the ensemble


All of the members of The Duck House have completed a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Performance at Edith Cowan University's School of Contemporary Arts, Perth.


Kathryn Osborne

Kathryn Osborne - Head Shot

Kathryn Osborne is a Director and a Producer. As Director/Producer: Acts of Undressing (Yirra Yaakin ‘10), The Bearskinner (The Blue Room’09), The Swallow-Tailed Coat (The Blue Room March ’09), Oscar (The Rechabites’ Hall ‘08), The Oresteia (The Blue Room ‘08); and The Suitcase Suite “The Curse of the House of Atreus” (ARTRAGE Festival ‘06). As Producer: Magdalena Perth Theatre Workshop Festival (Various Venues February ‘10). Assistant Director: Antigone, (Thin Ice, PIAF ‘09), House of Memory(The Rechabites’ Hall ‘07); and The Lady Aoi  (BSTC production, PIAF ‘07). Kathryn is currently undertaking an internship with producing company Performing Lines WA.


Gita Bezard

Gita Bezard - Head Shot

Gita is a performer, writer and director.  She has recently received funding to undertake a month-long intensive workshop at Dah Theatre in Serbia. She has most recently appeared in Acts of Undressing and is looking forward to working on her next writing project I Don’t Know You. Gita isa regular player for improvised comedy clubs, The Big Hoo Haa and Free Love and has also worked as publicist for the Magdalena Perth workshop theatre festival. She has also worked on: The Bearskinner (The Blue Room ’09), The Swallow-Tailed Coat (The Blue Room ‘09), Oscar (The Rechabites’ Hall ’08) The Oresteia(The Blue Room ‘08), Don’t Look Back (Perth International Arts Festival 2008), House of Memory (The Rechabites’ Hall, ‘07), The Suitcase Suite “De La Lune” (ARTRAGE Festival ‘06).


Alissa Claessens

Alissa Claessens - Head Shot

Alissa is a Performer, Devisor and Designer. After recently performing and designing Acts of Undressing designing, Alissa is looking forward to following her swing dancing and burlesque pusits. Alissa has appeared in other Duck House works including The Bearskinner, The Swallow-Tailed Coat and The Oresteia. Prior to this she designed the set and costumes for The Duck House's Oscar (The Rechabites' Hall, Dec '08). She has also worked in varying design capacities on: The Journeys of the Happy Buddha (UNIMA World Puppetry Festival '08) Don't Look Back (Perth International Arts Festival '08) and House of Memory (Rechabites Hall '07).


Sarah McKellar

Sarah McKellar - Head Shot

Sarah has most recently finished performing in the successful season of the new Australian musical, Heart of Gold (PICA ’09), and is currently playing Elaine Lamb in the mini-series adaptation of Cloudstreet by Tim Winton.  She will also be directing Red Cross with Wet Weather Ensemble at the Blue Room in July.  For the Duck House, she has played a girl in love with her pot plant in Oscar (The Rechabites’ Hall ‘07), and a thuggish, dim-witted Fury in The Oresteia (The Blue Room ‘08), and assisted as dramaturg for The Bearskinner (The Blue Room, 09).  She looks forward to making more quack-tastic theatre with I Don’t Know You later in the year.


Fran Middleton

Fran Middleton - Head Shot

Fran is a performer, devisor, musician and a devoted duck. As well a featuring in Acts of Undressing Fran has recently become a new addition to The Big Hoo Haa improvised comedy team. Other works include The Bearskinner and The Swallow-Tailed Coat (The Blue Room ’09), Oscar (The Rechabites' Hall Dec '08), The Oresteia (The Blue Room '08), Don't Look Back (Perth International Arts Festival '08) House of Memory (The Rechabites' Hall, '07), The Suitcase Suite "De La Lune" (ARTRAGE Festival '06).


Natasha Commons

Natasha Commons - Head Shot

Natasha Commons is a writer, director, dramaturg and performer. Most recently she was the Dramaturg/Publicist for Oscar., December '08 at The Rechabites Hall. Next year she will be living in Melbourne expanding The Duck House's interstate. Other credits include: The Riders, (UNIMA World Puppetry Festival '08) House of Memory, (The Rechabites Hall '07) Then Awkwardly We Danced (The Peppercorn Festival City Farm '07) Bring it Back, (Street Theatre Campaign '07).

the duck house manifesto


Respect. You can't rewind time.

Things carry weight. You can't take back what you do. Each moment leaves an indelible imprint on the future. You can't create without respect.


Play. And just see.

Don't say no. Let it not make sense for as long as possible. Beat them with a stick and put them back together. Make a mess and never apologise.


Nourish. Drink tea.

Share. Nourish yourself and those around you. Drink from the same pot, see the work of others, read, cry, rant, surrender. Consume positively and passionately. Celebrate and rest.


Sing. If in doubt, sing.

Something happens when you sing. When you hear a song. A silly song that says so much. A song to run. A song breathes differently.


Space. Let something happen.

Let space affect you, inform you, change you and tell you stories. Be thankful for it, cherish it, hurt it, fear it. Change it and let it change you. Rejoice in your context, know its limitations and its freedoms. Adhere to, and brazenly push past who you are, who they are. Be mindful of all that is not a part of yourself.


Identity. A female declaration.

We are women. Our work is of us. Women together, finding together. The work is/of us.