Bia Oliveira brings producing and touring expertise to the SPARKS project

12.06.2020

Bia Oliveira, Head of Producing and Touring at Sadler's Wells Theater in London, who has worked in the performing arts for over 30 years, is joining the SPARKS project.

Originally from Brazil, Bia Oliveira has been involved with performance for over 30 years: as a performer, producer and director. In the last 15 years Bia has focused on the production, touring, management and administration of arts projects, working across the spectrum of theatre, visual arts, dance, live art, performance and film.

Bia arrived in London from SÃƒÂ£o Paulo in 1997, and continued training in physical and visual theatre. Between 1999 and 2003 she was an artist in residence at Chats Palace Arts Centre, London, where she devised, directed and produced in-house and touring events and performances.

In 2001, Bia trained at London-based Artsadmin, where she became a producer and stayed for five years, working with companies and artists, such as Station House Opera, Bobby Baker, Gary Stevens and Rosemary Lee, among others.

In 2007 after a seven-month stint as Theatre Officer at Arts Council England, Bia joined Akram Khan Company's project bahok as associate producer through a Creative Leadership Award. Bia continued working alongside Akram Khan and producer Farooq Chaudhry on the dance productions In-I, Vertical Road, Gnosis, DESH, iTMOi, the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games and other company projects.

Bia left Akram Khan Company in 2015 to pursue a freelance career as a producer working with theatre and dance projects, but was called by Sadler's Wells Theatre to lead on the international touring of Sylvie Guillem's farewell production, Life in Progress.

Once that tour was over, Sadler's Wells offered Bia a permanent contract as senior producer. Bia became Head of Producing & Touring in July 2017, managing Sadler's Wells' Producing & Touring department, leading on the touring of all Sadler's Wells productions, working alongside Alistair Spalding and executive producer Suzanne Walker on securing co-production partnerships, and producing some of Sadler's Wells high profile productions, documentaries and installations.

Bia holds a Masters degree in Contemporary Performing Arts from Middlesex University and a Post-graduate Diploma in Arts Management and Policy from Birkbeck, University of London.

Sparks advisors have been invited to work directly with the artists by sharing their knowledge and being a sounding board throughout the project. Advisors are Mathilde Monnier, Antony Hamilton, Bia Oliveira and Katherine Profeta.