STAGES with Peter Eyers

Acclaimed Australian pianist/composer and singer/songwriter Monique diMattina has recorded and performed extensively since the early 2000’s, working in various genres and settings. Monique has released three solo piano albums in filmic and neo-classical styles, and three jazz/pop albums as singer/songwriter, including the critically acclaimed ‘Nola’s Ark’, recorded in New Orleans with producer Mark Bingham (R.E.M. Cassandra Wilson), Leroy Jones, Matt Perrine and June Yamagishi. Monique has composed music for various film and stage projects, and is known for her ABC and Triple R radio segment ‘Shaken Not Rehearsed’, in which she wrote and performed songs within an hour, to listener requests. In her energetic live performances Monique’s larrikin lyrics are at the fore, supported by her authoritative and soulful pianism. Monique has toured her shows The Dao of Dylan and An Affair to Dismember to critical acclaim. A Fulbright Scholar, Honorary Fellow of the University of Melbourne and PhD Candidate at the University of Tasmania, Monique teaches in the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and Monash University Jazz departments, and is in demand as an artist-in-residence and clinician. In 2000 diMattina received Fulbright and Queens Trust awards to study music in NYC. While in NYC on and off over ten years, Monique wrote her Masters’ thesis on jazz pianist Wynton Kelly, waited tables at the Village Vanguard Jazz Club, studied with Sophia Rosoff, Fred Hersch, Sam Yahel and Barry Harris, played regularly at singer/songwriter haunts The Living Room, Rockwood Music Hall and Joe's Pub, performed recitals for dignitaries including Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton and Vaclav Havel, worked for Bjork, opened for Lou Reed, taught at the Henry Street Music School and ran the New York marathon. After witnessing the 9/11 attacks in NYC Monique wrote a series of solo piano works that were to become her first solo piano release - Senses. At this time Monique also recorded her first album Live at the 55 at the iconic 55 Bar in Greenwich Village - an instrumental collection of covers and originals in a blues/roots vein. In between periods in NYC, diMattina travelled extensively, spending time in Europe, Japan, China and Sydney as principal pianist for The Lion King Orchestra. Between 2009 and 2016 Monique released five albums on the Head Records label. She was recently Musical Director of ‘Tapestry: The Songs of Carol King’ with Vika Bull and Debra Byrne. In addition to presenting her own shows, Monique performs in duo with Rebecca Barnard, with Harry James Angus (The Cat Empire), Alma Zygier and Clare Bowditch. Monique’s newest musical accomplishment is the world premiere of STELLA: A New Australian Musical which celebrates Stella Miles Franklin’s own dramatic story. This new addition to the Australian musical cannon debuts at Monash University’s Alexander Theatre in Melbourne for a strictly limited season from 12–20 June.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Faith Martin is an Australian casting director for film and television, recognised for her pivotal role in identifying and launching Australian and International talent into global careers. With extensive experience across Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Europe, she has built a reputation for instinct-driven casting on high-profile television series and feature films with worldwide reach. Faith began her career casting television commercials, helping establish the casting department at Lintas Advertising, (TVCS), before founding Martin Artists, a successful talent agency representing actors, writers, and directors. Over twelve years, she built the agency into a thriving business representing many of Australia’s most respected creatives, including Geoffrey Rush, Mel Gibson, Wendy Hughes, John Meillon, Sam Neill, writer Geoffrey Atherden and director George Whaley. This foundation continues to inform her sharp understanding of talent development, career trajectory, and international market positioning. Her early Australian television credits include Return to Eden, Bad Cop, Bad Cop, Above the Law, Going Home, The Battlers, Two Twisted, Blue Heelers, Water Rats, Stingers, Murder Call, Sea Patrol, and the internationally distributed, award-winning children’s series Mortified, which launched the career of Marny Kennedy. Faith also cast the international HBO miniseries A Dangerous Life, produced by Hal McElroy in the Philippines, and the ABC drama Rain Shadow, directed by George Ogilvie and starring Rachel Ward. Internationally, Faith played a defining role in casting the first season of Spartacus for Starz, produced by Rob Tapert. She championed Andy Whitfield in the title role — despite initial U.S. resistance to an Australian lead — famously declaring, “I’ve found your Spartacus.” The series also marked Jai Courtney’s first professional acting role. She later contributed to the expanding Spartacus universe, including Spartacus: House of Ashur. Her U.S. and international television work includes Ash vs Evil Dead (produced by Rob Tapert), Legend of the Seeker (ABC Network), Banshee (casting lead Antony Starr), Rectify (starring Aden Young), and Outlander (casting David Berry). Her feature film credits span both independent and studio productions. Early career highlights include Strictly Ballroom (dir. Baz Luhrmann), The Crossing (dir. George Ogilvie — the first feature film for Russell Crowe), The Sum of Us (starring Russell Crowe and John Polson), Paperback Hero (starring Hugh Jackman), Dead Heart (produced by Bryan Brown), and Alexandra’s Project (dir. Rolf de Heer). Her later feature work includes: The Junction Boys, which helped launch Ryan Kwanten’s international career; Invincible (dir. Jefery Levy for Icon Productions); Lapis Lazuli (20th Century Fox), introducing Clarence Ryan; Satellite Boy (dir. Catriona McKenzie); The King Is Dead (dir. Rolf de Heer); Cactus; Better Watch Out; Infini; Gabriel (starring Andy Whitfield); The Osiris Child (dir. Shane Abbess); Diabolic produced out of Adelaide in 2024, Rising Wolf; and Companion (formerly titled Sahela), a project she considers especially significant for its storytelling and ensemble. Faith continues to work on bold, character-driven film and television projects with international scope, maintaining her longstanding commitment to connecting exceptional Australian talent with global audiences. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Glenn Elston OAM has directed over 250 seasons Shakespeare, Classic Works, Musicals and Family Theatre. A prominent figure in Australian theatre, he is particularly known for pioneering outdoor picnic theatre in Australia and creating immersive, family-friendly experiences that have become beloved traditions.Elston began his journey in 1987, forming a small performance collective that has since grown to be Australia's largest independent theatre company. His dedication to making Shakespeare and other classic stories accessible to a broad audience has led to the production of iconic outdoor performances, particularly during the summer season, attracting audiences from across the nation.His repertoire includes celebrated productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, Comedy of Errors, Henry IV - Part I, Richard III, Merry Wives of Windsor, Hamlet, Macbeth, and As You Like It. Beyond Shakespeare, he has written and directed original stage adaptations of beloved stories like The Wind in the Willows, Alice in Wonderland, Toad’s Birthday Party, The Caribbean Pirates, Jack and the Beanstalk, Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies and Jungle Book – The Next Chapter. His productions of classic texts includes Lady Chatterley's Lover, Wuthering Heights, The Crucible and Pygmalion.In 1990, Glenn was co-producer of Hair which opened in Melbourne and then began a tour around Australia. Glenn took over as tour director in Sydney and travelled with the production to venues in Camperdown, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, Townsville, Cairns, Kuranda, Darwin, Wollongong, Launceston, Hobart, Newcastle and Tweed Heads.In 2002, He adapted and directed Much Ado About Nothing into a rock musical with his regular songwriting collaborator, Paul Norton. This adaptation has toured Australia and has enjoyed sold out seasons in many Australian capitols. Six of Glenn’s productions have appeared in five different Adelaide Festivals.Since 2003, Glenn has been collaborating with Djilpin Arts and co-presented the Walking with Spirits festival - a powerful celebration of Aboriginal traditions held at Malkgulumbu (Beswick Falls) in the Northern Territory. This partnership is this ongoing. Furthermore, in 2010 he produced Noel Tovey’s acclaimed production Little Black Bastard to the Edinburgh’s Gilded Balloon, further amplifying Indigenous voices on the international arts scene.In 2014, Glenn directed and designed a new Australian touring production of Godspell the Musical which played seasons at Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Traralgon, Sale, Warragal and the Sydney Opera House.Glenn has produced many local and international acts over the years including Sir George Martin in Concert with Glenn Shorrock, The John Farnham Band, James Rayne & Tommy Amanuel (QPAC, Hammer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House), David Strassman, The Heartbreak Kid, Blues in the Night, The Life and Death of Sandy Stone (Barry Humphries), Five Guys Named Moe, Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore! (Penny Arcade), A Stretch of the Imagination and three Australian Tours of Marianne Faithfull including a special performance of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins.In recognition of his contributions, Glenn Elston was honoured with a Melbourne Award for Contribution to Melbourne's Profile by an Individual in 2014 and the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2018 for his service to the performing arts. He is the Artistic Director of the Australian Shakespeare Company (ASC) and a director at A.T. Management.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Deborah Kennedy is one of Australia’s most recognisable and enduring character actresses, with a career spanning stage, screen and some of the nation’s most iconic popular culture moments. She is also known to audiences for her unforgettable delivery of a celebrated catchphrase in a Yellow Pages television commercial—now firmly embedded in the Australian vernacular.Deborah Kennedy began her career in theatre, performing with Marian Street Theatre in Killara in productions of The Trojan Women and Macbeth, before working extensively with companies including SUDS, Repertory 200, New Theatre and the Pegeant Theatre. Her association with the influential Nimrod Theatre from the mid-1970s saw her appear in works such as Much Ado About Nothing and Richard III, alongside other notable productions including Travelling North, Accidental Death of an Anarchist and House of the Deaf Man.Her screen career began in the 1970s with roles in series such as Certain Women, The Restless Years and Bellamy, alongside film appearances in Tim, Dawn! and Temperament Unsuited. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she became a familiar face on Australian television, with credits including Prisoner, Chances, Police Rescue, Wildside and Good Guys Bad Guys, as well as a host of feature films including Death in Brunswick, The Sum of Us and Idiot Box.In later years, Kennedy has continued to delight audiences with roles in Neighbours, Rake, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Dance Academy. Since 2013, she has been a beloved presence in A Place to Call Home as the well-meaning local gossip Doris Collins. Her recent work includes appearances in Janet King and Return to Paradise.With a career defined by versatility, warmth and impeccable comic timing, Deborah Kennedy remains a treasured figure of Australian stage and screen.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Jay Laga’aia is a New Zealand–born Australian actor, musician, and presenter whose career spans film, television, stage, and music. International audiences know him best for his portrayal of Captain Typho in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. In Australia and New Zealand, he has built a celebrated career across drama, children’s entertainment, live performance, and event hosting.Jay’s extensive screen credits include major roles in Water Rats, Street Legal, and Home and Away, along with appearances in Xena: Warrior Princess, McLeod’s Daughters, and Celebrity Big Brother. He is beloved by families nationwide for his long-running work on Play School, Jay’s Jungle, and Surprise Surprise.A versatile stage performer, Jay has appeared in landmark productions including The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, and the Australia–New Zealand tour of Wicked, in which he played The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. As a recording artist, he has released a series of acclaimed children’s albums, along with Christmas and nursery rhyme collections, and has performed at Carols by Candlelight.Jay is also a highly experienced MC, having hosted major events for the City of Sydney, the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and the Powerhouse Museum. One of six siblings and father to eight children, Jay brings warmth, authenticity, and a deep commitment to community to every stage he steps onto.He has set sail as The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, now playing the Foundry Theatre in Sydney.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Debra Lawrance graduated from NIDA in 1977 and has since built a distinguished career across theatre, film and television.On television, she first came to prominence playing Maggie, Ned Kelly’s sister, in Channel Seven’s The Last Outlaw. She went on to star as Pat in the ABC comedy series The Fast Lane, portrayed Daphne in Prisoner, and became a household name as the beloved foster mother Pippa in the long-running series Home and Away. Debra won widespread acclaim as Rose in Josh Thomas’ Please Like Me, earning the 2015 AACTA Award for Best Performance in a Comedy and the 2017 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actress. Debra can most recently be seen in Stan’s Scrublands Silver, Good Cop Bad Cop and Darby and Joan (Series 2).Her other television credits include Human Error, Class of ’07, Five Bedrooms (Series 3 & 4), I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!, Fisk, Neighbours, Get Krack!n (Series 2), Rosehaven (Series 3), True Story With Hamish & Andy, The Doctor Blake Mysteries (Series 4), Wentworth (Series 4), House Husbands (Series 4), and Hell’s Kitchen Australia (which she won, raising $50,000 for Ovarian Cancer Australia).Her film work includes Silver City, Two Brothers Running with Tom Conti, Evil Angels with Meryl Streep, and the acclaimed The Jammed. Most recently, she appeared in Peter Farrelly’s Ricky Stanicky, alongside John Cena and Zac Efron.Debra’s stage career is equally accomplished. For Melbourne Theatre Company she has performed in Jack Davis’ The First Born Trilogy (including the London tour of No Sugar), Sylvia, Second Childhood, The Memory of Water, and Caryl Churchill’s Escaped Alone. Her other notable theatre credits include M’Lynn in the Australian tour of Steel Magnolias, the title role in the national tour of Driving Miss Daisy, Letitia Blacklock in A Murder is Announced, the Ghost of Christmas Past in the Old Vic’s Melbourne seasons of A Christmas Carol, and Professor McGonagall in both the Melbourne and UK productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.She is presently on a national tour of Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias playing Clairee.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Best known as one of Australia's "Phantoms" in "The Phantom of the Opera", Donald is one of Australia's leading musical performers, with a career encompassing music theatre, concerts, cabaret, opera, Lieder and recording.His most recent music theatre highlights have been the challenging role of "Judge Turpin" in the Opera Queensland production of "Sweeney Todd" (October 2003), the lead role of "Fred/Pertucchio" in the recent Broadway revival production of "Kiss Me, Kate" in Vancouver,Canada (July/August 2002), and the title role in the Australian Premiere of "Jekyll and Hyde", a staged concert version with the Canberra Symphony (October 2001).Donald was an original cast member of the very successful Australian production of "The Phantom of the Opera" , performing four lead roles during his seven years with the production. The highlight was certainly his highly acclaimed 500 performances in the title role.His music theatre career has been quite varied, with lead roles ranging from "Curly" in "Oklahoma" (the most exciting production being with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada), to "Cervantes" in "Man of La Mancha", and the "Celebrant" in Leonard Bernstein's "Mass". He has won two Best Actor Awards, one for the title role in the Australian premiere production of "Sweeney Todd", the other as the lead in "The Fantastiks".Donald is also one of Australia's most sought after Concert artists. He performs regularly as guest soloist with Australia's major Symphony Orchestras and Military Bands. These concert performances are often shared with such esteemed Australian artists as Marina Prior, Julie Anthony, Chelsea Brown, Sylvie Paladino, and Tiffany Speight, and such talented musical directors as Tommy Tycho, Barry Knight, Michael Harvey and David Cameron.His concert and corporate performances also take him regularly to Asia, Canada and Europe. He recently appeared in the televised UNICEF Gala concerts in Germany.Donald is also equally at home in smaller, more intimate cabaret venues where he performs the works of his most loved modern composers, Stephen Sondheim and Jacques Brel.His career has also focussed on Opera and Lieder, having performed with a number of Opera companies in Canada and Australia. His lead roles have included "William" in the Phillip Glass Opera "The Fall of The House of Usher" (his portrayal earning him a prestigious "Green Room" Best Actor award nomination), "Guilliamo" in "Cosi Fan Tute", and "Eisenstein" and "Orlofsky" in "Die Fledermaus". Donald's career began in Canada, while completing 6 years of opera studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, but the majority of his professional career has been in Australia.He also performs regularly on television in Australia, and has sung before the Queen, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Prince Edward, and the Pope, and at many other significant cultural and State ceremonial occasions in Australia, including the Prime Minister's Official Gala Dinner for the 2000 Olympics.Between music theatre and concert engagements, Donald also enjoys performing as guest entertainer aboard the very luxurious Silversea and Crystal cruise lines. The highlight of these cruises recently was as guest performer on the spectacular "Millennium Cruise" aboard the "Silver Wind", alongside Engelbert Humperdink, Joel Grey and Rita Moreno.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Therèsa Borg is a director, writer and performer.  She is a graduate of University of Melbourne (B.Ed. Sec (Music)) and twice of The Victorian College of the Arts (Opera Studio, Masters: Writing for Performance).Her directing credits include Titanic starring Anthony Warlow at Melbourne Town Hall, Sweeney Todd, starring Anthony Warlow and Gina Riley at Her Majesty’s Melbourne, The Light in the Piazza at Arts Centre Melbourne, Disney Under the Stars at SOH/ Myer Music Bowl, Paw Patrol Live! at Wembley Arena and twice voice-directing the Muppeteers in New York City. Her operatic directing credits include productions of The Consul and La Cenerentola to outstanding reviews. Therèsa was Resident Director on GWB’s recent tour of An American in Paris (2021-2) and The Lord of The Rings (2024-2025) as well as  Neil Armfield’s Associate on Death of a Salesman (2023-4) starring Anthony La Paglia.  She directed Little Women at the Victorian College of the Arts for the Music Theatre Company of 2023 and has a particular interest in the development of upcoming generations of performers.Therèsa was the 2022 National Library of Australia Creative Fellow for Australian Writing. In 2021, Therèsa and composer Jane Hammond wrote Songs of the Helmeted Honeyeater, a celebration of citizen science written in collaboration with the mountain communities of Yellingbo and Corranderk and which premiered at fortyfivedownstairs and Melbourne Recital Centre. Theresa and Jane look forward to the debut of their new opera The Spare Room, an adaptation of Helen Garner’s celebrated novel in the near future. Therèsa founded Melbourne production house TEG Entertainment Store/Life Like Touring with her partner Anton Berezin in 1999, and over the course of 20 years with their company she wrote and directed over 20 family musicals in collaboration with international studios. These shows, including Scooby Doo Live: Musical Mysteries, Octonauts Live: Operation Reef Shield, and Sesame Street presents Elmo’s World Tour, toured mainstages and arenas globally and employed hundreds of young performers world-wide. Life Like Touring sold approximately 7 million tickets world-wide over this time.Therèsa’s roles in music theatre and opera include Christine, Cosette, Zerbinetta, Angelique, the Queen of the Night, Jellylorum, Musetta, Philomel, Hope Harcourt, Eliza Doolittle and Fosca for producers including Cameron Mackintosh, The Really Useful Company, The Production Company, Victorian Opera and Opera Australia.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Ken Billington is an international lighting designer working in theatre, television and architecture. Over 100 Broadway designs include the original production of Sweeney Todd and the current Chicago, which is the longest running American musical in history. Chicago has been seen in over 20 countries all with the original lighting. Other Broadway productions include Waitress, Act One, Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, Chaplin, The Scottsboro Boys, White Christmas, Title of Show, Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs…, Footloose plus revivals of My Fair Lady (1981), Hello Dolly! (1995), Sunday in the Park with George (2008, 2017), Annie (1997, 2006), Fiddler on the Roof (1976, 1981, 1990), West End productions include such shows as Sleepless, Waitress, Chicago, Sweeney Todd, The Drowsy Chaperone, What the Butler Saw, White Christmas, The Scottsboro Boys, Disney’s High School Musical and High School Musical 2.Spectaculars include The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show for 27 years as well as the Las Vegas production show Jubliee! Many nightclub and concert acts for such stars as Shirley MacLaine, Ann-Margret, Liberace, Chita Rivera, The McGuire Sisters. Also over one hundred opera production worldwide including Porgy and Bess for Milan’s La Scalla, Madrid’s Theatro Real and Opera Bastille.In Theme parks his work includes the original Fantasmic! at Disneyland California, numerous shows for Seaworld Parks in Florida, California and Texas. Also shows for Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia.His architectural work can be seen in clubs and restaurants in the USA and Asia and include such landmarks as New York’s Tavern on the Green and 54 Below.Ken is the recipient of many awards including the Tony (Broadway), Lumen (Architecture), Ace (Television) and the United States Institute of Theatre Technology – Lighting Designer of the year. In 2015 he was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Hayden Tonazzi is an award-winning director and creative producer who in 2025 was appointed the Artistic Director & CEO of the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP). A graduate of the 2019 NIDA MFA Directing Program, for over eight years’ they have worked across new writing in theatre and musical theatre, most notably Saplings by Hannah Belanszky for the 2024 Sydney Festival (Winner of Best Production for Young People, Sydney Theatre Awards), Pickled كبيس for PYT Fairfield & Downstairs Belvoir, the last train to madeline by Callum Mackay for Fever103 and MeatMarkets Melbourne, and Converted! by Vic Zerbst with Oliver John Cameron for the 2025 Sydney Festival.In 2022 they were awarded the inaugural Backing The Future Award from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), which allowed them to build skills in artistic and organisational leadership through the role of Artistic Associate for ATYP. During this time, they were responsible for Generator: Regional Connections Program with the Office for Regional Youth, mentoring 12 teaching artists across regional NSW, and supporting them in the delivery of free drama workshops for over 700 young people. Shortly after they were offered the role of Associate Director & Creative Producer as an acknowledgement of their role in the company, specifically their work across a slew of credits including  Shack by George Kemp, the tour of  Cusp by Mary Anne Butler, the tour of Past The Shallows based on the novel by Favel Parret adapted by Julian Larnach, and Follow Me Home by Lewis Treston. Outside of ATYP, their directing credits also include This Genuine Moment by Jacob Parker for La Mama and the Old 505, Significant Other by Joshua Harmon for the New Theatre, Tell Me Before The Sun Explodes by Jacob Parker for the Kings Cross Theatre, and Stop. Drop. And Listen. for Shopfront Youth Arts. From 2022 to 2024, Hayden was also the Co-Artistic Director and Creative Producer for the Lysicrates Foundation, where he ran both the Lysicrates Prize and Martin-Lysicrates Prize, commissioning and developing two new plays a year, including Ripple by Jacob Sgouros, Nothing Scares Us Anymore by Joseph Brown, and Murder, Murder, Hair! by Suvi Derkenne.Their associate/assistant directing credits include Heroes Of The Fourth Turning for OutHouse Theatre, CAMP and The End Of Winter for Siren Theatre Co, and 21 Forster St for Steps & Holes Theatre. Their directorial secondments include Moulin Rouge: The Musical with Global Creatures, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: La Traviata with Opera Australia, and The Bridges of Madison County for the Hayes Theatre.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Dr Jacqui Hall Cuny is a passionate pedagogue, musical theatre performer, stage and vocal director, and researcher with over 40 years of professional experience.In 2022, she completed her PhD in Musical Theatre at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. Her doctoral studies examined the elements that create musical theatre performance synergy, or the 'It' factor, how they combine and work together, and how this energy can be practised or encouraged. Jacqui has developed a workable, dynamic framework for teaching skills that encourage this performance quality. Her SASS Toolkit – Strategies for Acting Singing Synergy – draws upon a variety of tried and tested singing, acting, movement and psychological methodologies, as well as her original material.Known by both her maiden (Hall) and her married name (Cuny), Jacqui sang, danced, and played piano throughout her childhood before completing a classical musical degree in voice, and an arts degree in drama. She made her professional theatre debut in 1981 and toured Australia with major commercial musicals in the 80s before moving to England to further her career. She performed in musicals in Manchester, Birmingham, and London’s West End before returning to Australia in 1989.  Since then, Jacqui has continued performing, directing, and teaching, expanding her knowledge. She undergirded her experience by completing a Master of Music Studies in Vocal Pedagogy (with Distinction) where she examined tertiary teaching and learning practices in musical theatre, discovering that a more holistic and integrative approach to coaching would enhance the triple-threat skills required by the industry.  Jacqui has written her research and findings into a book, Find Your 'It' Factor: A guide to dynamic musical theatre performance, published worldwide by Bloomsbury and now available on online platforms and in good bookstores.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

