Theatre - Music - Cycling - Community
Theatre
Liana is an award-winning director and actor who studied at 16th Street Actors Studio while she worked as a performer at Sovereign Hill. She has directed two Webby Award recognised dramatic audiobooks which were adaptions of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and also Persuasion. In 2023 she directed her first stage production: a multi award-winning adaption of Terry Pratchett’s: Wyrd Sisters (Best Director, Best Production). In addition to performances with companies from our her region including Skin of our Teeth, Torquay Theatre Troupe, and Tripwire, she is known locally for her roles including Bard in Buninyong’s Macbeth (Witch 1), Ballarat National Theatre’s Dancing at Lughnasa (Maggie), Pride and Prejudice (Jane Bennet), Daisy Pulls It Off (Trixie), Steel Magnolias (Truvy) and Much Ado About Shakespeare (Lady Macbeth and Mercutio).
Music
Liana has sung for many years in professional covers bands, as well as writing and performing original music. Her current solo music project is Joy Kohl. She previously founded and performed with the all girl rock act Kohl for many years, including supporting Gun Street Girls, live at the roller derby halftime entertainment, and with a song featured in the Roller Derby slasher film Murderdrome.
Cycling
Liana loves elegant bike riding, and in 2012 she founded the Ballarat Tweed Ride with the help of her sister The Goldfields Girl. The ride has operated annually until 2024, after which time it paused while Liana rehabilitated an acquired brain injury. The annual event will return in 2027. The Ballarat Tweed Ride is an inclusive, diverse, supportive event with a focus on elegant cycling and slow fashion. Participants are awarded for the best outfits and bikes, take part in a casual community bike ride, and enjoy any festivities of the event. Previous events have included a vintage clothing market, vintage fashion parade (including clothes from 1880 - 1980), dance lessons, style awards, Australian classic pantomimes, live brass bands, a vintage bike display, vintage photos, gin, and good food.
Community
Liana has participated in a number of community programs, fundraisers, and events. She is a graduate of the LBWR Leadership Program (now known as Future Shapers Ballarat) and was the 2023 Ballarat Citizen of the Year. In 2019 she was a dancing participant in the Dancing With Our Stars fundraiser for The Ballarat Foundation. Liana has previously served on the board for Spark Theatre and for Ballarat National Theatre. For BNT she secured multiple grants to support performances and activities that fostered connection and growth for members and opportunities for theatre making. She has been an active member of the Ballarat Performing Arts Community (BPAC) and regularly volunteers with all local theatre groups with venue maintenance and fundraising. She established Ballarat National Theatre's social events Monologue Karaoke and Theatre Club. Liana is currently working on Ballarat National Theatre's history project at the Australian Centre for Goldrush Collections, digitising Ballarat theatre history with a focus on BNT.