Book Week shows for students... by teachers!!
Ph. 1300 BOOK WEEK
"Tony Bones" Appleby B.Ed
(VIT / WWCC registration click here! Public Liability & Professional Indemnity Insurance certificates click here!) Fully vaccinated for Covid-19 28.06.2021 & 2021 flu shot.
Script Writer, Director, Composer, Choreographer, Designer, Performer
Tony was selected to study at both Melbourne High School & the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, before gaining a Bachelor of Education in Drama & Dance at Rusden Campus of Deakin University.
His teaching of Drama, Dance & English followed in a range of private performing arts schools, special education settings, primary schools, and secondary schools where Tony continues to teach drama & English today.
In addition to his teaching, Tony performed professionally on a range of theatrical, dance, singing & musical theatre projects before creating his first children’s theatre company in 1999. Tony Bones Entertainment “Children’s Theatre by Qualified Teachers" grew over 16 years to tour a total of 32 CBCA Book Week short-listed book shows that Tony personally adapted for the stage for school Book Week programs. He also created 6 original Theatre In Education productions that focussed on bullying, maths & science, Australian Christmas, puppetry, fractured fairytales & iconic Australians. Alongside these school shows, Tony created 25 original party character productions that were performed at corporate events, festivals & parties both in Australia & overseas, as well as a number of different musical cabaret productions that toured for corporate functions & events.
After 16 years of solid touring around Australia & constant show development, Tony sold Tony Bones Entertainment at the end of 2014 & finally took a "gap year" to travel around Australia with his young family in 2015. This was an amazing experience, especially exploring the range of community-based arts programs on offer around the country.
Since his return, Tony has been writing an adult contemporary musical theatre show entitled "Listen To Me" with composer Gerald Marko. Tony proudly holds a full Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) membership as an Australian composer & lyricist.
He has simultaneously returned in a casual capacity to teaching drama & English in the Victorian secondary school system. This casual teaching role allows him the time to create theatre in education with his new Theatre In Education company & tour as required.
In contrast to his first theatre company, Books To Life has a much smaller performing staff (Tony) and a much clearer focus - solely the CBCA Book Week shortlisted Picture Book of the Year show! This new model has been created in direct response to many schools requesting a lower-priced Theatre In Education experience that still has the very highest quality of performance & stagecraft elements that schools grew to know with Tony's shows. There was also significant investment made with the new company to update & continue to innovate the technical elements of the theatre in education to be more relevant to a modern audience & appeal to a wider range of student ages. The shows moved to encompass more visual arts & digital arts into the shows so that all 5 of the subjects in the "performing arts" are given equal importance in the productions by Books To Life.
Tony says: “With Books To Life, I finally get to focus all of my creative energy on just one new major theatre in education production each year. It is the project I’ve always loved creating & performing the most - the new CBCA Book Week short-listed Picture Book of the Year. After 16 years of building up a large company of performers with several casts touring multiple productions around the country, I’m now so excited to be able to throw all of my time, creativity & performance skills into just one amazing new production each year. The fact that I personally get to perform every single performance myself to tens of thousands of students across the country each year is even more exciting! The new setup is much more adaptable & flexible than my previous one, & offers the very latest technology in theatre with raised stages, the latest state of the art sound systems & wireless headset microphone, cutting edge wireless DMX lighting, and multiple digital projectors & rear projection screens, all run via remote control on stage. By upgrading to the latest technologies I've been able to cut out the need for a second staff member to operate sound, lighting & projectors & can now do it myself within the show without anyone even knowing. It is amazing what the new technical gear can do now and this all results in a big reduction in price & at the same time an even more spectacular theatre experience for the students & teachers. The students are now even more involved in the show than they ever used to be which was a direct result of feedback from the schools of what they wanted to see.”
Tony has now performed for well over a million school students across Australia & with his new INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL show option, even more students can share in the show both locally & abroad. To see what some of the schools have had to say click here!!!
