Meet the professional, qualified and experienced team who script, act, direct, dance, sing, sign and teach for TAJ Productions

Alex Jones

A professional actor and educator, the Fireflies and All Saints star has been performing for 20 years.  The first Deaf actor inaugurated into the prestigious Mickey Mouse Hall of Fame, Alex later graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.  Recruited to Australia by the Australian Theatre of the Deaf, Alex has continued to extend his string of theatre, TV and film credits while developing communication and education skills training for both Deaf and hearing students.  Alex comes from a Deaf family in Michigan; and therefore, sign language is his first language. He attended a residential Deaf school prior to University. Alex has also been involved in adult and child education, recently teaching on drama courses at NIDA and Auslan through the Deaf Education Network.  Alex knows 3 spoken and 5 sign languages.

Larisa Chen

With an energetic and vibrant stage presence, Larisa has extensive performance qualifications.  A graduate of Queensland University of Larisa has trained extensively in various physical theatre forms including Suzuki, Butoh, Circus, Contact Impro, Viewpoints - techniques she loves to share with workshop students. Larisa's credits include: La Boite, Zen Zen Zo, Grin & Tonic, Sydney Fringe Festival, Theatre Kantanka, Theatre Physical, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Fractal, Brink, as well as Qld Arts Council school tours. Larisa has also worked in film and TV including Paperback Hero, Cybergirl, The Sleepover Club.

Florette Cohen

With grace, elegance and precision, Florette brings visual theatre to life through innovative dance and irrepressible personality.  Florette has represented Australia in dance (2000: Ghent) and her 17 years of dance training and 8 years instruction (jazz, funk, hiphop, contemporary, classical ballet, latin American hiphop, musical theatre) make her a great teacher of all levels of physical movement - building confidence and self-expression in all students.  Florette also has extensive acting and singing credits (including the lead in Lights! Camera! Chaos! – Bazmark Production at FOX Studios; singer in The Lion King – Groups and Tours Promotion, Disney Theatrical Productions) and two years Auslan experience. Oh, Florette also manages her own IT business in her spare time (between stiltwalking appearances), having graduated from UNSW as a co-op scholar majoring in Business Information Technology.

NOTE that because they are all so good and in such high demand, these actors may not be available for each show or workshop.   Don't worry - we guarantee you a great time with the team you do meet.