adapting writer/animator of Shaun Tan’s The Arrival.
Michael’s work explores contemporary performance by re-contextualising puppets, objects, and performers on an animated stage, and investigates themes of connection and identity. He enjoys sharing his love of puppetry with young and emerging artists through the company’s training programs and the puppetry unit Spare Parts delivers for the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
Michael Barlow
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The late Noriko Nishimoto
Trained at The Kansai Geijutsu–Za Performing Arts Academy in Japan, Noriko Nishimoto worked for 16 years as a performer, writer, and director at leading professional puppet company Clarte Puppet Theatre in Osaka.
In 1981, she was invited by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s founding Artistic Director Peter L. Wilson as a guest artist for the company’s production of Faust for the Festival of Perth.
In 1982, she joined the company as master puppeteer and technique master, funded by the Japan–Australia Foundation. During this time, she trained performers in the company and toured the eastern states, China, Korea, Japan, Canada, and USA – and conducted master classes in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, and Brisbane.
In 1987, Noriko became Associate Artistic Director of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, writing, adapting, devising, designing, and directing – as well as collaborative work with other companies including Two Dance Plus, Chrissie Parrot Dance Theatre, Black Swan Theatre Company in Perth, Terrapin Puppet Theatre in Hobart, Polyglot Puppet Theatre in Melbourne, and Drak Theatre in the Czech Republic.
In 1995 Noriko took a six month break from Spare Parts to work on an individual development project Miss Tanaka funded by the Australia Council for the Arts. During this period, she also worked as a freelance artist with Skylark Theatre in Canberra, Handspan Theatre and Polyglot Puppet Theatre in Melbourne.
In 1997 Noriko was appointed Artistic Director of Spare Parts. She set up the Company Associate Program to encourage individual artists and the School of Puppetry to allow company associates the opportunity to share their skills and knowledge in a recognized form. She developed national and international tours for Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s productions, explored cross art form collaborations, participated in creative partnerships and generally consolidated the company’s artistic reputation.
As Artistic Director, Noriko’s focus was to produce new productions to reflect Australian culture and she directed and produced a series of highly acclaimed productions that included: The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek, the smash hit The Bugalugs Bum Thief, Cat Balloon, The Deep, Eat the Moon and The Midnight Gang in collaboration with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
In July 2001, after 20 very successful years with the company, Noriko announced her resignation as Artistic Director to work as a freelance theatre director. She worked as puppetry creator for Mamu with Black Swan State Theatre Company, directed The Emperor’s Nightingale and conducted master classes with Capital E’s National Theatre for Children in New Zealand and was a creative consultant on many individual artists projects.
Major awards recognising Noriko’s work include Union Internationale de la Marionnette/Australia (2008), Union Internationale de la Marionnette Women’s Commission Award/ World (2012), Spare Parts Puppet Theatre – Honorary Life Member Award (2014) and Western Australian State Living Treasures Award (2015).
Sadly, Noriko passed away in May 2016 leaving behind a legion of fans and colleagues who were inspired by her work. We were honoured to have worked with such a talent and aim to continue to inspire others as much as she did through puppetry.
The late Noriko Nishimoto
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Our Volunteers
We’d like to thank all our wonderful volunteers who help make our mission possible.
Maxine Howell-Price
Elaine Forrestal
Toni Miller
Dianna Nottle
Sabrina de Beer
Steph Toohey
Hannah Bremner
Caleb Parsons
Paul Darwin
Leticia Darwin
Luke Cronstedt
Jan Burne
Kim Livingstone
Bethan Peters
Clare Pettigre
Francesca Zwick
Peter Fisher
Maureen Lloyd
Josephine Ferstat