Will Bligh
"The universe is made of stories, not atoms." — M. Rukeyzer
"The universe is made of stories, not atoms." — M. Rukeyzer
I am a researcher and practitioner, specialising in dramaturgy, adaptation and Hitchcock, with a strong performance and filmmaking background. I have written, directed, and produced six films ranging in duration from three to sixty-seven minutes and have been involved in a broad range of theatrical experiences including dramas, comedy, musical theatre, and physical theatre.
In performance, I have performed in festivals in New York, Berlin, Prague, Belgrade, Edinburgh, and Sydney, and have twice toured to Japan — performing at Tadashi Suzuki’s festivals and training with his actors. I have always enjoyed a process of discovery while researching, performing in theatre and filmmaking.
2018 Doctor of Philosophy
2012 Masters of Arts (Research)
2000 Masters of Information Technology (Research)
1992 Bachelor of Applied Science - Computing
W. Bligh (2024) Mind the Gap: How Hitchcock constructs Prospective Suspense within Film Scenes, RevCon Academic Conference, Perth, Australia.
W. Bligh (2016) Scripting the Hitchcock Film, The Society for Cinema and Media Studies 2016 Conference, Atlanta, USA.
W. Bligh (2015) Hitchcock: Writing with Images, Sixth International Conference of the Image, Berkeley, California, USA.
W. Bligh (2015) Deconstructing Suspense in The 39 Steps (1935), 8th Screenwriters Research Network International Conference, London.
W. Bligh (2014) Writing Emotion: Understanding the Narrative Techniques of Alfred Hitchcock, 2014 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Higher Degree Research Students Conference, University of Technology Sydney.
W. Bligh (2008) Don’t tell me, show me, World Dance Alliance Global Summit, Brisbane.
W. Bligh (2015) Narrative and Cinema Identification, The London Film and Media Reader 3, Proceedings of FILM AND MEDIA 2013: The Third Annual London Film and Media Conference.
W.Bligh (2009). Alternative Film Production, ejournalist (a refereed media journal) Volume 9, Number 1.
H. A. Abbass, W. Bligh, M. Towsey, G. Finn (1999). Knowledge discovery in a Dairy Cattle Database (Automated knowledge acquisition), Proceedings of ISDSS’99.
Acting Methods: Chekhov method by Natela Dzuliashvili, Sydney, Australia, ’15; Practical Aesthetics Master Class, by Andrea Moore, Brisbane, Australia, ‘07; Stanislavski method by Natela Dzuliashvili, Sydney, Australia, 04; Private tuition with Alan Edwards, ‘96 ; NIDA Open Program specialising in performing Shakespeare, ‘95.
Improvisation: Solo Improvisation, by Andrew Morrish, Brisbane, Australia, ’09 and Münich, Germany, ’11; Improvisation and Performance, by Tony Osbourne, Brisbane, Australia, ’08; Acting workshop by Philippe Gaulier, Berlin, Germany ‘03; Tuition with Clive Williams in grounding the actor (basic and verbal object exercises), ‘96.
Physical Theatre: Mime and Movement Intensive (Mime Corporel), by Leisa Shelton, Brisbane, Australia, ‘07; Workshop in Suzuki Method of Acting, conducted by Ellen Lauren at Toga, Japan, ’02; Continual training with Frank Theatre Company (as a company member) in the Suzuki Method of Acting, ‘96 - ‘00; Mime and voice at the Oxford Theatre, ‘95 .
‘A Christmas Carol’, solo performance of Charles Dickens’ play: HOTA, Gold Coast, 2020; Sydney Fringe Festival, 2022; Zamia Theatre, Tamborine Mountain, 2022.
‘Hearts Ablaze: The Tamborine Years of Judith Wright and Jack McKinney’ (Jack McKinney), in honour of Judith Wright’s 100 birthday, Zamia Theatre, Tamborine Mountain, 2015
‘A One Man Hamlet’: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, UK, 2012; International Festival of Monodrama and Mime, Belgrade, Serbia, 2010; Studio, Woodward Theatre, QUT, Brisbane, Australia, 2008; TheaterForum Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany, 2006; New York International Fringe Festival, New York, US, 2006; Festival Fringe Praha, Prague, Czech Republic, 2006; Buxton Festival Fringe, Buxton, UK, 2005; Theaterhaus-mitte, Berlin, 2005; PACT Theatre, Sydney, 2005.
‘Sanierung’ (English: ‘Redevelopment’): in memory of playwright, Václav Havel; German language roles. Spandau, Berlin, 2012
‘The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare’: Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, 2002.
‘Rashamon’: Visy Theatre, Brisbane, 2000.
