Announcing 2025 StoryCasters 2.0 Theatre Making Selection

Pratha Nagpal is a director, writer, activist and passionate theatremaker working on unceded Indigenous land. BIPOC stories and art deeply inspire Pratha’s arts practice. Being a first-generation immigrant, she deeply understands the need for art that centres BIPOC voices in both the stories being told and the process undertaken to tell these stories. Her works include Maa Ki Rasoi (My Mother’s Kitchen), Kali and Aurat Raj (The Rule of the Woman).

Benjamin La is an emerging writer and interdisciplinary artist from Western Sydney. He has co-written a full-length theatre show in 2024 as part of PYT Company, ‘The Friend-Ship: Naughty-Cool Adventure’ and is co-writing a musical under PYT’s artist residency, ‘Little Big Dreams’. Benjamin is also developing a new work as part of the ‘Page to Stage’ program, which is run by the National Theatre of Parramatta in conjunction with NIDA. In addition to theatre writing, Benjamin has also directed shows for Short N Sweet 2024 and was chosen as one of four writers for PYT’s “Sitcom” events. He also works as a photographer and videographer for his production company, My Tiger Productions.

Guillermo Robayo Gómez is a multidisciplinary artist and video producer with a degree in Film and Television from the National University of Colombia. He received scholarships from Fundación Carolina and the British Council, allowing him to pursue a Master’s in Fine Arts in Spain and film studies in the UK. His performance Sound Shadows was showcased at the Reina Sofía Museum, and his work has been exhibited in galleries across Spain and Colombia. Through his company, La Casa del Árbol Films, he produced the TV series Give Me Back the Night! and the animated series Airuna, both of which premiered internationally, including at the Berlin Series Festival. He has also served as a juror for cultural grants, supporting emerging artists. Now based in Australia, Guillermo was the most recent artist-in-residence at PYT Fairfield, where he developed the immersive project The Call of Fire. He is a participant in Shifting the Balance, a leadership program by Diversity Arts Australia, and a member of StoryCasters.

Josephine Lee is a theatre and audio producer, director, actor, filmmaker and writer. After a few years working in various roles in theatre, they have started to write their own work, with an excerpt from Day in the Life of Instagram being showcased at Serpent Secrets – A Lunar New Year Festival, presented by Slanted Theatre in partnership with National Theatre of Parramatta’s True West Program. They are also the co-founder of Plus/Minus Productions which will produce the World Premiere of Various Characters at Flight Path Theatre in mid May 2025. They have been an assistant director for Snowflake (Good Time Theatrics and JB Theatre Co), Atlantis (New Theatre) and As You Like It (Sport for Jove Theatre Company). Her producing credits include Midsummer Madness and Things I Wouldn’t Mind Forgetting (Sydney University Dramatic Society) and have been an assistant producer for Snowflake (Good Time Theatrics and JB Theatre Co) and Girl Band (New Ghosts Theatre Company). Her acting credits include The Eternal Quest to Make Yourself Happy (Or Die Trying) (Q Theatre), Boom (Slanted Theatre), Attempts On Her Life (Montague Basement), As You Like It (Sport for Jove Theatre Company), Office (National Arts School), Julius Caesar (Little Spirits Theatre Company).

Kathleen loves storytelling in all forms and is incredibly passionate about authentic cultural representation in the arts. She is an avid writer, reader, and overall literature enthusiast, writing poetry and short stories in her free time. Born in South India, she moved back and forth between Australia and India while growing up, which gave her a broader understanding of multiple performance styles and modes of expression. She undertook work experience with the Sydney Theatre Company and the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP). She studied arts-humanities in high school and was named ‘Dux’ for years 11 and 12. In 2023, she was awarded the Bennelong Arts Award for active involvement in multiple theatrical projects. Alongside school, she was an active member of the Script Assessment Panel from ATYP’s Youth Advisory Board, evaluating the suitability of scripts for ATYP’s future programming. In 2025, Kathleen was accepted into NIDA’s intake for their Diploma of Stage and Screen Course and is currently studying there.

Nargis Batool Razai is passionate about public speaking and community engagement, with a strong focus on advocacy and leadership. Her experience in multicultural advocacy and volunteer work has shaped her approach to creating impactful conversations that resonate with diverse audiences. As a participant in the StoryCasters Theatre Stream program, she is eager to learn and contribute to projects that promote inclusivity, spark dialogue, and inspire change. Committed to using her voice to connect with others, Nargis strives to share meaningful stories and foster a sense of community through engaging discussions and presentations.

Valerie Chidiac is a 20-year-old student currently undertaking an Advanced Diploma in Screen and Media at the Sydney Actors School. Valerie previously attended the University of Sydney, studying a Bachelor of Arts (Dalyell Scholars) in International Relations, and Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management. She was involved in student societies including the Sydney University Dramatic Society (SUDS), and was one of the organisers of the 2024 Student Media Conference. Valerie has also edited and written for publications such as Honi Soit and WATTLE. Her ATAR Notes text guide for Emma (1815) by Jane Austen was published in 2024.

Zara Hashmi is an actor and writer. Her work concerns the weird, the uncanny and the gentle. As a legal worker and student, she is passionate about youth justice, anti-carceral and anti-surveillance practice. Her work has variously been published and performed through venues from Bankstown Arts Centre to university theatre. She hopes to tell slow, strange stories that honour the people she loves. She is from, and now lives again, in Sydney.