Future Creatives

Todd J. Bennett

Giovanna Yate Gonzalez

Giovanna Yate Gonzalez is a Colombian professional dancer who has expanded her skill set in Australia through the production bachelor at VCA in Lighting Design. Across 2022, she worked as lighting designer for the dance piece “Siren Dance” by Lilian Steiner at not only performed at Dance House but also at Sydney Dance Company and Homo Novus Festival, also, theatre performances such as “Fast Food” at Red Stitch and “Slutnik TM” at Melbourne and Adelaide Fringe Festivals.

In 2023, She was able to design different performances such as the dance shows “Queers of Java” with Lengger artist Rianto Manali at Sydney Dance Company and at Melbourne Fringe “STAUNCH ASF” with Amelia O’Leary at the Meat Market and “LUSH” by gemma+molly, which won Best Dance and Physical Theatre. Also, designed theatre performances such as “Shhhh” at Red Stitch directed by Emma Valente and “Warp and Woof” directed by Kim Durban at Federation University in Ballarat. 

Moreover, Giovanna was one of the five placements for 2023 of the Besen Artistic Program at Malthouse as Lighting Designer. 

Bianca Pardo

Bianca is a passionate Melbourne/Naarm based designer and maker. Both set and costume excite her and she endeavours to create visceral storytelling experiences through her craft.

Her credits throughout 2018 include costume construction roles on 'The Gallery Workout' with the National Gallery of Victoria, 'The Dressmaker - A Musical Adaptation' and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s the 'School of Rock'. She was also awarded the Orloff Family Charitable Trust Scholarship in 2018.

Throughout 2019, Bianca’s graduate year at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), she was the Set Designer for ‘Fucking A’ in April and completed two internships in Prague for Semafor Theatre and Česká Televize in June. She completed the Costume Design for the VCA production of ‘Mad Forest’ in September and an internship with Set and Costume Designer, Christina Smith, on productions including ‘Ragtime’ with the Production Company and ‘Salome’ with the Victorian Opera.

In 2021, Bianca designed for two femme-BIPOC projects, 'TakeBack!' in March and 'Ngarngk: Giver of Life' in May, powerful pieces championing femmes of colour.

Bianca spent 2022 dressing for 'Jagged Little Pill' at the Comedy Theatre, and 'Hamilton' at Her Majesty's Theatre, dressing the Schuyler Sisters. Bianca also completed the Set and Costume Design for 'Passing Strange' in June.

2023 has seen Bianca complete some exciting projects including the Set and Costume Design for 'Guys and Dolls' in August and the Costume Design for a brand video with Moo Motion for Kenworth in September.

Savanna Wegman

Savanna Wegman is a stage designer, maker and writer working across theatre, opera and dance. She is New Zealand born, of Chinese Malaysian and Dutch descent and is now based on unceded Wurundjeri land in Naarm (Melbourne). 

Recent Design credits include: Set & Costume design ‘Biographica’ (Lyric Opera, Theatreworks), Set & Costume design ‘Brittany and The Mannequins’ (Fever103 Theatre, Green Room Award Nominated for Best Set & Costume Design 2022), Set & Costume design ‘Climbers’ (Fever103 Theatre, fortyfivedownstairs), Set & Costume design ‘STAUNCH ASF’ (Amelia Jean O’Leary, Melbourne Fringe), Set design 'A Certain Mumble' (Amelia Jean O’Leary, Darebin Arts Speakeasy) and AudioVisual Production Design ‘WE ARE AIR’ (Melbourne Fringe).

Associate Design credits include: 'Candide' (Victorian Opera), 'The Crocodile' (Spinning Plates Co. fortyfivedownstairs), ‘Far Away’ (Patalog Theatre, fortyfivedownstairs), ‘The Dream Laboratory’ (Essential Theatre) and ‘The Mermaid’ (La Mama).

Savanna has also completed Assistant Stage Management roles for ‘The Invisible Opera’ (RISING Festival) and 'My Dearworthy Darling’ (THE RABBLE, The Malthouse). She was the Co-founder of the STRANGEkit Performance Collective and completed her Bachelor of Arts at Monash University’s Centre for Theatre and Performance.