● Meet the team
Program Artists
We have a fantastic team of program artists who are the friendly faces of our workshop and ensemble programs!
Shopfront program artists are governed by a Code of Conduct. As part of this Code of Conduct, they agree to:
Treat everyone with respect and honesty, including children, Young People, parents/guardians, staff and volunteers
Be a positive role model to children/young people
Care for the wellbeing of Young People as trusted adults in their lives
Abide by our Child Safe & Social Media Policies
Report risks of harm to Young People
● Program Artist
Meet Irelish
Irelish Barker (She/Her) Is a Sydney Based Performer, Theatre Maker, Facilitator, and Dramaturg. Irelish received her Bachelors Of Performance from the University of Wollongong and since graduating has explored her interests in writing and directing. She has collaborated on works with like minded artists, Including “FERAL WOMEN” with Crush Collective Art. Irelish wrote and directed her first original theatrical work “CURBSQUATTERS” As part of Shopfront Arts Co-Op’s 2023 WNW Artslab cohort and most recently was a part of Shopfront and Milk Crate Theatre’s 2024 Harness Ensemble production “Hello, are you still there?” and Crush Collective Art’s “Fan Service”.
Irelish is passionate about uplifting and celebrating female voices through theatre and performances, and she deeply admires those who champion for youth lead art.
● Program Artist
Meet Mina
Mina Bradshaw is an Australian theatre maker and director who is passionate about generating new and compelling theatre for young Australian audiences. She graduated with a Bachelor of Performance (Dean’s Scholar) in 2018 from the University of Wollongong. During her time at university, Mina devised and directed two independent performances, “woMAN” (A UOW Student Initiated Project) and “I Disagree” (A UOW and Merrigong Theatre Company Production). Mina is passionate about generating work that channels big, daunting subjects into digestible, entertaining and thought-provoking art and working collaboratively with artists from across the industry to celebrate local young talent. Mina currently resides and works on Dharawal country.
● Program Artist
Meet Amelia
Amelia Gilday is filmmaker, theatremaker, and music producer from Sydney. They graduated from The University of Notre Dame and earned their Masters at The University of New England. Most recently, Amelia stage managed Who’s Afraid at Belvoir 25A (Four One One), produced Waiting in Soho at Sydney Fringe Festival, directed Accountant From Hell at Short+Sydney’s Best of Fest Season, directed Good Talk (Moon Bureau) at Adelaide Fringe Festival and Anywhere Festival Brisbane, and production managed upcoming feature No Harm Done (Wow City Productions). Other credits include directing Illuminated (Moon Bureau) which toured Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin Fringe Festival, co-writing and directing Coming Out on Broadway (Moon Bureau), and producing Two Quarters Full at Flight Path Theatre. Amelia is also a member of the Harness Ensemble at Shopfront.
● Program Artist
Meet Jessica
Jessica Melchert is an actor, theatre maker, singer and performance artist based in Wollongong, NSW. After moving to Wollongong to study a Bachelor of Performance, Jessica was inspired by the close knit creative community and co-created the performance art collective Ovuhm. Ovuhm has since presented at Sydney Fringe Festival (2017), Wollongong Fringe Festival (2017), Yours and Owls Festival (2017-present) and FKA Festival (2018). Jessica is an accomplished musician, singer and songwriter who loves to involve music into her creative practice with notable performances of her original work at TEDX Wollongong in 2018.Since Graduating Jessica has had the pleasure to be involved in the development of Fledgling By Lily Hayman since its creation in 2019 and continues to work on expanding her skills on and off screen by working as production assistant on Whirld (2021) a web series directed by Karen Illeska and a featured role in The Department of Health Spread freedom Campaign (2021).
● Program Artist
Meet Daniel
● Program Artist
Meet Georgia
Georgia Tyrril is an emerging Stage Manager and technician from Sydney’s south working on unceded land. She’s begun her career working with Shopfront Arts Co-Op on multiple productions, having come through the technical theatre program at Shopfront. She’s worked on The Lies We Were Told (Shopfront 2021 + Monkey Baa Theatre 2022), HIT RESET(2021), Never Ever (2021), ArtsLab: Body of Work (2022), Mums tell Dad Jokes Too (2022), TEEN ANGST (2022), ‘TED’ Silent Movement (2023), Stop. Drop. and Listen (2023), ArtsLab: Drifters (The Joan Theatre + 107 Projects, 2023), In Between Moments (2023), Tender (2023), ArtsLab: Collide (107 Projects 2024). Beyond Shopfront she’s worked with Purple Tape Productions on their season of TAPE OVER in Maa Ki Rasoi (KXT, 2023) and on Expiration Date (Meraki Arts Bar 2023). She’s also worked with Voices of Women on their show Embellishment (KXT 2023), and with Q Theatre on their work 30-50 Feral Hogs (2023). Recently she worked on the devised work Aurat Raj presented at Belvoir 25A (2024) and then on more Shopfront shows, When I Grow Up (2024). Georgia also facilitates workshops across multiple artforms, and ran Outside The Lines at Shopfront in ancient times as Young Leader, now she is Old Leader. Yay.
● Program Artist
Meet Sophie
Sophie Florence Ward (she/her) is an actor, theatre-maker, teaching artist and researcher who joined Shopfront at age eleven, and has considered it a second home ever since. At Shopfront nowadays Sophie is the Young Leader, which means she acts as the conduit between the Shopfront members and the staff team. She also delivers inclusive and adaptable workshops across a range of disciplines that champion the ideas and creativity of Young People.
● Connect with us
Join Our Team
We’re always excited to work with new artists and volunteers! Get in touch if you’re looking to learn more about how to work with Young People and communities, or an experienced artist-facilitator keen to work with Shopfront.