Shows
Final CallHayden TeeFirst released: December 6th 2020Having performed as a leading man on Broadway, the West End, throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia; Hayden Tee is an incredibly accomplished performer and creative. He spoke to us about the cultural differences across the different industries worldwide and what Australia can learn from the USA and UK. Hayden also chats about the logistics of getting a visa to work around the world, as well the impact COVID 19 had on his professional career and what conversations he's been apart of this year for the betterment of our arts industry.
2025-10-1242 minFinal CallFiona ChoiFirst released: November 26th 2020Fiona Choi has worked extensively across the film and television and theatre and music theatre industries across Australia and beyond. We speak to her about the impact COVID 19 has had on her relationship with the arts community, as well her work that she continues to do with new initiatives to support a more inclusive and equitable industry. Fiona discusses the importance of Music Theatre Futures; a new biannual event hosted by the VCA Music Theatre department created by Jayde Kirchert and her role as a host of one of the panels in the...
2025-10-1238 minFinal CallPeter RutherfordFirst released: November 12th 2020Peter Rutherford is a Musical Director, composer, freelance arranger and singing teacher. He's toured nationally and internationally with an array of major musical tours as a Music Director and musician. Peter speaks to us about the impact COVID 19 as had on his professional career, what tour life is like for a creative who is performing in the orchestra pit each night, as well as what his process is for creating his own work. He speaks to what he values as a creative and also where he hopes to see the industry progress and...
2025-10-1244 minFinal CallEmily HaveaFirst released: November 3rd 2020TW: Mention of rape and sexual harassment. Currently rehearsing the role of Curly McLain in the Black Swan Theatre Company production of Oklahoma, Emily Havea is a widely respected actor, singer and dancer in the Australian Arts community. She speaks to us about the impact COVID 19 has had on her professional career, as well as the importance of having diverse spaces to work and live in. We also hear from Emily how straying from traditional casting in shows that have been around for many years takes courage, but has a significant...
2025-10-1238 minFinal CallEsther HannafordFirst released: October 29th 2020Esther Hannaford has played a broad array of leading and featured characters on stages across Australia; including playing Carole King in The Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. She recently stepped into the world of television, playing Sophie in ABC's Retrograde. Esther also lives with Crohn's disease - a chronic illness, which she and many other Australian's have to deal with everyday. We speak about the representation of characters with chronic illness and the significance of seeing these characters on our stages and screens. Esther also talks about her journey and...
2025-10-1243 minFinal CallJason LangleyFirst released: October 20th 2020An award winning director, actor, dramaturge and teacher, Jason Langley joins us to discuss the shifts he had had to make to his schedule as a result of COVID 19. He also chats about how he approaches problematic material when directing and the payoff from approaching challenging work. Jason also reinforces the importance of contributing positive and inclusive change to the arts industry as a creative.
2025-10-1239 minFinal CallNatalie GamsuFirst released: October 13th 2020Natalie Gamsu has performed and created work across the world; in South Africa, throughout Europe and the United States before arriving in Australia. As well as her extensive performance CV, Natalie is also a passionate teacher, working at institutions across Melbourne. She spoke to us about her process for creating her own work, as well as her feelings towards the shifts the Australian Arts industry needs to make to ensure the work that is being produced accurately portrays the communities that are viewing the work.
2025-10-1242 minFinal CallJoel DodgeFirst released: October 6th 2020Joel and his family run Two Left Feet Productions - a company who invest in theatre across Australia and the world. They have supported major productions like; Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera and The Book of Mormon to name just a few! He speaks to us about the role of an investor and how that has shifted as a result of COVID 19, as well the future he sees for Australian theatre from a financial point of view.
2025-10-1227 minFinal CallBianca BaykaraFirst released: September 29th 2020TW: Sexual Harassment.Bianca Baykara has worked consistently for the last 10 years in the commercial arts industry here in Australia and on tours around the continent. She speaks to us about her transition from the Australia/Asia tour of School of Rock to employment as a result of COVID 19 and the importance of not underestimating a Facebook voice memo - it could be a job offer! Bianca has a lot to share about her experiences dealing with oppression and her thoughts on how this industry feels to be constantly evolving into...
