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Teaching Staff
ACTT teaching staff change every year as the college takes on new and exciting tutors and directors to work with our students on specialist subjects to deliver a greater depth of learning and experience to all concerned. Specialisms include Morris System, voice, movement, stage combat, yoga, physicality, dance, singing and many others. Tutors and Directors are brought in from the industry to keep the college grounded in the performing arts business, enabling our students to build all-important networks.
LESLEY WATSON – Founder, Artistic Director & Head of ACTT
Lesley has 25 years experience in actor training and management. Lesley is the founder of the Actors College of Theatre and Television. She developed the college’s teaching philosophy based on nurture, challenge and innovation, and has drawn together a diverse, talented and dedicated team to create ACTT’s sophisticated training systems. Lesley is passionate about the independent theatre scene in Sydney, and she is at the forefront of many initiatives. These include founder and Creative Director of the Cleveland St Theatre from 2006, the Imagine Festival from 2009 to 2010 and in 2011 forged close ties with, and an ACTT base at, Sidetrack Theatre. As a teacher Lesley developed the ‘Actor as Artist’ program and is passionate about the release of every artist’s “voice” which has encouraged hundreds of past students to lead a creative and successful life pursuing their dreams. Her passion for generating opportunities that bridge the gap between actor training and the profession have helped inspire, support and cross-fertilise the careers of graduates and practitioners alike.
JOHN O’HARE – Head of Acting & Creative Director
John O’Hare is a renowned teacher and student director. Head of Acting at Actors College of Theatre and Television, he is co-founder of O’Punksky’s Theatre Co. where he directed the Gigli Concert, The Faith Healer and The Carthaginians; for Belvoir he directed Blue Remembered Hills; for STC he co-directed Arcadia The Cripple of Inishmaan and The Shaughraun for both STC and MTC; he co-directed “Much Ado” with Maeliosa Stafford (Nominated for Best Irish Production by the Irish Times). His production of Wolf Lullaby won 4 Green Room Awards, with seasons at the Playbox, Belvoir St and Griffin Theatre where he directed Stitching and Making Love to The Scarecrow. John is an accomplished film & theatre actor. TV appearances include Home & Away, Heroes II – The Return, Tough Nuts and Cops L.A.C .
TONY YOULDEN – Head of Production & Technical Director
Tony’s involvement with the theatre spans over forty-five years. Tony has worked as a freelance designer for most of Australia’s leading performing arts companies. He has worked on over four hundred theatre, opera and ballet productions. Before moving across to ACTT Tony was Technical Director at NIDA for over sixteen years and now brings a lifetime of experience to ACTT’s students and productions. Tony heads the Technical Production department within the college and leads the teaching of the Cert III and the Cert IV in Live Production, Theatre and Events, and the Advanced Diploma of Stage management. As well as teaching, Tony is Technical Director at ACTT’s Cleveland Street Theatre, and is the person responsible for the incredible Lighting, Sound and Set Designs for all college Graduating performances as well as student productions and some of the independent productions hosted at Cleveland Street.
STEPHEN HELPER – Supervisor, Music Theatre
Stephen is a tutor and teaching advisor across the Music Theatre and Diploma courses at ACTT. He recently conceived, devised and directed Soul Music at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre working with the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts. He directed Syncopation. His production of Fiddler on the Roof for Jerome Robbins was nominated for the Best Revival Tony Award. Smokey Joe’s Cafe, which he conceived for Broadway, is among the 30 longest running Broadway musicals of all time and was a hit in the West End, on numerous American National Tours and has been performed on every continent.
SEAN O’RIORDAN – Supervisor, The CORE
Sean teaches acting and directs student productionss across a number of ACTT courses. As Course Supervisor he is largely responsible for delivering The CORE at the college. He trained as an actor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and has worked extensively in touring theatre in the UK. Working as a teacher, director, actor and writer with his company Barestage, his productions include the critically acclaimed Mixd Drinx. Sean regards his students as potential future colleagues and continues to work creatively with a diverse group of ACTT students and alumni on a large number of Australian stage productions.
