Graeme Mell

Education

Equipment

My Equipment/Kit:

I can use:

About me

My interest in the performing arts industry stemmed from a hobby and desire to do something creative outside of full time work as a stonemason. I started out building sets and props for a few different amateur theatre companies and found the whole process to be very rewarding.
Having met a designer, who had heard of my work, I was requested to construct a set for Curtain University's Hayman theatre and thus began my self-employment as a freelance set builder and the following years, built further five sets for them.
Working for Hayman theatre I was required to liaise with designers, directors and lecturers to supply the product required and having the University's workshop at my disposal I honed my skills with various power tools and machinery to develop my techniques in set and prop construction.
Various jobs, big and small from various theatre companies, came along as I continued my life of self-employment working from home and compiling my own workshop.

My step into professional theatre came when I was requested to build a set for Black Swan State Theatre Company (Western Australia's flagship theatre company) and for a period of time was casually employed as a mechanist and lorry driver for numerous productions.
I found further casual employment as a mechanist (stage technician) with AEG Ogden at the Playhouse theatre in Perth where I expanded my skills into the backstage workings of a theatre including the use of a counter weight fly system.

In 2010 I had the honor of being employed full time as the head Mechanist for the final year of the Playhouse Theatre.
My responsibilities included directing casual staging crew during bump ins/outs, general maintenance and show crew for the various productions.
After decommissioning the Playhouse theatre I moved on to the newly opened State Theatre Centre where I continued work as a casual Mechanist and sharing the roll Head Mechanist with another member of staff.

I also obtained casual employment with Crown Theatre Perth giving me the opportunity to experience large international touring shows including Disney's Mary Poppins where my role was Mechanist Swing learning three separate plots and the Australian production of "Annie" with the role of Flyman for the season.

In 2013 I relocated to the UK and found employment with Birmingham Repertory Theatre, initially as a painter in their final stages of their refurbishments and then as a freelance set builder on the first few productions after the theatre's re-opening.

In recent years I have had continuous freelance set builder/prop maker employment with
Scruffy Dog LTD, a company that specialises in theming for festivals, events, hotels and theme parks. The work in which has sent me to numerous locations throughout the UK as well as Germany and Malaysia.

I consider myself to be a competent and skilled craftsman and an imaginative problem solver. I strive for quality workmanship, thrive on challenges and find the theatre industry the perfect environment to display my skills.
I have come a long way from my past working life and regard venturing down different avenues of this industry as moving forward. I do not want a job, I want a career.
Referees:
* Duncan Hammond, Project Manager, Scruffy dog LTD
Phone: removed

* Margaret Rees, Head of Workshop, Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Phone: removed

* Phil Bradley, Head of Staging, Crown Theatre Perth
Mobile: +61400246670

* Mitchell Thomas, Assistant Technical Manager, State Theatre of Western Australia
Phone: +61862129214
Mobile: +61411188331

License & Passport

Skills

Secondary Job Title	Technician
Job Titles	Production Assistant (PA), Production Support, Prop Maker, Set Builder, Automation / Flying
Years in industry	6+ years
Work Permits	Australia, EU