Hello! Thanks for tuning in to episode 11!
This is a very special episode, because this time on the pod we embarked on our first three way conversation!
Jarrod Draper, Lyndon Watts and Shannen Alyce Quan are all phenomenal artists in their own rights, and have been incredible leaders of change within the Australian musical theatre industry this year.
A few months ago we were lucky enough to have all three zoom in and chat to us and our fellow WAAPA colleagues about what it means to be an ally through the BIPOC movement within the arts industry, and learned so much through this chat, so we knew it was important to have them on the podcast to relay what we heard to our listeners!
A bio for our three wonderful guests below...:
A proud Wiradjuri man, Jarrod is the first Indigenous graduate from the prestigious Music Theatre course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Born and raised in Orange, country NSW, Jarrod earned a full scholarship to the Regional Conservatorium to study Music Theatre and Classical Voice, which saw him perform both nationally and internationally for several years. During his time at WAAPA, Jarrod played roles such as ‘Sam’ in Lord of the Flies, ‘Black Fox’ in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, ‘Louise’s Soldier (pas de deux dancer)’ in Carousel and most notably, ‘George’ in Sunday In The Park With George, for which he was voted Male Performer of the Year by Perth Theatre Reviews.
Jarrod could most recently be seen on stage in The Hayes Theatre Company’s sold out production of Catch Me If You Can.
Lyndon is a 2014 graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
After graduating from WAAPA, he was cast in the national Australian tour of Sweet Charity, originally staged at the Hayes Theatre.
In 2015 Lyndon toured Australia in Anything Goes before going on to perform the role of Beautiful Girl Production Tenor in the Australian national tour and the international Tokyo production of Singin' in the Rain.
Lyndon has performed throughout Australia in the ensemble of Disney’s Aladdin where he also covered and performed the role of Jafar.
Most recently, Lyndon started in the role of Bernardo in the internationally touring company of West Side Story.
Shannen Alyce Quan graduated from WAAPA in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre). She recently worked for Norwegian Cruise Lines playing Cynthia in Priscilla Queen of the Desert - The Musical. Prior to this she was a part of the 10th Anniversary Tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert - The Musical as a Swing and cover Cynthia. Other theatre credits include Natalie Goodman in Next to Normal (Black Swan State Theatre Company), Shirley in Boat People (Theatre451), Wendla in Spring Awakening (CPCA), The Disappeared/The Soul in Torment in Tejas Verdes (Theatre451). She has been lucky enough to work on several new Australian musicals including playing Kelly in The Gathering (Vic Theatre Company), Seela in Post: A New Musical (Something Blue Productions), and Maia in Matthew Robinson’s Atlantis.
Most recently, Shannen was a swing for the national tour of Six: The musical.
In this episode we spoke about our hilarious onstage mishaps, how Lyndon, Jarrod and Shannen have been moved to use their voices for change within the industry, and what it means to hold space for both joy and pain in your artistry.
We really enjoyed this episode and the open, generous and fun energy Lyndon, Jarrod and Shannen bring, and we know you’ll love hearing what he has to say!
You can find Lyndon, Jarrod and Shannen on Instagram as @lyndoncollinswatts, @jarrod_draper and @shannenalycequan.
If you liked this ep, please leave a rate and review wherever you listened to this podcast, and come and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @companypod.
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Hosted and Created by Giorgia Kennedy and Tiana Catalano
Produced and Edited by David Duketis
Media by Deirdre Khoo (deedledumdesigns)
Music by David Duketis