John Lonie is a screenwriter, playwright, script editor and book author.John co-wrote the feature film Kokoda, directed by Alister Grierson. John wrote the television program Frankie's House, three episodes of the AFI Award winning mini-series The Paper Man and he script doctored the AFI award winning mini-series True Believers.  Other screenwriting credits include A Country Practice, Rescue, Willesee's Australians and GP.  John is regularly engaged as a script editor for features and his script editing credits include Japanese Story, Beneath Clouds, Dogwatch and No Man's Land. John has had five plays professional produced by companies such as State Theatre Company of South Australia, NIDA and St. Martin's Theatre. John's prose work includes his three novellas Act of Love (Blackwattle Press) and other short stories published in various anthologies.John was Co-Head of Scriptwriting at the Australian Film Television and Radio School from 2000 to 2008.  John's current feature script Tiger Tiger has been funded by Screen Queensland. John wrote two episodes for the Seven Productions show A Place To Call Home for Foxtel.John’s novel The Woman From Saint-Germain was published by Simon & Schuster in early 2019, and has so far sold over 20,000 copies. His next novel The Woman in the Spotlight is newly published by Harper Collins Australia.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Paula Arundell has worked extensively across screen and theatre both nationally and internationally.Her theatre credits include The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man (Malthouse Theatre); The Servant of Two Masters, Hippolytus, Antony and Cleopatra, Henry V, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing (Bell Shakespeare); The Master & Margarita, Sami In Paradise, Atlantis, Mr Burns, Mother Courage, Angels in America Parts 1 & 2, Peter Pan, Death of a Salesman, Gethsemane, Scorched, The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom, Paul, Peribanez, The Threepenny Opera (Belvoir); Clark in Sarajevo, The Bleeding Tree (Griffin Theatre Company); Company, Measure for Measure (Melbourne Theatre Company); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Michael Cassel Group); Night Letters (State Theatre Company South Australia); and Sweat, Death of a Salesman, Top Girls, The Bleeding Tree (Sydney Theatre Company).Paula’s performances have earned her multiple accolades, including the 2016 Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play, the 2001 Sydney Morning Herald Award for Best Actress, the 1999 Green Room Award for Female Actor in a Featured Role, and the 1997 Green Room Award for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role.Paula is presently on stage at Sydney’s Belvoir Theatre in Drive Your Plow Over The Bones Of The Dead. She quickly follows this in another novel adapted for the stage, The Birds.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Richard Martin joined Global Creatures as Technical Director in February 2012 and was appointed Head of Technical Production in March 2024.Richard’s technical theatre career commenced in 1979 where he spent 11 years with Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House. Richard subsequently joined Cameron Mackintosh as Technical Manager touring throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia and South Africa over a ten-year period. Richard launched Martin Production in 1999. Following this, Richard has been the Technical Director and Supervisor of numerous major theatrical productions and arena events over six continents, through the world’s major cities, including in the West End and on Broadway.Richard’s theatre credits include: Cats, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Five Guys Named Moe, Miss Saigon, Rent, Aspects of Love, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Slava’s Snowshow, Singin’ In The Rain, Saturday Night Fever, Cabaret, Oliver!, Pippin, Company, Spamalot, Dirty Dancing, The Lion King, High School Musical Live Onstage, Mary Poppins, Hairspray, Wicked, Love Never Dies, King Kong Live Onstage, Strictly Ballroom The Musical, The Beast, My Fair Lady, We Will Rock You, Wizard of Oz, Muriel’s Wedding The Musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, The Lion King International Tour, Hamilton, 9 to 5 The Musical, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and &Juliet.Richard’s event and arena credits include: 50th Anniversary of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, Opening and Closing Ceremonies for Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, The Boy From Oz Arena Tour, Shanghai World Expo 2010 Opening Ceremony, Walking With Dinosaurs, Tourism Australia’s USA campaign launch New York, White Night 2017 Melbourne & Ballarat. Richard continues to manage and develop productions as Head of Technical Production for Global Creatures.Without a doubt Richard’s favourite musical is Les Misérables, but one of his most memorable theatrical experiences, whilst not in a theatre, was doing the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, both of which were presented on a theatrical creative.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Tony Award®-winning writer and lyricist Lynn Ahrens is a native New Yorker. She began her musical career fresh out of college when she became one of the principal songwriters and singers for the renowned American television series, “Schoolhouse Rock.”Since then, she has written extensively for theatre, film and television, winning theatre’s triple crown – the 1998 Tony Award®, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards – for the lyrics of the acclaimed Broadway musical, Ragtime. In the same year she received two Academy Award® nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for Best Song and Best Score, for Twentieth Century Fox’s animated feature film Anastasia.With her longtime collaborator, composer Stephen Flaherty, her many Broadway, off-Broadway, and Lincoln Center Theatre credits include Once On This Island, Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, My Favorite Year, Lucky Stiff, A Man of No Importance, Rocky, Dessa Rose, The Glorious Ones and Broadway’s Seussical, which is now one of the most performed shows in America. A new work, Little Dancer, inspired by the Parisian Ballet world and the impressionist artist Edgar Degas, is presently awaiting production.Ragtime was revived on Broadway in 2010 and 2025, and is presently playing at The Lincoln Centre in New York City. For the recording of Songs from Ragtime, and for the original Broadway cast recordings of Ragtime and Seussical, Lynn Ahrens has received three Grammy® nominations.Additionally, Lynn co-wrote the book and score for the Broadway musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, in collaboration with composer Alan Menken and director Mike Ockrent, which ran for ten years at Madison Square Garden. She subsequently wrote its screenplay adaptation for the NBC/Hallmark Entertainment Special, starring Kelsey Grammer.For her extensive work in children’s television, she has received the Emmy Award and four Emmy nominations. She has also contributed songs for the IFC feature film Camp and the documentary After the Storm, among others.Out of this vast body of work has come a dazzling array of songs, including the power ballad “Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime, often performed by Aretha Franklin; the whimsical “Anything’s Possible,” from Seussical, recorded by Donny Osmond, and many classic “Schoolhouse Rock” songs, including “Interplanet Janet,” “Interjections,” and “The Preamble.” The pop hit “At the Beginning,” from Anastasia, sung by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis, went to Number One, and the soundtrack from that film earned a Gold Record.Lynn Ahrens is a member of ASCAP, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. She is a Lifetime Member of Council of the Dramatists Guild of America, where she is proud to have co-founded the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program for emerging theatrical writers.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Sam Strong is an award-winning theatre director and one of Australia’s leading cultural figures, known for combining artistic ambition with transformative leadership. He has served as Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre and Griffin Theatre Company, Associate Artistic Director of Melbourne Theatre Company, Chair of Circa, and Executive Director of Creative Industries at Creative Victoria. In 2024 he was appointed Creative Director and CEO of Gasworks Arts Park.A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Strong brings rare cross-sector insight to his work. At Griffin, he delivered seven consecutive seasons of subscriber growth and record-breaking productions. At Queensland Theatre, he rebranded and revitalised the company, achieving the highest box office in its history, overseeing the renovation of the Bille Brown Theatre, and positioning the company as a national home for new Australian stories.Strong has directed for every Australian state theatre company and major festivals. His stage adaptation of Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe became the highest-selling production in Queensland Theatre’s 50-year history. His productions of Love Stories and Joanna Murray-Smith’s Honour were acclaimed, with the latter becoming the longest-running show in Red Stitch’s history. He made Helpmann Awards history as only the second director to have two productions nominated for Best Play in the same year.Across more than two decades, Strong’s work — spanning classics, bold new writing and large-scale collaborations — has been seen by over 500,000 people. Renowned for unlocking potential in artists and organisations alike, he continues to champion ambitious storytelling and community-centred cultural leadership.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Gavan Swift is a multi award-winning Lighting Designer. He graduated from Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). His musical lighting designs include Mamma Mia!, Heathers the Musical, Mack & Mabel, The Mikado, The Pirates Of Penzance, Hot Shoe Shuffle, Little Shop of Horrors, Sweet Charity, Fiddler on the Roof, Jolson, Buddy, Oh What A Night, Footloose, Hair, Xanadu, Chess, Carousel, Follies, Annie and Saturday Night Fever both in Australia and on London’s West End. Gavan was the lighting designer for Moby Dick at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, making history as the first Australian Lighting Designer to light a production at the fabled Arts institution.. He has designed the lighting for The Production Company’s Anything Goes, Sugar (Some Like It Hot), The Music Man, Hair, Mack & Mabel, The Pirates of Penzance, Thoroughly Modern Millie and their inaugural production of Mame. For the State Theatre Company of South Australia his designs include Three Sisters (co-set designer), King Lear and Hamlet. For Bell Shakespeare; The Winter’s Tale, Pericles and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He also designed the lighting for the Victorian Opera production of La Rodine and the multi award-winning production of Salome. Gavan has also designed lighting for productions at the Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, The Ensemble Theatre, and Opera Australia. Gavan was the Associate Lighting Designer for the Australian productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Cabaret, The Full Monty, Chicago, High School Musical, A Chorus Line, South Pacific, The Lord of the Rings, Wicked, Frozen, An American In Paris, 9 to 5, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hairspray, Beauty & the Beast, Moulin Rouge, Beetlejuice and The Lion King; as well as the West End production of A Chorus Line, the Japanese production of Beauty and the Beast, plus the Mexican production of Wicked.In another busy year he is Associate Lighting Designer on productions that include Anastasia, Waitress, Beetlejuice and Pretty Woman. He will also create the Lighting Design for Victorian Opera’s Ned Kelly.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Morry Morgan is co‑founder and teacher at the Hard Knock Knocks Comedy School, a Melbourne‑based training ground that has helped more than 900 students — keynote speakers, first‑time comedians and bucket‑list performers — take the stage with confidence. A comedic entrepreneur and media commentator, Morry created the Gigme app, produced the comedy‑drama series Is This Thing On?, and ran The Rubber Chicken Comedy Pub from 2021–2023. His school, staffed by A‑list coaches, pairs new acts with headline performers and has been featured on Channel 9’s Travel Guides and supported by the NDIS for its inclusion work.Before returning to Australia in 2013, Morry lived and worked in Mainland China, founding award‑winning corporate training firm ClarkMorgan and publishing the region’s leading bilingual HR title, NetworkHR. A three‑time TEDx speaker and fluent Mandarin speaker, he regularly appears in Australian media on comedy, leadership and the creative arts.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

