In the Room

Black and white photograph of the In The Room writing team.
In The Room writers, left to right: Danielle Stamoulos, Andrew Undi Lee, Randa Sayed, James Elazzi, Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu by Zan Wimberley

Powerhouse has partnered with ground-breaking production company Co-Curious (producers of critically acclaimed drama Here Out West), to showcase and celebrate the stories of Western Sydney. Powerhouse has commissioned Co-Curious to develop five connected 20-minute films (to be viewed as one work) using Co-Curious’ unique model of development and production, which supports writers to bring stories to life with their own sense of authenticity. The resulting major commission will premiere at Powerhouse Parramatta in 2025.

This innovative collaboration will provide a platform for writers and film makers from under-represented backgrounds across Western Sydney. In the Room will ensure Western Sydney voices, stories and histories are embedded into Powerhouse Parramatta. Once completed, the films will be acquired into the Powerhouse collection.

The In the Room writing team includes:

Image: Zan Wimberley
Image: Zan Wimberley

James Elazzi

In 2022, James wrote, directed and produced his short film Yannis officially selected in seven prominent film festivals including Canberra Short Film Festival, MQFF, L.A LGBTQ+ Los Angeles Film Festival (winning Best Performance) and Flickerfest 2023. Son of Byblos (finalist for the Silver Gull Play Award) premiered at Belvoir’s 25A program and also published by PlayLab Brisbane. James’s unproduced play Karim’s Cello was shortlisted for the 2021 Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award. In 2021, Queen Fatima directed by Paige Rattray, produced by National Theatre of Parramatta/2021 Sydney Festival and shortlisted in the 2022 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. It was James’s second year at the Sydney Festival; Lady Tabouli in 2020 and nominated for the same award. In 2019 Omar and Dawn premiered at the Kings Cross Theatre. James was selected to be part of the 2019-2021 STC writers group.

Image: Zan Wimberley
Image: Zan Wimberley

Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu

Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu is a proud Sāmoan creative from Aotearoa/New Zealand. Settled in Western Sydney, with an undergraduate in Creative Arts and a Master’s in Creative Practice under his belt, he continues his- creative journey as an all-round storyteller. In 2020, Gabriel founded a Pasifika-led production company, Satiu Studios, as an umbrella for all his creative works. In late 2022, he launched his first Pasifika children’s book, Where I’m From. When not creating, Gabriel works as a Program Coordinator in Cinema and Digital and teaches creative writing to better equip young people with the writing tools to become storytellers as well.

Image: Zan Wimberley
Image: Zan Wimberley

Andrew Undi Lee

Andrew Undi Lee is a queer, Australian-born Korean director, writer and producer. Recipient of the AFTRS Kenneth B Myer Award for Exceptional Talent and the Young Australian Korean Filmmaker Award from the Korean Consulate of Australia. His Film and TV writing credits include Melon Grab (Screen Australia’s Hot Shots), Troppo (ABC), Born To Spy (ABC) and the Korean Australian horror series, Night Bloomers (SBS) – a show he created, wrote, produced and directed through the SBS & Screen Australia’s Digital Originals Initiative. Andrew Undi Lee was also the Korean consultant for The Newsreader (ABC) and After the Verdict (9NETWORK).

Image: Zan Wimberley
Image: Zan Wimberley

Randa Sayed

Randa Sayed (aka Aanisa Vylet) is a proud Western Sydney Artist and Create NSW Fellow. Her first play, The Girl was shortlisted for the Phillip Parsons Playwriting Award and the West Australian Arts Editor Award. Writing credits include The Girl/The Woman (National Theatre of Parramatta), Sauvage (Batch Festival, Griffin Theatre), Abu Salim (Brand X Flying Nun, Bondi Festival, and La Mama Explorations Festival) and the web series Halal Gurls (ABC/Create NSW). She is currently co-writing an episode for the TV for Bunya Productions / ABC and developing her fourth play as part of the 2023 Griffin Artist Studio.

Image: Zan Wimberley
Image: Zan Wimberley

Danielle Stamoulos

Danielle Stamoulos is a Greek-Australian actor/writer. Danielle’s acting credits include international award-winning web series Sydney Sleuthers, Love Child and a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for play SLUT by Patricia Cornelius. Danielle recently completed a Development Attachment with Lingo Pictures, a Scripted Ink Writers’ Internship with STUDIOCANAL and selected for Co-Curious/Netflix program ‘On the Bright Side.’ Danielle’s supernatural cringe comedy in development Curse of the Virgin, got selected for ACE/Screen Australia supported community program ‘Digital Diasporas.’ Danielle’s writing shines a light on womens’ voices from Greek diaspora, exploring themes of taboo, sexuality, myth and antiheroines.