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Collaboration enriches us at our very special practice place in North Melbourne on Wurrendjeri Country—we pay our respects to First Nations elders past and present and acknowledge this land was never ceded.
Collaboration enriches us at our very special practice place in North Melbourne on Wurrendjeri Country—we pay our respects to First Nations elders past and present and acknowledge this land was never ceded.
Some new members, some old members who discuss, practice, experiment and make performance, we love sharing the process of theatre with peers, students and the wider theatre community. Come join the conversation🎈
Angelique Zhou
Tessa Marie Luminati
Diego Fajardo
Matthew Crosby
Alexandra Clouston
Damon Branecki
The Thursday Group in reverse alphabetical order… because...
Angelique Zhou, Tessa Marie Luminati, Diego Fajardo, Matthew Crosby, Alexandra Clouston, Damon Branecki… biogs
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Co-Facilitators
Matthew Crosby, wrote and performed Corporare—Evan Task in Outer Space in 2024
Matthew Crosby, 64, Actor, Writer, Director, Designer, Producer and Teacher
Matthew Crosby: Actor, Writer, Director and Teacher
Matt is a founding member, ex Artistic Director now co-facilitator of Thursday Group (2009—) and has written and directed many plays, recently in the co-devised format of performance-making with Thursday Group: The Intriguing Case of the Silent Forest, 2019, TUNA 2021, Orpheo Machine 2022, Corporare—Evan Task in Outer Space 2023 and the current project, Falling Heads. He has been an actor 50 years+ and an actor, writer, director, designer, producer for thirty… NIDA grad 1981 and MFA First Class Honours, VCA UniMelb on group power dynamics, 2024. Matt received support from Asialink, Australia Council, Playking, DFAT, Bunka Cho and the Japan Foundation for extensive work throughout Asia, especially in Japan speaking Japanese and did the SCOT/Playbox (Malthouse) Chronicles of Macbeth, 1991-2 local/international tour. From 2000 to date, he has toured ten plays with award-winning Tokyo troupe, Shinjuku Ryozanpaku. He performed mainstage festivals locally and internationally (Asia/Europe) and worked with directors such as Adam Bronowski—Australia, Kuala Lumpur; Suzanne Chaundy—Australia, Greece; Renato Cuaccolo; Michael Kantor; Kim Sujin—Tokyo, Korea; Barrie Kosky; Lech Mackiewicz—Australia, Japan, Korea; Aubrey Mellor, Ong Keng Sen—Singapore, Australia; Suzuki Tadashi—Japan, Australia; Yoji Sakate Japan, Australia and many more. His international producing work includes, The Space Between, 1996, Aichi Arts Centre; Matsaburo–Angel of the Wind, 2006 Shinjuku Ryozanpaku 30-member troupe, (with MIFF feature documentary), Birrarung Marr; Honcho’s Meeting Rinkogun, 2014, Japan/Aus tour; Everyman and the Pole Dancers, 2014, Melb/Tokyo Thursday Group reciprocal co-production, Thursday Group | Auto Da Fe | Shinjuku Ryozanpaku. With Yumi Umiumare he helped create and produce the award-winning butoh/cabaret DasShoku series 2000-14, Australia, Japan. Matt has coordinated a Sustainability diploma subject at Latrobe College since 2021.
Tessa Marie Luminati
Tessa Marie Luminati 29,
Thursday co-facilitator; Falling Heads: actor, composer, education producer, asst Director
Tessa is an actor/theatre-maker and physical theatre performer who trained at Patrick Studios Australia, (Diploma of Music Theatre) in 2015 and then at Federation University (Bachelor of Acting for Stage and Screen) in 2018. In 2020, she dived into theatre-making, by joining The Thursday Group, as well as training under Tony Yap (focusing on levels of trance in performance), and 5 Angry Men 5AM (training and performing in public activations such as The Bells and The March). Notably, she co-developed the children’s theatre show I’m a Raindrop, Get me Outta Here! as a core member of SpudPuppy Productions, Waves (MAP Festival, Malaysia), and The March (5AM for MICF, in partnership with Malthouse Theatre).” Currently, she’s the co-facilitator of The Thursday Group and has begun teaching and directing within the company and working as a theatre-maker and co-deviser on several projects. Falling Heads (Thursday Group) and ( Under The Willow Tree Thursday Group satellite project).
