Shirlee and Tamara (we are the same person actually, sshhh, some are fooled!)
Shirlee Sunflower
Shirlee Sunflower is a physical comedy character created by Tamara Campbell.
There are three versions of the Shirlee Sunflower Show in play at the moment and you can glimpse all of them on this website. The Shirlee Sunflower Shows can be performed both inside and out and between the three creations there is a wonderful versatility making it suitable for most situations.
Shirlee Sunflower is a loveable nerd with a feisty attitude and a charming ability to get away with doing and saying things that are, well, honest to her and obviously you too, since you always laugh. She is mostly fun for the whole family but if the kids aren’t around she doesn’t mind to turn it up a notch. She has a wonderful sense of physicality and uses it to create both impressive and ridiculous physical feats and situations. Shirlee loves to play with the audience and get to know them in a way that is outside the normal performer/audience relationship. Really you have to see Shirlee to believe her. You won’t regret it, she is a beautiful mix of very funny things and something a little different as well.
Tamara Campbell
Tamara Campbell has been performing as a full time professional since 1998. Tamara is a physical comedian who is committed to the work of physically comic characters and to bringing theatre to the people and making it a shared experience that is full of laughter, people really laughing at themselves and the world.
Tamara trained extensively in physical and devised theatre, the two major institutions that she trained with and the qualifications gained were:
1. Bachelor Arts Communications in Theatre and Media from Charles sturt university Bathurst Australia
2.Dip Dell Arte from The Dell Arte International School of Physical Theatre Blue Lake California.
Tamara also trained with Philip Gaulier, the Australian fight society, Ronlin Foreman and Gina Bastoni. She has also practised numerous dance disciplines and had the pleasure of the two acrobatic Alex’s, one Aussie, one Ukraine. Tamara is a master of audience interaction and breaking down any barriers.
Tamara has performed in over 18 countries in 7 different shows. Tamara has worked predominantly in Street Theatre festivals, Cabaret and Variety. She has also done some work with theatre companies and in short films and commercials.
Tamara is most famous for her character Shirlee Sunflower, which she performs solo, but she has also worked in a female double act Agnus and Regina and in the spectacularly dark magic show double act Kiki and Pascal and is currently co creating the show “One too Many” with Baby Needs Milk physical theatre company, definitely one to watch out for.
Tamara has started to pursue another passion recently, directing. She has been an outside eye and creative consultant on the work of several of her colleges over the last twelve months and taught a “work on your act” workshop at the Tasmanian Circus Festival in 2009. This is something that she hopes to pursue further as time and situations allow.
The last decade was mostly about Shirlee Sunflower and her gallant parade around the world, although Shirlee is far from dead, Tamara hope’s that she will spend a lot more time sharing the lime light with all the new challenging projects that have come into her life. She is also developing a new solo show in the summer of 2009 with a brand new character. These are exciting times.
