JB Theatre Co

JB Theatre Co in association with bAKEHOUSE Theatre Co presents Gia Ophelia by Grace Wilson 

Writer: Grace Wilson
Director: Jo Bradley
Producers: Jo Bradley & Bianca Watkins
Performer: Annie Stafford
Sound Designer & Composer: Otto Zagala
Lighting Designer: Holly Nesbitt
Costume Designer: Geita Goarin
Set Designers: Geita Goarin & Jo Bradley
Stage Manager: Luke McGilvray
Assistant Producers: Violeta Brau Mugica & Laila Chesterman
Original Production Dramaturg: Jo Bradley

Production Photography by Phil Erbacher

Writer’s Notes by Grace Wilson

I had a Gia moment in 2024. I sat down in my GP’s office and she told me it was possible I had cysts on my ovaries. What a strange period of time to exist as a woman, an artist, a maker. GIA OPHELIA is my response to that fear – a mockery, a challenge, an exploration. Not only do I fear growing up, but I fear what I will do if I too face the same question Gia does at a much younger age. I thought creating this show would reveal some sort of soul searching revelations but instead immense grief, anger and fear came to me. I see it in the women in the audience, the industry response, my own response.

A huge thank you to Jo, who first prompted me to write something for Fringe and pushed ahead solo until we could expand our team to what it is now. To Annie for her relentless dedication to the role, her commitment and her honesty. To the creative team who have all taken risks, explored unconventional spaces in short timeframes and navigated conversations that may be beyond their understanding. To the Sydney Fringe team who have been relentless supporters of emerging artists and have always championed this work. And finally, to you for being here tonight, for supporting the arts and engaging in complex conversations when the world feels challenging enough. Thank you.

Director’s Notes by Jo Bradley

It’s been so exciting to have another crack at Gia Ophelia. Our Sydney Fringe world premiere was scrappy and rough and ‘fringe’ in the best way. We really tried to see how we could make a play with as little set, props and lights as possible, and the team absolutely pulled through. I’m very grateful for Sydney Fringe for championing us (particularly Kate and Rowan), and was very proud for our “Best in Theatre” finalist nomination, and my “Best Emerging Artist” award.

We are very grateful for KXT for taking us on, and giving us the chance to enhance Gia’s set and lighting world. It’s been very creatively exciting to consider how much we can add to the show while also keeping the production lean, for hopefully a future version we can tour.

Thank you so much Red Hill, a Meanjin-based indie rock folk band, for letting us use their song “Washing Machine” and “Coming Up Blank”. Gia Ophelia is all about the challenges of “making it in the arts world” so it felt really cool to feature some emerging indie musicians. You can check out their music here.

Grace Wilson (she/her) | PLAYWRIGHT | @grracewilsson

Grace Wilson is an emerging playwright living on Gadigal country, studying a Master of Fine Arts (Dramatic Writing) at NIDA. At the age of 17, she was shortlisted for the Queensland Theatre Young Playwrights’ Award with her play MY NAME IS TOMMY and won the award in the following year with her work, GOODBYE, ELI ANDERSON. Grace has gone on to be a finalist in several other major awards including Sydney Theatre Company’s Patrick White Playwrights’ Award, Queensland Premier’s Drama Award, Griffin Award, Queensland Writers Centre’s Stageable and Sydney Fringe’s Best in Theatre Award, all of which Grace is the youngest in history to be on the list. She has been published by Jacaranda Journal, Regional Arts Australia, Queensland Writers’ Centre, ATAR Notes Australia, highly commended for the ABC Heywire Competition, short listed for the Martin-Lysicrates Prize, and longlisted for the Griffin Award 2024, Premier’s Drama Award 2026 and the ATYP Foundation Commission. She has also been a part of two play anthologies: 34 Scenes About The Weather and So Many Splintered Parts, both published by Playlab. In 2024, she was commissioned by Queensland University of Technology to write VERY FINE PEOPLE, directed by Wesley Enoch and her next commissioned work will premiere at Melt Festival in 2026.

Jo Bradley (she/her) | DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, CO-SET DESIGNER | @jolucyb

Jo (she/her) is a director, dramaturg and producer who is passionate about new and contemporary playwriting. She was recently awarded ‘Best Emerging Artist’ at Sydney Fringe Festival 2025, for her work as producer, director and dramaturg on the world premiere of Gia Ophelia by Grace Wilson. In 2024, she graduated from the NIDA Directing course and founded her own theatre company, JB Theatre Co (@JBTheatreCo). JB Theatre Co’s inaugural production was the Australian premiere of SNOWFLAKE by Mike Bartlett at the Old Fitz, directed by Jo Bradley. SNOWFLAKE sold out, received rave reviews, and won a Sydney Theatre Award. In 2026, SNOWFLAKE will transfer to Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli, and Jo will make her professional directing debut.

Jo’s directing practice has a strong literary focus, and she loves collaborating with new writers as a director and dramaturg. GIA OPHELIA is her fourth collaboration with Grace Wilson after staged readings at ATYP, KXT Storytellers, and the Old Fitz New Work Festival.

Jo works as a freelance theatre critic, writing for Limelight Arts, and her blog Scribbles of Stage and Screen (@ScribblesOStageAndScreen ). She also is a script reader for a range of playwriting awards and commissions. Her full bio can be found at Jo-Bradley.com and her website JBTheatreCo.com

Annie Stafford (she/her) | GIA | @anniestaffordd

Annie studied Musical Theatre at VCA in their foundation programme, completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts and completed the ActingShakespeare Course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Her theatre credits include Stupid Fucking Bird (The New Theatre) of which she won a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production, Pinocchio, The Rime of The Ancient Mariner & Symphonie Fantastique (Little Eggs Collective) and Misery Loves Company produced by Legit Theatre Co, which is co run by herself and Mathew Lee. Her screen credits include The Let Down, The Last King Of The Cross and My First Panic (AFTRS) which screened at FlickerFest 2020. Annie has toured Australia and Singapore with CDP in shows such as Are We There Yet? and The 78 Storey Treehouse over the last 3 years, and performed in award nominated Gia Ophelia in the 2025 Sydney Fringe Festival.