A graduate of the Drama Studio Sydney, Anthony Skuse is a director, dramaturge and teacher. Anthony’s directing credits include: Bradford Elmore’s Gravity (Qtopia); James Elazzi’s Saints of Damour (Qtopia); Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler (KXT, Secret House); Gary Owen’s Cherry Orchard: after Chekhov, (Old Fitz, Secret House); Ibsen’s Doll’s House (The Actors Company, ACA); Simon Longman’s Gundog (KXT, Secret House); Katie Pollock’s Rough Trade (Sydney Writes and Theatre Works Melbourne), Breaking the Code (New Theatre); Chekhov’s Three Sisters (Belvoir Downstairs, AFTT) Alistair McDowall’s Pomona, (KXT, Secret House); Katie Pollock’s Normal (Uncertainty Principle); Crime and Punishment (Secret House); Joanna Erskine’s Air  (Old 505); Simon Stephens’ Birdland (New Theatre); Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis (Old Fitz); Suzie Miller’s Sunset Strip (Uncertainty principle & Griffin, and with Critical Stages National Tour); Chekov’s Seagull (Secret House, Depot Theatre); Bathsheba Doran’s Mystery of Love and Sex (Darlinghurst Theatre); Charlotte Jones’ Airswimming (The Vaults, London); Nick Enright’s Man With Five Children (Darlinghurst Theatre Company); Christopher Harley’s Blood Bank (Ensemble Theatre); Jane Bodie’s Fourplay & Ride (Darlinghurst Theatre Company); Suzie Miller’s Caress/Ache (Griffin Theatre Company); Jessica Bellamy’s Shabbat Dinner (Rock Surfers, Rocks Pop Up Festival, Griffin Theatre Company); Nick Payne’s Constellations (Darlinghurst Theatre Company); Simon Stephens’ On the shore of the wide world (Griffin Independent); Amy Hertzog’s 4000 Miles (Under the Wharf, Sydney, La Boite, Brisbane & Critical Stages Regional Tour); Simon Stephens’ Punk Rock (Under the Wharf) which won three Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Independent Production and Best DirectionAnthony was Head of Performance at Actor Centre Australia. He has directed graduation shows WAAPA, NIDA and AFTT and now JMC. He was an Associate Lecturer at NIDA from 2009 – 2013, working in the Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses. Anthony is presently directing Beth Steel’s Till The Stars Come Down for company Secret House, being presented at the KXT theatre in Sydney from March 27th.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Deborah Jones is one of Australia’s most respected arts journalists, with a career spanning more than 25 years as a writer, critic and editor at The Australian. She served as Arts Editor for a decade and also edited the paper’s influential Review section, later becoming Executive Editor for five years.Joining the Sydney bureau in 1987 as a sub-editor, Deborah rose through the ranks to become a leading national voice in arts criticism. In 2001 she was appointed Arts Editor, a position she held for nearly ten years, shaping coverage of theatre, dance, opera and music across the country. She subsequently became the paper’s national dance critic — a role she continues to hold — while also reviewing musical theatre and opera.Deborah holds an honours degree in drama from the University of Newcastle, completed part-time while working as a journalist. She later spent three years as a drama tutor at the university, grounding her criticism in both scholarship and practical understanding of performance.In addition to her work for The Australian, Deborah has been the Sydney correspondent for the London-based Opera Magazine for seven years, reviewing opera performances in Australia for an international readership. She is also a member of the Sydney Theatre Awards judging panel, contributing her expertise to recognising excellence on stage.Now working as a freelance writer and editor, Deborah specialises in dance, musical theatre, theatre and opera. Her blog, deborahjones.me, continues her lifelong conversation about performance — archiving reviews, offering commentary, and proving that retirement is no match for a seasoned journalist with a passion for the arts.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

Gaye MacFarlane is an acclaimed Australian mezzo-soprano whose career has spanned more than four decades across opera, musical theatre, concert performance, television and radio. A born performer, she began singing professionally as a teenager on Australian television before completing a Diploma in Operatic Arts at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.Her early operatic career saw principal roles with major companies including Opera Australia, Victoria State Opera and South Australian Opera. She performed leading roles in works such as Carmen, The Italian Girl in Algiers, Orfeo and Euridice, Ariadne auf Naxos and The Rape of Lucretia. Highlights include the title role in Carmen in both Australia and Germany, Venus in Tannhäuser, Maddalena in Rigoletto, and appearances in Wagner’s Ring Cycle.Gaye’s transition into musical theatre began when she was cast as Eva Perón in Evita, alternating the role with Patti LuPone in the Australian production directed by Hal Prince. This success led to starring roles in Barnum, Song and Dance, They’re Playing Our Song and Sweeney Todd.Her European career flourished from 1985, with leading roles at Berlin’s Theater des Westens and Munich’s Theater am Gärtnerplatz. She appeared as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Sally Durant in Follies, Anna in The Rink and Velma Kelly in Chicago, performing alongside legends including Hildegard Knef and Eartha Kitt.As a concert soloist, Gaye has performed Verdi’s Requiem, Rossini’s Stabat Mater and Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder with leading orchestras in Australia and abroad. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Zindzi Okenyo is a dynamic African Australian actor, director and singer. After graduating from NIDA in 2006, Zindzi was a member of Cate Blanchett’s Residents Company at Sydney Theatre Company for three years. In 2012 Zindzi toured Europe and the USA with A History of Everything and began as a much-loved presenter on ABC’s iconic children’s program Play School. Her kids project Zindzi & the Zillionaires is one of her most exciting adventures. A stunning hybrid of joyful R&B musical grooves combined with songs and themes that every child can love - friends, family, love, sharing, the wonders of nature. And of course, good vibes for the parents too! She is a familiar face on Australian TV screens with roles in series such as Fisk, Critical Incident, Troppo 2, Deadloch, Wakefield, The Code, Janet King, Harrow, and Sisters.In 2022 Zindzi joined Melbourne Theatre Company as part of the twelve-member cohort of Artistic Associates in an industry-first consultation capacity across two years. She has performed for most of Australia’s major theatre companies and recently began directing for Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse, Griffin and Darlinghurst Theatres.Zindzi’s directing credits for Sydney Theatre Company include the Australian premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat by Lynn Nottage, Assistant Director on Death of a Salesman and Associate Director to Wesley Enoch on A Raisin in The Sun. For Melbourne Theatre Company, Zindzi has directed the premiere season of Kirsty Marillier’s Destiny and co-directed with Shari Sebbens Is God Is (a co-production with Sydney Theatre Company). Other credits include co-directing with Shari Sebbens the acclaimed production of Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner. This was a co-production between Green Door Theatre Company and Darlinghurst Theatre Company which went on to a season at Malthouse Theatre. Zindzi directed Orange Thrower for Griffin and Choir Boy (co-directed with Dino Dimitriadis) for National Theatre of Parramatta. Zindzi is presently at the helm of  Purpose, a Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins being presented by the Sydney Theatre Company on stage at Wharf 1theatre until March 22nd. In June she returns to the stage as actor in John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

From Brighton Beach in Melbourne to a garret overlooking Notre Dame in Paris, Amanda Pelman’s life has unfolded at the intersection of music, theatre and bold reinvention.She began as a radio journalist while studying at RMIT, before heading to London in 1981 to work with Dire Straits. Recruited home by Michael Gudinski to Mushroom Records, Amanda spent eleven years as publicist, label manager and A&R manager, signing emerging artists including Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. She co-managed Jimmy Barnes, co-founded Body Beat and Melodian Records with Ian “Molly” Meldrum, and guided Indecent Obsession to No.1 hits across Europe and Asia and a US Billboard Top 20.Transitioning to theatre, Amanda became Casting Consultant for Cameron Mackintosh Productions on RENT, auditioning thousands for just 24 roles. She went on to cast major productions including Oliver!, Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof, and was the original Casting Director for Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the musical.A producer of landmark live events — from Long Way to the Top to Live Earth Sydney and Sound Relief — she later served as Contemporary Creative Director at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, creating sold-out tributes to David Bowie and George Michael.Four marriages, countless stages, and a career spanning rock royalty to Broadway blockbusters — Amanda Pelman’s story is one of resilience, instinct and spectacular adventure.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

A graduate of National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1980, Garry Scale has built a rich and varied career across theatre, cabaret, film and television. Born and educated in Geelong, Victoria, he first trained as a teacher before moving to Sydney to pursue acting — a foundation that would later bring his journey full circle.Garry became a beloved figure on Sydney’s cabaret scene through his long association with the Tilbury Hotel in Woolloomooloo. Performing alongside Tony Sheldon, Genevieve Lemon, Brett Murphy and Philip Scott, he helped create a string of sharp, irreverent comedies that became legendary. Their annual Christmas pantomimes — including Ubewdy and the Beast and Sunset Boulevard: The Panto — remain highlights of the city’s cabaret history.On the musical theatre stage, Garry has appeared in productions of Fiddler on the Roof, The Boy from Oz (as an original cast member), The Fantasticks, Hairspray, Buddy, Merrily We Roll Along, Carrie, and Bye Bye Birdie, among many others. He has performed for major theatre companies across Australia and toured extensively throughout the southern hemisphere. His television and film credits include All Saints, Heartbreak High, Police Rescue, The Sullivans and Billy’s Holiday. For many Australians, however, he is fondly remembered as the voice of “Johnson” in the children’s series Johnson & Friends.In recent years, Garry returned to education, retraining as a teacher librarian, taking up a full-time role. He has transformed his school into a thriving performing arts hub — producing plays, building a dedicated theatre space, and inspiring students through storytelling and stagecraft. Whether under the spotlight or guiding young performers, Garry Scale remains devoted to the transformative power of theatre.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Ho Ho Ho! STAGES has completed yet another season. Season 8! And 600+ episodes. You know what that means … it’s time to haul out the holly and pull those bon-bons.As is tradition, we conclude season 8 with our annual Christmas episode. The perfect companion as you wrap your presents, put up the tree, peel a prawn and pour another glass of pineapple punch!Once again I am joined by ‘Mary Christmas’ herself, the inimitable Kate Fitzpatrick who will no doubt provide her take on the cricket and the festive season. Always a treat!And special guests galore come into the STAGES studio to escape the ‘icy footpath, chestnuts roasting and snow covered stoops’ of our Christmas trained brains. Publicist Ian Phipps will say hello and advise us what to look out for on national stages in 2026. Drag Doyen Stan Munro has written his autobiography with companion author William Brougham, and they’ll join us to celebrate ahead of the book’s January release. The busiest couple in showbiz, Grant Piro and Marina Prior found time in their chockablock schedules to bring some Christmas cheer. Old mates Hugh Monroe and Donna Lee too, via the magic of Christmas allow us an in depth conversation with Santa and Mrs Claus ahead of their busiest time of the year. And we wrap it all up with our favourite Christmas anthem, penned by Ron Creager & Tina Messina, and performed by Lauren Schmutter, ‘Christmas Will Find Us Wherever We Are.’So we hope you can join us and rejoice in the STAGES year that saw season 8. Thank you to all of our listeners, the guests, near and afar, who have shared their stories in this season’s episodes, and the personnel who have coordinated some of those conversations. I can’t wait for season 9 in 2026.We are all greatly saddened by the passing of the great Toni Lamond in November. As the very first guest on the podcast, we would like to dedicate this episode to her. She leaves a vast legacy. Fly high dear Toni!Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! The STAGES podcast will return in March, 2026.