Staff
PAC is only as strong as its dedicated and knowledgeable teachers. They come from a diverse round of backgrounds and disciplines and their industry-level experience puts them a step above others in their field.
Management Team
Helen Guliana
Helen Guliana is an Iraqi-Australian multidisciplinary artist based in Western Sydney. Her work encompasses writing, acting, storytelling, producing, and singing—rooted in community and culture. Drawing from her heritage and multilingual abilities. Helen's passion for art stems from a deep desire to reconnect with her cultural roots and family heritage. She weaves her multilingual abilities into her work to connect with a broader audience.
With a deep love for working alongside women and young people, Helen brings creativity into community spaces as a producer and educator. She holds a degree in arts and is currently pursuing a master’s in teaching, believing in the power of education to spark change.
Charnel Rizk
Charnel Rizk is a Lebanese-
Australian Multidisciplinary Artist
based in Western Sydney. Charnel’s art forms include, music, acting and writing.
Charnel also works in the
community as a Speech
Pathologist.
Teachers
Vanessa Madrid
Actor and stunt woman with a Bachelor of International Development Studies from ACU. Vanessa recently wrapped on a number of feature films, including the lead role in psychological thriller ‘Mercy of Others,’ supporting roles in ‘Lickerish’, and dual-roles in horror film ‘After She Died,’ where she showcased what a chameleon she can be. In 2021, Vanessa appeared in the second season of the Stan original series ‘Bump,’ and the short film ‘Wrath,’ which is a finalist in many festivals around the world. She’s appeared in a number of TVCs as both an actor and stunt double and she recently wrote/directed/starred in her own short film ‘Survival of the Fittest.’ Vanessa has had the pleasure of working on two different docu-series, ‘Deadly Women’ and ‘The Invisibles,’ and is worked on the Australian TV series ‘Pervert’ in a lead role. Later this year Vanessa will be playing a lead role in an action drama feature film ‘Syndicate‘.
Josh Virgona
Born and bred in Campbeltown, Josh is a performer, photographer and aspiring artist.
Since graduating from WAAPA in 2021, Josh has continued to work as an actor in both theatre and screen. Some notable credits include Iggy and Ace (SBS Web-Series), From All Sides (feature film), Monkey Baa Theatre’s Possum Magic and various indie projects and short films.
Alison Bennett
Alison is a director/performer and the artistic director of Hurrah Hurrah. With Hurrah Hurrah she has created, produced & performed in Frenzy for Two, The Seagull, TRADE and Roomba Nation. As performer Alison has most recently been seen in Join the Dots (Sydney Festival/Sydney Opera House & Ota City Museum Japan), Zelos (Painted Gate Pictures), TROUPE (by Dream Time Films, commissioned by the Bestival Music Festival UK), as well as This is Not Mills and Boon (Glorious Thing Theatre Co), Roadkill Confidential (Lies, Lies & Propaganda), Macondo’s Clothesline (NIDA Independent) & The Magic Hat (Drop Bear Theatre). She has been a professional mentor of the Pathways program for Milk Crate Theatre and at Spark Youth Theatre as well as a producer for the Rapid response Program at PACT Centre for Emerging Arts. She is currently producing ‘Remains’ (working title) with Chopt Logic at the Old Fitz for Mardi Gras 2020.
As a teacher she focuses on comedy and improvisation and has taught with NIDA, NIDA Open, Casula Powerhouse, Creative Ambassadors Program (NIDA), Langues-en-Scene (Paris), Organic Arts (London), APGS, International Grammar School & ATYP.
Arka Das
Arka is an actor and filmmaker from Sydney, Australia, whose work includes award winning theatre, film and television credits, with his debut stage performance in 'Animals Out of Paper' at the Ensemble Theatre garnering a 'best newcomer' nomination at the Sydney Theatre Awards. Arka has starred in multi Academy-Award nominated film LION and will be seen in Disney's live-action remake of MULAN. Other feature film credits include the Australian-Indian romantic comedy UnIndian, Down Under & Joe Cinque's Consolation. Arka's Television work includes Top of the Lake: China Girl, directed by Academy Award winner Jane Campion, a lead role on ABC's critically acclaimed drama PULSE, alongside Janet King, The Code and also Nine Network and Sony's crime-drama Bite Club.
As a writer & director, Arka holds short films, web-series and short documentaries under his belt. He wrote and directed Khana Khazana, a short film exploring the dark side of migrant labour, which had its Australian premiere at Flickerfest International Short Film Festival and its US premiere at LA Shorts Film Festival alongside selections at St Kilda Film Festival and the International Film Festival of South Asia Toronto. The project is currently in development as a feature length film alongside several other stories he is writing/producing.
Arka is a writer & associate producer on Here Out West, an anthology feature film set in Western Sydney produced by Co-Curious & Emerald Productions that was nominated for an AACTA award in 2022.
Chloe Baldaccino
Nick O'Regan
Nick is a Sydney based multidisciplinary artist with Mauritian and Irish Bloodlines.
He works as an Actor, Physical Comedian, Puppeteer & Writer. Growing up between two different cultures and languages influenced his artistic practice to orbit around connection and non-verbal communication.
Nick's work connects audiences through the poetic body to our shared psyche—a space that is inhabited by ritual and communion. The work is ensemble based, community focused and inherently political as we charge forward collectively in a world that is increasingly individualistic.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts from Wesley Institute & a Masters of Teaching from UWS (University of Western Sydney).
Fundamental to his practice was time studying under and being directed by Antonio Fava. The discipline and precision of Commedia del Arte honed Nick's love of clarity of gesture, comedy and physical storytelling. Nick has further pursued these interests exploring the satirical world of Buffon with Giovanni Fulsetti, and immersive kinesthetic experiences with Chiara Guidi.
Nick has worked nationally and internationally with companies and directors: Matriark Theatre (Halfworld), Hurrah Hurrah (Roomba Nation), Erth - Visual & Physical Inc. (The Liminal Hour), I Naufraghi Teatro (Naufraghi, Corna e Zucchero) & Chiara Guidi, (Terra Dei Lombrichi).
Sarah Purdue
Danny Ball
Danny Ball is an Italian-Australian actor, producer, educator and writer / director.
He completed the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, and has subsequently worked as a professional actor in theatre and screen.
In addition to his work as an actor, he is an arts educator and tutor working for NIDA Open, ATYP, Bell Shakespeare and Parramatta Actors Centre - teaching young people and adults in a range of contexts from school holiday programs to Juvenile Justice Residencies.
Danny is also a producer, having produced three theatre productions in Sydney, including one new work, and is currently a producer on the short film Pearly Gates.
Partners
PAC is proud of its strong community networks. Some of our partners include:
