Our Team

Pongjit Saphakhun, Artistic Director

Pongjit (Jon) is Free Theatre's artistic director, a role she also maintains with the Makhampom Theatre Group in Thailand. She is an actress, playwright, director, and facilitator. She worked as Makhampom’s Community Program Director for 15 years and Artistic Director for 6 years. She is also a graduate of the John Bolton Theatre School (1997) in Melbourne and runs her own massage studio, The Massage Site.

Richard Barber, Director

Richard is Free Theatre's producer, scriptwriter, actor, and director. He has been working in music, theatre, conflict transformation, human rights and community development for three decades in Australia and South East Asia, including 15 years period with the Makhampom Foundation in Thailand. In Australia, he trained with Gonghouse and completed his doctorate in Theatre and Drama Studies at Monash University in 2007.

Janita Barber, Media Director

Janita looks after most of Free Theatre's design work and is a member of the ensemble. She has grown up as an artist, performing with Makhampom since she was 3 years old. She has a passion for singing, acting, music, and design and performs with the Young Australian Broadway Chorus and Riot Stage. She will be studying in the Theatre program at VCA Secondary School in 2020.

Our Ensembles

The Family Dialogue

Malual Deng

Ajak Kwai

Deng Deng

Gabriela Georges

South Sudan Voice

Malual Deng

Asunta Deng

Achol Mangok

Manyiel Aleth

Deng Deng

Free Theatre

Ensemble

Ajak Kwai

Gabriela Georges

Lara Week

Juan Camilo Riano

Christopher Phung

Janita Barber