Artistic Director – Ben Laden
Appointed initially in 2006, as the Courthouse Arts Creative Producer, Ben has worked in the theatre arts industry over the past fifteen years having first travelled to the UK during the early 1990’s to begin his career. He trained under Desmond Jones, a pupil of the mime artist, Etienne Decroux. He worked extensively on contemporary circus, dance and physical theatre productions in London before traveling from 1994-1997 with Colombian company ‘El Teatro de los Sentidos’ (Theatre of the Senses). In 1997 he returned to Australia, working as a director with Kaos Theatre, freelance artist and community arts facilitator and eventually forming his own company ‘The Eater Presents’ which produced events for festivals and major arts organisations in Western Australia. He relocated to Victoria in 2004. Ben has an honours degree in theatre from Murdoch University (WA) and a Masters degree in Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne. He was appointed as the organisation’s inaugural Artistic Director in 2008. Ben is a tireless advocate for young people and the arts and is thankful for the wonderful opportunity he’s been given to contribute to the next generation of theatre arts practice. ad@courthouse.org.au
Malcolm has worked as a manager in the arts sector for fifteen years. After obtaining his Bachelor of Education, Malcolm worked as a Drama teacher in the Western Suburbs for six years. He then completed his Graduate Diploma in Arts and Entertainment Management at Deakin University. Malcolm has worked as Manager of the Bharatam Dance Company, Manager of the Performing Arts at the Centre for Adult Education, and more recently as General Manager of St Martins Youth Arts Centre from 2003 – 2007. He commenced the role of General Manager at Courthouse Arts in late 2007.
Luke has been an employee of Courthouse Arts since participating in the TechHeads program in 2003. Whilst there, in his native habitat he has had the opportunity to learn the inside workings of a fully functioning venue, while honing his technical skills in the dark recesses of the backstage environment. Luke began in high school productions, and from there moved into Community theatre with Cheshire Community Arts and Theatre, working on several productions such as Alice in Wonderland, Kimberley’s Closet (Winner of the 2001 Geelong Fringe Festival Grand Prize), and Alice through the looking Glass as Stage Manager. Since 2007 Luke has taken on the dual role of Venue Coordinator and FReeZA coordinator at the Courthouse.
Edward’s role at Courthouse Arts is to provide excellent front line customer service, implement key marketing initiatives, assist with venue operations and project coordination and undertake general administrative duties. Previously he worked at Deakin University in the youth services area. He constantly inspired by the productions/images and creative endeavours that the young people of Courthouse Arts produce. 
Franchette (or Fritzie as what she prefers to be called), finished a doctorate degree in Language & Literature and was a university lecturer in De La Salle University – Manila for almost a decade, before coming to permanently settle in Australia in 2006. In the Philippines, as an extension of her passion for the performing arts, she and her husband Jordan founded the dance theatre & production company Danscap Manila in 2001. In 2005, she headed Brigadang Berde (Green Brigade), a legislative program of one of the offices at the Senate of the Philippines that advocates environmental protection and indigenous peoples’ rights. She still continues to immerse herself in the arts curating the Short Circuit performance program in 2008 with the Courthouse Youth Arts Centre and co-directing Parallax Dance Company with her husband. Recently Fritzie also performed backing vocals for a local production of the hit musical CATS staged in the Geelong Performing Arts Centre. 
