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Curriculum Vitae

Katrina Gaskell is a puppetry designer/maker working in the industry for more than 25 years. Trina began her puppetry journey learning from members of Handspan Theatre and other industry artists, and has gone on to work as a freelance artist for many companies including Ilbijerri, Moomba Festival, and Malthouse Theatre.

Trina is currently one of Polyglot Theatre’s generator artists and works for the company as a freelance artist in the areas of creative development, design & making, and as a workshop facilitator. In 2023, she designed the participatory production "Come Back Home" for Polyglot in collaboration with Esplanade - Theatres On The Bay, Singapore.

As a co-creator of Bonkel Theatre Trina works with musician Enio Pozzebon, to make original puppetry and music-based work. They have appeared at festivals including Melbourne Fringe, White Night, Cresfest, and The Melbourne Festival of Puppetry. Bonkel projects include "The Way We Were" (2017/18), the giant puppet duo "The Hopefuls" (2019), and "I Once Was A Tree" (2021/22). In 2022, Bonkel Theatre premiered "Rolling!" at Melbourne Fringe with the support of the Merri-bek Festivals Development Fund (2021).

projects/companies, recent years

• Things of Foam and Wood, Chattermax for Bluey’s Big Play (2023/24)

• Julie Ann Minaai, Okage Sama De, lantern koi puppets (2023)

• Briony Farrell, Niddrie Autistic School residency, additional puppets & props (2023)

• Esplanade Theatres by the Bay and Polyglot, design for Come Back Home (2023)

• Mayu Iwasaki and Monkey Baa Theatre, additional puppets for Little Bozu and Kon Kon (2023)

• Rumbalara Creative Home Games with Polyglot Theatre (2022/23)

• Whittlesea Community Festival, youth workshops and installation (2022)

• David Woods’ THIS, Rising Festival, puppet build (2021)

• small-screen works for Victorian Seniors Festival Online, Moreland Libraries, and Melbourne Digital Fringe (2020)

• Camberwell Girls’ Grammar School, giant puppets residency (2020)

• Show Works’ Moomba Parade float build and costume build for Emily Barrie, Squiggles (2019)

• 5678 Film Club with Polyglot Theatre at St Joseph’s Primary School (2019)

• Warringa Park School, Artist in Residence with Stef Robinson for Polyglot Theatre (2019)

• Darryl Cordell - Big Bandicoot build for the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne (2019)

• Vanessa Ellis, Aime Mentoring, Pangolin Bat puppet build, (2019)

• Artist in Residence with Rawcus Theatre’s Public Programs at Berendale School (2019)

• Polyglot’s Nest creative development, City of Wyndham, and Wildheads for Children’s Picnic (2019)

• Rightside Creative Solutions and VAC’s 91 Storey Treehouse foyer activation, sandwich submarine (2019)

Polyglot Theatre

Trina has had a long association with Polyglot. She is currently a generator artist with the company.

Trina designed the following works for Polyglot:

• Come Back Home collaboration with Esplanade Theatres by the Bay, Singapore (2023)

• Shadow Bus, Extended Artists in Schools Program, Mahogany Rise P.S. (2014)

• Grit - Extended Artists in Schools Program, Woady Yaloak P.S. (2013)

• Trailblazer, an interactive installation for MIFA at Fed Square (2013)

• the ants for ANTS codesigned with Tim Wells, Fed Square (2012)

• Head Hunter, a puppetry co-production with Ilbijeri Theatre (2005)

• The Noise Factory community show at the Mallacoota Arts Festival (2002)

• The Floating Zoo puppet ensemble for Chookahs Children’s Festival at the Victorian Arts Centre (2001)

Trina also worked as a maker on a number of Polyglot shows including Tangle (2011), Checkout! (2010), Baggy Pants (2004), and Stop That House! (2003)

Handspan theatre

Trina's entanglement with puppetry and puppet-making started at Handspan. She learnt from company members while working on the following productions:

• Miss Tanaka (2001)

• Synaesthesia Project (creative development with the MSO) (2000)

• Lift ‘Em UP Socks (2000)

• Raised By Wolves with Regurgitator (1997)

• Slow Down Cuz with the Victorian Koori Health Unit (1997)

• Dante: through the invisible (1996)

• Mind’s Eye, co-production with Back to Back Theatre (1996)

• Visible Darkness creative development (1996)

• Daze of Our Lives (1995)

• Tonight Ideas Take Flight - a river processional co-production with Circus Oz (1995)

• processional works for Melbourne Fringe Parade “Held on the Breath of the Wind”, “Swim”, and “Enrapture”

Other companies and projects include:

• Show Works - Moomba (2018, 2019)

• When the Cat’s Away Puppets (2018)

• A Blanck Canvas (2018)

• Memetica (2018)

• City of Melbourne - Moomba (2013 - 2017)

• Terrapin Theatre - Big Baby (2014)

• Westside Circus - Ugly (2010)

• Ilbijerri Theatre - Sisters of Gelam (2009), and Head Hunter, co-production with Polyglot (2005)

• Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, Melbourne (2006)

• Walking With Spirits community festival (2003 – 2007) Beswick, Northern Territory

• Snuff Puppets - the 5th World Social Forum, Porto Alegre, Brazil (2005) and Nyet Nyet's Picnic (2003)

• Aphids Theatre - A Quarrelling Pair (2004)

• Melbourne Workers Theatre – Yanagai Yanagai (2003)

• Windmill Theatre Co. - Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge (2002)

• Malcolm C. Cooke - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (2002)

• Pig’s Breakfast pilot series, puppetry department assistant maker (1998)

• Company Skylark - The Hobbit (1997) volunteer maker