Lisa Maza is a singer, actor, writer and film-maker. It is no surprise that she has accomplished such vast artistic endeavour, growing up surrounded by theatre-makers; her father being the legendary trailblazer, Robert Maza.

Lisa made her stage debut at the age of eight, playing a little boy called ‘Pumpkinhead’ in Robert Merritt’s The Cakeman. It was the first all Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander-run production performed at the newly formed National Black Theatre, and was directed by Robert Maza.

In 2007 she began co-writing with her sister, their autographically inspired theatre show Sisters of Gelam, which premiered at Malthouse Theatre in 2009.

In 2011 Lisa travelled to London to perform in Belvoir’s Production of The Sapphires.

In 2016, Lisa performed in Kate Miller-Heidke’s award-winning ‘The Rabbits’, a collaboration between Opera Australia and Perth-based Barking Gecko Theatre Company, adapted from the picture book by John Marsden and Shaun Tan by librettist Lally Katz.

In addition to her eclectic performance career, her theatre writing and documentary-making, Lisa has expanded her skill set along the way in a range of other areas that include theatre administration, tour managing, project management, MC work, and associate producing.

Lisa performs in the triple Oliver Award winning stage show of Emilia which is making its Australian debut at Art Centre Melbourne from 10-27 November. The production will then tour to Canberra.

Written by British playwright Morgan Lloyd Malcolm in the midst of the Me Too movement, this Australian production features a team entirely made up of women and non-binary creatives from diverse cultural backgrounds as they unite to celebrate women’s voices through the story of this trailblazing forgotten woman.

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