THE HOUSE PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE 2024
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bedelia LOWRENCEV
Bedelia (they/she) is a groovy disabled actor, dancer, singer, agitator, theatre maker, producer and Access Coordinator, living and working on Wategoro and Wangal Land. Bedelia frequently collaborates with their Deaf twin Jeremy, as facilitators and explorers of queerness, disability and deafness. Bedelia has a keen interest in communal care, story sovereignty, reciprocity and advocacy in their arts practice. In particular, challenging the western gaze on body, community and identity, and the reclamation of CALD queerness, and relation to land. Most recently, Bedelia performed SOFT PLACES at the Sydney Biennale, acted in the new short film 'With Love, Lottie', Assistant Produced Raghav Handa’s THE ASSEMBLY at Campbelltown Arts Centre, Access Coordinator at Performance Space for Liveworks Griffin Studio Residency in 2023. Currently, Bedelia is cracking into their disabled musical spenanza with Griffin Theatre through the Next Level Creative Mentorship, working as a Program Coordinator at Accessible Arts, and Co-Program Coordinator- Access at Sydney Fringe Festival.
JAYDEN SELVAKUMARASWAMY
Jayden is an Ensemble leader and artist of The House That Dan Built. She has trained as a classical ballet dancer for ten years, and also has been vocally trained since she was eight. She was a vocalist in Sydney Chamber Opera’s world premier of The Howling Girls in 2018 & 2019 for Tokyo Festival. She performed in the chorus of Angelica Mesiti’s work ASSEMBLY for the Venice Biennale 2019. Jayden has been a core ensemble member of The House since 2014 and continues to explore the female voice and its development over time through music.
SCARLETT GIBSON-WILLIAMS
Scarlett Gibson-Williams is a young aspiring soprano singer and performer. From a young age, they have passionately engaged in various facets of the arts, participating in ATYP classes, workshops, and honing theatre skills under the mentorship of Natalie Richards. Their musical journey has also been enriched by vocal and violin lessons, which have contributed to their versatile skill set. In late 2020, Scarlett joined the esteemed performance ensemble at The House that Dan Built, marking a pivotal moment in their artistic career. Since becoming part of the ensemble, they have wholeheartedly embraced the opportunity to collaborate with fellow artists and showcase their creative endeavours. Alongside their artistic pursuits, Scarlett currently balances their role at The House with their studies in Nursing at university, showcasing a commitment to both their creative passions and academic goals. As they continue to evolve as a performer and nurture their talents across disciplines, Scarlett remains dedicated to making meaningful contributions to the arts and healthcare communities alike.
SYLVIE O'keefe
SYDA (Sylvie O’Keefe) is an up and coming folk artist making a splash in the inner west local area. Her music covers the hard-to-reach areas of adolescence, growing and losing friendships, all with the purpose of communicating more easily with the world around her while living with a disability. SYDA is a regular performer in the Inner West scene playing festivals such as Inner West Music fest and Generate Music Festival in August 2024. She has been mentored in songwriting through her acceptance into and graduation from the 2023 MADD/Sony Foundation scholarship program as well as her continued involvement with Talent Development Project. SYDA was awarded $500 as a grand finalist at the Cronulla RSL Headline Acts Competition. Her previous band ‘miss match’ were semifinalists in YouthRock 2022 and paid artists in the Whispers and Roars festival - garnering a following of over 12K on TikTok. Since the band split up, SYDA has released a song on Spotify, and has 3 more that are ready to be released as well as a music video in the final editing stages.
KITTU HOYNE
Kittu Hoyne is a singer and performer based in Sydney, trained in classical voice, with a background in contemporary and classical dance and the Suzuki actor training. She performed with Opera Australia as the second spirit in Opera Australia’s The Magic Flute originally directed by Julie Taymor with a full season at the Sydney Opera House. She has performed in Sydney Chamber Opera’s world premiere opera The Howling Girls, directed by Adena Jacobs and composed by Damien Ricketson wth a season at Carriageworks in 2018 and Tokyo Festival in 2019. As a member of the all female ensemble The House that Dan Built, directed by Danielle O’Keefe, Kittu with ensemble members devised and performed the show Tender Young Creatures and SALT with seasons at Carriageworks and Bondi Pavilion. Kittu is one of the selected performers who will be singing and performing in the video artwork ASSEMBLY representing Australia at the 2019 Venice Biennale, directed by Angelica Mesiti.
