Sam Chester is Residency Director at Shark Island Kangaroo Valley. Sam is a highly respected movement director, theatre maker, space-maker and educator, nationally recognised for her dedication to creative practice and her commitment to supporting artists.
Prior to joining Shark Island Institute, she was a Senior Lecturer in Movement and Performance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) for nearly a decade. Previously, she was Head of Movement and Associate Director at Actors Centre Australia. Throughout her teaching career, Sam has focused on empowering performers to embrace vulnerability, authenticity, and embodied presence as a path of liberation for the artist. More >
A passionate advocate for artist-led spaces, Samantha has made significant contributions to the independent arts sector. She is the founder of ReadyMade Works, a dedicated dance space in Sydney that supports independent choreographers and performers, and co-founder and director of Queen Street Studio (now Brand X), which has provided vital infrastructure for countless artists. These initiatives reflect her vision for a vibrant, sustainable arts community where experimentation and collaboration are encouraged.
Her Movement Direction and theatre-making credits span main stage, independent, and festival productions, with recent highlights such as movement direction for Amadeus at the Sydney Opera House and The Jungle Book at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and The Astronaut and HIRO: the man who sailed his house for The Blue Room Theatre. She was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2013 to support her research into devising processes and movement training internationally. She is currently creating a new solo work TRACECELLS.
She is so excited to be part of the amazing next creative chapter in the story at Shark Island Kangaroo Valley, where she hopes to bring endless curiosity and enthusiasm in creative programming and creating opportunities where artists can thrive.
Sam Chester is Residency Director at Shark Island Kangaroo Valley. Sam is a highly respected movement director, theatre maker, space-maker and educator, nationally recognised for her dedication to creative practice and her commitment to supporting artists.
Prior to joining Shark Island Institute, she was a Senior Lecturer in Movement and Performance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) for nearly a decade. Previously, she was Head of Movement and Associate Director at Actors Centre Australia. Throughout her teaching career, Sam has focused on empowering performers to embrace vulnerability, authenticity, and embodied presence as a path of liberation for the artist. More >
A passionate advocate for artist-led spaces, Samantha has made significant contributions to the independent arts sector. She is the founder of ReadyMade Works, a dedicated dance space in Sydney that supports independent choreographers and performers, and co-founder and director of Queen Street Studio (now Brand X), which has provided vital infrastructure for countless artists. These initiatives reflect her vision for a vibrant, sustainable arts community where experimentation and collaboration are encouraged.
Her Movement Direction and theatre-making credits span main stage, independent, and festival productions, with recent highlights such as movement direction for Amadeus at the Sydney Opera House and The Jungle Book at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and The Astronaut and HIRO: the man who sailed his house for The Blue Room Theatre. She was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2013 to support her research into devising processes and movement training internationally. She is currently creating a new solo work TRACECELLS.
She is so excited to be part of the amazing next creative chapter in the story at Shark Island Kangaroo Valley, where she hopes to bring endless curiosity and enthusiasm in creative programming and creating opportunities where artists can thrive.