Tony currently holds Public Liability Cover of $30,000,000, Product Liability Cover of $30,000,000, & Professional Indemnity Insurance of $10,000,000.
Performance & Teaching Resume
CBCA SHORT-LISTED BOOKS ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY TONY APPLEBY FOR BOOKS TO LIFE Writer, Director, Co-Composer & Performer
- Littlelight (2021 - Live & Interactive Virtual Production - based on the CBCA 2021 Shortlisted Picture Book of the Year by Kelly Canby)
- Hello Lighthouse (2020 - Interactive Virtual Production - based on the CBCA 2020 Shortlisted Picture Book of the Year by Sophie Blackall)
- The All New Must Have Orange 430 (2019 - based on the CBCA 2019 Picture Book of the Year "Honour Book" by Michael Speechley)
- A Walk in the Bush (2018 - based on the CBCA 2018 Picture Book of the Year "Winner" by Gwyn Perkins)
CBCA SHORT-LISTED BOOKS ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY TONY APPLEBY FOR TONY BONES ENTERTAINMENT Writer, Director, Co-Composer & Performer
- The Windy Farm (2014 - based on the picture book by Doug McLeod & Craig Smith)
- My Life As An Alphabet (2014 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Barry Jonsberg)
- Herman & Rosie (2013 - based on the picture book by Gus Gordon)
- Other Brother (2013 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Simon French)
- No Bears (2012 - based on the picture book by Meg McKinlay)
- Bungawitta (2012 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Emily Rodda)
- Two Peas in a Pod (2011 - based on the picture book by Chris McKimmie)
- Duck For A Day (2011 - based on the younger reader's novel by Meg McKinlay)
- Schumann the Shoeman (2010 - based on the picture book by John & Stella Danalis)
- Matty Forever (2010 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Elizabeth Fensham)
- Nobody Owns The Moon (2009 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)
- Audrey Of The Outback (2009 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Christine Harris)
- The Night Garden (2008 - based on the picture book by Elise Hurst)
- Amelia Dee & The Peacock Lamp (2008 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Odo Hirsch)
- Water Witcher (2007 - based on the picture book by Jan Ormerod)
- Being Bee (2007 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Catherine Bateson)
- Irving The Magician (2006 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)
- To The Light (2006 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Pat Flynn)
- At The Beach - Postcards from Crabby Spit (2005 - based on the picture book by Roland Harvey)
- Billy Mack’s War (2005 - based on the younger reader’s novel by James Roy)
- Milli, Jack & the Dancing Cat (2004 - based on the picture book by Stephen Michael King)
- Stella By The Sea (2004 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Ruth Starke)
- Bear & Chook (2003 - based on the picture book by Lisa Shanahan & Emma Quay)
- Tom Jones Saves The World (2003- based on the younger reader’s novel by Steven Herrick)
- Horrible Harriet (2002 - based on the picture book by Leigh Hobbs)
- My Story - A Different Sort Of Real - The Diary Of Charlotte McKenzie - Melbourne 1918 (2002 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Kerry Greenwood)
- When Dogs Cry (2002 - based on the older reader’s novel by Markus Zusak)
- The Singing Hat (2001 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)
- Something's Fishy, Hazel Green! (2001 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Odo Hirsch)
- Touch Me (2001 - based on the older reader’s novel by James Moloney)
- Captain Mack (2000 - by Tony Appleby based on the younger reader’s novel by James Roy)
- Tyro (2000 - based on the older reader’s novel by David McRobbie)
ORIGINAL THEATRE IN EDUCATION SCRIPTS FOR THE STAGE BY TONY APPLEBY FOR TONY BONES ENTERTAINMENT Writer, Director, Co-Composer & Performer
- Good Things Come in Threes - Fractured Fairytales Puppetry Show (2011 - 2014)
