Lola Bond is heading to The Imaginarium before moving to London to pursue international stage and screen opportunities. Photo: Supplied.
Before she trades the Illawarra for London’s global stages, emerging physical theatre and screen artist Lola Bond is turning The Imaginarium in Shellharbour Village into her final creative playground.
The residency marks a pivotal moment for the movement-based storyteller, who is using the space to develop a new work — and invite the community into the process — before taking her practice overseas.
Born in Wollongong, Lola will relocate to London to pursue international stage and screen opportunities after doing physical theatre work and developing a growing screen career.
Her credits across Australian television and digital projects include roles on Upright, Last Days of the Space Age and NCIS: Sydney.
Lola’s practice is rooted in movement‑based storytelling with a focus on curiosity, play and process‑led exploration.
Her time in The Imaginarium will allow her to explore the foundations of a new work through improvisation, composition and physical investigation before she departs overseas.
To do that, Lola has brought together six collaborating performers for the fortnight: Zoe Jewell, Grace Campbell, Laura Goodlet, Jordan Loveday, Hannah Eileen Brookes and Peyton Hutchins.
As part of her residency, she will then host a special public event on 1 March titled The Inorganic Body.
Lola said she was excited to get started in The Imaginarium.
“Being welcomed into The Imaginarium is an incredible opportunity to dive deeply into new ideas and experiment with movement in a supportive creative space,” she said.
“I am excited to share this process with the community and to explore how physical storytelling can evolve through curiosity, play and collaboration.”
The Incubator is designed for emerging and early‑career artists – typically within the first 10 years of practice – and welcomes diversity across artforms and backgrounds.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the incubator residency was a brilliant opportunity for emerging artists to showcase their work to the wider community.
“The incubator residency offers time, space and encouragement for emerging artists to test ideas, grow their practice and share creativity with the community,” Cr Homer said.
“We’re excited to welcome EOIs (expressions of interest) for 2026 and to see new work take shape at The Imaginarium.”
Sharon Billinge’s works will feature in bus shelters across Shellharbour as part of Council’s Art in Unexpected Places program. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
Artists are also being drawn to the area, with award-winning Sydney-based artist Sharon Billinge bringing her distinctive, community-focused works to bus shelters across Shellharbour until April.
The latest instalment of Shellharbour City Council’s Art in Unexpected Places program features works by Sharon that explore people relationships and the stories that connect us.
Known for her collaborative approach, Sharon works closely with communities to create murals and artworks that reflect local history, shared experiences and social themes.
Sharon said her practice was about more than aesthetics, it was about building connections.
“Public art can transform spaces and spark conversations,” Sharon said.
“I love working with communities to create something meaningful that reflects their identity and values.”
Bus shelter artwork locations include 211 Princes Highway, Rotary Park, Albion Park Rail; Shellharbour Primary School, Mary St, Shellharbour; Lake Entrance Road at the Wattle Road Intersection; and 128 Shellharbour Road, Warilla.
The Art in Unexpected Places program features a new artist quarterly to provide ongoing opportunities, as well as display visual delights for visitors and locals to connect with.
Lola’s The Inorganic Body – Open Physical Theatre Workshop and Showing will be held 1 March at 2 pm at The Imaginarium, Wentworth Street, Shellharbour.