Tessa is an actor/theatre-maker and physical theatre performer who trained at Patrick Studios Australia, (Diploma of Music Theatre) in 2015 and then at Federation University (Bachelor of Acting for Stage and Screen) in 2018. In 2020, she dived into theatre-making, by joining The Thursday Group, as well as training under Tony Yap (focusing on levels of trance in performance), and 5 Angry Men 5AM (training and performing in public activations such as The Bells and The March). Notably, she co-developed the children’s theatre show I’m a Raindrop, Get me Outta Here! as a core member of SpudPuppy Productions, Waves (MAP Festival, Malaysia), and The March (5AM for MICF, in partnership with Malthouse Theatre).” Currently, she’s the co-facilitator of The Thursday Group and has begun teaching and directing within the company and working as a theatre-maker and co-deviser on several projects. Falling Heads (Thursday Group) and ( Under The Willow Tree Thursday Group satellite project).
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Group Members
Group Members
Damon Branecki, 30, Falling Heads: actor, dramaturg, marketing manager
Damon Branecki is an improviser and physical theatre actor with extensive training in disciplines such as Suzuki Training, Grotowski, Michael Chekov and innovative experimentation in practice at Thursday Group. He has collaborated with several local theatre ensembles including Thursday Group, Alchemy Dance and Melbourne Actor's Guild. Damon holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy and Screen / Cultural Studies from the University of Melbourne and in 2016 he was shortlisted for Best Australian Script at the Stranger With My Face Festival. In addition to his theatre practice, Damon has made significant contributions to the cultural sector of Melbourne in producer and strategy roles with organisations such as the Melbourne International Film Festival (2019-2023), Creative Victoria (2024) and the Art Gallery of Ballarat (2025). Damon will perform in Falling Heads, teaches Michael Chekhov and improvisation as part of the Monday Sessions and will travel to Toga, Japan in 2025 to study Suzuki Training with the SCOT company.
Alexandra Clouston, 36, Falling Heads: actor, composer, digital content creator, publicist
Alexandra is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans electronic music production, live performance, and theatre. They hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UNSW School of Art and Design and completed intensive training at The European Theatre Institute in Berlin. In 2022, Alex directed, composed, and performed in a sold out run of Commune: A Gothic Eco Opera, 2022, funded by the City of Melbourne. Alexandra worked as a freelance stylist and art director in London and Berlin between 2014-2018 for clients such as Adidas, Channel 4, Sony Music artists, Wella, Missta shoes and more. They are also the creative force behind multimedia music project The Omega Point, described as the makers of 'a wild brand of apocalyptic art music' by Stuart Buchanan, Digital Curator of The Sydney Opera House. Additionally, Alexandra works as a Creative Learning Facilitator at Arts Centre Melbourne, inspiring the next generation of artists.
Alexandra is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans electronic music production, live performance, and theatre. They hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UNSW School of Art and Design and completed intensive training at The European Theatre Institute in Berlin. In 2022, Alex directed, composed, and performed in a sold out run of Commune: A Gothic Eco Opera, 2022, funded by the City of Melbourne. Alexandra worked as a freelance stylist and art director in London and Berlin between 2014-2018 for clients such as Adidas, Channel 4, Sony Music artists, Wella, Missta shoes and more. They are also the creative force behind multimedia music project The Omega Point, described as the makers of 'a wild brand of apocalyptic art music' by Stuart Buchanan, Digital Curator of The Sydney Opera House. Additionally, Alexandra works as a Creative Learning Facilitator at Arts Centre Melbourne, inspiring the next generation of artists.