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Two of our favourite STAGES guests, and couples, return to the podcast, together, to examine their dual lives as actors. Grant Piro and Marina Prior guarantee performance brilliance in any entertainment in which they grace the stage. They reflect on some of the highlights of 2025 and what Christmas brings to them both, as a couple, individually and as a family.Few artists embody the breadth and brilliance of Australian musical theatre as completely as Marina Prior. This year alone she has reaffirmed her status as one of the nation’s great leading ladies, embracing an extraordinary range of roles across the stage. From the brittle sophistication of Phyllis Rogers Stone in Stephen Sondheim’s Follies, to the tender innocence and wisdom of Kimberly Akimbo, and the delicious villainy of Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables – The Arena Spectacular, Prior continues to demonstrate an artistry of remarkable versatility. The latter role also marked her West End debut during the production’s 40th Anniversary season, a milestone in an already unparalleled career.Her presence extends beyond the stage, with a much-loved annual appearance in Carols by Candlelight, broadcast nationally each Christmas Eve.This year’s theatrical landscape saw Grant Piro play Dimitri Wiseman in Follies, and complete a national tour of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. He now appears in the stage adaptation of Cluedo. Inspired by the classic board game and the 1985 film, Cluedo is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud whodunnit, featuring an all-star Australian cast and touring nationally throughout 2026.In the coming year, Marina Prior joins fellow icons David Hobson, Silvie Paladino and Michael Cormick in OVATION, a concert celebrating the very best of musical theatre and opera. United by decades of shared history and artistry, these four performers come together in a program that honours the music, roles and moments that have defined their careers.www.ovation.net.auwww.cluedoplay.com.auThe STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Wilton Morley is an accomplished theatrical producer whose career helped shape the landscape of Australian commercial theatre throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Born into one of Britain’s most distinguished theatrical families—the son of celebrated actor Robert Morley and grandson of stage and screen legend Dame Gladys Cooper— he carried forward a remarkable artistic lineage while forging a distinct and influential career of his own.Morley began his professional journey with J.C. Williamson’s, the powerhouse of Australian commercial theatre, where he gained a deep grounding in production, touring and company management. Over the following two decades, he became known for bringing high-profile international stars to Australian stages, nurturing major local talent, and producing works that ranged from intimate dramas to genre-defining musicals and theatrical sensations.His first venture into producing, through his company Parachute productions, was Same Time, Next Year (1976) starring Lewis Fiander and Nancye Hayes. Among his most prominent productions were the 1988 stagings of Blood Brothers, featuring Chrissie Amphlett, Russell Crowe and Peter Cousens; and Noel & Gertie with Geraldine Turner and Peter Carroll. He presented Paul Eddington in dual Terence Rattigan works, The Browning Version and Harlequinade, in both Melbourne and Sydney, and brought new energy to repeated seasons of The Rocky Horror Show, which enjoyed highly successful runs under his stewardship throughout the 1980s.Morley showcased contemporary writing and emerging voices, producing works such as When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout, Crystal Clear, Pack of Lies, and established playwrights with Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, featuring John Bell and Jacki Weaver. His productions frequently attracted international performers of stature: the 1987 revival of Aren’t We All? starred Rex Harrison and Claudette Colbert, while Tennessee Williams’ Sweet Bird of Youth (1986) boasted a cast led by Lauren Bacall, Colin Friels and Frank Wilson.He also nurtured landmark Australian performances, including multiple seasons of The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin with Gordon Chater, whom he later reunited in The Dresser, starring Warren Mitchell, Chater and Ruth Cracknell. Morley produced comedies, including Steaming, Noises Off, and Steptoe and Son Down Under, and presented Spike Milligan in An Alarmingly Funny Evening with Spike Milligan and Friends.His interest in experimental and physical theatre led him to invest in Lindsay Kemp’s landmark works Flowers and The Dream, which travelled internationally and became emblematic of avant-garde theatre of the time. Flowers—inspired by Jean Genet and starring Kemp as Divine, became a global sensation despite (and sometimes because of) its controversial reputation.Musicals formed a consistent thread in his career, including significant seasons of Little Shop of Horrors, My Fair Lady, and multiple tours of The Rocky Horror Show across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and regional Australia.Wilton Morley’s career is defined by bold artistic choices, the championing of both established and emerging talent, and a willingness to bring challenging, star-driven and commercially adventurous theatre to Australian audiences. He is a most extraordinary raconteur, fuelled from a two decade career that proved “there is no business like show business.” And it’s a delight to feature him in this riveting episode of the STAGES podcast.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

A dynamic force in Australian and international entertainment, Drew Anthony began a multifaceted career onstage before expanding into producing, directing, choreography, casting, and writing across theatre, television, concerts, events, festivals, and large-scale ceremonies.Since relocating to Perth, Drew has served as Artistic Director of Kaleidoscope, the city’s light and illumination festival, and has directed and choreographed The Boy From Oz at Crown Theatre. At Planet Royale in Northbridge, he has produced and directed a string of acclaimed productions, including Grease, Chicago – A Musical Vaudeville, Strictly Ballroom, A Chorus Line, Saturday Night Fever, The Wedding Singer, Footloose, and Little Shop of Horrors.A specialist in global ceremonies and major events, Drew has held senior creative roles for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, Doha 2006 Asian Games, Doha 2011 Arab Games, Rugby World Cup New Zealand 2011, NRL State of Origin, the World Handball Championship in Doha, and the Flag Handover Ceremony at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.In theatre and live performance, Drew has directed Olivia Newton-John & Friends in Concert at Sydney’s State Theatre; choreographed and appeared in the Academy Award-winning animated feature Happy Feet; directed Carlotta’s Kings Cross at the Big Top, Luna Park; choreographed the Australian premiere of Jolson; the world premiere of the West End musical Jailhouse Rock; and Opera Australia’s celebrated Orpheus in the Underworld. In 2002, he toured to 33 cities as Associate Director, Choreographer, Producer and featured performer in Hot Shoe Shuffle.As Resident or Associate Director/Choreographer, Drew has contributed to the Australian national tours of Singin’ in the Rain, Buddy – The Musical, Hairspray, The Pirates of Penzance, Me and My Girl, Jolson (Mo Award nomination), 42nd Street, Red Hot and Rhonda, Rachael Beck’s Young Judy, as well as the USA and UK tours of Hot Shoe Shuffle.Earlier in his career, Drew Anthony performed with the Queensland Ballet Company and in the Australian and international productions of Cats, 42nd Street, Rasputin, Hot Shoe Shuffle, Me and My Girl, and Sondheim’s Putting It Together. Television appearances included regular performances on The Midday Show and Good Morning Australia, and work as a band member of the swing ensembles Pardon Me Boys and The Fabulous Rhythm Boys.In 1984, Drew won the Fred Astaire International Tap and Jazz Championship in New York City, marking an early highlight in an expansive and enduring career.From January 8th, 2026, Drew Anthony Creative presents Saturday Night Fever at The Atheneum Theatre in Melbourne.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Delia Hannah has given us a vast range of powerhouse performances in musical theatre productions globally.Born and residing in new Zealand, for the most part Delia’s career has been based in Sydney, commencing with a two year engagement in the premier season of LES MISERABLES (Cameron MacIntosh), only to return to play the ill-fated Fantine in the 10th Anniversary Production which had extended seasons in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. She also toured Australasia as a principal soloist in THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER (Really Useful Group,IGM) starring Anthony Warlow and Sarah Brightman. She has played New Zealand and Australian seasons of Willy Russell’s acclaimed musical play BLOOD BROTHERS for which she won a Sydney Circle Critics Award for Best Actress. She has toured New Zealand in Stetson’s production of CHESS in the role of Florence Vassey and again in Melbourne as Svetlana.Not surprisingly Delia has built a reputation for playing strong, dramatic leading ladies who sing powerful and moving musical theatre Arias! Other roles include Eva Peron in EVITA, Anita in WEST SIDE STORY, Annette (alias Miranda) in Nick Enright’s BEACH BLANKET TEMPEST, Miss Santiago in THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, and Rose Vibert in Lloyd Webber’s favourite musical ASPECTS OF LOVE (RUG),for which she won a “Variety Club Award” and a Mo Award. These awards were awarded to her while she was away starring in the revised Australian version of ASPECTS OF LOVE which toured The UK and opened to raive reviews in London. She toured Australia in the big-top tour of “CATS- RUN AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS” which thrilled outback audiences and earned her a Mo Award nomination for her role as Grizabella, Delia then came to Auckland briefly to play the Baker’s Wife in Stephen Sondheim’s IN TO THE WOODS for The Auckland Theatre Company. She played Glinda in the WIZARD OF OZ for Gordon Frost Organization, just before taking time out from the industry to raise her daughter.Since then she has appeared in Australia’s popular TV drama ALL SAINTS. delia also appeared many times on popular variety shows such as THE MID DAY SHOW, BERT NEWTON ,HEY HEY IT’S SATURDAY and GOOD MORNING AUSTRALIA.In 2005 she moved back to Auckland with her husband and daughter and was a guest actor on SHORTLAND STREET and for the prestigious Silo Theatre Company she played Mrs Peachum in THE THREEPENNY OPERA, directed by Michael Hurst and which won “Best Play” in Auckland’s METRO MAGAZINE.In 2009, Really Useful Group invited Delia to return to Australia to reprise her role as Grizabella in “CATS” for an Australasian tour, then a concert tour of “THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. She has since been nominated for a Greenroom Award and a Helpmann Award for her role as Grizabella. She toured Australia and Asia, Hong Kong Singapore, Taiwan, Manilla and China.For Christchurch’s New Court Theatre, it was an honour to play Dorothy Richmond in their lavish Premier production of THE GREAT ART WAR. In Melbourne Delia was invited to perform in Stephen Sondheim’s superb review SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM. In Sydney she played Margaret Lord in HIGH SOCIETY at the HayesTheatre. Auckland audiences have most recently seen her play The Bird Lady in MARY POPPINS (Disney/Cameron MacIntosh). She has also starred in MAMMA MIA as Donna Sheridan in a sell-out season at Auckland’s beautiful Civic Theatre.Delia has a CD titled DOWN STAGE CENTRE.In 2026, Delia is one of the headliners at the annual Australian Musical Theatre Festival, taking place in Launceston from 20th to 24th May.www.amtf.org.auThe STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Steve Ross has been a fixture of the cabaret community in Manhattan for over forty years. He was born “forty-five minutes from Broadway” in New Rochelle, NY, and was raised in Washington, DC with an opera-loving father and a mother who played on the piano the songs of Gershwin, Porter and Irving Berlin. His first major job in New York was as a successful singer/pianist at the now famous piano bar Ted Hook’s Backstage.In 1981 he re-opened the legendary Oak Room at Manhattan’s famed Hotel Algonquin where he held forth off and on for more than 15 years. He has appeared on Broadway in Noel Coward’s Present Laughter and off-Broadway in his tribute to Fred Astaire entitled I Won’t Dance. Internationally, he has performed in London, Paris, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Melbourne and Sydney as well as cabarets and theatres across America and on the high seas. He’s hosted programs on the BBC and New York Public Radio and was on the Concerts and Lectures roster at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for eight years. He co-starred with KT Sullivan in Love, Noel: the Letters and Songs of Noel Coward  - summer of 2019 at the Irish Repertory Theatre) His last show at the Algonquin, Puttin’ on the Ritz – the Songs of Fred Astaire, prompted Stephen Holden of the New York Times to describe Steve as “the personification of the bygone dream world that his music summons.”Steve Ross has delighted and beguiled international audience for decades. Although he has performed in huge out-of-door venues  (the St. Lous Muny Opera) and on theatre stages (Present Laughter - Broadway; I Won't Dance - Off-Broadway and on tour) he is equally successful in bringing his unique brand of Manhattan sophistication to cabarets and intimate events all over the world - from the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo to the RItz hotels in London and Paris and from parties for Revlon to special evenings for Christies. The Transatlantic Songbook is alive and well in the hands of this elegant and seasoned performer who turns every evening into an exciting Cafe Society event.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Toni Lamond has taken her final bow. A legend of Australian Entertainment, she made her mark across many platforms; television, film, theatre, cabaret, recording, concert, author and of course, musical theatre.She takes with her the personas she assumed across a vast career – leaving us with memories of Reno Sweeney, Nancy, Mrs Pearce, Fraulein Schneider, Dolly Gallagher Levi, Mama Rose, Pirate Ruth, Maggie Jones, Hattie Walker, Bea Miles, Babe Williams, Wildcat Jackson, Sally Durant, and a Wardrobe named Madame de le Grande Bouche …. to name but a few. Toni Lamond was a woman of firsts In a time when overseas stars were brought to Australia to lead local productions of Broadway musicals, Toni was first to be given the opportunity to lead an Australian cast, in The Pajama Game. With husband, Frank Sheldon, she was the opening night act on GTV9 as Australian television was finding its feet. She went on to be the first woman to host a tonight show, when filling in for the legendary Graham Kennedy. She’s a descendant of Richard Morgan, one of the First Fleeters, and she even consented to be my very first guest on the STAGES podcast.Today we remember the great ‘Lamond’ and her legacy, by replaying the episode recorded with her in 2019. She had returned to the podcast to mark the 100th episode. It is bittersweet that she returns to mark our 600th episode; but I suspect she’d be chuffed by that, having been there for episode no:1.We are joined by her son Tony Sheldon who shares memories to honour her legacy, and then we hand it over to the Legend herself, to tell it in her own words.Vale Toni Lamond (29/3/32-29/11/25)The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

