About Us
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Meet Our Team
Tobias Benn - Managing Director
As Managing Director of Perform! Education, Tobias manages all day to day operations of the Australian business. Tobias is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and also of Live Performance Australia. Tobias is a qualified chartered accountant with over 30 years experience across a range of industries, including running his own theatrical production company since 2000. Starting his career at Ernst & Young, Tobias has worked in a variety of financial services and mining companies including the National Australia Bank, Perpetual Trustees, Western Mining Corporation and Mayne Group. Tobias has worked extensively in the entertainment industry and through his own production company developed the largest educational theatre company across Australia and New Zealand, which is now part of NTC, the largest global educational theatre group.
Amanda Levy - Creative Director
As Creative Director of Perform! Education, Amanda draws on extensive experience in both education and performing arts in Australia and overseas. Originally trained as a performer at the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Amanda spent over 18 years performing in professional musical theatre, theatre and television throughout Australia and overseas, in cities such as New York, Seoul, Singapore and Edinburgh. Amanda received three Victorian Green Room Award nominations for Best Female Artist in a Musical and her performance credits include the Australian Premiere of Sunset Boulevard with Hugh Jackman, Fiddler on the Roof with Topol, Annie with Anthony Warlow, the Australian Premiere of The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown, Prodigal and Virgins by Dean Bryant and Matthew Frank, as well as television shows such as Neighbours, Blue Heelers, Stingers and Satisfaction. As a teacher in some of Melbourne’s most established performing arts schools (Stage School Australia, Johnny Young Talent School) Amanda began to observe the power of theatre as an educational tool - leading to the establishment of Perform! Education.
Nick Goudie - Production Manager
Nick crossed the ditch from New Zealand to join Perform! Education in 2020. He has a background in theatre, having graduated from NASDA with a Bachelor of Performing Arts. Since then he’s performed in schools all over Australia. Now working behind the scenes, he’s the resident production manager, helping to plan upcoming tours and programs, as well as managing our touring teams on the road. When he’s not at work, Nick likes to play guitar, as well as run ‘the tan’. You may also find him outside in the garden, enjoying a game of Catan, or away on a weekend tramp.
Sarah Barker - School Communications Coordinator
Sarah joined Perform! Education 2 years ago as the Communications Coordinator, leading the sales team and bringing over 10 years’ experience within the Public Relations sector in London. Sarah and her family moved from the UK 9 years ago to start a new life in Melbourne and now would not want to live anywhere else. She graduated with a Bachelors of Honours Degree in Performing Arts in London, where her passion has always been the arts. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys camping, surfing, and skiing with her family and is always up for whatever adventures that may come her way.
Alicia Attwood - School Communications Supervisor & Content/Activation Manager
Alicia has worked with Perform! Education for 7 years in the School Communications Team and is the Content and Activation Manager. Prior, Alicia performed professionally in Musical Theatre and is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne where she grew up. Alicia also teaches Pilates at various boutique studios around Melbourne. She is passionate about all things health and fitness and loves camping, travelling, watching a good movie, delicious food and enjoying a wine with friends.
Megan Kozak - School Communications Supervisor & Services Manager
Megan joined Perform! Education as a School Communications Representative in 2017. In her current role as Communications Supervisor, Megan works closely with the rest of the Communications team and manages scheduling for all current NTC tours. As a 2015 graduate of the WAAPA Music Theatre course, Megan has also completed two school tours as an actor. Originally from Perth, she now works in the Melbourne office and spends most days drinking copious cups of tea.
Jack Sumner - Design & Digital Manager
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Lewis Caramia - Marketing & Media Manager
Lewis began working at Perform! Education as a Marketing Assistant in October 2019, where he has since transitioned into the role of Marketing & Media Manager, curating the social media accounts and other various channels. Much like the rest of his colleagues, he too is originally from Western Australia - but later moved to Melbourne to complete his Bachelor of Communications, Advertising at Swinburne University of Technology. Unlike his colleagues, Lewis is not a performer and sings strictly in the shower, alone, badly. Lewis loves to cook big meals for his friends and then makes them wash the dishes while he sits and drinks.
Nathan Carter - Company & Casting Supervisor
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Liam Nixon - Digital Content Coordinator
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Evan Lever - Client Services & Business Development
Evan started his career at Perform! Education as a touring actor in 2017’s National Science Week show ‘Global Gamble’. He continues to perform for NTC and also works in school communications and client services. Originally from Adelaide, Evan trained at the Victorian College of the Arts and has appeared in Muriel’s Wedding the Musical, Legally Blond, Rent, Anything Goes, La Cage Aux Folles and Cat Steven’s Moonshadow the Musical.
