Firstly, we’d love know how you discovered your love for performing arts and, more specifically, set and costume design?
It was a calling. I saw Phantom Of The Opera when I was a young teen and that was it – decision made. Maria Bjorson’s design broke so many traditions of musical settings – scale, opulence, narrative, emotion, I was hooked.

What was the best advice you received during the early years of your career?
My first design lecturer said if we weren’t attending at least four shows a week, we wouldn’t have careers. He made us show-n-tell what we had seen each week. And he was right. Those of us who always had something to talk about are still very active in the industry.

What has been your favourite production to work on?
In theatre you build these intense, temporary relationships with the people and products you work on and, in the end, they all become your favourites in unique ways. If I had to choose just one it would be set designing Cat Steven’s original musical Moonshadow. It took a whole year to design and I had one million dollars to spend on the build. Oh boy, did I spend it!

MELT is just around the corner and we are super excited! What does your role as director entail?
The Festival Director role for MELT blends two key capacities. The first is that of an arts curator – I have the lucky chance to select the best work currently available to challenge and charm the loyal audiences of Brisbane Powerhouse. This is a rare privilege of being a festival director and I’m loving it! The second component is an advocacy role for the LGBTI communities of Brisbane. As a gay man engaged to be married, I am living amongst one of the notable issues of the community. It’s a thrill to blend work and personal life in such a joyous endeavour as MELT.

What have you set out to achieve with MELT Festival in 2016?
MELT 2016 is an invitation and a celebration. The invitation is for all members of the LGBTI communities as well as our allied friends (heterosexual people) and everyone in between. The celebration is one of love. MELT is the canvas on which this portrait of love can be painted. Building on the theme of invitation, we have three new mass-participation events in MELT 2016. MELT Picnic, the MELT Portrait Prize and MELT Beauty Pageant – all of which are open to the public. I personally hope these events gain enough traction to become annual calendar events in Brisbane’s queer communities. As for the celebration, in 2016 we have over 100 artists involved in MELT. That’s double last year’s festival, how exciting! Notably, almost half of these artists are coming to MELT from interstate or international bases. This shows Brisbane Powerhouse really is a destination for Australian artists and MELT is no exception.

In your opinion, what are some must-see productions at MELT 2016? What is it about these shows that make them a highlight?
Dangerous Liaisons is sensational. This hilarious, risky production from The Little Ones (Psycho Beach Party at Brisbane Festival 2013) is of the scale and quality that knocks on the doors of major state companies. See them now! Gaybies, an important piece of verbatim theatre in response to the question ‘but what about the children’. We’ve added a family friendly matinee of Gaybies to deliver on our promise to invite absolutely everyone to MELT. Finally, there is Simon Burke live in Something About Always. Simon is a national treasure (I’m a bit smitten, by the way). His voice is a gift, his wit is cracking and his leadership in the artistic industry is second to none. We’re flying him in exclusively for one night only.

What are the challenges and rewards for a director of such as festival?
This is my first time as a festival director so I guess the whole thing is a challenge. Saying that though, I’ve been wonderfully supported by the staff and community around MELT. It’s such a popular festival that everyone is on your side. The rewards are seeing audiences come into this iconic building, have a wonderful time and leave happy.

What do you hope first-time attendees of MELT take away from the experience?
A MELT first-timer should feel comfortable to see any performance, meet up with friends at the bar afterwards and feel welcome to return to Brisbane Powerhouse at any time of the year. February is queer month here with MELT and the Brisbane Queer Film Festival pairing up, however, Brisbane Powerhouse has been a hub of queer artists and audiences year round since it’s late 90’s inception. I hope MELT first-timers enjoy themselves so much that they invite others to MELT to build their own friendship circles along the way.

How strong is the queer arts scene in Brisbane and Australia in general? How has it grown over the past few years?
Brisbane’s queer scene is strong and complex, strong enough that the many surrounding opportunities seem feasible. I find Brisbane drag is centred on comic queens and am keen to see inclusions of drag kings, trans performers and more fringe, artistic aesthetics. These ideas back the MELT Beauty Pageant which will see ten stunning competitors battle out for Brisbane Beauty, a purposefully genderless title. Nationally, a wonderful series of conversations between the LGBTI festivals has been going on which has inspired a lot of knowledge sharing and even some interstate touring for key artists. This collaboration needs to grow into a national body with governmental, tourism and artistic attributes. It may be a long haul but I truly believe in the future of these connections and the broadening of our shared cultural experience.

What are some of the challenges still facing the scene and hindering further growth?
Homophobia is huge here. Since I moved up last July, I’ve received too many slurs just walking along the street. I find that contrary to the friendly, sophisticated Brisbane I see everyday.

What words of wisdom can you offer young locals who dream of working in the industry?
You need to travel overseas every year, attend hundreds of shows and every party, read reviews, meet with collaborators all the time, write your ideas down, draw them, plan them into reality and pretty much become overwhelmed by your work. That will make you good. If you’re lucky enough to start with some natural talent and some original ideas then you might become excellent, but without the work, it’s not guaranteed.

What keeps you inspired and motivated in your work?
I really don’t know the answer to this question. It’s a strange beast that keeps cultural workers in the saddle.

Head to the Brisbane Powerhouse website to see the MELT program and to buy your tickets before the fun begins on Wednesday February 3.