Performing Lines (Producer)

Performing Lines in a national organisation with a recently established Victoria office, producing provocative contemporary performance by Australia’s most audacious independent artists. The company curates a portfolio of work that is propelled by pressing questions and new ways of seeing the world; championing the unconventional, the marginal, the rebellious and the new.

Performing Lines’ purpose is to take risks and to ensure that the breadth and plurality of Australia’s creative potential is represented and celebrated. They work across theatre, dance, music, performance art and innovative artistic modes; as well as national producing and capacity building initiatives including artist residencies and producer training programs.

In everything they do, they acknowledge that we live on Aboriginal land and constantly learn from the wisdom of First Peoples. The local context and history that precedes them informs the company’s vision, processes and how they move forward.

Sarah Austin (Facilitator)

Sarah is a multi-award award winning theatre-maker and researcher specialising in creating contemporary and experimental performance with, by and for children and young people.

She has worked for companies in Australia and overseas as a Programmer, Director, Dramaturg and Curator and completed her PhD at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2020 where she now works as a Lecturer in Theatre. She is Artistic Director of Sarah Austin and Co, a company dedicated to creating exceptional contemporary performance work for very young children.

Her creative work has been recognised with Green Room Awards for Outstanding Theatre for Young Audiences, Curatorial and Artistic Direction and Outstanding Contemporary and Experimental Performance.

Samantha Butterworth (Facilitator)

Samantha is a Programmer and Creative Producer based in Melbourne. She is the Senior Producer at Performing Lines in Victoria. Prior to this, Samantha worked as Arts Programmer at Darebin City Council where she programmed and delivered the annual Darebin Arts Speakeasy season, amongst a slate of other activities. Previously, Samantha has worked as the Creative Producer of Elbow Room, as Tour Coordinator with Regional Arts Victoria (where she has also been engaged to produce both 2014 & 2015 Showcase Victoria events in conjunctions with the Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres), Producer of the inaugural Poppy Seed Festival, Operations Manager for Red Stitch Actors Theatre; Administrator for Rollercoaster Theatre Company; and has sat in many roles as a Freelance Producer.

John Marc Desengano (Facilitator)

John Marc Desengano (he/him) is a Filipino-Australian actor, theatre-maker and educator based in Melbourne. Graduating from The University of Ballarat in 2008, he has been working regularly as an actor and educator since.

John Marc made his Malthouse Theatre debut in 2022 playing Jacob Coote in Looking for Alibrandi. He has returned to Malthouse to perform in Atlantis and F Christmas. Other notable theatre credits include; The Yellow Wave, The Bachelor S17 E05, Enlightenment, Just a Boy Standing in Front of a Girl, A Midnight Visit, Rhinoceros and many more.

His television credits include; Lie With Me, Aunty Donna’s Coffee Café, FISK and others.

John Marc’s passion for working with young people has led him to a career in the Youth Arts sector. He is now proudly the Co-CEO and Co-Artistic Director for Western Edge.