Deidre is an accomplished actor and theatre producer with a unique blend of experience in both the arts and business worlds. As a company Director with over 30 years of business operations under her belt, she has honed her skills in managing successful ventures, including People in Plastic, a national industrial wholesaler headquartered in Brisbane, which she runs with her husband.

Inspired by her struggles to find accessible and affordable performance venues, Deidre combined her business acumen and artistic passion to establish PIP Theatre. As both a production company and a venue for hire, PIP Theatre is committed to giving back to the community and supporting like-minded arts organisations.

With Deidre’s leadership, PIP Theatre is pioneering a model that delivers financial benefits to Brisbane artists and arts workers, while providing audiences with diverse and engaging performances.

Michelle is an experienced CFO, business owner and auditor with over 30 years in the IT, banking, and finance sectors. Michelle was the CFO and co-founder of Agility Applications, a technology company specialising in solutions for the finance and capital markets industries, has held senior audit roles at Suncorp and KPMG, and is currently a director of Mt St Michael’s College.

After successfully selling the business, she had created with her husband and partners, and with children now more independent, Michelle found herself in the enviable position of having the time and resources to be able to do something to make a difference. Not wanted to just make a financial contribution, Michelle was on the look out for a project that would utilise her extensive financial and governance skills and have real impact. She found it when Deidre introduced her to PIP Theatre.

Amelia is a multi-skilled practitioner working in creative development, theatre production, and acting. After graduating with a Bachelor of Creative Industries Drama at QUT, and completing various acting courses, she felt there was a gap in the market for professional opportunities for local creatives to grow their creative careers.

Amelia is responsible for managing the programming of works at PIP Theatre alongside the Creative Director, including venue hire, co-productions, and PIP Productions. As the Production Manager for PIP Productions, she oversees the production process for in-house productions. Amelia also plays a key role in developing PIP Theatre as an entertainment hub by ensuring that the venue’s vision and mission are fulfilled. Additionally, she manages staffing in the Front of House department to ensure a seamless experience for audiences.

Deidre is an accomplished actor and theatre producer with a unique blend of experience in both the arts and business worlds. As a company Director with over 30 years of business operations under her belt, she has honed her skills in managing successful ventures, including People in Plastic, a national industrial wholesaler headquartered in Brisbane, which she runs with her husband.

Inspired by her struggles to find accessible and affordable performance venues, Deidre combined her business acumen and artistic passion to establish PIP Theatre. As both a production company and a venue for hire, PIP Theatre is committed to giving back to the community and supporting like-minded arts organisations.

With Deidre’s leadership, PIP Theatre is pioneering a model that delivers financial benefits to Brisbane artists and arts workers, while providing audiences with diverse and engaging performances.

Jo Rowell serves as the Chair of PIP Theatre. Her professional journey, spanning over two and a half decades, commenced with a decade-long tenure in marketing and advertising in the UK and New Zealand.

Following the attainment of an MBA and accounting qualifications, she has dedicated the past 15 years to overseeing financial management within the realm of small businesses.

Over the past four years, she has chosen to leverage her financial expertise in the not-for-profit sector, complemented by her graduation from both the AICD Company Directors course and the Governance Australia Company Secretary course.

The wealth of knowledge gained through her experiences in marketing, finance, and governance uniquely positions her to contribute to businesses as a board director. Jo is currently in a career phase where she is eager to give back and use her skills to help organisations that have a vision to make a positive impact on the world.

PIP Theatre’s vision “Inspiring Social Change Through Purpose in Performance” strongly resonates with Jo and she is thrilled to be able to work with Deidre and the team at PIP Theatre.

Jules Berry (she/they) is an associate producer at PIP Theatre and a multi-disciplinary creative artist, regularly performing on stage, film and TV. Jules debuted their alter ego, York Lit as host of the Toucan Kings during PIP Theatre’s inaugural Toucan Club in 2023. York Lit has since been a finalist for Altimate Showdown 2024.

As a producer, Jules has a passion for enabling diversity in the performing arts, particularly for neuro-diverse, and LGBTIQ+ artists, both of which Jules identifies with.

As a playwright, Jules has written, produced and performed their own works, including the award-winning Plucked, in 2021. 

Heidi Gledhill, Queensland-based award-winning theatre director and producer, is the founder and Artistic Director of Room to Play. Heidi has been the Artistic Director of independent theatre venues, The Crypt in Sydney and Paddington Substation in Brisbane. Heidi Gledhill studied theatre at Macquarie University in Sydney and was granted a scholarship to work at La Sapienza Rome University in Italy, working alongside Nobel laureate, and theatre-maker, Dario Fo.  She has trained with the world-renowned physical theatre company, Frantic Assembly, in London and studied commedia dell’arte in Italy. 

Heidi’s directing credits include Ionesco’s The Bald Prima Donna, Brian Friel’s Afterplay, Tom Holloway’s Red Sky Morning and Dario Fo’s Mistero Buffo, supported by Queensland Theatre and presented at Billie Brown and The Hanging by Angela Betzien at Playlab Hotlines.  Recently she directed Lally Katz’ The Eisteddfod for Metro Arts Local Season and The Bull the Moon and The Coronet of Stars by Van Badham at Metro Arts. I AM KING I AM QUEEN was devised and directed for Anywhere Festival and toured to New Zealand and Sydney, winning Sydney Fringe Award and Brisbane Powerhouse Award. As a lecturer at Australian Performing Arts Conservatory (APAC) she has translated and adapted, The Virtuous Burglar by Dario Fo together with students of APAC, directed David Ives, Its all in the Timing at the Brisbane Arts Multicultural Centre. At PIP Theatre she has directed Beginning by David Eldridge and Banging Denmark by Van Badham. She has been invited by Queensland Theatre to be on the assessment panel for Queensland Premier’s Drama Award. 

She is currently completing her Intimacy Directing Certificate, with Intimacy Directors  & Coordinators, New York in 2024. 

Heidi is on the Board of Anywhere Theatre Festival and passionate about independent theatre in accessible and fascinating spaces.  

Graham Paul is the Managing Director of People in Plastic, a national distributor of industrial plastic products. With a career spanning several roles in sales and management, he has been instrumental in expanding the business from a local entity to a national enterprise with a $15 million turnover.

Graham’s diverse professional background includes roles in pest control, machinery, and industrial tools. Alongside his business endeavours, he is actively involved in PIP Theatre, a not-for-profit performing arts venue founded by his wife, Deidre Grace, contributing to its mission of championing theatre as a social enterprise.

Caroline Sparrow is an actor, filmmaker, teacher and festival director with a passion for authentic and thought-provoking art in all forms. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Education, an Advanced Diploma in Acting for Stage and Screen, and a Certificate in Field Producing for Television from AFTRS.