ALISON RICHARDSON is a co-collaborator and director with RUCKUS since it’s inception in 2011. Alison has worked extensively as a theatre director and tutor for community theatre companies, Powerhouse Youth Theatre, Shopfront Theatre, PACT Theatre and Australian Theatre for Young People. Due to Alison’s interest and passion for working with people with disability in 2007 she established sliced bread attraction which created creative opportunities for people with disability in all art forms. In 2008 she produced Bakehouse, a week long inclusive arts event held at Carriageworks in Sydney that consisted of workshops, forums, film nights and satellite events. From 2007 to 2010 Alison was the Creative Programs Coordinator for Western Sydney for NSW peak arts and disability organisation, Accessible Arts and during this time she established the hip hop group, First Flight Crew. Alison has also worked as a Community producer & tutor for Milkcrate Theatre, Australia’s only theatre company dedicated to working with the homeless and disadvantaged.

In 2007 Alison was awarded the Australia Council for the Arts Young Leaders Award for her commitment to community arts and in 2012 was a finalist in Improving Social Participation for people with disability at the National Disability Awards. Alison sought and garnered her own funding to create the position of Creative Director of Beyond the Square at Riverside Theatres a position of which she held for four years. It was during this time she established RUCKUS. Alison has most recently been awarded a prestigious 2015 Churchill Fellowship which will enable her to research disability led theatre practice and inclusive training programs in UK arts and disability companies and organisations.