Cabaret Panel

Panel Chair

Olly Lawrence (Chair)

Olly Lawrence is an award-winning producer, arts professional, and lighting designer based in Melbourne. They are currently the Senior Program Manager (Independent Arts) at Melbourne Fringe, and are one of the founders of T4T: A Transgender Showcase. They've produced work across cabaret, comedy, circus, and theatre, and toured extensively both nationally and internationally. Having worn many hats, they've previously worked for Midsumma Festival, and independent venues like The Butterfly Club and The Motley Bauhaus. Olly holds a Dean’s Honors in Cultural studies and Art History from the University of Melbourne, and regularly works as a freelance technical operator, lighting designer, and consultant.

Fiona Scott Norman (Deputy Chair)

Fiona Scott-Norman (she/her) is a cabaret and theatre director, dramaturg and writer, who is also known as a DJ, performer, arts critic, columnist, broadcaster and teacher of creative non-fiction writing.

She was the Artistic Director of the Ballarat Cabaret Festival in 2017, headed up the cabaret course at Federation University for five years, and was responsible for adding 'Cabaret' as an artform category for the Green Room awards. Fiona is a non-fourth wall and comedy specialist, and has directed and dramaturged over 170 cabarets. In 2025 she has completed her Masters in Theatre Directing at VCA.

Panellists

Ben Anderson

Ben Anderson has over 15 years’ experience across a broad range of performing arts roles. Currently Head of Venue Planning at Arts Centre Melbourne, he is responsible for the strategic curation of its theatres, concert hall, and outdoor spaces, ensuring optimal venue utilisation while fostering dynamic artistic programming.

As a producer and artist, Ben has a proven track record in delivering innovative cultural experiences with meaningful social impact. With a background spanning theatre, cabaret, and outdoor performance, he brings both a creative eye and a pragmatic approach to realising complex projects.

Jack Beeby

Meet Jack Beeby, an award-winning genderqueer drag clown, cabaret host, and smut poet who loves smashing silliness and sleaze together.

Equal parts trash and treasure, their work is playful, cheeky and made for people who like to watch.

They’re the chaotic brain behind cult favourites TAINT, BIRDOIR, POPPYCOCK (Melbourne Fringe Best Cabaret winner) and BUTT HOLE. When they’re not causing mischief on stage, they’re keeping Speakeasy Theatre as the Venue Manager. Icon behaviour, honestly.

Jamie Burgess

Composer, music maker, writer and all-round creative type, Jamie has been making work in Australia since 2010. Before that he was honing his skills in his native New Zealand, writing for nationally touring musicals, traveling with the Opera, and breaking box office records with his own original works.

In Aussie he's been supported as a writer through the VCA and New Musicals Australia, and has toured the country alongside cabaret artists Nikki Aitken, Justin Clausen, Amity Dry and Tash York. As an improv musician he was resident muso for local improv theatre group 'The Improv Conspiracy' for two years, has played with 'Impromptunes' and is also a much-loved piano bar entertainer, having worked across the South Pacific on P&O Cruise Lines.

David Butler

David Butler is an award-winning musical director, freelance performer and vocal coach based in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia.

A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (Voice), David can regularly be found in various festivals nationally, as well as on the cabaret and independent theatre stages as drag alter-ego Peppy Smears.

Performance and musical direction highlights include three seasons of “GHOST QUARTET” (Antipodes Theatre Company; 2019 – Australian premiere, 2021, and 2025 – Hayes Theatre), national and regional tours of “TASH YORK’S HAPPY HOUR”, “IT’S UP TO YOU: TASH YORK, TASH YORK”, and “LOVE THAT FOR YOU” (Big Hair Productions; 2022-Present), and “GUYS & DOLLS” (Antipodes Theatre Company; 2023).

David is a founding member of Antipodes Theatre Company, director of David Butler Studio, and is a referred voice teacher of Gary May and the Melbourne Voice Analysis Centre.

Linda Catalano

Linda Catalano is an independent Australian producer with national and international experience as a programmer, curator and manager that spans live performance and film and television. Her professional practice is dedicated to developing, presenting, programming and representing diverse, evocative, irreverent and intersectional work. Community connection and professional development are also a key part of her practice.

Angel Leggas

Angel has worked in the Professional & Independent arts scene for over 25 years as an Actor, Writer, Director, Producer, Photographer and Videographer. He founded the production company – 3 Fates Media in 2011 and has since produced numerous theatre works including the sold-out 2013 season of ‘Triage! A Nursing Cabaret’, the 2013 Green Room Nominated Cabaret – ‘The Yummy Burlesque Hour’, the 2019 cabaret ‘Not Quite Right’, the 2020 sold-out season of ‘Bin Goddess’ starring Danielle Matthews and Susan-ann Walker and the 2023 Cabaret ‘Our Naughty Bits’.

In 2014, Angel wrote, directed and produced 2 advertising campaigns for AFL Victoria and his company 3 Fates Media has provided photography, and videography services for the Australian Burlesque Festival since 2013

Angel was listed in the world’s Top 10 most influential non-performing artists (Photography) in the prestigious 21st Century Burlesque Awards in 2016, 2017 & 2019 and is a current standing committee member with The Antipodes Theatre Company as well as a member of the Melbourne Fringe Festival Cabaret Judging Panel.

