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 is a Director and Producer. She is currently working as producer for the Magdalena Perth workshop theatre festival as well as Acts of Undressing for April 2010. She has most recently finished working as Director and Producer of a Brothers Grimm adaptation The Bearskinner (The Blue Room August/September '09). Other notable credits include: 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). Assistant Director: Antigone, (Thin Ice, PIAF '09), House of Memory (The Rechabites Hall '07); and The Lady Aoi (BSTC production, PIAF '07).


Gita Bezard

Gita Bezard - Head Shot

Gita is a performer, writer and director. As well as appearing in Acts of Undressing in early 2010, she has most recently performed in the Duck House's new work The Bearskinner. She is a regular player for improvised comedy clubs, The Big Hoo Haa and Free Love and is also working as publicist for the Magdalena Perth workshop theatre festival. She has also worked on: 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 The Bearskinner, Alissa is also looking forward to performing and designing Acts of Undressing. Alissa has appeared in other Duck House works including 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).


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).


Sarah McKellar

Sarah McKellar - Head Shot

Sarah is an actor with a background in music, directing and writing. After playing a girl in love with her pot plant in Oscar, and a thuggish, dim-witted Fury in The Oresteia, Sarah is currently looking forward to appearing in the Cloudstreet mini-series. She has most recently finished performing in the successful season of the new Australian musical, Heart of Gold at PICA as well as assisting on The Bearskinner as dramaturg earlier in 2009. This year, Sarah is broadening her horizons; assisting on a number of theatre committees, learning burlesque and swing dancing, and travelling overseas to experience international contemporary theatre. She looks forward to making more quack-tastic theatre.


Fran Middleton

Fran Middleton - Head Shot

Fran is a performer, devisor, musician and a devoted duck. In 2009 she performed in The Bearskinner and The Swallow-Tailed Coat (The Blue Room) and is looking forward to working on Acts of Undressing. She has also recently become a new addition to The Big Hoo Haa improvised comedy team. Other works include 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).

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.