DEBORAh kam
Deborah Kam is an emerging sydney based visual and performance artist. She explores what it means to be fulfilled in life through the act of being present, and acutely observing the beautiful mundane. Her artistic practise is based on on textiles, music and audience interaction. She has worked with The House that Dan Built since 2020, and is studying sculpture at the National Art School.
leila harris
Leila is a soprano, composer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer. She has written for and performed with bands, choirs, orchestras, ensembles, dance and theatre. Her own music is a unique blend of operatic and theatrical vocals, lush orchestral arrangements and electronic production. Leila graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in 2023, mentored by Paul Mac, Dr Jadey O’Regan and Deborah Cheetham-Fraillon. In 2023, Leila was selected for the Australian Independent Record Labels Association’s “Women in Music Mentorship”, where she was mentored by Jaguar Jonze and Bonnie Knight and received training in music industry and legal. In 2023, Leila was selected by the Sydney Conservatorium to travel to Los Angeles for a program at the University of Southern California In which she worked, wrote and collaborated with other international artists in Hollywood. She was also announced as the recipient of the 2024 Dots+Loops Composition Fellowship. Leila is passionate about diversity and accessibility within the arts. She has performed with The House That Dan Built ensemble since 2022, during which time, she has had a wealth of joyful music-making experiences.
TALLULAH simpson
Tallulah has loved performing arts since a young age, first with piano and theory lessons at AMS from age 7 and completing AMEB Theory and Piano exams (grade 5) and performing with The House’s ‘Toy Choir', Tallulah has also performed in a professional production with Pinchgut Opera in Handel’s Athalia at City Recital Hall in June 2018. Since beginning The House Apprenticeship this year she has honed her skills in performing and teaching, gaining industry experience at The House in The Mother Project, SALT 360, REVERENCE, BAGATELLE and performing with The Houses Performance Ensemble since 2020.
CLARA LEe debono
Clara is the eldest member of The House and returns in 2024 as a supporting Ensemble Leader. After taking a break from music for several years, she joined The House in 2022 in order to get back into singing. She is an advocate for giving equal opportunities to disadvantaged people and is grateful for the role that The House has given her.
FREYA MOORE
Freya Moore is a Sydney based actor and singer, recently graduating from NIDA’s Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance in 2021. Freya has performed at the Opera House, NIDA and many other community theatres around Sydney. This year she has been in Hydrarchos during NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists, and Things I Know To Be True at The Theatre of Chester. This is her first project with The House That Dan Built.
jessica lee
Jessica is a singer and songwriter currently studying music and education at the University of Sydney. She completed her secondary education at Saint Michael Albertville Senior High in Minnesota USA, where in her senior year she was elected president of the Vivace Choir, a touring Treble Choir. After studying conducting and choral education under Paige Armstrong, Jessica was given the opportunity to conduct in the school Cantabile Concert. Additionally, she writes music in collaboration with Stunt Horse Drama, an indie rock band based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
mira dilek
Whilst completing her bachelor's degree in psychology at King’s College London, she had the opportunity to participate in a Singing and Songwriting course at Pointblank Music School for a year. Following her time in London, she travelled to Sydney to get a master's degree in commerce at the University of Sydney. She currently works at a fintech company and enjoys singing with the Ensemble.
emliy smith
Born and raised in rural NSW on Wayilwan country, Emily is a multi-disciplined creative
artist. Her love of performance began at ten years-old when a NIDA short course toured to
the largest town near her, two-hours away. Since then, Emily has continued down a creative
path, exploring her passion for musical theatre, stage, screen and most importantly teaching.
