Willow J Conway

Introducing the Director!
Willow J Conway is graduate of ACARTS (formally CPA– Adelaide). Willow has been based in Melbourne since 2002 and has since worked extensively as an actor and burlesque performer. Trained in many different acting techniques, as well as dance and movement forms including butoh, tango, performance art, and Bouffont with acclaimed master Phillippe Gaulier, she is able to bring a lot of depth and physicality to characters.
Willow has been making theatre since 1992 and has worked across the nation with many different companies, in many different styles ranging from experimental and shock theatre to cabaret, burlesque, physical theatre, independent and community theatre.
Known for her innovative and provocative acts, Willow J entered the world of burlesque in 2002 as a member of the notorious neo-burlesque troupe Voodoo Trash Dolls. With passion and commitment she has now established herself with international recognition as a solo artist performing in prestigious events including The London Burlesque Festival, The Australian Burlesque Festival and most recently at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend 2013 in Las Vegas.
As an actor some of Willow’s credits include 2012 Green Room Award Winning production DasSHOKU SHAKE!, (45 Downstairs and Darwin Arts Festival 2013), Measure for Measure (ACARTS-Adelaide), All of Which Are American Dreams (Theatreworks), The Stitch (Carlton Courthouse), Elmo (LA Mama), Empire (Melbourne Fringe, Adelaide Fringe), Parallels (Feature film), Sensing Murder (TV series), Prostitute – Who Is She (Fitzroy Reading Room), Last Man Standing (TV Series), and numerous TV commercials.
Willow is passionate about making a new work in the style of immersive theatre that will get the audience off their seats and allowing them to step into a world that celebrates the erotic woman!

Costume/Set Designer Bryn Meredith
Production Manager Rose Connors Dance
Lighting Designer Katie Sfetkidis
Composer & Musical Director David Shea
Assistant Production Manager Roberta Burkšaite

Cast: Amy Wilson-O’Brien, Bree Taber, Frankie Valentine, Gemma Lamp, Jacquie Thomas, Justine Locklier, Kara Franks, Rachel Payne, Shakira ChaCha, Stacey Hynes, Tania Perez, Willow J Conway, Yumi Umimare & Zya Kane and a fistful of wonderful volunteers and ushers.

Bottoms Up!  is a Melbourne based independent performance school and community that is committed to the Arts. We produce innovative and unique works and participate in collaborative Arts projects. We also have a commitment to hosting not for profit events. The ‘Tied Together Still’ team consists of a diverse group of artists and includes an ensemble of 13 performers, 8 interns, a costume and set designer, a composer, scriptwriter, and a production crew.

Since mid February 2014 we have been working on developing solo and ensemble scenes that represent, comment on and pay homage to some of histories great women of erotica - both historical figures, literary characters and movements including Mata Hari, Catherine the Great, Aphrodite, Venus, Manet’s Olympia, Tempest Storm and Bettie Page, the sacred prostitute, Lola Montez, the iconic rock goddess’ of the 60’s to present time, Mae West, Marlene Dietrich, Messalina, Lady Hamilton, Salome, the Art Nouveau Serpentine Dance, The Can-Can, Marie Bonaparte, Lady of Camellia’s, Anais Nin and more. We explore the essence of these characters in contemporary, literal, abstract and symbolic ways to take the audience on a journey through this incredible and sometimes forgotten history.