Kaz Therese

About

Kaz Therese (them/they) lives on Gadigal Land and grew up on Darug Land in Mt Druitt, they are Hungarian/Australian. Kaz is a leader in authentically, culturally diverse arts practice. They are an award winning theatre maker with a practice grounded in performance, activism and community building. Their work is inspired by place and narrative from working class and underclass settings.

Most recently Kaz was artist in residence at the Museum of Contemporary Art researching their theatre devising practice of Radical Kindness and presented the world premiere of their solo work “SLEEPLESSNESS” commissioned by Carriageworks in 2022. Kaz then directed and co-wrote ACTION STAR with Maria Tran, that premiered at the OZASIA FESTIVAL in October 2022.

From 2013-2020 they were Artistic Director of PYT Fairfield, establishing a dynamic new arts program and practice for the Western Sydney region. Kaz directed the Helpmann nominated PLAYLIST presented in Festival UnWrapped at the Sydney Opera House (2019). Other works for PYT include JUMP FIRST ASK LATER (Sydney Opera House, National Tour, Helpmann and Australian Dance Award) TRIBUNAL presented at PYT Fairfield, Griffin Theatre, Museum of Contemporary Art, ArtsHouse Melbourne, Sydney Opera House and CarriageWorks, 2018 Sydney Festival; WOMEN OF FAIRFIELD in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art’s C3West program, which won the FBiSMAC Award for Best Arts Program (2016) FUNPARK (Sydney Festival 2014) and WOMEN OF PARRAMATTA, Sydney Biennale, NIRIN. They are graduate of the 2019 Australia Council Cultural Leadership program and was a member of the 2021 Alumni Steering Committee.

In 2010 Kaz worked as Creative Producer at PS 122 New York as a recipient of the Cultural Leadership Grant from Australia Councils Theatre Board. Kaz was recipient of the Australia Council’s 2012 Creative Producer Fellowship to create the performance festival FUNPARK in Mt Druitt, now it's its 10th year.

Nighttime Righttime, Liveworks 2023