- Adventurescope - Maths / Science Adventure Show (2010 - 2014)
- Bully Bull Ring - Anti-Bullying Show (2007 - 2014)
- Rudolph's Recruits - Christmas Musical Extravaganza (2002-2014)
- Our Greatest Australian (2001 & 2006)
- Tony Bones 2000 (2000)
- Story Tellers 1999 (1999)
CABARET PERFORMANCES FOR THE STAGE BY TONY APPLEBY FOR TONY BONES ENTERTAINMENT - Writer, Director & Performer
- Heart and Music - An Evening With The Music of Lloyd Webber And Other Popular Music Theatre
- The Mikado's Pinafore Pirates - An Evening With The Music Of Gilbert And Sullivan And Other Popular Music Theatre (Don Clarke & The Pirate King)
- An Evening Of Popular Music Theatre
ORIGINAL PARTY CHARACTER SCRIPTS FOR THE STAGE BY TONY APPLEBY FOR TONY BONES ENTERTAINMENT Writer, Director, Co-Composer & Performer
- Witches, Wizards & Tails of Lizards - Wizard Powers (with Witch Way-Did-She-Go)
- Yeehah! The Sheriff Star - Cowboy McCoy (with Cowgirl Shirl)
- The Magic Billabong - Pixie Pong (with Fairy Petunia)
- My Very Own Circus - Tony Bones The Clown or Huggles The Dancing Bear (with Tina Bones The Clown )
- High Flying Heroes - Super Dooper The Super Hero (with Fairy Petunia)
- Nightie Knight, Princess Bella - Nightie Knight (with Princess Bella)
- Stars In Your Eyes - Rock Star Ricky (with Rock Star Ricci)
- X Marks The Spot - Pirate McGee (with Mermaid Manners)
- Hey Presto! There’s A Rabbit In My Hat! - Wizard Powers (with Presto the Magic Rabbit)
- A Jingle Bell Christmas - Santa Claus (with Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer or Elfie the Christmas Elf)
- Tony Bones The Clown
- Wizard Powers
- Super Dooper The Super Hero
- Pirate McGee
- Cowboy McCoy
- Huggles the Teddy Bear
- Rock Star Ricky
- Easter Bunny
- Santa Claus
ORIGINAL PARTY CHARACTER SCRIPTS FOR THE STAGE BY TONY APPLEBY FOR TONY BONES ENTERTAINMENT Writer, Director & Co-Composer
- Fairy Petunia
- Princess Bella
- Mermaid Manners
- Rock Star RiccI
- Witch Way-Did-She-Go
- Hoppity the Bunny Rabbit
EDUCATION
- 1993-1996 Deakin University, Rusden Campus - Bachelor of Education - Secondary - Drama/Dance, English. (Dux of Course).
- 1993-1996 Melbourne High School (Graduated VCE, 1992 Opera Prize)
- 1991-1992 Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (Graduated VCE Theatre Studies)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Full Time:
- 2016-2021 Mount Waverley Secondary College (Various short contracts - Drama Yr.9-11, English Yr.8-11, English Enhancement Yr.9, EAL Yr.9-10, Science Yr.9-10)
- 2002 Sandringham Secondary College - Highett Campus (Drama - Yr.7-8)
- 1999 Term 1 Rowville Secondary College- Eastern Campus (Drama, English - Yr.7-10)
- 1998 Term 4 Frank W.Cheshire Education Centre (Burwood Boy's Home) Primary Class Teacher- Special Ed.- Ages 6-12
- 1998 Term 3 Rowville Secondary College (Drama, Dance, English, Library, Basketball Coach - Yr.7-12)
Part Time:
- 2002 Term 1 Sandringham Secondary College - Highett Campus (Drama Year 7-10, Dance Year 9-12)
- 2000 Hampton Park Secondary College (Year 9 Specialist Program, English)
- 1995-1997 Cathy-Lea Academy of Performing Arts (Drama/ Dance Teacher, Director and Choreographer - Ages 6-20 yrs)
- 1999 Fairhills High School (Dance Teacher and Choreographer- Contemporary/Funk - Year 10)
- 1996 South Oakleigh Secondary College (Dance and Culture Teacher and Choreographer- Contemporary, Funk, Aboriginal and Old English Folk - Year 10)
- 1996 Melbourne High School (Dance Teacher and Choreographer- Contemporary/Funk - Year 9-11)
- 1996 National Children's Dance Theatre Australia (Auditions Instructor- Funk/ Jazz - Grades 1-6)
Casual Relief Teaching - 1997-2021 (various schools)
CHILDREN'S THEATRE
- 2000-2001 Princess Candy & Friends - Party Performer - Wally The Wizard, Jolly Roger The Pirate, Reg The Legend, Santa
- 2001 Wishlandia - Captain Hooked On Wishlandia (Captain Hook) - Polly Woodside.
