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CreateA is an arts company based in Bendigo, Victoria.

CreateA was established in 2002 with the purpose of providing opportunities for people with disability to engage with contemporary arts practice and to present their work publicly.The company has developed partnerships and working relationships with artists, arts organisations and community groups that are interested in developing inclusive practices that represent the diversity of our community.

CreateA is a program of Golden City Support Services and is supported by City of Greater Bendigo.

Creative Team

Kate Stones – Creative Director

Kate is a director, performing artist, writer, producer and educator. In addition to working with CreateA, Kate is Creative Learning Producer at Castlemaine State Festival, and President of Castlemaine Theatre Company. She wrote and directed the pantomime One Flew Over the Second Star on the Right for CTC (2022). Kate has created independent theatre with Kenneth MacLeod since 2011, under the banner of The Red Room. Their work has been performed at Castlemaine Festival and Adelaide Fringe. For CreateA Kate directed performances Venous Return(2022), PhoneHeads(2019) and films Italy in Bendigo (2019-22), Ever Been to Neverland? (2019). She co-directed No-Hands (2016).

John Willis – Creative Producer

John co-founded CreateA with Sara McQueenie in 2002. His background is in visual art but has grown to have greater involvement in physical performance. John has produced projects for CreateA over a wide range of art forms. John holds a Masters of Community Cultural Development Practice (Victorian College of the Arts).

Eliza Hull – Composer/Musician/
Sound Recording

Eliza is a singer/songwriter who has gained recognition for her own work as well as working collaboratively on arts projects. Eliza identifies as a disabled woman. She is also a journalist, working with ABC radio on podcast series as a Producer. Eliza holds a Bachelor of Education (Media and Music, Monash University) and a Bachelor of Communication (Media and Film, RMIT University)

Performing Ensemble

CreateA’s Performing Ensemble works together with the Creative Team in devising work that is presented in both traditional theatre spaces and in site specific or public spaces. Members of the Ensemble have diverse intellectual and physical disabilities. They are supported by Arts Support Workers and as well as devising work themselves they have collaborated with other companies including The Old Van, Back To Back Theatre and Born in a Taxi. Original work by CreateAbility includes Cultural Exchange (2015), No Hands (2017) and DENDRON – The Forest In Us (2018).

Ensemble Members

Cheryl Bailey, Francis Bush, Nicholas Cobbold, Kyra Drummond, Ben Dubbuc-Timson, Sarah Goninon, Yvette Keane, Kate Prendergast, David Smith, Samuel Thompson

Arts Support Workers

Mici Boxell, Kelly Hartland

CreateA History

CreateA (formerly CreateAbility) was established in 2002 by Sara McQueenie and John Willis. They were mentored by Phil Heuzenroeder from Club Wild (now Wild@Heart). The first events were dance parties held at The Universal nightclub in Bendigo and performance workshops held on weekends.

The Drama Ensemble has operated continuously since 2004. They have worked with theatre companies including Back To Back Theatre, The Old Van and Born in a Taxi. Past Creative Directors have been Penny Larkins, Sky Lily Simpson and Ian Scott and Sam Thomas.

In 2016 CreateA was invited to be resident at The Engine Room (Old Fire Station), part of Bendigo Venues and Events. This enabled the company to establish a weekly performance training workshop on Wednesdays in addition to the ongoing Saturday Drama group. The Wednesday group is the basis of CreateA’s Performing Ensemble. The Ensemble have co-devised major performing works with the Creative Directors. The Ensemble has performed at Victory Park and Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine (Castlemaine State Festival), Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo and The Cube, Wodonga.

The Visual Arts Group also began around 2004 and has exhibited work at La Trobe Visual Arts Centre (now La Trobe Arts Institute) and The Capital. Artists tutoring with the group include Vanessa Johnstone, Joan Harris and Mici Boxell.

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