Who We Are
Bright Side Productions emerged from a determined, passionate and slightly frustrated Perth artist's dream to make the industry a more empowering, inspired and sustainable place.
After graduating from seven years of training at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), founder Amy Fortnum realised how wonderful it felt to make innovative new works, re-imagine how theatre is created and experienced, and empower the brilliant artists around her. She began writing and producing award-winning works, and with the support of a wonderful team, eventually took the plunge to become an official not-for-profit in 2022. From a simple backyard dream years ago, Bright Side’s latest show is set to tour Edinburgh Fringe later this year.
As a primary school teacher, Amy also understands the power of educational theatre and how The Arts can provide a safe space for kids to grow as unique individuals. Bright Side provides enriching opportunities for WA school kids to develop their performance skills, alongside empathy, confidence and lasting friendships. We write new Australian musicals every year, and debut them with local casts for local families around Perth. We always utilise practising professionals as mentors and teachers to ground training in real-world experience.
There are so many emerging and established creatives in Perth. Bright Side is determined to provide more opportunities for them to grow, explore, learn and inspire others through any kind of creative endeavours that excite and slightly terrify us.
Our Team
Meet a few of the key passionate creatives behind Bright Side Productions
Armed with two Bachelor degrees from WAAPA, and MBA, and over a decade of diverse experience in the performing arts, Amy is the founder of Bright Side Productions. She made her professional debut alongside Marousia Louwerse in the world premiere of Mimma: A Musical of War and Friendship and in 2020, became the first female to play Weasel in Australian Shakespeare Company's 34th season od The Wind in the Willows. Her self-devised cabaret Golden Age Girls won the 2019 Fringe World Cabaret Award and the 2018 Julie Michael Cabaret Award. In 2022, Amy joined the cast of Titanic the Musical: In Concert alongside Anthony Warlow and played Princess Beauty in Zealous Productions’ pantomime, Sleeping Beauty. Amy also regularly tours with the National Theatre for Children. Last year, she played leading lady Amalia Balash in Western Sky Projects’ She Loves Me. Amy's most recently closed Shadow of Doubt at the Blue Room Theatre as Associate Producer with Fine Comb Theatre Company. Her shows have been programmed in Fringe Festivals around Australia, and she is set to tour to Edinburgh Fringe with her new show Bibbity Bobbity Bondi later this year. Amy is also co-artistic director at Western Sky Projects and teaches improv at Only The Human.
Amy Fortnum
Ethan is a graduate from the Diploma of Acting course at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). He’s everybody’s favourite at our Bright Stars school holiday programs and sometimes even stars in our shows alongside our young artists. He joined Bright Side in 2024 for Filter Fun Park in Yagan Square, presented in collaboration with Development WA and Filter Your Future. A true staple of the local Perth theatre scene, Ethan’s most recent theatre credits with Drew Anthony Creative include Footloose and Saturday Night Fever at Planet Royale. Last year, Ethan joined WA Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty at His Majesty’s Theatre and toured all around WA with Perform! Education. He also worked with Humphrey Bower and Teresa Jakovich for WAYTCo.’s production of Shakespeare (a)Gender.
Ethan Battle
Jackson Harper Griggs
Pianist, Composer and Coder for Coded Comedy and Another One Bit the Dust
Tate Bennett
Our associate producer on the ground and key performer at Coded Comedy
Our wonderful communications strategist