- 1995–1997 CLAPA (Cathy-Lea Academy of Performing Arts) - Writer / Director / Co-Choreographer, Performer - The Toy Shop, The Invisible Princess, The Soprano Murder, The Little Orphan
- 1993–1996 Rusden Theatre Company - Writer / Co-Director / Lead Performer - The Toy Chest, The Playmates
- 1992 Oxford Children’s Theatre - Performer - A Christmas Carol
MUSICAL THEATRE
- 2009 Catchment Players of Darebin - The Full Monty (Jerry Lukowski) Principal Role
- 2007 Hunter Music - The Book of Luke (Cabaret by Luke Hunter)
- 2001-2005 PLOS (Peninsula Light Opera Society)
- The Full Monty (Jerry Lukowski) Principal Role - Victorian Music Theatre Guild Nominee - Best Male Actor in a Leading Role 2005
- Song Dance & A Touch Of Cabaret (Various Roles)
- West Side Story (Action) Victorian Music Theatre Guild Nominee: Best Supporting Actor - 2003.
- Company (Robert) Principal Role
- A Chorus Line (Don Kerr)
- Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon Zealotes)
- 2004 Red Green Blue Productions - Kill All The Rockstars - World Premiere Concept Recording (Bank Executive) - CD, Film & DVD Release.
- 2004 Stella Entertainment - Paris - World Premiere Season (Ulysses) - National Theatre, St Kilda & Frankston Arts Centre
- 2003 Itocs Productions - Happily Ever After (Prince Valiant)
- 2000 Dirty Dicks Medieval Madness Theatre Restaurant - The Adventures Of Christopher Columbus (Christopher Columbus, Rolf Harris, Bob Marley, Policeman- Village People) Principal Role.
- 1998-1999 CLOC (Cheltenham Light Opera Company)
- Crazy For You (Lank Hawkins)
- A Chorus Line (Bobby Mills) Victorian Music Theatre Guild Nominee: Best Supporting Actor - 1998.
- 1998 DTC / DLOC (Dandenong Light Opera Company) - Jesus Christ Superstar.
- 1997 CLAPA (Cathy-Lea Academy of Performing Arts) - The Little Orphan.
- 1996 Roslyn Charlesworth School Of Dance - Alice In Wonderland.
- 1991-1992 Melbourne High School
- Sweet Charity (Oscar Lindquist) Principal Role
- My Fair Lady.