She graduated from Sydney Actors School in 2021, where she studied under the tutelage of
the late Kevin Jackson, Pip Edwards, Garth Holcombe, Lyn Pierse, and many more. She has
since worked on multiple independent projects including The House That Dan Built Opera
‘Reverence’ (2022) and the ‘100 women. 100 Stories’(2023) Choral Performance, the
Genesian Theatre production of Agatha Christie's The Hollow (2023) and the shopfront
co-op production ‘Red Soup’ (2023). In 2022, Emily began teaching drama with Make
Believe Sydney, and in 2024 joined the Brightsparks co. as a film teacher. Emily has grown
into a passionate and dedicated teacher who hopes to inspire the next group of young actors
to discover a love for the arts just like she did!
Audrey Amiya-Hall
Audrey has loved all facets of performing arts from a young age. She grew up as a gymnast and incorporated singing, acting, ballet, jazz and latin at age seven.
During her time at a performing arts studio she was lucky to cross paths with an amazing singing teacher Danielle O’Keefe. Audrey had a passion for musical theatre, loved being part of the school choir and played the violin. It was all an invaluable learning experience that helped in other areas such as representing Australia as a triathlete and a distance runner. She is currently studying medicine, thrives on being challenged, and pushing the boundaries.
Whilst going back to singing after years away felt daunting, she is thankful that Dan encouraged her to audition and her gratitude for The House is endless! She is excited to be part of an extremely talented group of female artists and is hoping to become a stronger singer.
Iris Simpson
Iris Osprey Simpson is a theatre maker, performer, and writer based in Sydney. She creates immersive, interactive theatre works that give an audience agency and a sense of play, and is deeply inspired by myth, folklore, and magical realism. She has made work in both Sydney and Melbourne, and works across many forms of theatre, art, and game design. She has been performing with The House that Dan Built since 2014, and has performed in Tender Young Creatures, SALT, and Echo. She was an ensemble performer for Angelica Mesiti’s artwork ASSEMBLY, representing Australia for the 2019 Venice Biennale. She is currently a writer and performer on Dance of Ribbons, an immersive experience taking place in Melbourne in August 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Theatre from the Victorian College of the Arts, and has been trained in singing, Suzuki, and classical clowning.
May kelly-mills
May is a pianist, vocalist, composer, and software developer from Sydney who has had an interest in music since having piano lessons as a child. She started singing in high school, during which she joined the school’s a cappella ensemble. She was a core member of the USYD Science Revue’s singing troupe from 2018-2023, helping to write and perform musical sketch comedy, and is a current member of USYD’s a cappella society, BarberSoc. May sang with The House as part of 100 Women, 100 Stories in late 2023, and joined the ensemble in 2024.
Juliet Newman
Juliet has loved the performing arts since primary school, first joining her school choir and taking clarinet lessons from age 8. She also took singing lessons during high school, sang in the school choir and gave solo performances. Most recently Juliet was a member of Barbersoc, the University of Sydney’s a cappella society, for 5 years. She performed at venues including the Seymour Centre and The Great Hall at Sydney University. Juliet auditioned for The House that Dan Built in order to continue her passion for singing.
Soren Goulding
Soren is an artist in Sydney who dabbles in music, performance, writing, comedy and visual art. They have worked with the House That Dan Built on projects such as Bagatelle, Reverence and SALT. They have been a member of The House Ensemble since 2021.
Luka foster
Luka started singing with The House that Dan Built in the Toy Choir when she was 8. Since then she has performed with The Ensemble in Bagatelle, 100 Women Project and Regional collaborations. Luka is in Year 8 at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts where she performs with the extension Choir and Drama Companies. Most recently she sang Mozarts Requiem, with the full symphony orchestra at the Seymour Centre. Luka recently featured on ABC’s Playschool as young musician in a TV special ‘Growing Strong’.
The House Ensemble is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
The House Ensemble is supported by the NSW Government through CreateNSW.