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