Today, we had a Meet The Performer chat with Ellen Hardisty. Ellen will perform in Australian Open, which will come to the PIP Theatre in January courtesy of production company 7th Floor Theatre. The Australian Open, not to be confused with the actual Australian Open tennis tournament, is a fast-paced comedy about tennis and open relationships.
About Ellen Hardisty
What do you enjoy most about acting?
I love discovering different parts of myself and different ways of understanding the world that come from immersing myself in a new character. I love sharing stories and building community and asking the big questions and making people laugh.
What productions have you acted in before?
I have toured theatre around Europe – 6 shows in Rep!
What has been your favourite role so far in your career?
Playing Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead for the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble.
Do you believe talent or training is more important to an actor?
Acting is a mixture of craft and art. The craft of acting takes practice and training. The art of acting takes imagination and inspiration and bravery.
What do you think can make a role challenging?
I love challenging roles where the character’s experience is very different from my own life experience, and the depth of research that goes into these roles.
What do you think makes a performance most believable?
An actor having a thorough understanding and connection to their character, the story, and the world of the play.
Where can patrons purchase tickets to see your performance?
The Australian Open runs from January 8th to 18th, 2025. There are 7:30 p.m. shows from Wednesday to Saturday and 2 p.m. matinee shows each Saturday.
But only for two unforgettable nights – Tuesday 31st Oct and Wednesday 1st Nov. Here we meet one of the concert’s principal performers – Georgia Leigh – whom we chatted to for the insider’s view of A Night With The Villains.
About Georgia Leigh
What do you enjoy most about acting?
I love the way being an actor can transport you to so many different places and be a completely different person to yourself. It’s so fun being able to play different characters. I personally love going out after the show and meeting the audience, hearing what they think and interacting with them as myself.
What productions have you acted in before?
I have worked mainly in Musical Theatre, with most of my professional experience in Children’s Theatre, starring in roles such as Sophie in Mamma Mia and Nancy in Oliver! And Rosalie Mullins in the QLD Amateur Premier of School of Rock. I have performed at the Adelaide Fringe Festival with JALLY Entertainment, performing as Snowy in Snowy and the 7 Cool Dudes by A.J. Bailey and have performed this show in 6 states and territories.
What has been your favourite role so far in your career?
I met my husband playing Sophie in Mamma Mia, so I am probably slightly biased in thinking that’s my favourite role. In terms of the most challenging, I think that would have been Rosalie Mullins from School of Rock, she is very different to who I am, so it was hard being a tight arse, but that’s what made it so enjoyable.
What do you think makes a performance most believable?
I think that a believable performance has heart. I find performances most believable when I can sense the deep connection to the character, and can feel and see myself in those moments.
Are there any particular genres or types of roles that you prefer or feel most comfortable in?
I love working in the Children’s Theatre. Although physically demanding, it brings me joy knowing that I could potentially influence future young actors. I remember watching shows at my school and thinking how amazing it was, and I hope I am bringing that same feeling to others.
About A Night With The Villains
What is this Production about?
A Night With The Villians is the amazing brainchild of Elodie Boal and Trent Sellars, with help from Jennifer B Ashley and Jackie Fredericksen along the way. Imagine having all the best villains in the world returning for just one night (in our case, 2!) and tormenting you with fabulous song and dance. Truly, it is a match made in Halloween heaven, but you can’t just take my word for it!
What character are you playing, and what can you share with us about them?
I am playing the Wicked Witch character. As soon as I was posited with going green for this show, I was all in! Some of the best roles are painted green, so I am actually honoured to be doing it for this one! Everyone in this show has a unique character, and it is so wicked and fun to see them transform at rehearsals.
Why did you want to be involved in this production?
I spent a year in America in 2019, and the difference between American Halloween and ours cannot be understated! When Elodie approached me about being a part of a Halloween show, you bet I was ready brooms-a-blazing. Being a part of a supportive cast and crew was also a major draw card. These guys have been the BEST to work with.
What sort of person is going to love this show?
Everyone who loves a bit of a spook and something quirky will love this show—bringing a little bit of Musical Theatre, Film and Television together in one jam-packed 2-hour thrill. Everyone has their moment to shine and tell their own unique story with iconic songs and amazing dancing.
What’s going to surprise people about this show?
How amazing the talent is in Brisbane (though we already knew it!), the cast is so solid in their performances and deliveries I think that people will be amazed.
Georgia can be seen in A Night With The Villains from 31st Oct to 1st November in the Ron Hurley Theatre in the spooky Seven Hills Hub.
The Secrets of Carmichael Manor is coming to Sydney on the 13th of October, and here we take the time to chat with the Actor, Director and Author of the show Kate Jirelle in our Meet The Actor Series.
Let’s turn our spotlights onto Kate and delve deeper into her and The Secrets of Carmichael Manor production.
About Kate
What do you enjoy most about acting?
What I most enjoy about acting is the ability it gives you to explore yourself and the world around you. Whenever I take on a new character, I learn so much about myself and what I’m capable of, but it also makes me consider other perspectives and other walks of life that I’ve never considered before.
Do you believe talent or training is more important to an actor?
I firmly believe it takes both, but I don’t think you need to get an acting degree necessarily. I never had the opportunity to attend a traditional drama school, but I have gained so much by training at places like Sydney Acting Studio, which offers regular and ongoing training with incredible teachers who always support, encourage, and challenge me to do my best. Whether you go to a traditional drama school or not, it’s essential to continuously work on your craft as an actor with people who inspire you and constantly push you to do your best work.
