We are a collective of independent artists, creatives, and collaborators based in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. We are theatre makers, producers, writers, directors, and performers driven by the power of storytelling.

Founded in 2025, we exist to amplify underrepresented voices, foster cultural exchange, and challenge the norm—across both traditional stages and bold, experimental spaces. Our work is collaborative, community-rooted, and fiercely creative.

We’re not just making theatre—we’re building a movement.

Core Team

  • Mohammed ‘Ayo Busari’

    Mohammed ‘Ayo Busari’ (he/him) is the Artistic Director & Creative Producer of BJTC.

    A Nigerian-born, award-winning Creative Producer, Curator, Visual Artist, Writer, Performer, and Disability Support Worker based in Boorloo (Perth). He holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism & Media from the University of Hertfordshire (UK) and a Master of Arts in Screen Arts from Curtin University.

    Ayo is known for creating immersive, poetic, and emotionally resonant theatre works that fuse spoken word, live music, and movement. He co-founded The Outsiders, producing acclaimed shows such as An Evening of African Poetry & Storytelling (nominated for Outstanding Overall Design at The Blue Room 2024 Awards) and Our Stories, Our Motherland. He also founded blue joy theatre co, which supports early-career artists through development programs and new work productions.

    Alongside his theatre work, Ayo is the co-frontman of TAB Family, a music project blending Afro fusion and alternative pop, which won the 2025 FRINGE WORLD Award in the Music and Musicals categories. His current projects include developing till we meet again and better late, than never. Ayo also serves as Communications & Marketing Coordinator at The Blue Room Theatre and sits on the boards of the Western Australian Youth Theatre Company (WAYTCo) and Regional Arts WA.

  • Anja Starkiss

    Anja Starkiss (she/her) is the Program & Production Coordinator of BJTC.

    An independent producer, performer and creative originally from Narrm (Melbourne) and currently based in Boorloo (Perth). Since graduating from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (2023) with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Performance Making), Anja has taken her time to explore many facets of Perth’s arts industry, always following compelling storytelling and collaborative processes.

    As Program and Production Coordinator for Blue Joy Theatre Company, Anja is fueled by a passion for supporting artists to tell their stories, prioritising people-first, inclusive and collaborative approaches to programming and process. In doing so, she hopes to support Blue Joy Theatre Company’s mission of amplifying underrepresented voices, showcasing bold ideas and supporting emerging artists to find their place in the industry.

    Anja’s recent credits include performing inHow to: Break a ChairandAll the Words I Cannot Find (The Blue Room Theatre, 2025) and producing the upcoming seasons of New Beginnings and better late, than never as part of FRINGE WORLD Festival 2026.

Artist Advisory Group

  • Carole Katz

    Carole Katz (she/her) is a Reunion Island-born singer-songwriter and dancer. Growing up on a multicultural French island with parents from Madagascar, Carole was immersed from an early age in a rich tapestry of cultures, music and stories. Living in Perth|Boorloo deepened Carole's appreciation for her island heritage including the tropical rhythms of sega and maloya which she embraced and honoured over a decade of colourful musical performances in WA and Victoria. With her award-winning band Tchéga, Carole brings to life the sunny, sassy and soulful spirit of the Indian Ocean islands, featuring traditional island beats with a contemporary flair.

  • Kiara Thomson

    As a multidisciplinary artist with a creative focus on dance, Kiara (she/her) has been teaching, choreographing and performing for the past 10 years. A founding member of Vybe Nation and co-creator of Open Floor, Kiara has produced local events to nurture dance education, artistic development and community. She has most recently enjoyed expanding her practice into theatre and live performance, working in movement direction, stage management and costuming on recent works: An Evening of African Poetry and Storytelling, Our Motherland Our Stories and is now proud to be involved with Blue Joy Theatre presenting New Beginnings.

  • Shelby McKenzie

    Shelby McKenzie (They/She) Shelby McKenzie is a performer, theatre maker, and movement artist. They graduated with first-class honours from WAAPA, where they focused on embodiment in live theatrical performance. Shelby has been studying Auslan since 2023, their goal is to bring Auslan into their process to increase access to and opportunities in theatre through language-inclusive practices. Most recently, Shelby acted in the Western Australia Opera’s Il Trovatore at His Majesty’s Theatre and The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer. In 2026, Shelby will be developing work interstate and internationally as she travels to Sydney and Toronto to further her career in theatre and film as an actor, deviser and director.

  • Xin Ong

    Xin Ong's (she/her) practice is one of co-creative conversation. She has created works in a director-choreographer and producer capacity that range from short dance pieces and films to independently presenting full-length works through i² (IG/FB: @i2installation), a collaborative practice with a focus on deepening audience engagement, a space where we create to connect, and the missing element (i²=-1) is you. She has collaborated as a performer in various dance works, include X (2023), winner of 'Adelaide Fringe Best Dance Award'.