STAGES is joined by show pilgrims Simon Parris and Ian Phipps for a West End round-up of the musicals, plays and events they experienced on recent visits to London theatre.Simon Parris is a Melbourne reviewer, and his appraisals of theatre locally, nationally and abroad can be found at simonparrismaninchair.com. Ian Phipps is one of Australia’s leading publicists who ensures that we are informed of the latest entertainment offerings playing around the country.It’s always a joy to welcome them back to the STAGES podcast to appraise the theatre they have seen and recommend to us what we might pursue, should we be in any of the theatre precincts abroad.Sit back and engage with the three of us as we investigate what’s currently on offer in London’s West End.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Today on STAGES, we’re rolling out the red carpet for a truly dazzling double act — Michael Dalton and his fabulous alter ego, Dolly Diamond. Michael’s story begins in the West End at just ten years old, playing the title role in Oliver! — and from there, he’s conquered television screens, international tours, and cabaret stages.After immigrating to Australia in the 1980s, Michael appeared on television in popular series including Neighbours and The Henderson Kids.Michael has a long association with The Rocky Horror Picture Show, performing in the production’s tours across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Europe. He later toured internationally as a backup singer for Julian Clary and joined Richard O’Brien in Disgracefully Yours at the Edinburgh Festival.Michael has built a rich career as a solo performer, appearing in venues around the world such as Oscar Wilde’s (New York), Madame Jo Jo’s (London) and Code (Copenhagen). He also appeared in the West End production of Naked Boys Singing.Then came Dolly… the sequined sensation who’s become a fabulous fixture of the nation’s cultural landscape. She’s an ambassador, a host, a festival favourite — lighting up stages from Melbourne to Edinburgh with wit, warmth, and a wicked sense of fun. Dolly Diamond is one of Australia’s most beloved entertainment personalities. Originally from the UK, Dolly proudly made Australia her home in 2009 and has since become a vibrant fixture on the nation’s cultural and cabaret scene.Michael and Dolly are woven into the cultural fabric of Melbourne. Through countless performances and charitable contributions, they have supported and uplifted LGBTIQA+ communities and not-for-profit organisations for decades.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Susan-ann Walker is one of Australia’s favourite character Performers known for her work in Musicals, Plays, Opera, Cabaret and TV for over 35 years.Professional Music Theatre credits include 3 LITTLE PIGS (“Mother pig” AG productions 2025), THE WEDDING SINGER (“Rosie” David Venn productions 2021-2022), SWEENEY TODD (“Mrs Lovett” cover, LifeLike productions 2018), FUNNY GIRL (“Mrs Strakosh” The Production Co 2015), ONCE (“Barushka” Green Room Award for Best Ensemble GFO/MTC 2014-2015), A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (“Gymnasia” GFO 2012), XANADU (“Calliope/Aphrodite” Mark Pennell 2011), HELLO DOLLY (“Dolly Levi” Magnormous 2010), MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL (“Earth Mother” Jim McPherson 2005-2007), MAME (“Agnes Gooch” The Production Co), PINOCCHIO (‘Catch-up” Garry Ginivan productions 2001) THE SOUND OF MUSIC (“Sister Margaretta ”GFO/SEL 1999-2001), POSSUM MAGIC (“Grandma Poss” Garry Ginivan 1997), GREASE-THE ARENA SPECTACULAR (“Jan” GFO/SEL 1998), THE SECRET GARDEN (“Martha” GFO 1996), ASPECTS OF LOVE (“Elizabeth” R.U.C 1992), GODSPELL (Sydney Opera House 1992), LES MISERABLES (Cameron Macintosh 1990-1991) and CATS (“Jenny-any-dots” Cameron Macintosh and RUC 1989, 1994-1995)Susan-ann performed as an actor/musician in THE ISHMAEL CLUB as “Mrs Maggia” for Playbox as well as in ONCE in 2014 directed by John Tiffany (Tony award for ONCE)Early Opera credits include THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARRINER “Pilot/Life in Death” VSO Youth Company, “Princess Icky-Poo” in THE DRAGON AND The MANDARIN (VSO School’s Co) and CARMEN (VSO).Cabarets includes ,DESPERATELY SINGING SUSAN, JACQUES BREL (Green Room Award for Best Cabaret 2000), TRAGEDY, PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC, CONFESSIONS OF A SEX KITTEN ,YUMMY, THE YUMMY BURLESQUE HOUR (Green Room Nomination for Best original songs), SUBTLE, TOM FOOLERY, NOT QUITE RIGHT, BIN GODDESS and in 2023, OUR NAUGHTY BITS.TV credits include “Marlene” in GOLD DIGGERS (ABC 2023), BLUE HEELERS, MDA, WINNERS AND LOSERS, DR BLAKE, MS FISHER’S MOD, and MOONMAN Susan-ann also originated and directed the Cabaret Project in 2003 at Federation University and in 2010 at PSA. She also has worked at the COLLEGE OF THE ARTS and in both the Classical and Contemporary departments of Monash University.She runs her own Singing Teaching/Vocal Health studio THE VOICE PLACE and is currently working on her first full-length play with music, UKULELE JOY, after she was the recipient of 3 grants in 2024The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Louise Fischer has an MA in Theatre Studies from UNSW and is celebrating her twentieth year as Artistic Director of New Theatre; an independent company who staged their first production in 1933. The theatre has mounted some 550 productions, and is one of Australia’s oldest continuously producing theatres, moving from Pitt Street to Castlereagh Street and then to Kings Cross, until finally settling in its current home on King Street Newtown in 1973.Louise’s directing credits at New Theatre include: Ink, The Ballad of Maria Marten, Chimerica, Glengarry Glen Ross, Neighbourhood Watch, The Grapes of Wrath, August: Osage County, Australia Day, House of Games, Mother Clap’s Molly House, Enron, The Farnsworth Invention, The Crucible (which transferred to a sellout season at the Seymour Centre), Cabaret, Brand Spanking New, Honeymoon Suite, Richard III, Dancing at Lughnasa, Lemon Delicious and The Caucasian Chalk Circle. New Theatre was set up in 1932 as the Sydney Workers Art Club, opening with the slogan “Art is a Weapon”. The first full-scale production in 1933 was The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. It has produced plays on important political and human rights issues.Louise’s other directing credits include: The God Botherers (Darlinghurst Theatre); Stories from the 428 (Sidetrack Theatre); Macbeth.com (Lighthouse Theatre); Project SciFi (PACT); Birthdays, Christmas & Other Family Disasters (Tunks Productions); Bedtime for Bastards (Crypt Theatre); Roadkill (Short + Sweet); The Curious Pain of Louis XIV (Seymour Centre) and Hamlet (Harlos Productions).Louise is presently in final rehearsals with Noel Coward’s Present Laughter; a production that takes to the stage from November 11th to December 13th at Sydney’s iconic New Theatre. She joins STAGES to discuss her journey as a theatre maker, the iconic New Theatre and her role as Artistic Director.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

In this episode of STAGES, we’re joined by a craftsman whose work has quietly but powerfully contributed to the stories we see on screen — Set Decorator, Martin Williams.Growing up in Albury, Martin was captivated early by the magic of the cinema. Regular trips to the local picture house sparked a lifelong love of storytelling, and it was Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders that truly set him on his path toward a career in film.Across more than 35 years in the Australian screen industry, Martin has held a wide variety of roles — from runner and driver to props buyer, carpenter, and ultimately, set decorator. His breadth of experience and deep understanding of production have earned him over 50 screen credits, spanning film and television.His recent work includes set decoration on the features Beast in Me and The Deb, as well as popular series such as Mother and Son, CAUGHT*, Last King of the Cross, and Colin from Accounts. Earlier in his career, Martin worked on the groundbreaking Matrix trilogy — one of the first major Hollywood blockbusters to be filmed in Sydney — an experience that offered him a front-row seat to a new era of filmmaking in Australia.Today, we step behind the camera to explore Martin’s remarkable journey, his passion for the craft, and the vital role set decoration plays in bringing stories to life.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Kate Mulvany is a distinguished Australian actress, playwright, and screenwriter whose career spans theatre, television, and film. Renowned for her compelling performances and evocative writing, Kate has established herself as a significant figure in the Australian arts scene, earning critical acclaim and numerous awards.Kate was born and raised in Geraldton, Western Australia. At university she earned a double major degree in scriptwriting and theatre from Curtin University, where she was tutored by the renowned writer Elizabeth Jolley. Her academic pursuits fuelled her passion for storytelling and acting, laying a foundation for her future career.Amongst a vast resume of stage roles, perhaps her most acclaimed performance is that of Richard III. Her portrayal was praised for its intensity and authenticity, challenging audiences to reconsider notions of ability and theatrics. Mulvany's talent for playing historical and literary figures is further exemplified by her performances as Cassius and Lady Macbeth.Mulvany is a talented playwright and adaptor. Her adaptation of Craig Silvey's novel Jasper Jones has been performed widely across Australia.Her triumph in reimagining classic works is evident in her adaptations of The Harp in the South trilogy by Ruth Park and Mary Stuart by Schiller. Her adaptation of The Harp in the South was produced by the Sydney Theatre Company in 2018, bringing a fresh, feminist perspective to a beloved Australian classic.Kate’s semi-autobiographical play The Seed, won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Independent Production and toured nationally. It has since become a much-loved and studied Australian text.  Medea, co-written by Kate and Anne-Louise Sarks was produced by Belvoir Street Theatre in 2012. Other works include The Danger Age, Blood and Bone, The Web, the musical Somewhere (music and lyrics by Tim Minchin), the oratorio Towards First Light (composition by Iain Grandage), and Storytime.As a screenwriter, Kate co-created and wrote on the internationally-acclaimed TV series Upright, the popular ABC series Summer Love, the Emmy-winning animation series Beat Bugs, and has written two episodes of the Disney Plus series two of The Artful Dodger.Her screen credits include leading roles in Hunters alongside Al Pacino and Jennifer Jason-Leigh; The Clearing; The Twelve; Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis; and double AACTA-nominated roles in the films Better Man and How to Make Gravy. She will soon be seen as Aunt Augusta in the Netflix adaptation of the Miles Franklin novel My Brilliant Career.Her newest work for and on the stage stage is The Shiralee, currently playing at the Drama Theatre for the Sydney Theatre Company. Kate has adapted the iconic novel by Darcy Niland, and also plays the role of Marge, Macauley estranged wife.Kate Mulvany’s work is a testament to resilience, innovation, and fierce creativity. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Lisa Callingham is a triple threat performer and creative whose professional musical theatre credits include The Rocky Horror Show, Jerry’s Girls, Hot Shoe Shuffle, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Oscar’s Turn to Sing and What the World Needs Now. She starred in Kookaburra Productions’ Pippin as Fastrada, Hello Again as The Whore at Darlinghurst Theatre, she played Maggie in the Australian tour of A Chorus Line, originated the role of Bonnie-Mae in Nick Enright and Max Lambert’s Miracle City for Sydney Theatre Company and was an original member of The Trio, Shena, in both the workshop and full productions of The Boy from Oz. Most recently she was seen as Millicent Winter in Nice Work if you Can Get It at The Hayes Theatre and as the Soap Star in the 2023 National Tour of Menopause The Musical.She appeared in Gillian Armstrong’s Starstruck and Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge. She has performed live with and recorded for Marcia Hines, Paulini, Paul Mac, Chrissie Amphlett, The Eurogliders, Rhonda Burchmore, Caroline O’Connor, Georgie Parker, Nancye Hayes, Trevor Ashley, Shane Jacobsen, Deni Hines and Christine AnuShe regularly tours with Todd McKenney and is featured on his album The Songs Of Peter Allen.Lisa’s creative credits include Associate Director/ Choreographer on Catch Me If You Can at the Hayes Theatre, Singin’ In The Rain In Concert for QPAC/ Prospero Arts, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Tell Me On A Sunday for MGP and The Hayes Theatre. As a Choreographer, credits include the Boy From Oz 2020 Live from Lockdown video, Anyone Can Whistle for Neglected Musicals and numerous corporate events and Graduate performances.She most recently Directed and Choreographed They’re Playing Our Song for Neglected Musicals and is thrilled to filling those roles once again for in their presentation of The Pajama Game, playing The Foundry Theatre in Sydney from November 5th to 8th.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Daniel Abineri is an English actor, director, playwright, songwriter and narrator whose career has spanned theatre, television, film and music across the UK, Australia and New Zealand. He is widely recognised as the writer and composer of the satirical rock musical Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom, which first premiered in Melbourne in 1989 and went on to ignite controversy in its 1994 London season when it was closed following protests from the Roman Catholic Church.Born into a theatrical family, Daniel began his career in repertory theatre before appearing in a series of notable screen roles, including The Best of Enemies (ITV Playhouse), The Schoolmistress for Yorkshire TV, and as Alan Wilson opposite Tatum O’Neal in MGM’s International Velvet (1977). He gained national attention in Britain as Father Neil in the hit ITV comedy Bless Me, Father alongside Arthur Lowe, which ran from 1978 to 1981.In 1979, Daniel was cast by Richard O’Brien as Dr Frank-N-Furter in the first UK national tour of The Rocky Horror Show. His charismatic performance led to a West End engagement, and subsequently to extensive work in Australia and New Zealand, where he both starred in and directed multiple productions of the cult musical throughout the 1980s. With more than three thousand performances to his name, he holds the distinction of being the longest-running Frank-N-Furter in the world. Daniel became a familiar face on Australian television when he was cast as the villainous Jake Sanders in the international hit series Return to Eden. His stage career in Australia flourished with roles such as The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, Gary Lejuene in Michael Blakemore’s production of Noises Off, and Arnold Beckoff in Torch Song Trilogy. His dynamic stage presence and creative versatility cemented his reputation as both performer and director within the Australian theatre community.Beyond acting, Daniel has directed and produced a number of acclaimed television documentaries, including One Hit Wonders (BBC), Walk on the Wild Side (Granada TV), which explored gender roles in pop and rock through interviews with figures such as Mick Rock, Malcolm McLaren, Pete Burns and Marc Almond, and Murder and Celebrity (UKTV). His documentary A Conversation With James Lovelock explored the ideas of the pioneering scientist behind the Gaia hypothesis.In addition to his theatre and television work, Daniel has pursued his passion for songwriting. In 2013 he released Honey For Sale, a country/folk-rock album of original songs.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Roger Bart‘s body of work extends to both the small and big screens, as well as to extensive and iconic credits on the stage. He may be best known to theatre audiences for originating the role of ‘Carmen Ghia’ in Mel Brooks’ Broadway musical, The Producers, for which he received Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations, a part which he recreated in the film adaptation of the musical. He won the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for his performance as “Snoopy” in the revival of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. In addition to originating the title role in the musical of Young Frankenstein, his other notable stage appearances include Disaster! (Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination), The Frogs, Triumph Of Love, King David, Big River, and the role of “Doc Brown” in the Broadway adaptation of Back to the Future for which he received a Tony Award nomination, following an acclaimed run on the West End where he originated the role. He created the role of “Hades” in the NYSF/Public Theatre production of Hercules, revisiting the piece that he first brought to life as the singing voice of “Young Hercules” in the animated film’s Academy Award-nominated song “Go the Distance.”Bart has worked extensively in television including his roles on the series Good Trouble, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Graves, Grace and Frankie, and Episodes. Other popular television appearances include Revenge, Desperate Housewives and 30 Rock.His film credits include Office Romance, Man With The Bag, Ghost Light, Speech & Debate, and Jay Roach’s adaptation of Trumbo, as well as Last Vegas, Law Abiding Citizen, Harold & Kumar 2, American Gangster and The Stepford Wives.Roger Bart has returned to the iconic role of Doc Brown in Back to the Future - the musical for it Australian premiere season at the Lyric theatre in Sydney. He will then tour the show throughout Australia.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Maggie Dence is a celebrated Australian actress whose career has spanned more than six decades across stage, film and television. She is a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, admired for her versatility, warmth and enduring contributions to the performing arts.Dence’s passion for performance was evident from a young age. She made her stage debut at just sixteen, beginning a professional journey that would see her become one of Australia’s most recognisable and respected performers. Training at the Independent Theatre with Doris Fitton ignited a passion that has never faded.Her early break came with the satirical sketch series The Mavis Bramston Show in the 1960s, a groundbreaking program that reshaped Australian television comedy. The series established Dence as a dynamic talent with a flair for characterisation and comic timing, qualities that would underpin her long career.Her screen presence grew with roles in some of Australia’s most iconic film and television productions. On film, she appeared in Ted Kotcheff’s Wake in Fright, now regarded as one of the most significant works in Australian cinema. On television, she became a household name through a string of popular dramas and serials. She was seen as Rose Sullivan in the beloved wartime series The Sullivans, and later as Bev Baker in Prisoner, where her nuanced performance enriched one of the country’s most enduring cult classics. In Neighbours, she charmed audiences as Dorothy Burke, the cultured, eccentric school principal, further cementing her place in the national consciousness. Other television appearances included guest roles in A Country Practice and other long-running staples of the small screen.She has worked on the stages of many companies around the country in productions as diverse as Shakespeare, Chekhov, Williamson; classical, contemporary and comic. Noises Off, Away, Marjorie Prime, Mongrels, The Shoe-Horn Sonata, The One Day of the Year and Steel Magnolias encompass just a few of her triumphs.Alongside her stage and screen work, Dence has given generously to the arts community. She has been a committed supporter of the Actors Benevolent Fund, contributing her time and profile to an organisation dedicated to assisting fellow performers in need. This philanthropic work reflects her deep sense of care for the profession and those who share it.Her remarkable career has been acknowledged with significant honours. Dence was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to the performing arts, and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance awarded her an Equity Lifetime Achievement Award – a fitting tribute to a career defined by longevity, excellence and generosity of spirit.From her early days in comedy to her iconic soap roles, her film appearances and her theatrical endeavours, Maggie Dence has been a constant and cherished presence in Australian entertainment. With a career built on talent, resilience and passion, she has left an indelible mark on the stage and screen, while also giving back to the community that supported her.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Maggie Dence is a celebrated Australian actress whose career has spanned more than six decades across stage, film and television. She is a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, admired for her versatility, warmth and enduring contributions to the performing arts.Dence’s passion for performance was evident from a young age. She made her stage debut at just sixteen, beginning a professional journey that would see her become one of Australia’s most recognisable and respected performers. Training at the Independent Theatre with Doris Fitton ignited a passion that has never faded.Her early break came with the satirical sketch series The Mavis Bramston Show in the 1960s, a groundbreaking program that reshaped Australian television comedy. The series established Dence as a dynamic talent with a flair for characterisation and comic timing, qualities that would underpin her long career.Her screen presence grew with roles in some of Australia’s most iconic film and television productions. On film, she appeared in Ted Kotcheff’s Wake in Fright, now regarded as one of the most significant works in Australian cinema. On television, she became a household name through a string of popular dramas and serials. She was seen as Rose Sullivan in the beloved wartime series The Sullivans, and later as Bev Baker in Prisoner, where her nuanced performance enriched one of the country’s most enduring cult classics. In Neighbours, she charmed audiences as Dorothy Burke, the cultured, eccentric school principal, further cementing her place in the national consciousness. Other television appearances included guest roles in A Country Practice and other long-running staples of the small screen.She has worked on the stages of many companies around the country in productions as diverse as Shakespeare, Chekhov, Williamson; classical, contemporary and comic. Noises Off, Away, Marjorie Prime, Mongrels, The Shoe-Horn Sonata, The One Day of the Year and Steel Magnolias encompass just a few of her triumphs.Alongside her stage and screen work, Dence has given generously to the arts community. She has been a committed supporter of the Actors Benevolent Fund, contributing her time and profile to an organisation dedicated to assisting fellow performers in need. This philanthropic work reflects her deep sense of care for the profession and those who share it.Her remarkable career has been acknowledged with significant honours. Dence was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to the performing arts, and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance awarded her an Equity Lifetime Achievement Award – a fitting tribute to a career defined by longevity, excellence and generosity of spirit.From her early days in comedy to her iconic soap roles, her film appearances and her theatrical endeavours, Maggie Dence has been a constant and cherished presence in Australian entertainment. With a career built on talent, resilience and passion, she has left an indelible mark on the stage and screen, while also giving back to the community that supported her.