Olivia Mitchell | Why audiences matter more to a performance than most people realise

In this episode, Andrew G sits down with performer, writer and creator Olivia Mitchell for an honest conversation about the realities of life on stage and the passion that keeps artists returning to the theatre. As she prepares for an outdoor production of The Tempest, Olivia reflects on how her love for performing began and the strange mix of anxiety and excitement that comes with stepping in front of a live audience.They explore the myth that acting is simply memorising lines, and the deeper work involved in building a character — creating a full human life through voice, movement and relationships. Olivia also shares what it feels like to perform your own writing, why creating opportunities is often essential in the arts, and how everyday moments often become the seeds of future stories.At its core, this episode is about connection — between performers and audiences, between story and experience — and the unique magic of live theatre that can only happen when people gather together in the same space.