Daphne Quah - Client Services Representative
Originally from the tropical island of Singapore that lies one degree north of the equator, Daphne knew she was bound for a future in theatre from Year 10. She has an Honours degree in Performing Arts from Monash University where she trained under the inspirational Peter Oyston, and a Masters degree in Acting from the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) in London. She ran her own performing arts business in Singapore for 6 years and performed regularly in children’s theatre shows at The Esplanade – Theatres By The Bay and the Drama Centre, toured in numerous school shows across the tiny island and hosted public awareness roadshows and workshops for government organisations and corporate clients. She relocated to Melbourne in 2020 and when she is not working, you can find her exploring various playgrounds around Melbourne with her 2 children and shortlisting cafes that sell babycinos with marshmallows because the overwhelming verdict is that sprinkles sans marshmallows on babycinos do not make the cut!
Elise Andrews - School Communications Scheduling
Elise comes to Perform! Education with an extensive background in performing and arts administration. As a vocalist and actor she has appeared on stage for The Production Company, Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Special Events and P&O Australia to name a few. As an actor her credits include The Secret Life of Us and Neighbours. For the past 10 years she swapped to the other side and worked as a booking agent, contracting talent onboard cruise ships worldwide. Elise is thrilled to be working at Perform! Education, combining her passion of arts with the love of learning. Outside of work, you will find Elise running after her two young children Harper and Jesse who keep her busy. Elise, her husband and kids love their Bayside living and can often be found down at the beach, along with their dog Hollie.
Meg McKibbin - School Communications Representative
Originally from Perth, Meg moved to Melbourne after completing a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from the University of Western Australia and a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA.) Whilst appearing in works with Australian Shakespeare Company, Melbourne Shakespeare Company and La Mama Theatre, Meg returned to Perth with the company in 2018 and joined the Communications team after visiting over 40 schools for Book Week that year. Outside of NTC, Meg enjoys yoga, piano, baking, and is currently undertaking postgraduate studies in Counselling.
Jenni Little - School Communications Representative
Jenni (she/her) is a multi-passionate theatre artist with over 10 years experience in arts education which she is excited to bring to her role at Echelon. She grew up on Dharug land in NSW, made the move to Naarm to study at the Victorian College of the Arts and loved it so much here that she decided to stick around. Since she graduated you might have seen her on stage in School of Rock the Musical (GWB Entertainment) or Kinky Boots (Michael Cassel Group).
Charmaine Gorman - School Communications Representative
Charmaine has been working extensively in children's theatre for over 25 years both in Australia and Germany. She first worked for Echelon 20 years ago and returns to the company as a School Communications Representative. She divides her time in the Echelon office and working for her own production company Baby Banksia. She is an actress, writer, producer, and mother of two primary aged children, who also enjoy Perform's incursions!
Charmaine Gorman - School Communications Representative
Caitlin is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, with a BFA in Music Theatre. She made her professional debut as the leading lady in the international tour of Women in War, A Contemporary Opera, and quickly followed it up with roles in Brigadoon, La Cenerentola, Rolling Thunder Vietnam, and Much Ado About Nothing. Caitlin is the co-founder of Prickly Silence, and has been seen in their productions of Cactus and the Mime and Purgastory. She also founded her own production company, Spears Entertainment, in 2019, and uses her platform to create opportunities for up and coming artists to make connections with industry professionals, whilst providing excellent entertainment. In her spare time, Caitlin loves upcycling furniture, expanding her collection of indoor plants, and playing with her family dogs Maverick and Artemis.
Keagan Vaskess - Production Assistant
Recently returned from London, Keagan is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) under her belt. Since graduation, she has performed across Australia and the UK, with a passion for developing new works, and can be heard on several demos and cast recordings. She is currently completing her BA in Gender, Sexuality and Diversity, and dreams of creating safe and healthy working and learning environments. In her spare time, Keagan loves making friends with dogs at the park, bossing around her robovac, and bushwalking.
IN THE OFFICE
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Jeff Richards - Production
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Anthony O'Donohue - Creative Content
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Jolyon McDonald - Creative Development
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Sophia Simmons - Content Writer
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Ian Rae - NZ Office
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Alec Levy - Accounts