DEBORAH BROWN

About

With over 15 years of experience in dance theatre Deborah recently completed her Masters in Screen Directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Concurrently she has been exploring directing theatre as an assistant to some of Australia’s top directors as well as delivering choreography for various projects.

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Deborah has an interest in the world of music and fashion with the hope to continue her practice changing the preconceptions Australia has with representation and visibility.

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Deborah was a Senior Artist and choreographer with world renowned Bangarra Dance Theatre. In 2013, she made her choreographic and directorial debut, creating a short dance film titled dive paying homage to the Pearl Shell divers of the Torres Straits for Bangarra's season of Dance Clan 3, leading her to create IBIS as part of the lore national season in 2015. Her career highlights with Bangarra were returning to Country - including Mer Island and Yirrkala – performing at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Harvey Theatre and partnering with The Australian Ballet at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

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Deborah has explored independent work as a choreographer and actor. She directed and choreographed local talent in a short film, hide, in association with Campbelltown Arts Centre. She choreographed and assisted the new Australian production, Spinifex Gum, a collaboration with Felix Riebl, Ollie Mcgill of The Cat Empire and Marliya of Gondwana Choirs, including their pre-game performance at Dreamtime at the G for the Australian Football League as well as sell out seasons at Adelaide Festival 2018 and Sydney Festival 2019, with the more recent highlight performing at Garma Festival 2019. She was also assistant director and choreographer for the world premiere of The Long Forgotten Dream, directed by Neil Armfield for Sydney Theatre Company as well as The Beauty Queen of Leenane, directed by Paige Rattray and more recently Wonnangatta directed by Jessica Arthur. She was also Associate Director to Anthea Williams on Winyanboga Yurringa as well participating in Belvoir's 2020 Artists at Work program.

As a performer in 2017 she returned to acting as the lead Layla, in the short film Water, directed by John Harvey. In 2019 she was featured in Angelica Mesiti's Assembly 2019 as part of the 58th Venice Biennale.

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Awards/Grants

Recipient

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2016 Australian Dance Award, shared, Outstanding Performance by a Company, Lore (IBIS and Sheoak)

2015 The Australia Council Creative Australia Fund in association with Campbelltown Arts Centre

2013 Helpmann Award, Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production, Terrain

Nominations

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2019 Helpmann Award, Best New Australian Work, Spinifex Gum

2019 St Kilda Film Festival Short Film Award, Best Actor

2016 Helpmann Award, Best New Australian Work, Lore (IBIS and Sheoak)

2014 Australian Dance Award, Best Female Dancer

2010 Helpmann Award, Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production, Fire A Retrospective