2025-10-1240 minFinal CallRhys VelasquezFirst released: September 23rd 2020As a member of the People of Cabaret, Rhys Velasquez is a leader amongst the industry for actively striving to ensure creative spaces across Australia are safe and equitable for everyone. They join us to discuss the reality of having their contract in the Australian tour of Shrek the Musical finish early as a result of COVID 19 and how their journey as someone who identifies as gender fluid has influenced their career for the better. Rhys also speaks to their hopes for the industry as we move out of restrictions in place as...
2025-10-1236 minFinal CallMadi LeeFirst released: September 15th 2020Episode Content Warning/Trigger Warning: Domestic Abuse.Madi Lee is a choreographer and director working around Australia in work that spans across theatre and television. She speaks to us about the adjustments she had to make after losing work as a result of COVID 19 and how this time has allowed her to learn more about herself because of the time spent in lockdown. Madi shares with us the importance of having queer creatives in artistic spaces, telling queer stories and what excites her about potential work that may arise once restrictions...
2025-10-1232 minFinal CallDean DriebergFirst released: September 8th 2020Dean Drieberg is a much respected creative, working consistently amongst the independent theatre scene. A member of Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance’s Equity Diversity committee, Dean is a passionate activist for performance spaces to be equitable and safe for all. He joins us to discuss the impact COVID 19 has had on his career as a freelance creative, the document he created entitled "BIPOC in Australian Theatre" and the significance of implementing systemic changes throughout the arts industry to create work that influences the wider community who engage in any artistic outlet.
2025-10-1240 minFinal CallAndrew CoshanFirst released: September 1st 2020Trigger Warning: Suicide, Depression. We discuss mental health and statistics within the arts industry.Andrew is a 2018 graduate from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). He joins us to chat about dealing with the loss of multiple professional performing projects before even beginning rehearsals, ways he has kept himself focused throughout lockdown and the significance of prioritising mental health and wellbeing within the arts industry and beyond.
2025-10-1238 minFinal CallKaris OkaFirst released: August 25th 2020A fellow 2019 graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts, Karis Oka joins us to discuss how her life shifted after being cast as a swing in SIX The Musical at the Sydney Opera House, the challenges that presented and how she then readjusted to losing that contract as a result of COVID 19. As a passionate social media user, Karis also speaks to the importance of using your platform consciously and actively to share important messages amongst the community.
2025-10-1248 minFinal CallBert LaBontéFirst released: August 18th 2020Well respected and established actor Bert LaBonté joins us to discuss his special relationship with the Australian theatre industry and how he believes the wider Australian community is shifting the way it interacts and perceives the work done be artists here. He discusses his hope for development within the industry beyond COVID 19, as well as what the Victorian Actors Benevolent Trust is and its significance to the arts industry in Australia.
2025-10-1233 minFinal CallSonya SuaresFirst released: August 12th 2020Founder of Australia's first and only Stephen Sondheim repertory theatre company and established performer and director Sonya Suares joins us to discuss her role as Artistic Director of her company, Watch This. As well as the shift that had to be made in her work because of the rise of COVID 19 in 2020. She also delves into where she hopes to see the Australian arts community move post pandemic and her expectation of seeing more inclusive spaces across all areas of the industry.
2025-10-1239 minFinal CallTyran ParkeFirst released: August 4th 2020 Director, performer and Head of the Music Theatre degree at the Victorian College of the Arts, Tyran Parke joins us to discuss the impact of COVID 19 on his journey within the Australian theatre community, sharing news of cancellations of projects with his creative teams and crew, how he's navigated through supporting a cohort of 60 students during this ongoing pandemic and what he perceives the Australian industry needs to look like moving forward.
2025-10-1240 min