CONTEMPORARY THEATRE
- 1992-1996 Deakin University, Rusden Campus
- A Working Man's Castle (Production Manager / Performer)
- The Children's Hour (Musical Director / Choir performer)
- Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoot's MacBeth (Inspector, Laertes)
- La Mimi Wa Kuukuu (Director / Writer / Performer)
- Freedom of the City, Everyman, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Director of selected scenes)
- 1997 CLAPA
- Love Child (Director)
- 1996 Swinburne Secondary College - Dreams (Director)
- 1995 Hampton Park Secondary College
- The Brothers of Blues (Co-Director / Script writer / Stage Manager)
- A Rough Lot (Co-Director / Script writer / Stage Manager)
- 1992 Melbourne High School - Kidnapped (Alan Breck Stewart)
- 1991-1992 Victorian College Of The Arts Secondary
- Pride And Prejudice (Mr Darcy)
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (Demetrius)
- 1992 The Shakespeare Globe Centre Australia
- 1992 Schools' Shakespeare Festival
DANCE
- 1995-1997 CLAPA
- The Little Orphan ( (Choreographer, Dancer)
- Boy's Funk Troupe (Choreographer)
- Gent's Funk Troupe (Dancer)
- 1996 Rosslyn Charlesworth School Of Dance
- Pineapple Polle (Principal Dancer)
- Alice In Wonderland (Principal Dancer)
- 1993-1996 Rusden Dance Theatre - Deakin University
- Gaugin's Questions (Dancer/ Co-choreographer)
- Jump Cut (Dancer/ Co-choreographer)
- True Believers (Dancer/ Co-choreographer)
- Green Mill Festival (Crown Casino) (Dancer/ Co-choreographer)
Marni Appleby
Costume & Props Designer
Marni is a graduate of the full-time Dance and Drama course at “Dance Factory”. Here she studied under Dulcie Lee, Barbara Warren-Smith, Kelly Akyers, Colin Anthony, Sue Ellen-Cocks, Sonali Versace, Kevin Coyne and Mark Laguerre. Her subjects studied included Jazz, Classical, Tap, Contemporary, Drama, Modeling, Acrobatics and Singing.
Upon graduating, Marni flew to Japan to complete several contracts as a cabaret dancer in both Izaka and Kamata. She returned to Melbourne performing in regular dance and fashion parades at several of Melbourne’s nightspots.
Marni has since performed in many musicals as a dance specialist and often as dance captain. She was choreographer for "Musicals On Show" and co-choreographer for "PLOS Entertains in Concert". As a dancer & dance captain her musical theatre credits include "Song, Dance & a Touch of Cabaret", the world premiere season of John English’s "Paris", "West Side Story", Laurie in "A Chorus Line", "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Les Miserables", "Follies", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Anything Goes", "Sweet Charity", "Song Dance & All That Jazz", "Me & My Girl", "Spotlight ’96", "42nd Street", "Spotlight ’95" and the "Gala Opening Night of the Frankston Cultural Centre".
She also developed a passion for performing in children’s theatre and pantomimes such as "Robin Hood Rides Again" and "Pinocchio" where she both performed and acted as assistant to the choreographer and director. Other pantomimes include "Peter Pan" and "Snow White" with Rainbow Theatre.
Marni began working in Arts Administration & in various off-stage roles when she joined Tony Bones Entertainment in 2002 through until she & Tony sold the company at the end of 2014. In that time she was the technical lighting and sound operator for the cabaret productions, ran the admin department, managed all of the party staff, packed the party equipment, managed the party bookings, designed the props & costumes as well as having various administrative roles within the company. Always on the lookout for new challenges, she loved the way TBE allowed her to be creative behind the scenes.
It was on her return from Japan that Marni started concentrating more fully on her other passion: animal welfare. Marni worked for over 20 years with the RSPCA in the areas of animal welfare, livestock management, cat boarding, lost and found, customer service and office management. More recently she began a new work chapter employed in administration & customer service at a private veterinary clinic in Kew. She now splits her time between there, Books To Life, and family life with Tony & their two school-aged children.
