Anna Yen
Anna is a performer, movement teacher, theatre maker and director
based in Australia.
A highlight of her work is the acclaimed
one-woman show 'Chinese Take Away' and its film adaptation, which
toured to festivals in Asia, Europe, Australia and USA.
Anna is a
member of 'Los Lunch Dates', a comedic performance group who recently
performed 'The Case of All Things' in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.' Her collaborative
physical / visual work was part of 'Undiscovered Country' at the OzAsia
Festival. She performed with Rock'n'Roll Circus (now CIRCA), Zen Zen
Zo Physical Theatre, La Boite Theatre and Queensland Theatre
Company.
Anna trained with Philippe Gaulier, Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe,
Shanghai Circus School and Dell'Arte International School of Physical
Theatre Summer School. She also studied with renowned European theatre
teacher Monika Pagneux in Europe and Australia, including being invited
to her Pedagogy Courses in recent years - Paris 1994, Barcelona 2007
and 2008.
Inspired by Pagneux, Anna trained as a Feldenkrais Method®
Practitioner, graduating in 2000, and integrates this knowledge in
her work. She is keen to share this work and in doing so, deepen her
own investigation of how we as performers / creators can be more awake
and present in every moment, ready to play.
Anna taught for QUT, University
of Southern Qld, University of Qld, Aboriginal Centre for the Performing
Arts, Vulcana Women's Circus, Circus Minimus and QTC. Anna
directed shows for Vulcana Women's Circus, Backbone Youth Arts, University
of Queensland, Amnesty International and Queensland University of Technology
and was Assistant Director on Australian Writers Guild Award
winning 'Kese Solwata' for the Out of the Box Festival. Anna
directs the Women's International
League for Peace and Freedom' s Performers for Peace, Brisbane.
Anna received the
Best Actor (Female) Award at the 2006 Qld Short Film Festival,
a Matilda Award Special Commendation for 'Chinese Take Away'
and a Churchill Fellowship.