Aslam Abdus-samad

Theatre Maker / Movement Artist / Actor

Bio

Aslam Abdus-samad is an interdisciplinary artist, movement director, and performer whose practice spans devised theatre, performance installation, interactive art, and community-engaged projects. With a career that extends across Australia and internationally, his work is marked by a unique blend of physicality, surrealism, and narrative, underpinned by a deep specialization in physical theatre and collaborative creation.Trained at Griffith University (BA in Applied Theatre, 2007) and the Victorian College of the Arts (Postgraduate Diploma in Performance Creation, 2011), Aslam is currently completing his Master of Dance at VCA, where he also teaches movement to BFA (Theatre) students. His global foundation includes formative training with Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre (Australia), the Stella Adler Studio’s Physical Theatre Program (NYC), and IUGTE (Italy), alongside teaching and artistic residencies in Spain and South Korea.Aslam’s work is deeply collaborative, often partnering with schools, community organizations, and professional institutions to mentor emerging artists and educators. His roles as a facilitating artist with Milk Crate Theatre (since 2017) and teaching positions at NIDA, Sydney Opera House, and Q Theatre highlight his commitment to fostering creativity and agency through physical theatre, devising, and movement-driven storytelling.Balancing accessibility with artistic innovation, Aslam’s practice—rooted in his identity as a queer artist of colour—invites audiences into layered, culturally resonant experiences that challenge traditional theatrical boundaries.

Videos

Words I Wish I Had
Lead Artist / Dancer
(2023, 1 minute)

Showreel
Various Roles
(2013, 5 minutes)

The Language of Flowers
Lead Artist / Director
(2019, 1 minute)

Hands I Burnt
Lead Artist / Director
(2016, 1 minute)

Political Children
Movement Direction
(2017, 1 minute)

Coming soon:I Can't Sleep (2023)
Knight Time Adventures (2022)

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