Meet the Team
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Gigi Pinwill is founder and director of DunnART Productions, which she named after Australia's tiny yet feisty endangered marsupials called dunnarts.
Gigi is a multi-disciplinary artist with decades of professional experience in arts entertainment, business, and education. Highlights include:
Through DunnART Productions, she develops original creations like writing and producing 'Bettongs & Buddies.' Her scripts have been produced by Notre Dame University and international think-tanks. |
Gigi is a long-time children’s actor and entertainer touring nationally and full-time with Theatre in Education.
Her insight into music, and professional experience in theatre and conservation education for children, come to the fore in developing ground-breaking and innovative DunnART programs. Growing up on an Australian farm, she’d fall asleep listening to dingoes and wake to find diseased native animals during morning chores like local 'greenies' or Scaly-created Lorikeets, which she’d love back to health and freedom. Gigi says: 'I’ve felt connected to animals my entire life and always wanted to learn about and promote lesser-known Aussie fauna. My cockatiel, Gandalf the Grey, sits on my shoulder wherever I go and is my best mate.' |
As a Maori women, her passion for protecting endangered cultures and species is only enhanced. And on a personal note, her experiences of chronic illness in youth magnified her resourcefulness, resilience, and hope-despite-the-odds in all she does.
They say never work with children or animals, but Gigi is doing just that daily by creating and performing 'pawsome' kids’ artwork! As a travelling performer and violinist who enjoyed nature by living in her trusty van for 5 years, Gigi has always embraced the wild side of life. With many new projects in the wings, she 'flutters' busily between her many skill-sets to ensure her ‘babies’ come to life via the driving life-force only a maverick leader can harness! Gigi is thrilled to be actively creating many more innovative artworks supporting rare indigenous animals: coming soon! |
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Mark Knight is DunnART's film/TV veteran and dramaturg (editor with original ideas). His diverse career includes:
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Jenna Hoffman is a passionate animal scientist and manager of the Nature Education Centre (NEC). DunnART is fortunate to benefit from Jenna's broad experience in animal care and science communication.
With DunnART's founder and director Gigi Pinwill, Jenna joined ABC Radio Adelaide’s Sonya Feldhoff and introduced Jeremy, a Fat-tailed Dunnart - after whom DunnART Productions is named. (If you didn’t know, dunnarts are carnivous mouse-sized marsupials found across Australia.) |
Adrian Sherriff:
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Alexandra Schulze toured Kangaroo Island with 'Bettongs & Buddies!' playing roles of Acacia the Bettong (a bogan bettong mum) and a Murray Darling Python with so much humour and caring-love. After training and working as an actor in London, Alex followed love back to homeland Australia and has since performed in many fun-loving shows like 'Fabulous? Absolutely' and 'Kath and Kim.' She is mother to two adorable children, does gorgeous face-painting, and enjoys giving to her community through art supporting disabilities and indigenous animals!
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Curtis Shipley plays the lead in DunnART's 'Bettongs & Buddies!' as Rufous the Bettong with superb realism, dedication, and comedic interaction. His extensive experience in interactive and improvised children’s shows includes:
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Melanie Munt is an original cast member of DunnART's 'Bettongs & Buddies!' playing roles of Quoll, Numbat, and Dunnart with exceptional innovation and realism. After training at prestigious Western Australian Academy of Arts, she became an international award winning performer:
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Sam Lau is an actor, musician, and original art creator with recent credits of:
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Ellen Graham is a multi-award wining artist receiving:
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Mikayla Rudd performed a host of varied rare animal characters in DunnART's 'Bettongs & Buddies!' library shows with rave audience reviews.
After completing studies with Adelaide College of the Arts, Mikayla is now completing a Bachelor of Business majoring in Digital Marketing and Communications and Management at the University of Adelaide and interned at Carclew. |
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Susannah Birch: After 10 years in digital marketing and completing Masters of Marketing, Susannah offers services and training through:
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George G. Aldridge is an international freelance illustrator and cartoonist with 35 years of experience. Highlights include:
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Kerry Marsh (of Call This Guy) has produced and marketed many successful Adelaide Fringe shows with talent such as:
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Dr. Mark Seaton is a wonderful ongoing supporter of DunnART! Highlights include:
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David Daradan is a magnificent actor and animal lover who performs many diverse roles with impressively contrasting vocals and physical representation in DunnART's 'Bettongs & Buddies!' He is known for:
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Samantha Mamaïssata Doncamara (nee Donvito)
Sammy is a DunnART workshop designer and facility, sound technician for 'Bettongs & Buddies!' at Penola Festival, and an innovative face-painter of adorable Aussie animal designs! She is an award-winning performer and teacher, who brings joy and warmth to all! |
Kate van der Horst
Kate's earliest appearances were on Channel 7's 'The Book Place' from 1997 - 2000. Her experience includes national TV commercials, independent short films, theatre, and feature films. Kate has also worked in marketing and design for University of South Australia. |
Dr Isabelle Rose Onley is a conservation biologist specialising in developing management strategies to future-proof species with her PhD on the conservation, genetics and adaptive management of the Greater Stick-Nest Rat.
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Sheri McCoy of The Costume Creator is DunnART's primary costume designer/maker with over 20 years experience and receiving extensive rave reviews of her innovative and uniquely crafted costumes for 'Bettongs and Buddies!'
Sheri is also a costume maker to Queen Kong and is affiliated with Adelaide Costume Shop. |
Jess Clough-MacRae
Jess directed 'Bettongs & Buddies!' prior to its first performances on Kangaroo Island, a show she describes as the Australian 'Wind in the Willows.'
She regularly uses clowning, physical theatre, verbatim text, and puppets to explore sensitive issues and tell new stories. Her company Clownfish created 5-star-show 'Attenborough and His Animals.'
She also directs MANBO, Baroque, and Fool's Paradise.
Jess directed 'Bettongs & Buddies!' prior to its first performances on Kangaroo Island, a show she describes as the Australian 'Wind in the Willows.'
She regularly uses clowning, physical theatre, verbatim text, and puppets to explore sensitive issues and tell new stories. Her company Clownfish created 5-star-show 'Attenborough and His Animals.'
She also directs MANBO, Baroque, and Fool's Paradise.