ANDY PACKER
Director
Andy lives and works in Adelaide. He has worked as a performer, writer, conceiver and director of theatre and opera productions, creative producer of multidisciplinary arts programs, producer of large-scale outdoor events and festival director.
In 2007 Andy founded Slingsby. In the past six years Slingsby has premiered four productions and toured to 54 venues in 36 cities and towns across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, USA, Canada, UK, Scotland and Spain. The company has received 12 awards including two Ruby Awards (2010 Best Work and 2009 Arts Entrepreneur) and a Business SA Export Award.
Andy directed the Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2013 Variety Gala, which included performances by Kristin Chenoweth and Molly Ringwald. He also directed the 2012 Adelaide Festival production of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass. He has also directed productions for Mumpsimus, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Windmill Theatre, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Restless Dance Theatre, Urban Myth Theatre of Youth, State Opera of South Australia, Come Out Festival (2007, 2003 & 2001) and Ricochet Theatre Company.
Andy’s previous leadership roles include; Creative Director of COME OUT Festival 2011, Creative Producer of the Adelaide Fringe's family programs in 2007 and 2008, Creative Producer, Programming at Carclew Youth Arts (2003-2006), Program Manager for Come Out Festival 2003 and Youth and Education Program Coordinator for Adelaide Fringe 2002.
Along with Cameron Goodall and Quincy Grant, Andy is co-founder of Mumpsimus a contemporary music theatre company whose premiere production You, Me and the Bloody Sea opened at Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2013 to raucous audience appreciation and rave reviews.
MATTHEW CAREY
Matthew is a highly sought after musical director, arranger/orchestrator and pianist, who works extensively in Australia and abroad. In recent years, he has performed with some of the biggest names on Broadway and cabaret including Tony Award winners Lillias White, Donna McKechnie and Liza Minnelli.
Matthew studied jazz piano and arranging at the University of Adelaide, and continued further studies in arranging and orchestration with the American jazz educator Dick Grove.
As a musical director, Matthew has helmed theatrical productions in Australia including, most recently, the Australian tour of Grease! produced by GFO. Additional credits include the premiere production of “Matthew Robinson’s Metro Street” and the South Australian premiere of “Assassins”, served as associate musical director on the London Oliver and NY Tony nominated revival of “Sunday in the Park with George” and is regularly requested to MD bands large and small for touring artists from interstate and overseas. Matthew’s original musical “It’s a Dad Thing” has presented two independent seasons in South Australia courtesy of Singular Productions.
His work includes arranging and orchestrating for small ensembles through to orchestras, in a wide variety of musical styles and genres.