Get ready to rediscover what happiness really means, this is not your typical theatre talk. In The Good Life Episode, British actor Nicolas Ancelin shares his journey from the streets of Nottingham to the stages of Melbourne, and how a play about contentment, community, and laughter has reshaped the way he sees the world. What began as a backpacking adventure soon became a story about art, purpose, and finding joy in the simplest things.
🎭 The Good Life
📍 Bayside Arts and Cultural Centre
🗓️ 7 November to 22 November
🎟️ https://brightontheatre.com.au/project/season-4-the-good-life/
Their conversation explores what The Good Life truly means in a world that often equates success with busyness. Nicolas reflects on his time in Australia, the lessons learned from the theatre community, and the importance of slowing down to laugh, listen, and live.
At its heart, The Good Life Play is about simplicity, the courage to choose meaning over noise, joy over pressure, and storytelling over spectacle. Nicolas reminds us that comedy isn’t just about punchlines; it’s about empathy, timing, and truth.
Warm, witty, and full of heart, this episode celebrates art, purpose, and the performers who remind us that happiness isn’t something you chase, it’s something you create.
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NICOLAS ANCELIN was born in Longjumeau, France and raised in Nottingham, England. He attended Nottingham’s Television Workshop from 2011-2014 before graduating from the Manchester School of Theatre in 2017. He arrived in Australia 3 years ago as a backpacker and unfortunately, will have to return home next year. The Good Life will be Nic’s theatrical debut in the southern hemisphere, this will also be the play's Australian premier.
He was taught improvisation and clowning by the legendary Mick Barnfather and stage craft by the RSC's Andrew Jarvis. On his return to Europe, he hopes to attend the Philippe Gaulier School, a mecca for comic actors and clowns.
His credits include Noise, Thomas Moran, Cloud Street adapted from Tim Winton, David Copperfield adapted from Charles Dickens, It Can’t Happen Here, Sinclair Lewis, and Dolly West’s Kitchen, Frank McGuinness.
He has directed The Red Lion, Patrick Marber, Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons, Sam Steiner and co-directed Things We Want, Jonathan Marc Sherman.
His dream role would be Henry V. He’d love to direct anything written by Harold Pinter, Annie Baker, or David Mamet, particularly Glengarry Glen Ross.