Diego Fajardo, Actor, light and set logitstics
Diego is an actor and performance artist from Bogotá, Colombia. He holds a Bachelor's in Performing Arts from Bogota’s Teatro Libre in a joint agreement with the Central University of Bogota. Along his artistic journey, he has trained and been involved with the work and methods of Stanislaviski, Grotowski, Barba, and Michael Chekhov, among others. Team member of a national tour of over 75 shows within Colombia in 2018 as part of his graduation project that also involved researching Actor’s Dramaturgy throughout the creative process. Former member of the Research Laboratory of Theatre and Dance (2017-2019) from the Central University of Bogota led by Juan Pablo Gonzalez. Participant of the first two editions of ‘Anthropology Theatre Encounter: Teatro a la Mar’ (2018, 2020) held in Rosario’s Islands, Colombia, with the Afro-Colombian communities, led by Sofia Monsalve (Teatro de la Memoria) and Ana Woolf (Magdalena Second Generation). Former artist of Teatro Estudio 87 (2018-2022), performing, producing and assisting over seven theatrical productions, with whom participated in various festivals across France and Spain in 2019. Winner of the seedbed project from Varasanta’s Theatre in 2022 “Guanabana Projects” aimed to support and collaborate incubation of creative projects. Third-year Bachelor of Arts Therapy student at Ikon Institute in Naarm, Australia. Joined the Thursday Group in late 2024.
Angelique 烨 Zhou, age 22, actor, composer, shadow puppet creator, asst-producer
Angelique is a theatremaker born in Naarm (Melbourne). Her practice explores the Suzuki Method, Grotowski, puppetry and honest storytelling from underrepresented perspectives. Angelique trained under Matthew Crosby and is a member of The Thursday Group. In 2023, she received her BFA (Theatre) from the Victorian College of the Arts and was awarded the Lionel Gell Foundation Scholarship (2022) and Paul & Donna Dainty VCA Award (2023). Professionally, she has performed with Born in a Taxi, Brunswick East Entertainment Festival, and collaborated with Taka Takiguchi. Her solo works include The Poet, shadow puppets exploring Chang E, and Rising Son. Since 2022, she has worked closely with The Thursday Group's laboratory practice investigating Suzuki and Grotowski techniques. In 2023 she taught workshops based on Suzuki Training at Camberwell Girls. Angelique resided in Odense, Denmark throughout 2024, studying and performing with ISLA Collective and Andrea Albernaz. Collaborating with Isla Collective, Angelique is creating a shadow puppet segment for Thursday Group’s next project, Falling Heads.
Angelique is a theatremaker born in Naarm (Melbourne). Her practice explores the Suzuki Method, Grotowski, puppetry and honest storytelling from underrepresented perspectives. Angelique trained under Matthew Crosby and is a member of The Thursday Group. In 2023, she received her BFA (Theatre) from the Victorian College of the Arts and was awarded the Lionel Gell Foundation Scholarship (2022) and Paul & Donna Dainty VCA Award (2023). Professionally, she has performed with Born in a Taxi, Brunswick East Entertainment Festival, and collaborated with Taka Takiguchi. Her solo works include The Poet, shadow puppets exploring Chang E, and Rising Son. Since 2022, she has worked closely with The Thursday Group's laboratory practice investigating Suzuki and Grotowski techniques. In 2023 she taught workshops based on Suzuki Training at Camberwell Girls. Angelique resided in Odense, Denmark throughout 2024, studying and performing with ISLA Collective and Andrea Albernaz. Collaborating with Isla Collective, Angelique is creating a shadow puppet segment for Thursday Group’s next project, Falling Heads.
Come join our dialogue on Suzuki Method Actor Training, Jerzi Grotowski, Thursday Group Variations Training and co-devising practice. Mondays, 6-9pm, North Melbourne.