SHIRLEY VAN SANDEN

Shirley Van Sanden’s commissioned work for young people’s theatre includes '1001 Nights', 'Ghost Train', 'Hidden Dragons' and 'Trains of Thought' for Barking Gecko Theatre Company, and 'Grendel and the Gladiator' for Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. In 2004, 'The New Girl', a puppet play she wrote as part of The Constable Care Child Safety Project, won the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award. Also in 2004 'Hidden Dragons' was nominated for Best New Play and won Best Production and Best Actor, Female at the WA Equity Guild Awards. 'Hidden Dragons' also attracted a 2005 AWGIE Award nomination in the Children’s Theatre category. 'Trains of Thought' has been nominated in the Theatre for Young Audiences category for the 2007 AWGIE Awards. Shirley has also written for Children’s television.