Which acting technique do you think is the best for you?
The foundation of my training has been the Meisner Technique, which is definitely the technique I would say is my foundation. However, as an actor, I’m constantly learning and always looking for new tools to add to the toolbox.
What do you believe is the most challenging aspect of being an actor?
To be an actor, you need to have a thick skin. When you become an actor, you hear “No” a lot more times than “Yes”, and it can be easy to let that get to you. However, I find that if you surround yourself with the right people who understand you, inspire you and can lift you up in the low times, it makes the more challenging times easier to navigate.
What is your favourite film or theatre production?
This changes for me almost daily, but I’m always a sucker for stories that can have me laughing one minute and crying the next. In terms of movies, Jo Jo Rabbit is definitely up there in the favourites list. In the category of plays, The Things I Know To Be True by Andrew Bovell is also a firm favourite. Regarding TV, I’ve recently hopped onto the Ted Lasso bandwagon and am very much enjoying the ride.
About The Secrets of Carmichael Manor
How did the writing of this show come about?
Having acted in several Dark Stories productions before, I couldn’t help but jump at the chance when I was asked to write one. All Dark Stories shows have a great tone that often mixes history, mystery and humour, which is an absolute ball to write. I also couldn’t resist the opportunity to write for such a great venue as Experiment Farm Cottage. You can’t help but be inspired when it comes to such a beautiful historical building.
What sort of person is going to love this show?
I like to describe this show as Doctor Who meets Knives Out. So, if you like either one of those, I think you’ll love The Secrets of Carmichael Manor.
Who should not come see this show?
People who aren’t prepared to be dragged into the action. No, really – this show is very interactive, and the audience very much becomes part of the show. But, if being involved in the story is your cup of tea, you will enjoy this show.
Who in the show is most like their character?
I must say it’s Ben Durham playing the role of Father Patrick. The instant he walked into the audition, we knew we’d found our Father Pat – and that was even before he started delivering the scene.
Who’s the least?
Definitely, Gary Leonard Belshaw, who plays the role of George Carmichael. I’ve known Gary for a while now, and he is genuinely one of the most kind-hearted and generous performers I’ve met. In comparison, George is a very boorish and ill-tempered character, and it always amazes me how well Gary manages to slip into that energy when it is the very opposite of who he is. Talk about great acting!
Kate Jirelle can be seen in The Secrets of Carmichael Manor, which only runs for two weekends, from the 13th to the 15th of October and the 20th to 22nd of October, in the historic space of Experiment Farm Cottage, in Parramatta.
Confessions of a Serial Killer is coming to Brisbane on the 6th of October, and here we take the time to chat with Actor/Director Garth Remington in our Meet The Actor Series.
So let’s put the spotlight on Garth and learn more about him and the Confessions of a Serial Killer Production.
About Garth
Why do you want to be an actor?
I love performing in live shows, seeing the audience’s instant reactions or viewing the finished product after filming projects.
What do you enjoy most about acting?
Seeing all the little ways you can help improve a project. It’s incredibly gratifying when you find a way to add something that takes the whole production to another level.
What productions have you acted in before?
I’ve been involved in Dark Stories since its first show in Brisbane, including The Haunting, Female of the Species, and To Hunt a Killer. I am also a standup comedian, improviser, sketch writer/performer, voice-over, and I’ve had a few film and commercial roles.
Do you want to work in film, live theatre or both?
I have been involved in both, and each has pros and cons. With film, you get to create complicated and perfected work, but in live theatre, you make something new every night, tailored to the audience’s needs on any given night.
How do you maintain your physical and emotional health while working on demanding projects?
You must include a decompression after a show run. Celebrate your achievements and take a stress break before taking on the next project.
Are there any particular genres or types of roles that you prefer or feel most comfortable in?
I’ve enjoyed all kinds of roles including thriller, dramatic and even romantic but my favourite is comedy hands down.
Have you ever had to improvise during a performance? If so, can you share an example?
All the time. Anything can happen in immersive theatre, and you have to be flexible. I’ve had a co-star forget their lines on stage, so I dived on the grenade (so to speak) and improvised as my character to give them and the rest of the cast a chance to regroup. It’s a good feeling to know you have everyone’s back.
Are you comfortable with performing stunts or action scenes? If so, what kind of training have you had?
I am; I’ve done a lot of martial arts and feel comfortable with breakfalls and fight choreography.
About Confessions of a Serial Killer
What sort of person is going to love this show?
Any fans of crime thrillers, murder mysteries or spooky things in general.
Why did you want to be involved in this production?
Immersive theatre is a unique format that can’t be experienced anywhere else. Every single session is different as the audience will get involved under actor direction. As an actor you never know what to expect.
Who should not come see this show?
People who are not up for a scare.
What will the audience be thinking about in the car as they drive home after this show?
After the show, I’d expect the audience to go home with lots of food for thought. I’m sure they will question their own morals and consider the nature of good and evil.
How is this production bringing something new to this story?
We have thought through the relationships between characters and found some fun. There will be a few laughs between the thrills.
What’s going to surprise people about this show?
The audience interactions: this show is not on a stage; we will be amongst the crowd, and unexpected things will happen.
Is there something else you’d really like to say?
Every Dark Stories production is unlike anything you will ever experience. There are so many reasons people will like this show, but you will never find another show like this.
Garth can be seen in Confessions of a Serial Killer, which only runs for three nights, from the 6th to the 8th of October, in the secluded sections of creepy Minnippi Parklands.