GLEN HAMILTON – Supervisor, The CORE
Glen supervises The CORE and teaches ACTT Diploma-level acting and specialised courses for developing actors. He has worked as actor and director in both theatre and television and is the co-artistic director of Poignant Productions, working with some of Australia’s biggest companies. He founded Leading Arts, for which he writes, produces, performs and directs. Glen is also interested in developing the use of acting methods to motivate people and help them to break through their personal barriers to live a richer life. Glen works closely with a large number of ACTT staff, students and alumni in a large number of productions.
KATE HANKIN (Senior Tutor, Morris System)
Kate teaches The Morris System at ACTT. She studied in NIDA young actor’s studio and is a graduate of the ACTT Professional Actor Program (Advanced Diploma of Arts in Stage and Screen Acting). She spent two years training directly under Eric and Susana Morris in the US and goes back there regularly. Theatre credits include the 2010 Griffin playoffs, The Tempest directed by John O’Hare, The Happy House Show directed by Kate Gaul, Other Times directed by Judy Farr and A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Anna Volska. 2010 screen appearances include the feature “While We Were” directed by Robert Roa (US) and I ROCK on ABC. In October 2010 Kate is on stage in “Jigsaws”, directed by Linden Wilkinson and produced by the Actors Forum.
DEBORAH JONES
Deborah is one of ACTT’s longest-serving tutors, having graduated with a Diploma of Performance from ACTT in 1995. Acting credits for the Theatre include Baby with the Bathwater (Bondi Pavilion) which she also produced. Everyman 2000 (Tap Gallery) The Art of Success (Pact Theatre) Holiday in The Sun (Sidetrack Theatre). As a producer Deborah commissioned three Sydney writers and gave each of them the theme of hunger and the outcome was the critically acclaimed Anthology, Hungry (Stables Theatre). Television Film credits include Deadly Woman, Above the Law (recurring role) All Saints, Geoffrey Bagel and The Dinner Party. Directing credits include the recently successful season of Havana Harlem for the Sydney Fringe, 4Play for Mardi Gras 2010, Wind In The Willows and Cosi at The Haven.
LEX MARINOS
As an actor Lex has appeared with the Nimrod, APG, STC, Melbourne Theatre Company among others. Television appearances include Kingswood Country, Embassy, Ballzup and World Series Debating. Film credits include Cathy’s Child, Goodbye Paradise and Bedevil. He has directed the film An Indecent Obsession, television series Bodyline, Embassy, A Country Practice, documentaries and many theatre productions. Awarded OAM, former Deputy Chair of the Australia Council; Board Member, Multicultural Advisory Committee for SOCOG. Lex was the Director of Carnivale in NSW, directed a segment of the Sydney 2000 Opening Ceremony and in 2010 was the Creative Director for ACTT’s Imagine Festival.
CAMERON DAVIE
Cameron co-directs the showreels for ACTT each year. He has a deep love of drama and has played a major role in developing and designing the influential and industry-leading ACTT graduate acting showreel. He has directed many award-winning educational, training and corporate videos. He is a Churchill Fellow. He developed a series for television to be made for and about Deaf people in sign language and his documentary, Passport Without a Country was screened on the BBC. He has co-produced several short film dramas, including a sci-fi segment of the film collection, POV, which was screened nationally in Hoyts Cinemas.
FIONA MALONE
A graduate of the Postgraduate Diploma in Movement Studies (NIDA), Fiona has been the BioMechanics tutor for The Actors College of Theatre and Television since 2007. Known for her innovative cross media productions, Fiona is an award winning choreographer who had a long international career as a contemporary dancer before expanding her skills to train and choreograph for Actors. Her recent Theatre credits include working for Sydney Theatre Company on productions The Wonderful World of Dissocia and Concussion and with mentor Gavin Robins for The Bell Shakespeare Company on As You Like It.