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Paul White studied classical piano at The University of Adelaide with Dr Graham Williams, graduating B.Mus with Honours (Performance) followed by Dip. Jazz Performance. Conducting study began in New York with Broadway legend Gordon Harrell, then continued in Melbourne with the distinguished Romanian conductor, Robert Rosen. This juxtaposition of classical and commercially oriented study enabled Paul to build his career in a variety of musical and theatrical genres.He has been involved with many of the landmark music theatre productions of the last 35 years, notably playing and conducting 42ND STREET (Helen Montague), WEST SIDE STORY (Victoria State Opera), LES MISERABLES (original Australia/New Zealand tour and Asia/Africa tour – Cameron Mackintosh), MY FAIR LADY (Victoria State Opera), WE WILL ROCK YOU in Tokyo (Louise Withers), MATILDA Australasian tour (Louise Withers, RSC), and The Australian Ballet’s magnificent production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (GWB/TAB).He was Musical Director of A CHORUS LINE directed by Baayork Lee (TML Enterprises), OLIVER! (Cameron Mackintosh, IMG), ANNIE (Macks Entertainment, GFO), CHICAGO (IMG), GREASE (GFO), and GREASE – THE ARENA SPECTACULAR (SEL, GFO).Other highlights include, repetiteur for an extraordinary production of MISS SAIGON in Manila, starring Lea Salonga (Cameron Mackintosh), a lovely association with The Production Company, working on THE BOY FROM OZ, LAZARUS and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, and several University productions at WAAPA, the Hong Kong APA, and the VCA.He has also worked as Pianist/MD with such celebrated artists as Ricky May, Michael Crawford, Danny La Rue, Caroline O’Connor, Toni Lamond, Todd McKenney, Michael Cormick, Rob Guest, Julie Anthony and Simon Gallaher.For many years Paul had a close association with the Really Useful Company Asia Pacific on their productions throughout the world, and was Musical Director for several productions of CATS, including tours with Lea Salonga and Delta Goodrem, and THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER concert tours. Paul is presently on tour with the feline juggernaut CATS, for it’s 40th Australian Anniversary tour and is understandably thrilled to be back with his beloved Cats!The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Vidya Makan grew up in Brisbane spending most of her time on the football (soccer) field with dreams of one day becoming a Matilda. However, at the age of 14 after playing flower girl number 3 in her high-school production of My Fair Lady, Vidya decided to take on a much more realistic and stable path and made the wise decision to lead a life in showbiz.Having learnt to read music at the age of three (before she was able to read English) she is also a cellist and highly skilled pianist. She is a proud graduate of The Bachelor of Musical Theatre program at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, class of 2015. Vidya is one of Australia's most exciting multi-hyphenates in the entertainment industry. As a leading lady, she has wowed audiences across the country through her powerful performances as Eliza in Hamilton, Catherine Parr in SIX, Ruby in Bloom and Dot/Marie in Sunday In The Park With George to name a few, all of which saw her nominated for major industry awards. In 2024 she featured on the ABC and Michael Cassel Group’s A (Very) Musical Christmas, and in 2023 she was a guest quiz master on Channel 10’s Have You Been Paying Attention. Vidya is also a talented composer and lyricist of her own musicals. Her critically acclaimed debut original The Lucky Country opened to rave reviews in Sydney in 2023 and is being presented this October at Melbourne Theatre Company’s Southbank Theatre and then as part of the MELT festival in Brisbane. The original cast album will be released on all streaming platforms with Origin Music on August 14.Vidya is currently in development with Queensland Theatre on a new original musical exploring the everyday lives of South Asian Australians working with collaborator Tasnim Hossain.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Penny McNamee is currently starring as Rachel in the smash hit - MJ the Musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne.Most recently Penny stared in Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple alongside Lucy Durack, Todd McKenney and Shane Jacobson for both the Sydney and Melbourne seasons to rave reviews. She is a Green Room Award Winner for her role as Nessarose in the original Australian production of WICKED and has played leading roles in mainstage productions across the country, including Donna in the Griffin Theatre’s production of Hurlybury, Ella in Bells are Ringing for the Hayes Theatre Company, Alaura Kingsley in City of Angels, also for the Hayes Theatre Company and Jennifer in Cameron Mackintosh’s Australian production of the Witches of Eastwick.Penny’s international musical theatre credits include leading roles in Daddy Long Legs the musical and Rocket Science both staged in New York City.Penny was a series regular for six years in the Seven Network’s hugely popular drama Home and Away in the role of Dr Tori Morgan, which saw her nominated for a Logie Award. US television credits include Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot (CBS), Steven Spielberg’s The Pacific (HBO), Political Animals (USA), Elementary (CBS) and Blue Bloods (CBS).Some of Penny’s other Australian television credits include roles in White Collar Blue, All Saints, Headland and Foxtel’s Satisfaction.Penny’s feature film credits include lead roles in the US feature film, See No Evil (Lionsgate) and John Duigan’s critically acclaimed Australian feature Careless Love.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Steven Kramer is a multi-faceted artist working as a music director, pianist, writer, composer, orchestrator, producer and cabaret performer.He has been the Associate Musical Director for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and previously served as the Assistant Musical Director for Chicago (GFO). A long-standing collaborator with the esteemed Hayes Theatre Co since its founding in 2014, his credits include Little Shop Of Horrors, Calamity Jane, Assassins, The Drowsy Chaperone, Rent, LOVEBiTES, She Loves Me, Side Show, Catch Me If You Can and Jekyll and Hyde for which he won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Musical Direction.As a pianist he has performed with leading orchestras and renowned artists, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Paloma Faith, The City Recital Hall, Trevor Ashley and Kate Ceberano, as well as in major commercial productions such as Mary Poppins, Frozen, Beautiful and The Sound Of Music.Dedicated to championing new Australian work, Steven has contributed as an arranger and orchestrator to productions including The Dismissal (Squabbalogic), Zombie: The Musical (Hayes Theatre Co), Evie May (Hayes Theatre Co), The Secret Singer (Darlinghurst), Never Let Me Go (Griffin) and Nosferatutu (Griffin). He collaborated with Courtney Act to compose the opening number for the Sydney WorldPride Domain Concert, which was broadcast nationally on ABC.As a writer and composer, his original musical Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical is set to premiere at Hayes Theatre Co in 2025. His award-winning one-man cabaret, I Sing Songs, has been performed across Australia, featuring his original compositions. He has also written original music for There's No One New Around You (Keira Daley, Mark Simpson), Neighbourhood Watch (Illuminate Educate) and In Stitches (Alex Giles), as well as a commissioned double concerto for saxophone, marimba and orchestra, performed by Translucent Duo.Steven is the co-director and co-founder of Curveball Creative, the production company behind the critically acclaimed live-streamed musical Who’s Your Baghdaddy, or How I Started the Iraq War, which he also musically directed. The production received a Critic’s Pick from The New York Times and was streamed on BroadwayHD. Curveball Creative continues to produce innovative musical theatre, including Once On This Island at Hayes Theatre Co.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Tricia Paoluccio is a multifaceted actor, distinctive visual artist, and dynamic creator whose talents flourished in remarkable ways during the pandemic. Two of her lifelong passions—performance and visual art—took center stage, leading to transformative projects.She co-wrote and stars in Here You Come Again, a heartfelt two-person musical comedy in which she portrays her lifelong idol, Dolly Parton. With Dolly’s personal endorsement, the production was granted global grand rights to feature her iconic music.Following a successful U.S. tour in 2023, the show captivated audiences across 30 cities in the UK, selling out performances and earning critical acclaim. Currently, the production is delighting London audiences at Riverside Studios before embarking on a major tour of Australia and New Zealand.Tricia’s performance has earned her a nomination for Best Leading Performer in a Musical, while the show itself is up for Best New Musical at the 2024 Broadway World UK/West End Awards.As a visual artist, Tricia’s passion for flower pressing has led to high-profile collaborations, creating botanical designs for luminaries in the fashion, publishing, and music industries.  Her collaboration with Oscar de la Renta resulted in Taylor Swift’s iconic pressed flower dress at the Grammys and Anna Wintour wearing her art to the Met Gala. The viral success of these creations led to Tricia launching her brand: Domain of the Flowerings which features pressed flower imagery in high design. Raised on an almond farm in Modesto, CA, by an inventor father and a school teacher mother, Tricia moved to NYC where she initially sold her art on the street while pursuing her acting career. Since making her Broadway debut as Catherine in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge, she has worked consistently in New York theatre on Broadway and off, in television and film. Her varied stage work ranges from playing Cressida in Sir Peter Hall’s Troilus and Cressida to originating the role of Donna in the cult Off-Broadway comedy hit Debbie Does Dallas, to co-starring in the inaugural production of Edward Albee’s Lady from Dubuque at the Signature Theatre, to playing Chava in David Leveaux’s Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof. Recent tv credits include recurring roles on Saint X and Law and Order: SVU.As a creator, Tricia developed, produced and starred in the cringe comedy web series, Mommy Blogger, a satire of influencer culture, which was later optioned and retitled LIKE ME. Here You Come Again is currently playing the the Theatre Royal in Sydney and will then continue an Australian tour.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Tara Morice has worked extensively in theatre, film and television for over 30 years.Her first film out of NIDA was Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom, for which she was nominated for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award, an Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award and a Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. She has also appeared in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, Dance Academy: The Movie, Oranges and Sunshine, Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance, Candy, Hildegarde, Moulin Rouge!, Hotel Sorrento, Metal Skin, Carmen and the Oscar-nominated short Miracle Fish. Tara can most recently be seen in The Moogai and Nugget Is Dead, and will next appear in Rebel Wilson’s The Deb.Her television credits include the award-winning teen series Dance Academy, as well as Answered by Fire, McLeod’s Daughters, Salem’s Lot, After the Deluge, Dogwoman and Play School.On stage, Tara has performed in many productions for the Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir, Bell Shakespeare, Griffin, the Ensemble, Queensland Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre and the State Theatre Company of South Australia. She has been nominated for her work in musical theatre with a Victorian Green Room Award for The Venetian Twins and a Helpmann Award for Fat Swan.Tara wrote and directed the documentary My Biggest Fan, which premiered at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival and screened on SBS.As a singer, Tara recorded Time After Time with Mark Williams for the Strictly Ballroom soundtrack, and a new solo version for Baz Luhrmann’s album Something for Everybody.In September she returns to the stage in a brand new production of Menopause The Musical - playing The State Theatre in Sydney.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Alexis Fishman is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). She was nominated for a Helpmann Award for her performance as 'Young Dusty' in Dusty, her first show after graduating. Alexis then went on to star in some of Australia’s biggest musicals including Shout! and the award winning Sydney premiere of Kiss of The Spiderwoman. Other Australian credits include Urinetown, Closer, Troupers, as well as plays at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Darlinghurst Theatre Company and Monkey Baa Theatre Company. Alexis is the creator of six solo cabaret shows including the award winning Club Gelbe Stern which made it’s US debut at NYMF where Alexis was awarded ‘Outstanding Individual Performance’. Other shows have been performed across Australia at the Adelaide and Melbourne Cabaret Festivals, Shir Madness Jewish Music Festival, The Reginald Theatre, The Sound Lounge, Chapel Off Chapel, Sydney Jewish Museum, Ginger’s at the Oxford Hotel and Claire’s Kitchen. In New York, Alexis’ shows have been seen at 54 Below, City Winery, Pangea, The Triad, JCC Manhattan and Laurie Beechman Theatre as well as in New Jersey, Ohio, Connecticut and Florida. Most recently, Alexis was seen off-Broadway as Anne Frank in Anne Being Frank by Ron Elisha. The production garnered two Broadway World Awards, for Best Solo Performance and Best off-Broadway production. Alexis holds a Masters in International Relations from Deakin University and was honoured to sing for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan during the Iraq war. Her personal essays have been published in two books, God, Faith and Identity in the Ashes, and the i'Mpossible Project's Lemonade Stand. Alexis has coached Cabaret workshops for Broadway Weekends, Actors Equity Australia and the Sydney Cabaret Showcase. She also sees private clients.  In September, Alexis brings her celebrated turn in Anne Being Frank by Ron Elisha, to the stage at the Sydney Opera House.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Noni Hazlehurst recently returned to the stage with MOTHER  at the Arts Centre in Melbourne. Her autobiography Dropping the Mask was released in October 2024.Noni played the role of Miss Cartwright in the feature film Ladies in Black for which she received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2018 ACCTA Awards.Noni completed filming on A Place to Call Home, the final series screening in 2018.She has completed a second sell-out tour of the one woman play, MOTHER and the role of Mag in the Sydney Theatre Company production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane, both to excellent reviews.  She reprised MOTHER in Queensland in 2020.Most recent television and film work includes: Long Story Short, June Again, The End, A Place to Call Home, Truth, and Redfern Now.In 2016 Noni was inducted into the TV Week Logie ‘Hall of Fame’.In September she is back on the boards in the world premiere season of Daniel Keen’s LARK at the Melbourne Arts Centre.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au