Luke McGilvray (he/him) | STAGE MANAGER | @mcgilvray.luke

Luke McGilvray is an emerging stage manager with a Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA). He has worked in a range of productions across new works, independent and professional productions including Gia Ophelia (JB Theatre Co) at Sydney Fringe and KXT, Fewer Emergencies (Company Theatre) at the Old FItz and Congratulations! Get Rich (Sydney Theatre Company) at Wharf 1. Luke is passionate about collaboration and delivering high-quality work in the industry while promoting an inclusive and comfortable atmosphere during each production.

Otto Zagala (he/she/they) | SOUND DESIGNER & COMPOSER | @ottolastname

Otto Zagala is a composer and director based in Eora, Sydney. Their practice is deeply research-driven, blending experimental production, text, and pedagogy, and where they might overlap and coincide.

They have collaborated with galleries, musicians, theatre companies, and visual artists, and currently study at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), undertaking a BFA Technical Theatre and Stage Management.

Otto’s recent collaborations include video web design for Jackson Castiglione (Back 2 Back theatre, Rawkus), composition for LOVE by Patricia Cornelius ( New Ghosts Theatre Co) and GIA OPHELIA by Grace Wilson (JB Theatre Co); assistant direction for KITTY LITTER by Hamish Johnston (A Serious Goose); and soundtracking gallery spaces for the Art Gallery of South Australia. In 2023 Otto’s video and sculpture installation 861 was acquired by performing arts collective The Bait, and more recently was presented at Good Bank Gallery in 2025. Otto composed and co-wrote the new Australian musical The Birds which will have its debut season in March of 2026. Otto loves The Muppets, chilled red wine, making art, and helping other people make art.

GEITA GOARIN (she/her) | COSTUME DESIGNER & CO-SET DESIGNER | @geitagoarin

Geita Goarin is a multidisciplinary designer, working in Sydney across theatre and screen. Her design language is often playful and layered, allowing the design elements adaptability in the different worlds. Geita’s NIDA production credits include: Production Designer for The Great Theatre of the World, Costume Designer Alice: Mother of Cinema, Set Designer An Octoroon. Since graduating she has worked as the Production Design Realiser for Iphigenia in Splott (Old Fitz), Production Assistant for Koreaboo (Griffin Theatre) and Production Designer for Bonny and Read (Qtopia, The Loading Dock).

Holly Nesbitt (she/her) | LIGHTING DESIGNER | @hollys.lights

Returning to KXT after lighting designing for Traffic Light Party earlier this year, Holly is excited to be back working on such an emotive and thought provoking play. Since graduating from NIDA, Holly has worked for the Sydney Opera House and lighting designed for shows such as The Frogs (New Theatre) and We Aren’t Kids Anymore (Little Big Theatre Co). She has thoroughly enjoyed working with the Gia Ophelia team in the rehearsal room and can’t wait to bring this show to the stage.

Bianca Watkins (she/they) | PRODUCER | @lesbianca

Bianca is an emerging writer and producer, and graduate of NIDA’s MFA in Writing for Performance (2024). Her written works have featured in KXT’s Storytellers Festival 2025 (Have A Safe Trip), NIDA’s 2023 Festival of Emerging Artists (AMADEUS) and 2024 October Production season (In Cosmic Utero). Composed by Aija Draguns, In Cosmic Utero was nominated for an Art Music Award (Best Dramatic Work) in 2025. Her producing credits include Gia Ophelia (Sydney Fringe Festival 2025), and she is excited to be launching her own theatre company in 2026, Bloodline Productions. She is currently developing and producing her play Holy Hell, which will premiere later this year.

LAILA CHESTERMAN (they/them) | ASSISTANT PRODUCER | @lailaa.c

Laila Chesterman is a multidisciplinary creative who has worked foremost as an actor, then as director, producer, stage manager, singer and musician across stage and screen. They recently graduated from ACA with a Bachelors in Acting. Prior to ACA, Laila originated roles in Bathory Begins and Lights in the Park (ATYP) and the Monologue Collective (KXT bAkehouse/PYT Fairfield). Laila also worked as Producer/Assistant Director on ‘Selkie’ as part of the Old Fitz Late Night Program (Good Time Theatrics), which is touring in March to the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

VIOLETA BRAU MUGICA | ASSISTANT PRODUCER | @violetabraumugica

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Violeta is an emerging actor and producer. She recently graduated from NIDA where she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting). Immediately after completing high school, Violeta devoted herself to professional and competitive ballroom dancing, undertaking extensive training with the world’s best and representing Australia internationally. Despite her dedication to dance, acting remained her true passion. In 2022, she completed the Howard Fine Acting Studio’s part-time course and later that year she was accepted into   NIDA. She is the recipient of NIDA’s 2025 Keith Bain OAM Award for Excellence in Movement.

Special thanks:

Andrea Knezevic, Living Hope Anglican, Kate Marks, Rowan Brunt, Alana Shootingstar, Zoë Hollyoak

The original production of Gia Ophelia in 2025 at Sydney Fringe Festival was supported by Randwick City Council’s Community Investment Program.

Poster image: Patrick Phillips

2025 Sydney Fringe Production images: Robert Miniter

Rehearsal images: Robert Hoang