Angel is honoured to be a part of the prestigious Green Room Awards Cabaret judging panel.

Margot Tanjutco

Margot Morales (she/they) is a multi-award-winning artist, writer, director, and serial collaborator working across theatre and live performance.

Their ambitious, form-agnostic works are surgically crafted through obsessive de/reconstructions of capitalism’s effects on the body and mind.

Their experimental solo work IN THE LIKELY EVENT OF FOREVER, won the 2023 Green Room Award for Best Writing in Cabaret and received the Headroom Award supported by RISING.

Their queer adaptation of Eros and Psyche, PSYCHE404ERROR, won Best Work in Festival at Melbourne Fringe 2021 and was nominated for a Green Room Award in Experimental Practice.

As a director, Margot directed the sold-out season of Anna Piper Scott’s AN EVENING WITH JK for Melbourne Fringe 2023. In 2022, they directed the sold-out season of CLUB NITE at the nightclub Miscellania and Harrison David Rivers’ AND SHE WOULD STAND LIKE THIS for Antipodes Theatre Company at the Meat Market Stables.

As an experimental artist and collaborator, Margot has performed in APHIDS’ EATING OUT at Kensington Town Hall, in Ari Angkasa’s live film works MEDIUM at Abbotsford Convent and SUSPICIOUS FISH for Melbourne Fringe/Long Prawn’s curated program at Fed Square, and in Andy Butler’s LIVING TRUTHFULLY IN INVENTED CIRCUMSTANCES (ACCA).

Margot was recently an Artistic Associate at Melbourne Theatre Company where they’ve also worked as Associate Director for Benjamin Law’s TORCH THE PLACE, Assistant Director on Florian Zeller’s THE TRUTH, and presented their own play DEAD IN A LIVEABLE CITY at Cybec Electric 2021.

Margot is proudly part of Arts Access Victoria’s Evolve Residency for Deaf and Disabled artists and cultural leaders. She was also a member of the Co-Design Working Group for the Government’s Arts and Disability Associated Plan published in November 2024.

Nicole Warren

Nicole is a festival director and creative producer with experience in the not-for-profit arts sector, community arts and local government. Working in community circus seeded an early interest in creating inspiring and engaging work that could resonate with a broad audience.

Nicole currently works in local government delivering a diverse portfolio of arts and culture programs alongside independently producing and curating across the arts and entertainment sector. Nicole has a special interest in site specific work, large outdoor spectacles and immersive experiences.

Xander Woollard

Xander Woollard is a prominent Australian arts executive, producer, and the former Artistic Director of Melbourne’s iconic home for independent theatre, The Butterfly Club, where he dedicated 18 years to championing the local cabaret scene.

Over his near two-decade tenure, he programmed more than 12,000 performances and helped launch the careers of thousands of emerging artists, while also directing the Melbourne Cabaret Fringe Festival.

A highly respected industry figure, Woollard continues to shape the performing arts landscape as a long-standing Cabaret Panel member for the Green Room Awards.

Elizabeth Dawson-Smith

With a First Class Honours accreditation in nineteenth century burlesque traditions (2014), Elizabeth's flair for subversive entertainment has made it's mark on the vaudeville, cabaret and burlesque circuit, with two Green Room Award nominations for 'Best Ensemble' (2015) and 'Innovation in Cabaret' (2012), 'Best Cabaret' & 'Best Dance' weekly awards at Adelaide Fringe Festival (2020/21), a Fields Award nomination for her 'Contribution to Australian Vaudeville' (2015) and act direction for the winning entries of Miss Burlesque Australia 2014 (Zelia Rose) and Mr Boylesque Australia 2015 (Egson Ham).

Elizabeth's dance work has been featured alongside Adelaide Fringe 'Best Music' (2012) recipients, Rapskallion (AUS) 2008-2014, Underscore Orchestra (USA) 2014, Slamboree (UK) 2015 & Woohoo Revue (AUS) 2014-16.

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Through her production company, Miss Friby, Elizabeth's work was featured at the 'Immersed Dance Industry Gala' 2013/14, invited to present alongside top international clowns at 'So You Think You Can Clown' (Comedy Festival Hub 2012) and was a featured finalist on Channel Nine's 'Australia's Got Talent' (2013). Miss Friby has also featured at major Australian festivals, Woodford Folk Festival (2021/2014), Splendour in the Grass (2014-19), Falls Festival (2013-16) and Rainbow Serpent Festival (2010-16), as well as high end theatre venues such as the National Gallery of Victoria (2012), The National Theatre and the World Famous Spiegeltent (2009).

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Currently Elizabeth works as both a performer/show maker and freelance producer for a range of clients developing work with/for fellow artists and working behind the scenes of major arts festivals and creative projects including The World's Greatest Freakshow (2022), The Town Festival (2018), Leaps & Bounds Festival (2018), Dropbear Films (2018), The Village Festival (2017) and The Melbourne Showboat (2017-20).

Christopher Fieldus

Gentlefemme cabaret queen Christopher Fieldus is a seasoned performer, having most recently presented a season of their latest show, Devastating Beauty, as part of Midsumma.

With an extraordinary voice and a distinctive style of prose poetry, they weave together song and storytelling, delivered from the heart.