Roz Hervey

Roz Hervey (1965 or 1966 – 8 November 2024) was an Australian dancer, choreographer, director and theatrical producer. She was known for roles as co-founder of and associate artist with Sydney dance-theatre company Force Majeure, as director of the Adelaide Fringe parade from 2013 until 2016, and finally, from around 2013, as creative director of Restless Dance Theatre in Adelaide, South Australia. She also worked with many other theatre and dance companies, as well as festivals and other events.

Early life and education Roz Hervey was born in 1965 or 1966, and was a dance graduate of the Centre for the Performing Arts in Adelaide.

In March 1980, Hervey appeared in youth theatre production Filthy Children, which was presented as part of the Adelaide Festival.

Career Hervey worked as a dancer, choreographer, director, and producer.

Dance, choreography, and theatre direction In April 1987, Hervey performed in Waltz with the newly-formed theatre group The Sydney Front, a work composed by Sarah de Jong and directed by Nigel Kellaway and performed at the Performance Space in Redfern, Sydney.

She co-founded Force Majeure, along with Kate Champion and Geoff Cobham, in 2002. In that year she performed in one of their major works, created by Champion, called Same, same But Different, along with Nathan Page, Ben Winspear, and others. The work was performed at Sydney Festival, Brisbane Festival, Sydney Opera House, and the Melbourne Festival. She was associate director on Force Majeure's Never Did Me Any Harm, a collaboration with Sydney Theatre Company,

For Patch, she co-created and directed the award-winning Me and My Shadow, and Zooom. and over the following decade was presented around Australia as well as in the United States. It toured regional SA in 2020. Zooom has toured Australia, Canada, and the US since premiering at the Space Theatre in July–August 2019. and won the 2021 Ruby Award for Best Work, Event or Project for Young People.

Restless Dance Theatre From around 2013 until her death, Hervey was creative producer for Restless Dance Theatre, a well-known dance company that employs artists with and without disability.

Events Hervey worked as an event co-ordinator for the 2000 opening night concert as well of the Adelaide Festival, as well as the late-night festival club, and for the 2001 Come Out Festival opening and parade. This involved directing and choreographing 30 performances of music, poetry, theatre, acrobatics, sport, and dance in the forest, for visitors to explore on the Sunday afternoon of the weekend.

Hervey co-directed the Come Out Festival opening in 2005. run by the History Trust of South Australia.

Other activities Hervey taught movement at Flinders Drama Centre.

Recognition and awards 2002: Ausdance "Outstanding performance by a female dancer" award, for her performance in Force Majeure's Same But Different, She received support from the NDIS, and chose to live life to the fullest, to continue to work, have holidays with family, and spend time with those she loved. After her diagnosis, from before she was given approval to use VAD, Hervey's daughter Tilda documented much of her life on film, using interviews in which she related events in her life and her views. Hervey became an ardent advocate for VAD, as did her family, with her husband and children adopting Hervey's "seize the day" attitude to living each day full of joy. They travelled the world, used black humour, and discussed planning Hervey's death. Hervey was only given final approval for VAD after her lungs showed signs of losing function. The family spent their last day out together at McLaren Vale.

She died on 8 November 2024, at the age of 58, leaving a farewell letter which included the quote from Dr Seuss: "Don't cry because it’s over, smile because it happened".

On 16 August 2026, her story, including footage shot by Tilda, was screened on Australian Story on ABC Television.

Footnotes