Alex MacDonald

Alex is a 20-year-old emerging artist based in Meanjin (Brisbane). Identifying as non-binary and living with autism, Alex is a disability advocate passionate about telling their story, their way. Alex grew up in and around professional theatre and arts circles. They spent many years at school studying drama and visual art and was an ensemble member at Backbone Youth Arts.

Alex has a keen interest in visual design, video editing and written storytelling.

For the past twelve months Alex and their father Todd have been incrementally developing Tracks, a new work responding to The Button Event, produced at Queensland Theatre and performed by Todd MacDonald as a part for Brisbane Festival 2014. Since then, Alex has been passionate to tell their story and has been writing and drawing material that will live in the work. Alex currently works with Michah Projects at the Hope St Café in West End.

Todd MacDonald

Todd MacDonald is an independent theatre maker, director, dramaturg, performer and creative consultant. After completing acting training at NIDA in 1994 Todd has worked extensively across the theatre, film, television and voice over industries. From 1997-2002 Todd was a series regular on the beloved long running series Neighbours and in The Secret Life of Us. In 1999 he co-founded the award-winning venue and production company The Store Room Theatre in Melbourne, Victoria and programmed, produced and was Artistic Director until its closure in 2010. The Store Room was a 62-seat black -box venue that presented and produced work as a part of Melbourne Fringe, Comedy and International Festivals as well as year-round programming and development outcomes.

Todd has worked as associate producer and company member with David Pledgers’ Not Yet It’s Difficult (NYID) and has toured nationally and internationally. Todd’s theatre making practice is extensive and eclectic ranging from independent theatre companies and festivals through to mainstage companies, physical theatre to durational performance. Todd’s body of work is heavily influenced by community engaged practice and he has history of working with professionals and non-actors in the context of community engaged documentary theatre work.

Todd was the Artistic Associate at Queensland Theatre Company from 2011-2014 after which he took up the role of Artistic Director and CEO of La Boite Theatre Company, in Brisbane Australia from 2015 – 2020. Leading the company through extensive change in its mission and approach to diversity, equity and accessibility in the Australian arts landscape.

He was recently the Public Relations Lead for SSI and BEMAC after serving as the inaugural Performing Arts Programmer at the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct in Logan City south of Brisbane.

Todd’s directing and performance work has been nominated and won Greenroom Awards, Helpmann Awards and Matilda Awards across the country.

Oliver Hetherington-Page

Oliver Hetherington-Page (he/him) is an award-winning writer, performer, and unapologetically autistic arts troublemaker. Since graduating from QUT with a BFA in Drama (with Distinction), he hasn’t shut up—and audiences are better for it.

His debut cabaret The No Bang Theory (yes, it’s about autism and virginity) debuted at Undercover Artists Festival in 2021, toured nationally and earned him a Matilda Award for Best Emerging Artist. His follow-up, Santa Claus is Autistic, featured Australia’s first autism choir and snagged a Governor’s Commendation for Autistic Queenslander of the Year. 

As a member of the Access Arts Queensland Advisory Board, Oliver has devoted himself to creating opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent artists.  He consulted on Drizzle Boy for Queensland Theatre, and His play A Touch of the Tism—shortlisted for the 2024 INK Program—begins development this year with Australian Plays Transform’s Playwrights Living with Disability Group.