OISTAT Open Mic ❘ OISTAT Global Exchange #1: Australia x Ireland x Sweden

OISTAT Global Exchange #1: Australia ╳ Ireland ╳ Sweden

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Time: 11:00–12:30 (UTC+0) 
*Please check your local time zone.
Location: Zoom meeting room 
*The link will be sent to your email address a week prior to the panel.

Moderated by OISTAT Headquarters
Participating Centres
OISTAT Australia Centre: Scenolab Australia
OISTAT Ireland Centre: The Irish Society of Performance Designers (ISPD)
OISTAT Sweden Centre: Svensk Teaterteknisk Förening (STTF)

[ Registration Link: https://forms.gle/54qppNt3AafVuL3D9 ]
 

The cross-border theatrical conversation is going live.

OISTAT (International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians) is an organization dedicated to the visibility of backstage theatre work while building connections across the international theatre community.  

As 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of OISTAT Headquarters’ relocation to Taiwan, OISTAT Headquarters plans a series of events to further broaden both Taiwanese and global theatre communities’ interest in and understanding of OISTAT. 

“OISTAT Global Exchange” is a curated series of online panels hosted via Zoom. These sessions introduce OISTAT Centres and the wider international theatre landscape while highlighting the immense value of global collaboration. Over four conversations, representatives from different regions will share insights into their organizations, recent projects, and their local theatre environments.
 

Moderator / Wan-Jung Wei
Executive Director of OISTAT

WEI is the first executive director of OISTAT with a background in diplomatic training since its founding in 1968. She believes in the shared essence of  diplomacy and performing arts—both as means of fostering dialogue in everyday life. While in her teenage years, she practiced hip-hop dance and later transitioned to contemporary dance, which deepened her understanding of movement as a form of expression. Through dance critiques, she explores the intersection of contemporary dance and society, with a particular focus on feminism and gender issues. WEI holds an MA in Arts Politics from the Tisch  School of the Arts at New York University. She loves dogs. 

Panelist / Madeline Taylor
Chair of ScenoLab Australia (OISTAT Australia Centre)

Dr. Madeline Taylor’s research draws on 20 years of experience in live performance costuming and explores contemporary costume practice, design collaboration, and social engagement using clothing. In 2025 she was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Film, at Aalto University, with a project focused on technical innovation in costume practice. A Senior Lecturer in Fashion at Queensland University of Technology she is Chair of ScenoLab Australia, the Australian OISTAT centre and was Australian Editor for the World Scenography Project Vol II – 1990 - 2005. 

Panelist / Zia Bergin-Holly
Treasurer of the Irish Society of Production Designers (ISPD, OISTAT Ireland Centre)

Zia Bergin-Holly, Treasurer of the Irish Society of Production Designers (ISPD), is an award-winning lighting and set designer with over 15 years of experience designing for theatre, site-specific theatre, dance, opera, and live music events. She has collaborated extensively with leading Irish companies like Rough Magic, Pan Pan, Fishamble and Theatre Lovett as well as major institutions including The Abbey Theatre, The Gate Theatre and Irish National Opera. Her international portfolio features work in the UK and Europe, such as The Young Vic London, The English Theatre Frankfurt and Centráls Zínház, Budapest. Her touring productions have reached audiences worldwide.

Panelist / Johan Mansfeldt
Chair of Svensk Teaterteknisk Förening (STTF, OISTAT Sweden Centre)

Johan Mansfeldt is Chair of STTF and technical director at Kulturhuset Spira. Johan is also part of the Executive COMMITT of OISTAT.
He has also been a board member and chair of the set designers & dress designers branch of the Swedish Union for Performing Arts and Film. Johan is active in professional practice as a scenographer/costume designer. Formerly during the years he has worked backstage with sets, scenery and costume etc. as scenic carpenter, painter, modeler and even director. 


Participant Information

1. The panel will be conducted entirely in English.
2. Participation is free, but pre-registration via the online form is required.
3. You will receive a confirmation email within 3–5 business days of submission. If you do not receive it, please contact us at headquarters@oistat.org.
4. The event will be held via Zoom. OISTAT Headquarters will email the meeting link, Room ID, and password one week prior to the event. A microphone is recommended for those who wish to participate in the Q&A session.
5. If you can no longer attend, please notify us by email so we may release your spot to others.
6. For the latest information, please visit the OISTAT Official Website and our social media platforms.
7.  OISTAT Headquarters (headquarters@oistat.org / oistatheadquarters@gmail.com)

About OISTAT Headquarters in Taiwan

OISTAT was established in 1968 by seven founding countries, Canada, Czechoslovakia, the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Israel, and the United States. OISTAT was born as a bridge for theatre practitioners during a divided era. Today, it remains a global network celebrating design, technology, and architecture in live performance.

After being based in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, OISTAT Headquarters officially relocated to Taiwan in 2006. In honor of OISTAT Headquarters’ 20th year in Taiwan, OISTAT Headquarters is hosting a series of events, bridging the Taiwanese theatre scene with a vibrant global theatre community to celebrate a shared past and envision the collective future.