COSTUME & PROPS DESIGN WITH TONY APPLEBY FOR CBCA SHORT-LISTED BOOKS FOR BOOKS TO LIFE
-
Littlelight (2021 - Live & Interactive Virtual Production - based on the CBCA 2021 Shortlisted Picture Book of the Year by Kelly Canby)
-
Hello Lighthouse (2020 - Interactive Virtual Production - based on the CBCA 2020 Shortlisted Picture Book of the Year by Sophie Blackall)
- The All New Must Have Orange 430 (2019 - based on the CBCA 2019 Picture Book of the Year "Honour Book" by Michael Speechley)
- A Walk in the Bush (2018 - based on the CBCA 2018 Picture Book of the Year "Winner" by Gwyn Perkins)
COSTUME & PROPS DESIGN WITH TONY APPLEBY FOR CBCA SHORT-LISTED BOOKS FOR TONY BONES ENTERTAINMENT
- The Windy Farm (2014 - based on the picture book by Doug McLeod & Craig Smith)
- My Life As An Alphabet (2014 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Barry Jonsberg)
- Herman & Rosie (2013 - based on the picture book by Gus Gordon)
- Other Brother (2013 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Simon French)
- No Bears (2012 - based on the picture book by Meg McKinlay)
- Bungawitta (2012 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Emily Rodda)
- Two Peas in a Pod (2011 - based on the picture book by Chris McKimmie)
- Duck For A Day (2011 - based on the younger reader's novel by Meg McKinlay)
- Schumann the Shoeman (2010 - based on the picture book by John & Stella Danalis)
- Matty Forever (2010 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Elizabeth Fensham)
- Nobody Owns The Moon (2009 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)
- Audrey Of The Outback (2009 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Christine Harris)
- The Night Garden (2008 - based on the picture book by Elise Hurst)
- Amelia Dee & The Peacock Lamp (2008 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Odo Hirsch)
- Water Witcher (2007 - based on the picture book by Jan Ormerod)
- Being Bee (2007 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Catherine Bateson)
- Irving The Magician (2006 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)
- To The Light (2006 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Pat Flynn)
- At The Beach - Postcards from Crabby Spit (2005 - based on the picture book by Roland Harvey)
- Billy Mack’s War (2005 - based on the younger reader’s novel by James Roy)
- Milli, Jack & the Dancing Cat (2004 - based on the picture book by Stephen Michael King)
- Stella By The Sea (2004 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Ruth Starke)
- Bear & Chook (2003 - based on the picture book by Lisa Shanahan & Emma Quay)
- Tom Jones Saves The World (2003- based on the younger reader’s novel by Steven Herrick)
- Horrible Harriet (2002 - based on the picture book by Leigh Hobbs)
- My Story - A Different Sort Of Real - The Diary Of Charlotte McKenzie - Melbourne 1918 (2002 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Kerry Greenwood)
- When Dogs Cry (2002 - based on the older reader’s novel by Markus Zusak)
COSTUME & PROPS DESIGN WITH TONY APPLEBY FOR ORIGINAL THEATRE IN EDUCATION SCRIPTS FOR THE STAGE FOR TONY BONES ENTERTAINMENT
- Good Things Come in Threes - Fractured Fairytales Puppetry Show (2011 - 2014)
- Adventurescope - Maths / Science Adventure Show (2010 - 2014)
- Bully Bull Ring - Anti-Bullying Show (2007 - 2014)
- Rudolph's Recruits - Christmas Musical Extravaganza (2002-2014)
- Our Greatest Australian (2006)
Zac Krause
Technical Designer - Sound, Lighting, Digital Projection & Animation
Zac has been on the stage since he was 4 years old playing a meek mouse in Witches and has since performed in over 30 amateur productions. His recent roles include Fiyero in Wicked (Masquerade Youth Productions) and Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde Jr (Performing Artists Company). Despite a history of performing on stage, Zac is pursuing a career behind the scenes, currently working for the Australian Shakespeare Company and the Athenaeum Theatre as a tech. In 2021, he has done lighting design for Gateway Theatre Company’s Hairspray Jr and sound operation for Artzmartz’ Legally Blonde Jr and Moana Jr.
TECHNICAL DESIGN WITH TONY APPLEBY FOR CBCA SHORT-LISTED BOOKS FOR BOOKS TO LIFE Technical Designer - Sound, Lighting, Digital Projection & Animation.
- Littlelight (2021 - Live & Interactive Virtual Production - based on the CBCA 2021 Shortlisted Picture Book of the Year by Kelly Canby)
Natalie Calia - Bachelor of Performing Arts (Music Performance, Drama & Theatre Studies), Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), Master of Applied Theatre Studies, Graduate Certificate of Adolescent Health & Wellbeing.
