HELLO… I’m so glad you’re here! Stick around to get to know me more and get in contact :)

ABOUT ME
I grew up in Perth, Western Australia attending rehearsals for my parent’s theatre in education company, The Fine Edge and performing in original children’s musicals written by my Dad. I absorbed a love of and passion for singing, dancing, acting and storytelling from birth. I am deeply passionate about the arts, media, storytelling and music theatre and how these mediums can be used to communicate, transform lives, bring joy and change and give voice to ostracised communities and people that need to be heard!

In 2017, I completed my Bachelor of Arts majoring in Music Theatre with Federation University, in Sydney. During my final year studying in Sydney I played Rapunzel in Into the Woods, Theresa Liu in the musical, Working and Princess Mahalia in my original Cabaret named, The Disney Princess Intervention Trial. I also had the rare opportunities to play Mrs White in a production of the new Australian musical, Showtrain and the very vibrant lead female role of Ella Peterson in the musical, Bells Are Ringing at the Hayes Theatre – a dream come true! Before beginning my degree, I completed an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts in Music Theatre at Principal Academy of Dance and Theatre Arts that gave me the opportunity to play Roxie Hart in Chicago, as well as completing my Certificate II: Music Theatre at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts as well. I have trained in jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, lyrical and hip hop, acting and music theatre voice from a very young age.

LIVING THE DISNEY DREAM
The day after I graduated from university I flew to Hong Kong and spent a year living there whilst working as a performer at Hong Kong Disneyland. I experienced the rare opportunity of immersing myself in a new culture, whilst dancing, acting, improvising and performing my heart out and making close friendships with many iconic Disney princesses and characters ;) including; Belle, Snow White, Mary Poppins, Jasmine, Ariel, Rapunzel, Cinderella and Cruella De Vil. 2019 into 2020 then saw me transfer to performing at Tokyo Disneyland, which was again, a complete joy and challenge in beautiful ways and I learned so much. I can definitely say I have lived that ‘Disney dream’ of mine to the full!

TELLING STORIES
After freelance performing in Hong Kong for a year and then returning home, I completed my Graduate Diploma of Broadcasting at Edith Cowan University in 2022. I worked in archive research and documentary development at the end of that year, for 'The Way We Wore', a documentary series about the history of Australian fashion, directed by Neil Minchin and available to watch on ABC iView.

I worked as a broadcast journalist and regional reporter for the WIN Network in Orange, NSW in 2023, and then as a Post Production Coordinator for Periscope Pictures on the second season of Our Law for SBS / NITV, telling the stories of First Nations Police Officers, as well as a Communications, Marketing and Public Relations Assistant for the Royal Agricultural Society of WA - telling local stories during the busy time in the lead up to the Perth Royal Show.

I now work as a story producer at Prospero Productions. It’s fantastic to be working in this production company, creating insightful, interesting and exciting observational documentary series, airing across Australia, the UK and the world. In my current role I am responsible for casting, researching and identifying engaging contributors and storylines, supporting the development and writing of story briefs and outlines and all production processes, conducting interviews and briefing contributors, processing and managing all necessary clearances and releases and identifying potential opportunities for publicity and marketing during production of a number of different series. My directorial debut, a short documentary short film, 'Love, Rock En Masse', supported by Screenwest, Lotterywest and the State Library of WA for the WA Reflections initiative, has just screened at the State Library and will be playing at festivals over the coming months.

I am passionate about telling stories that connect and have impact and look forward to making many more documentary films!

LET’S GET CONNECTED xxx

@mahalia_bowles_ogbonna