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).
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 2024
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).
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).
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).
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).
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 Anu
She 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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
Francis Greenslade began performing with the Adelaide University Footlights. He has been an actor and a teacher for over 30 years. He is best known for performing a host of characters on ‘Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell’ and Brian Gross on ‘Winners andLosers’. Other screen credits include The Leftovers, Irreverent, Blue Heelers, Dr Blake, SeaChange and Full Frontal.
He has worked with most theatre companies across Australia. His stage credits include The Odd Couple, Shakespeare in Love, Man the Balloon, and Urinetown for the Melbourne Theatre Company, Babes in the Wood, The Odyssey, Optimism, and Tartuffe for Malthouse, and Navigating for the Sydney Theatre Company. In 2019 STC produced his adaptation of Accidental Death of an Anarchist.
His book ‘How I Learnt to Act’ was published by Currency Press in 2019 and his play ‘The Platypus’ has had seasons at Theatreworks in St Kilda in 2024 and at Holden Street Theatres for the Adelaide Fringe in 2025.
‘The Platypus’, plays the Brisbane Festival in September.
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).
From beloved TV dramas to blockbuster musicals, Ian Stenlake has carved out a dynamic career across stage and screen. Most recently, he conjured magic (and menace), mesmerising audiences as the enigmatic Saruman in The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale. Prior to that, Ian toured nationally in Elvis: A Musical Revolution, portraying the legendary Colonel Tom Parker, a performance that earned him the Glugs Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Musical. His musical resumé is stacked with acclaimed roles including Sam in Mamma Mia!, Sky in Guys & Dolls, Curly in Oklahoma!, Cliff in Cabaret, Robert in The Bridges of Madison County and John Ashby in Georgy Girl.
Beyond musicals, Ian has also made his mark in a wide range of main stage productions. Highlights include Around the World in 80 Days for Ellis Productions, One Crowded Hour with the Tasmanian Theatre Company, Daylight Saving for Darlinghurst Theatre Company, School of the Arts for Queensland Theatre Company and Sleeping Beauty for Malthouse Theatre.
On screen, Ian is best known for his long-running roles as Commander Mike Flynn in Sea Patrol and Oscar Stone in Stingers. His television work also includes appearances in The Secret Daughter, Dance Academy and more. His film credits range from Diana & Me to Trapped in Space, and even a role in The Godfather Part III.
A two-time Green Room Award winner and Helpmann Award nominee, Ian continues to enchant audiences nationwide, affirming his place as a powerhouse 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).