‘Heavy Metal Hamlet’: Shizuoka Spring Arts Festival, Shizuoka, Japan, 2000; Karnak Playhouse, North Queensland, 2000; Tyalgum, Queensland, 2000; Seymour Centre, Sydney (for ‘Sea Change’ Olympic Festival), 1998; St. Martins Theatre, Melbourne, 1998; Metro Arts Centre, Brisbane, 1998; River Stage, Brisbane Festival, 1998; Adelaide, 1998.
‘Salome’: Karnak Playhouse, North Queensland, 1999; Tyalgum, Queensland, 1999; Toga International Arts Festival, Toga, Japan, 1998; Princess Theatre, Brisbane, 1997.
‘MacBeth’: The Australian Shakespeare Festival, Bowral, NSW, 1998.
Improvised performances: ‘Lets Get Lost’ at POSSIBLE MEMORIES, Solo improvisation, Tatwerk, Berlin, 2013; ‘A Night of Solo Performance’, 10-minute, solo improvised performances. Woodward Theatre, QUT, Brisbane, Australia, 2009; regular performer with collective, Neal Macrossan Hall, Brisbane, Australia, 2009; Actor for “Mike Leigh’s Improvisation Method” session, Capturing Performance: 2004 Screen Directors Conference, Sydney, 2004; ‘Scapegoat’ for the X-Festival. Metro Arts Centre, Brisbane, 1996.
Events: Actor, Opening Ceremony for the Arts Centre. Ipswich, 1999; Actor, Opening Ceremony for Comalco Co. Gladstone, Queensland, 1997; Actor, play-reading for the ‘The House is Live!’ and Queensland Theatre Company. QPAC, Brisbane, 1996.
1996 ‘The Sculptor’, Runner-up in Comalco Young Playwright’s Awards, Brisbane.
1995 ‘The Bastard’, Performed in the Squib Festival, Court-house Theatre, Melbourne.
May 2013 - Dec 2013 Suzuki Method (once weekly,) at Tatwerk, Berlin, Germany.
March 2012 - Aug 2012 Suzuki Method (once weekly,) at Tatwerk, Berlin, Germany.
Jan 2012 - Feb 2012 Suzuki Method (once weekly,) at K77 Studio, Berlin, Germany.
2004 Mike Leigh’s Improvisation Method, by Rob Marchand, Brisbane, Australia, ’04.
1998 Director/Actor workshop with Lindy Davies through AFTRS (Financial assistance for this workshop via QPIX scheme).
“Doreen’s Dead” (writer/director/producer), Australia, 2022
Duration: 10 minutes
Genre: Black Comedy
Format: Digital 4k
Synopsis: It is three o’clock in the morning and Doreen is late again. Arriving drunk, she is ready to make fun of “little Georgie”. But for the first time in his life, George is putting his foot down!
Teaser trailer of “My Life In Art” (writer/director/producer), Australia, 2010
Duration: 4 minutes
Genre: Drama
Format: 16 mm
Submitted as part of my Master of Arts at La Trobe University. Produced to promote the screenplay of the same title.
Synopsis: Shows scene excerpts from the screenplay of “My Life In Art”.
“A Day In The Park” (writer/director/producer/actor), Germany, 2005
Duration: 5 minutes
Genre: Comedy
Format: Digital video
Synopsis: A homage to Jacques Tati that follows the antics of a homeless man and police-officer.
“Artistic Lives” (writer/director/producer), Germany and Australia, 2004
Duration: 67 minutes
Genre: Drama
Format: Video
Public screenings at: Filmbuhne am Steinplatz, Berlin, Germany, ‘03; and “Off the Mainstream”, University of Wolloongong, Australia, ‘04.
Synopsis: “Artistic Lives” aim was to develop believable performances by creating scenes in the story using improvisation. Mike Liegh’s method strongly influenced this process. The filmʼs story was created after casting and was based on the seven actors using the themes of ‘art’ and ‘relationships’.
“The Main Course” (writer/director/producer), Australia, 2000
Duration: 23 minutes
Genre: Drama
Format: Digital Video
In competition for National Short Film Competition, Canberra international Film Festival, ’00. Finalist in the Queensland New Filmmakers Awards, ’00.
Synopsis: The primary focus of “The Main Course” was to create an environment conducive for improvisation, where the actors, using developed characters, discovered the story while shooting. The story is about Michelle’s revenge on her unfaithful boyfriend.
“The Bastard” (writer/director/producer), Australia, 1998
Duration: 8 minutes
Genre: Drama
Format: 16 mm
Finalist in the Queensland New Filmmakers Awards, ’98.
Synopsis: Set the night after a party, a bitter clash between Sara and Michael presents two opposing ideologies.
2022 ‘Doreen’s Dead’, a black-comedy feature screenplay. See the short film trailer for an introduction to the story.
2019 ‘The Southern-Cross Conspiracy’, a feature comedy screenplay supporting practice-led PhD.
2012 ‘My Life In Art’, a feature comedy screenplay supporting Masters of Arts.
