INCLUSION LEAD
Joana is an actor, performance maker and teaching artist. She completed Post Graduate studies in Arts and Social Engagement from the Victorian College of the Arts, Undergraduate studies in Drama and Theatre from La Trobe University and a Certificate IV in Coaching from the International College of Kenshusei. She has attained extensive training in professional actor programs with teachers such as Elizabeth Kemp, Larry Moss and Ana Kokkinos.
Joana has facilitated and co-created theatre productions with numerous arts companies nationally. Joana has diverse experience and education in cultural and disability inclusive art practice. In her work, she endeavors to create inclusive spaces that support agency and connection.
As an actor Joana works across film, television and theatre. Her screen credits include the US series Preacher (Sony Pictures Television), the comedy series The Housemate (ABC iview), the BAFTA and AACTA award winning mini series Mrs Biggs (ITV UK, Seven Network), the feature film Healing (Pinnacle Films), as well as short films including Alethea Jones’ (Fun Mom Dinner) Girl In The Moon and Corrie Chen’s (Sisters) Alasturia. Joana’s stage credits include the Melbourne Theatre Company’s I Call My Brothers, directed by Nadja Kostich, Love Boy (Arts Centre Melbourne) directed by Susie Dee, Fate (Arts Centre Melbourne) directed by Tariro Mavondo and Tenderness (Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Sydney) directed by Nadja Kostich.
Joana is the recipient of two Malthouse Theatre Development Awards, as a co-creator and actor in My Friends and I and Truth Machine (Malthouse Theatre). For La Mama Theatre, Joana worked with writer Christos Tsiolkas (The Slap, Loaded), to write, direct and act in the stage production of Waking in Angola.
