More women step into the spotlight in CDU’s hands-on live production course

A record number of female students have enrolled in CDU TAFE’s Certificate IV in Live Production and Technical Services, marking a major step forward for women in the traditionally male-dominated industry.

Inside the dimly lit control room of Browns Mart Theatre, Iona Francis, a senior CDU Technical Production student with prior work experience, takes the lead in guiding her classmates through the intricate world of theatre operations.

With nearly three-quarters of Australia’s live music sector primary workers — such as artistic directors, stage managers, and technicians — being male, Charles Darwin University is helping shift the balance by fostering female talent in technical production.

Among the trailblazers is CDU student Swahnnya De Almeida, a Sri Lanka-born creative who swapped a decade-long career in science and teaching for the performing arts.

After volunteering across major Darwin productions, she took the next step by enrolling in CDU TAFE’s hands-on training program.

“We’re three and a half weeks in, and having done a couple of higher education degrees, I’m really appreciating how hands-on and job-ready this course is — there’s a big difference there,” Ms De Almeida said.

'Charloes' Angels' In front of the historic Browns Mart Theatre in Darwin, CDU Lecturer of Technical Production Angus Robson sits in front of students Jodie North, Swahnnya Ronali Maria De Almeida, Mathilde Jeanne Mercadier, Ellie Hedington and Alice Buckley.

Recently working as assistant stage manager for Mary Poppins – the Broadway Musical, where she managed a two-storey set with more than 150 props, Ms De Almeida sees CDU’s course as the perfect way to formalise her skills and build a career in the field.

She acknowledges that live production remains a male-dominated industry but believes achieving gender parity is vital — not just in the arts, but across all sectors.

“Australia is so culturally and linguistically diverse, we should have that reflected back in our workplaces,” she said.

“That’s only going to feed back into more inclusivity in workplace practices, which is a good thing for everyone.”

Inside the Browns Mart Theatre, CDU Lecturer of Technical Production Angus Robson leads his all-female class through an immersive hands-on learning experience.

CDU Faculty of Arts and Society Lecturer in Technical Production, Angus Robson, echoed the sentiment, calling the surge in female enrolment a long-overdue cultural shift.

“This level of female representation is well overdue and speaks to an exciting cultural shift in live production, a shift CDU is proud to lead,” Mr Robson said.

CDU’s commitment to the creative arts extends beyond training, with the university sponsoring Brown’s Mart’s 2025 Education Program, supporting young people in exploring careers in the arts.

Academy of Arts director Amanda Morris hopes the program will inspire more students to pursue careers in creative industries.

“The Arts at CDU support the next generation to think creatively and critically and develop innovative responses to challenging issues in local and global contexts,” Ms Morris said.

“We develop skills, knowledge, and networks for students interested in careers in creative and cultural sectors, and we hope this Education Program inspires more young people to study the arts at CDU.”

Originally published as More women step into the spotlight in CDU’s hands-on live production course