A.A. Bakhrushin Central State Theatre Museum

Gabriela was born in the Czech Republic. She has worked across Europe and the UK as an artist, designer and puppet and props maker, and is fluent in English, Czech, German and Russian. Gabriela graduated from NIDA in 2000 with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts in Design, and designs set and costumes for theatre, dance, ballet, events and opera.

In 2011, Gabriela received a Helpmann Award for Best Costume Design and Best Scenic Design, a Green Room Award, and an APDG Award for LOVE NEVER DIES, the Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's follow up musical to The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Simon Phillips. Gabriela also received the 2010 Helpmann Award for Best Costumes for COSI FAN TUTTE (Opera Australia); the 2009 Helpmann Award for Best Presentation for Children for CLOCKWORK FOREST (Brink Productions/Windmill Performing Arts/Adelaide Festival/ STC); the 2004 Green Room Award for Best Design for THE VISIT (MTC); the 2002 Green Room Award for Best Costumes for SWEENEY TODD (Opera Australia); and a 2002 Helpmann Award nomination for Best Costume Design for L'ELISIR D'AMORE (Opera Australia).

Other collaborations with Simon Phillips have been on several Melbourne Theatre Company productions including THE PILLOWMAN, TOMFOOLERY, URINETOWN, CYRANO DE BERGERAC along with L'ELISIR D'AMORE for Opera Australia. Recently Gabriela worked again with Simon Phillips on IL TURCO IN ITALIA (Opera Australia), receiving APDG Award nominations for Best Set and Best Costumes,A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Gordon Frost Organisation) and the 2013 Sydney Theatre Company production of ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD for which she won Best Set and Best Costume Design for the 2014 Sydney Theatre Awards, and has received a nomination for an APDG Award for Best Costume Design.

Gabriela also designed the sets and costumes for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. Other credits include SCHEHERAZADE (The Australian Ballet) and costumes on BOOMERANG and OF EARTH AND SKY (Bangarra Dance Theatre); THIS LITTLE PIGGY, VOLPONE, MACBETH, FIREFACE and ATTEMPTS ON HER LIFE (STC). KING UBU and OUR LADY OF SLIGO (Company B); A CLOCKWORK FOREST (Brink Productions/Windmill Performing Arts/Adelaide Fringe Festival/ STC); EUREKA THE MUSICAL (Eureka Productions); PIPPIN (Kookaburra Theatre Company);LOW (Carrousel Theater in Berlin); WHAT A PIECE OF WORK (Griffin Theatre Company); CAN WE AFFORD THIS/THE COST OF LIVING for DV8 Physical Theatre (Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival), KINDERSPIEL (ATYP and the 2002 Sydney Festival); MY HEAD WAS A SLEDGEHAMMER for B Sharp and KITCHEN SINK and CLOSE YOUR LITTLE EYES for Kitchen Sink Productions (2003 Sydney Festival); and set and costumes on FOX for MonkeyBaa Productions and Siren Theatre Company.

In 2015, Gabriela will be collaborating with Simon Phillips yet again doing both set and costumes for a Broadway adaptation of FIRST WIVES CLUB, and set and costumes for The Australian Ballet's SLEEPING BEAUTY.

Designer Gallery

Click on the photograph to start the gallery