The Artistic Directorate

Michelle Higgs

Michelle trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London in 2004 and has completed a BA (Acting) at CSU. She has had extensive performance experience and as co-founder and Co-Artistic Director of Gearstick she has taken on a number of roles including producer, designer and director. Performance credits include: The Laramie Project and Macbeth for The University Theatre Ensemble, Sweet Phoebe, The Toilet Monologues and Cheapside for Gearstick Theatre.  Her directing credits include: Irreconcilable Differences by Shakespeare (an adaptation of several texts to relate the tragic timeline of a relationship, created by Michelle) and Closer by Patrick Marber.  Michelle was instrumental in the development of some of Gearstick's most succesful productions as co-writer for The Toilet Monologues and The Magic Story Coat 1 and 2 as well as taking on a variety of design roles throughout Gearstick's history.

With two children under 3, her workload within Gearstick has been reduced to accomodate her hectic schedule and now she primarily focuses on directing.

Craig Higgs

Actor, writer and director Craig is co-founder and Co-Artistic Director of Gearstick Theatre and has been instrumental in the creation of over 20 projects with the company. Since graduating from CSU with a BA(Honours) in Acting he has had extensive experience in a variety of theatrical disciplines throughout NSW, ACT and VIC. As an actor he has worked with companies such as Blue Chair Theatre (Steve 2005, The Male of the Species 2005), Outback Theatre for Young People(Eyes to the Floor 2008) and The Riverina Theatre Company (Dead to the World 2006, Dry Humour 2007). With Gearstick he has performed in well over a dozen projects playing a number of different characters ranging from Dracula himself (Dracula 2004) to Pat the Dog (Puppy Love 2008).

Directing has seen him take the reins of several of Gearstick's projects including The Dumb Waiter 2004, Sweet Phoebe 2004 and The Dark Lady of the Sonnets 2008 and is soon to direct a project for the University Theatre Ensemble at Charles Sturt University.

In 2007 he was employed as the Artistic Coordinator of the Riverina Young People's Theatre where he not only managed the organisation but ran a successful workshop program where he tutored in performance making and acting techniques. During his time at RYPT he also wrote and directed Cubicles, RYPT Off and Crusaders of the Lost Heart (written with Kevin Poynter) with the students. Last year saw him direct a devised performance as part of the celebrations to honour the Centenary of Sir Donald Bradman's birth at Cootamundra with local youth theatre company CADAS Kids. He has also recently partnered with the Wagga Civic Theatre to provide a holiday drama workshop programme at the Civic Theatre which began with the So You Think You Can Act workshops earlier this year and is negotiations with a variety of organisations about the possibility of expanding the programme throughout the Riverina.

Craig is also one of the Head Technicians at the Wagga Civic Theatre which provides him with the opportunity of working with some of the country's leading performing arts companies such as Bell Shakespeare, Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Queensland Theatre Company.

With co-writing credits on Gearstick's The Toilet Monologues, Reindeer Monologues and The Magic Story Coat 1 & 2 he is currently attempting to complete a novel, begin his PHD and raise his 2 children with his wife Michelle - not necessarily in that order.

Kevin Poynter

Designer, director and writer; Kevin has built a career in regional theatre, working with companies such as the Riveina Theatre Company, the Murray River Performing Group and Barnstorm Theatre. During this time Kevin has developed a particular interest in the development of new work, which has recently seen him take on the role of project coordinator for gearsticks new work creation program, the Gearstick Garage.

Following his initial training in theatre production at the Victorian College of the Arts, Kevin took up the position of resident Stage manager with the Riverina Theatre Company. During his two and a half years with RTC Kevin not only stage managed the companies Playhouse and touring season, but was also responsible for the tour management, production management and lighting design of many productions. After leaving RTC Kevin took up the position of production manager for the Murray River Performing Group (now Hothouse Theatre). As production manager for MRPG Kevin worked on numerous productions in many locations ranging from moving buses to traditional proscenium arch theatres. His work included Set designs, Lighting designs, Sound designs as well being a strong part of the devising process in the company's group devised projects. In 1994 Kevin came back to Wagga Wagga to work at Charles Sturt University as lecturer in design for theatre and television, and production manager for the University Theatre Ensemble. In addition to these roles Kevin directed and developed many projects for the University Thetre Ensemble, and developed his skills in directing and creating work; directing projects such as, The Bus Show, Extremists, The Dark Lady of the Sonnets, The Riverboat Show, and The Passion; and in writing with productions of his scripts Frankenstein, The Story Thieves and Masterpiece by the University Theatre Ensemble.

Recently Kevin has Production/Stage Managed Peace Train for Darren Coggan; and directed Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, and worked as a Diretor, Designer and performer on the Bite Sized project for Gearstick Theatre