We’re Back – Meet the 2025 Cohort of the MILKE Producer Mentoring Program
We’re thrilled to be kicking off the second year of the MILKE Producer Mentoring Program, delivered in collaboration with The Producer Lab and running from July 2025 to June 2026. This year, six incredible independent producers from Victoria will join us for a paid, year-long mentorship experience designed to build skills, boost confidence, and strengthen careers in the performing arts.
Introducing the 2025 cohort:
Over the next 12 months, they’ll dive into tailored one-on-one mentoring, real-world producing experience, practical workshops, and direct access to a network of peers and industry professionals. Since launching the program in 2024, MILKE has now invested over $50,000 directly into independent producers in Victoria and we couldn’t be more proud to continue backing local producers.
We can’t wait to see where this year takes us and to walk alongside this amazing new cohort as they take the next big steps in their producing journeys.
MILKE Producer Mentoring Program is supported by The Producer Lab, led by MILKE and supported by Creative Victoria.
Flynn Smeaton (he/him) is an independent theatre producer based in Naarm / Melbourne with experience working in a broad range of positions throughout queer arts and live performance ecosystems. Motivated by deep love for theatre, he has devoted his work, studies, and much of his free time to immersing himself in this medium wherever possible.
Flynn recently produced Big Dog Theatre’s debut ‘The Frog’, a new Australian work that enjoyed a successful run at Motley Bauhaus (2024). Previous projects include supporting the multi-art showcase ‘Midsummica’ (2023, 2024) and video work ‘Reverse Anthem’ commissioned for RISING (2022). He currently works in the programming team at Midsumma Festival.
Flynn is passionate about uplifting marginalised voices through the arts and creating meaningful, truly inclusive opportunities for queer communities. He has completed a Master of Arts and Cultural Management at the University of Melbourne, during which he authored an original thesis on queer arts and cultural festivals. Flynn has consulted for Transgender Victoria as a co-design member on a new toolkit outlining best practices to ensure LGBTQIA+ people can be safe in the workplace. This work translates into his style of creative collobaration, which prioritises fostering positive and equitable environments for artists to create
Sasha Leong is an emerging producer based in Naarm/Melbourne, working across live performance, screen, and community-led projects. To-date, her producing practice is shaped by hands-on experience, including work in events and with a peak arts body and not-for-profit organisations, where she developed a strong foundation in collaboration and cultural engagement. Sasha brings a performer’s intuition and a sharp creative eye to her producing work. She is passionate about bold, inclusive storytelling and thrives in collaborative, multidisciplinary environments.
Sasha is currently producing MaaMaa & Nonna’s Kitchen by Jennifer Tran and Sophia Constantine — a heartwarming, multisensory and immersive performance celebrating food, culture, and intergenerational connection for young audiences 2 to 4 years old, and their grown-ups.
Kaite (She/Her) is a producer from Naarm (Melbourne), Australia who works under the company name SKINT. Notable works include: I’m Ready To Talk Now, Jazz Or A Bucket Of Blood, Annie and Lena Have A Talk Show, & Bigfoot: In Plain Sight.
SKINT’s shows have been featured at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Melbourne Fringe. She has produced work across numerous venues including the acclaimed Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne. As of July 2025 SKINT will make its international debut at the legendary Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh with her show I’m Ready To Talk Now.
SKINT started a fundraising Variety Night in 2024 called SKINT’s Scratch Night in collaboration with artist Sunny Youngsmith. Scratch Night brings together artists from across Naarm who are itching to try out new unpolished ideas or get some practice in for their old reliables. The event has hosted 34 acts across its 5 shows and runs on an ethos of community led financially accessible art for all. SKINT is proud to say no Scratch Night ticket has ever cost above $17.
External to SKINT, Kaite has been a part of shows in a range of festivals across the world. Notable festivals include: Big Umbrella, The Lincoln Center (NYC, 2025), March On, The Esplanade (Singapore, 2023 & 2025), Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (London, 2024), Freedom Festival Arts Trust (Hull, 2024) and FunFest, WestK (Hong Kong, 2024).
She firmly believes that being skint is a perfectly legitimate business model.
Manjusha is a Multidisciplinary performer, producer, events manager, tea maker and Intangible Cultural Heritage worker. Creating, working and living on the corner of performing arts, Intangible Cultural heritage and community events sectors. She has a Masters of cultural Heritage management from Deakin university, and is passionate about working with and for the community. She enjoys creating community spaces and bringing people together through art, performance and events.
As a producer and events manager, she works closely with the community to amplify and create spaces for diverse voices and stories. Working within community services and events management, she is an advocate for South-Asian diasporic queer representation.
Manjusha has a background in the performing arts and Intangible Cultural Heritage sector from years of working experience, management experience and academic research and publication.I am deeply committed to fostering a sense of community, particularly by empowering and supporting diverse creatives and artists. I believe in holding spaces where varied voices can be heard, respected, and celebrated, as this is essential for building a more inclusive and vibrant culture.
Currently Touring Internationally as a Producer of Temple of Desire at Toronto Fringe Festival 2025. Working on further touring opportunities for 2026-2027.
Harry Dowling is based in Naarm/Melbourne, Harry is a freelance creative producer, production manager and stage manager. As a producer, he is passionate about championing new Australian writing and collaborating with emerging artists.
Harry co-founded Fever103 Theatre, an independent theatre company which has been active since 2020. He is the company’s creative producer and has overseen projects including four independent productions garnering multiple Green Room Award nominations, regular ongoing community-based script development and playreading sessions, as well as a historic program booking and running a regular live music night in Melbourne’s inner north. Outside of Fever103, Harry has produced work for Melbourne Fringe Festival, Monash Uni Student Theatre & MPAC, and dabbled in film – producing the music video for Memphis LK’s Closer To You in 2023.
He has extensive theatre experience as a production manager and stage manager, having worked in this capacity on productions presented by organisations including Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Performing Lines, Sydney Festival, RISING, Perth Festival, Belvoir St Theatre, Australian Theatre for Young People, Kia Mau Festival, Western Edge, and broadly across the independent sector. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University.
Chloe is a Producer, performing artist, theatre maker, educator and musician based in Naarm (Melbourne) / Gunai Kurnai country (Gippsland). She is passionate about working with young people, enabling their stories to be told through music, visual art and performance. Chloe holds a Bachelor of Arts (Theatre Performance / Musicology) and Education (Honours) from Monash University.
Since 2022, Chloe has worked as Creative Producer for interactive, participatory arts company, Playable Streets. She has developed and produced works that have been presented nationally and overseas including; Esplanade Singapore, Changi Airport Singapore, Arts Centre Melbourne, Adelaide Festival Centre, RISING and Federation Square.
Chloe is also a lead artist and producer for Barking Spider Creative. Her roles within the arts have included: sound design, composition, workshop facilitation for children and families in music, puppetry and performance. Chloe’s experience as primary and secondary teacher has helped inform her passion for encouraging creative play and storytelling in people of all ages.
Chloe is looking forward to touring to South Korea with Playable Streets as well as releasing her debut album in the second half of 2025.
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