Staged return for director

SYNCHRONICITY Performing Arts’ latest production is titled Shards. It’s a series of four short and sharp one-act plays on stage in November. Throughout this month the Bendigo Times will be spotlighting the directors behind the shows. This week it’s Tania Maxwell, the director of Napoleon in Exile.

Tania Maxwell found her passion for theatre at a young age, when she would sneak away at home and perform in front of her stuffed animals.

“My love for theatre started when I was three, I remember going into our downstairs room, closing the door, lining up the teddy bears, putting mum’s Broadway greatest hits CD on and performing,” she said.

During her career, she has been on the stage and behind the scenes, beginning her directing career in 2010 at the Sunshine Community Theatre.

Maxwell also got a taste for acting in multiple local theatre productions across the country.

“I have done a lot of performing in a lot of different community theatres depending on where I was living in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Bendigo,” she said.

After a long break away from the theatre, Maxwell said it feels as if she’s back at the start.

“This almost feels like a debut, but it’s not, just a short hiatus between shows,” she said.

One of her favourite aspects of directing is getting to work with others.

“I love… connecting with people, seeing their potential come out and even creating a production environment with its sets, costumes, and lighting; all those different elements that come together.

“I like mentoring, seeing other people’s potential, being able to take someone under your wing, giving them encouragement and the advice to learn something new… The strength of a challenge,” Maxwell said.

“I love being involved with so many different people, going on a journey getting enveloped in a story to evoke so many different emotions.”

Watching performers grow throughout a production’s development, and the process of make-up design, are also rewarding for Maxwell.

“Some of my highlights… are seeing the potential in an actor and seeing that come about. Being a part of that journey, and enabling them to see what could be,” she said.

“I love makeup. I’m a freelance makeup artist and love creating characters, aging people… I’ve done heart transplant scars.

“I recently worked on a short film where they needed a facial scar and an ancient scribed tattoo across the character’s forehead.”

When it comes to her production of Napoleon in Exile, Maxwell said she wants the audience to walk away from the show with the hope that even in an uncertain future, there’s still beauty in brokenness, fragility in humanity, and connection is important.

Napoleon in Exile is on stage on Thursday, 10 November and Saturday, 12 November at 7.30pm in The Engine Room. Visit synchronicity.org.au for more information.