Deborah is a playwright, actor, director and arts teacher. She taught in primary schools and youth theatre for over 20 years. She also runs professional development for teachers and has published a wide range of performing arts materials for schools. She has directed over twenty musicals for young people including school productions, youth theatre and shows for community theatre.
She has been running Deborah Martin Productions for fourteen years. She has written over twenty musicals for young people and over 12,000 children each year perform in her shows all around Australia and New Zealand. We estimate that over half a million people have seen her shows over the years. Her work is fun, contemporary and appealing to children. The shows aim to provide experiences in music, drama and dance and include music in a range of styles including rock and roll, rap, swing, pop, folk and world music.
She is committed to the promotion of the performing arts in schools and their contribution to the growth of a child’s creativity, confidence and self esteem. She believes participation in the performing arts gives children the opportunity to develop skills that will be invaluable for life.
Deborah has a strong belief in the performing arts as a way for community to tell stories, convey messages, pursue an idea or theme and to reflect the culture and its beliefs and values. The arts enables communities to collaborate, cooperate and celebrate with projects that are stimulating, positive and fun!
Deborah plans to continue her theatrical writing and to expand the range of performing arts materials. This will continue a life long involvement and history in the performing arts. Her grandfather was a member of the Flying Gordons circus troupe during the nineteen thirties and her grandmother performed as the floating lady in the Tivoli Theatre in Melbourne with magician, Charles Breton. Her mother has been performing in musical theatre for over fifty years.
Writing for musical theatre provides Deborah with her living and also continued involvement in an area she is committed and passionate about.