Composer, Arranger
Natalie currently holds the position of Head of Co-curricular Music Secondary at Mount Scopus Memorial College. She also works as a freelance creative artist, educator and performer; having previously fulfilled the roles of National Arts Learning Manager at The Song Room, and 15-years as a Senior School Performing Arts Teacher/ Head of House (10-12) at St Michael’s Grammar School in St Kilda. In 2016/17, Natalie completed a 7-month tour of Austria and Germany with Stage Entertainment as Assistant Musical Director/Deputy Conductor/Principal 2nd Keyboard/Vocal Coach with the musical theatre production of Ich was noch niemals in New York. She is an acclaimed performer in voice (jazz, musical theatre and contemporary), piano (classical and contemporary) and saxophone, as well as dabbling in ukulele, flute and piano accordion, and holds degrees in Performing Arts and Education, including a Master of Applied Theatre Studies with the University of New England. Natalie is a proud member of the Program Advisory Group for the Australian Musical Theatre Festival; held annually in Launceston, Tasmania. Natalie has performed in, directed, musically directed or been a band member for over 60 productions with various musical theatre companies around Melbourne, including Little Shop of Horrors (MUMCo – Guild nominated), GREASE (Catchment Players), The White Rose (Monash University/Singapore Tour), Urinetown the Musical (St Michael’s Grammar School – Guild awarded), the Australian amateur premiere of RENT (Stella Entertainment), the world premiere of Mátalor (StageArt), and most recently in the role of ‘Paulette’ in Legally Blonde (Altona City Theatre). She also performs regularly with The Blues Brothers Rhythm and Blues Revue; having raised funds for ASCA, Bravehearts, Beyond Blue, The Simpson Community and Wildlife Victoria, and during isolation, collaborated with an excellent group of musicians - ‘Jam ‘Tin’ - to create music videos for various charities via Facebook and YouTube.
MUSIC & SONGS CREATED WITH TONY APPLEBY FOR CBCA SHORT-LISTED BOOKS FOR BOOKS TO LIFE Co-Composer, Sound Arranger.
- Littlelight (2021 - Live & Interactive Virtual Production - based on the CBCA 2021 Shortlisted Picture Book of the Year by Kelly Canby)
Peter Amesbury
Technical Designer - Sound, Lighting, Digital Projection & Animation
Peter has worked as a freelance Lighting Designer and Production Manager for many years, working on productions and events all over Australia and Internationally. Peter started working with The Australian Shakespeare Company in 2014. During his time at the ASC Peter has worked on a diverse range of indoor and outdoor performances, in the roles of both Lighting Technician and Production Manager. His ASC Production credits include: ‘As You Like It’, 'Shakespeare’s Best Bits', 'Twelfth Night' and 'Hamlet’. Peter has also worked on the ’Walking with Spirits Festival’, a production which takes place in a remote Northern Territory location with an audience of over 500 people. In contrast, Peter has also worked on the UK performance seasons managing the tours of 'Tinker Bell and The Dream Fairies' & in 2021 will be working on 'The Wind in the Willows' and 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
Peter also has a successful freelance portfolio as a lighting designer. His critically acclaimed design of “Guilty Pleasures” (Blue Saint Productions), which starred Angelique Cassimatis, has also toured Australia. More recently, Peter has held the role of Production Manager on the Australian revival of ‘Godspell: the Musical’ which performed at the Sydney Opera House and the Arts Centre Melbourne. He has created designs for shows such as “Pippin", "Wicked", "Wizard of Oz", "Songs for a New World", "The Addams Family”, ”Guys and Dolls”, "Jesus Christ Superstar" & “RENT!”.
As a whizz with the cutting edge QLAB software, Peter has brought his technical chops to integrate all of the sound, DMX lighting, digital projections & animations for our Book Week shows since 2018, as well as designing many technical elements for the production himself. Peter is truly pushing new boundaries with his technical design in theatre in education in Australia.
TECHNICAL DESIGN WITH TONY APPLEBY FOR CBCA SHORT-LISTED BOOKS FOR BOOKS TO LIFE Technical Designer - Sound, Lighting, Digital Projection & Animation.
