C R E A T I V E
Writer | Director
[stage + screen]
Mayu Iwasaki is a bilingual Japanese actress, puppeteer and theatre-maker, currently based in Sydney. She moved from Tokyo to Sydney to complete her BA in Film Studies and Performing Arts at the University of New South Wales. Mayu is also a graduate of David Mamet’s Atlantic Theatre Conservatory. She trained and worked extensively with the SITI Company in New York, where she discovered a passion for physical theatre and collaborative projects across various mediums.
Mayu is also a freelance movement teacher. She enjoys creating ensemble pieces and developing movement techniques (Suzuki Method and Viewpoints Training). She has developed original work in Drama for Stage 6 Preliminary and HSC courses, and also for university and advanced level diplomas. She has led workshops at several theatres and for many arts & community organisations.
As an actor Mayu has performed on the international stage, including Tokyo, New York, Chicago and Sydney. She made her Sydney Theatre Company debut in the award-winning play White Pearl. She has also starred in several feature and short films. In 2016 she began working with Erth Visual & Physical Theatre Company as the host of Dinosaur Zoo Tour, and as a puppeteer. She continues to develop her puppetry and performance skills. Mayu is engaged on various projects, working with a variety of local, regional and international communities where she continues to expand her understanding of different cultural viewpoints and social dynamics.
She was previously Artistic Associate at Monkey Baa Theatre Company, and is busy developing a children’s TV series Little Bozu, fusing traditional puppetry and Japanese mysticism with contemporary ideology.