Luke Kerridge is an award-winning theatre maker and director specialising in theatre for young audiences. As Artistic Director of Barking Gecko Theatre, he directed and co-created numerous new works for children including Cicada, The Great Un-Wondering of Wilbur Whittaker, HOUSE, The Master Collector and the Helpmann Award-winning, Bambert’s Book of Lost Stories. Luke has an established practice as an Arts Educator and has been Artistic Associate at St Martins Youth Arts Centre and Shopfront ContemporaryArts Centre. A graduate of VCA, he currently lives and works on Whadjuk Country in Boorloo/Perth.

Some key issues that Luke wants to bring to the exchange includes the funding challenges the TYA sector faces in Australia and the historical shrinking of the sector, and the challenges of touring and creating works of scale for young people in a post-pandemic world. Luke is also passionate about the research initiatives that show the long-term benefits of arts experiences for young audiences, diversifying voices in the TYA sector, and the growth of accessible and inclusive arts practices for children.