- Hello Lighthouse (2020 - Interactive Virtual Production - based on the CBCA 2020 Shortlisted Picture Book of the Year by Sophie Blackall)
- The All New Must Have Orange 430 (2019 - based on the CBCA 2019 Picture Book of the Year "Honour Book" by Michael Speechley)
- A Walk in the Bush (2018 - based on the winning CBCA 2018 Picture Book of the Year "Winner" by Gwyn Perkins)
Adrian Portell
Composer, Arranger
Adrian is a diverse Melbourne-based musician who works in the areas of musical direction, vocal coaching, accompanying, recording, and piano teaching.
MUSIC & SONGS CREATED WITH TONY APPLEBY FOR CBCA SHORT-LISTED BOOKS FOR BOOKS TO LIFE - Co-Composer.
- A Walk in the Bush (2018 - based on the winning CBCA 2018 Picture Book of the Year "Winner" by Gwyn Perkins)
Gerald Marko BMus H1 (1st class hons.) (Voice, Monash), Post.Grad. (Perf. Arts), Ad.Dip (Linguistics), Estill Master Teacher and Course Instructor with testing privileges
Composer, Arranger, Sound Producer
Austrian born Gerald Marko is the director of The Voice Gym Pty Ltd providing voice mechanics and vocal technique for singers as well as preventive and remedial voice training for singers, speakers and therapists.
He is a teaching associate at Monash University, where he contributed to the new popular voice major which started in 2016, and has also been a sessional lecturer at Melbourne University and taught vocal technique at Box Hill Institute/CAE and the North Melbourne Institute of TAFE.
Gerald has an honours degree in Voice (Jazz, Monash) in preparation for a PhD by research. He is a co-investigator in voice science studies with the division of speech pathology at Queensland University. Besides being an ESTILL CCI-TP & CMT, Gerald also holds a Diploma in Performing Arts and an Advanced Diploma in Linguistics, Literature and Journalism.
Between 1998 and 2004, Gerald played lead roles in European professional musical theatre. such as “CATS” (Munkustrap, Tugger, Gus, Skimble), “Saturday Night Fever” (Tony Manero, Joey, Double J), “Hair” (Berger, Claude), “Buddy Holly” and “Falco Meets Amadeus” (Falco). Gerald performed in original and cover bands in Austria, Germany, Denmark and Australia across all genres from Opera and Music Theatre to Rock, Funk and Rap. He has written over 500 songs, plays guitar, bass, drums and piano, is a published recording artist (Universal) and a certified Rei-Ki practitioner. Gerald wrote the original soundtrack to the award-winning American short "Brothers" (2006) and his song "Let there be Funk" was licensed for the L.A. short film "Highway 15" (2013). He also came in 3rd place with his song "Heroes and Dreamers" in the SBS songwriting competition "Song for the Socceroos" in 2006. In 2008, Gerald was the musical director of the Crown Casino Gaming Floor Shows and since 2007 holds an APRA/AMCOS Annual Blanket License to create commercial backing tracks and underscores, is an APRA Writer Full Member and a registered APRA member.
MUSIC & SONGS CREATED WITH TONY APPLEBY FOR CBCA SHORT-LISTED BOOKS FOR BOOKS TO LIFE Co-Composer, Sound Arranger.
- Hello Lighthouse (2020 - INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL PRODUCTION - based on the CBCA 2020 Shortlisted Picture Book of the Year by Sophie Blackall)
MUSIC & SONGS CREATED WITH TONY APPLEBY FOR CBCA SHORT-LISTED BOOKS FOR TONY BONES ENTERTAINMENT Co-Composer, Sound Arranger.
- The Windy Farm (2014 - based on the picture book by Doug McLeod & Craig Smith)
- My Life As An Alphabet (2014 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Barry Jonsberg)
- Herman & Rosie (2013 - based on the picture book by Gus Gordon) (Sound Engineer)
- Other Brother (2013 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Simon French) (Sound Engineer)
Our Creative Team