ANGELA KENNEDY
Angela Kennedy has taught Acting, Audition Technique and The Business of Acting at ACTT since 2004. As an actor/performer for over 30yrs, Angela’s more recent credits include ‘All Saints’, ‘Cops LAC’, and the short film ‘Suburbia’( AFI 2010 ‘Best Short’ Nomination).Theatre credits include starring as Lady Chatterley in ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’, and 1000 performances of MAMMA MIA! (original Australian cast).In 2011, Angela toured Australia playing Carol in the musical ‘Breast Wishes’. Angela won ‘Best Choreography’with Caroline Mooney for the SLSA Lifesavers in the 2009 Mardi Gras Parade, and in 2010 directed entertainment for the P&O cruise ship, Pacific Jewel. She has also appeared in over 30 television commercials. Angela holds a Cert IV in ‘Training and Assessment in the Workplace’.
CLARE HEUSTON
Clare holds an honours degree in Arts from Sydney University and an A.Mus from the AMEB. In 1998 she won the Lady Persia Galleghan Award for Operatic Voice at the Sydney Eisteddfod and made her debut at the National Lieder Society singing with Australian chamber music legend Rachel Valler at the piano. Since then she has performed as a recitalist all over NSW. Her teachers were Frances Hillier, Susan Reppion-Brooke, Sue Falk and Anthea Moller. She teaches in the Diploma and Core programmes at ACTT and runs her own singing practice.
LINDA NICHOLLS-GIDLEY
Linda teaches voice, accent & dialect classes with ACTT’s full-time students. She considers the production of voice to be a physical full-body experience and works hard to establish body/breath/sound connections in her students. Linda holds a degree in Acting from Charles Sturt University, a post-graduate diploma in Voice from NIDA and a Master of Creative Arts in Accent/Dialect research from the University of Wollongong. She has also trained with Cicely Berry, Rowena Balos, Catherine Fitzmaurice, Frankie Armstrong, Jenny West and is currently working with Paul Meier. As a voice teacher Linda has taught Callan Mulvey, Damien Walshe-Howling, and Rachael Taylor amongst others. She has worked as an actor, voice artist, director and accent/dialect coach for over 12 years and in broadcasting for the ABC, Channel 10 and The Age on-line.
MICHAEL BATES
Michael has a Masters (Honours) degree in Film and Television specialising in Directing. He teaches Screen Performance at ACTT as well as Directing, Screenwriting and Animation in other educational institutions. Michael’s short film The Projectionist was awarded the ‘Grand Prix’ at the 2003 Tampere Film Festival, ‘Best Live-action short’ at the Nashville Film Festival and the ‘Silver Spike’ at the Valladolid film festival among others. His films have screened on ABC, Ten Network and Sundance Channel. Television works include The Gamilaroi Gallop (documentary) and Loose Oranges. He has been on the Selection Panel for the Sydney Film Festival since 2008.
VIRGINIA FERRIS
Virginia has had a long career as a Choreographer, Artistic Director, Adjudicator, Dance Tutor and Event Coordinator specialising in retro choreography, musical theatre and jazz styles. Virginia was trained as a ballet dancer appearing with Tasmanian Ballet and Company in Flight Dance Company. As a choreographer her versatility allows her to work across many genres. She was Assistant Director and Choreographer for 2010 Chinese New Year Twilight Parade for the City of Sydney for an audience of over 100,000 people and has choreographed Marilyn Jones, KD Lang, Kath & Kim, Bob Downe, Keith Bain and Jimmy Somerville to name a few.
KYLE ROWLING
Kyle is a professional Actor, Director, Weapons Master and Fight Director. He has 25 years experience in Martial Arts and has trained, choreographed and performed Stage Combat for STC, Opera Australia, Ensemble Theatre, Belvoir St, Marion St, Bell Shakespeare, the David Atkins Group, Sydney Shakespeare Globe and more. He teaches regularly at the ACTT and has worked in many theatre and film productions including Star Wars EP II and III as Christopher Lee’s fight double, Eric Bana’s personal weapons trainer for Troy, fight director and performer for Pan at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre and the New York tour of STC’s The White Devil.
DAMIAN FOLEY
Since graduating from WAPPA Damian has worked as freelance actor in Film, TV and Theatre in for last 17 years with Film & TV credits including: The Feds, Neighbours, Police Rescue, GP, Blue Heelers, Janus, Spellbinder, Water Rats, Big Sky, Above the Law and All Saints. He studied directing at the WA Screen Academy. Damian’s most recent directed short film “Rex” was included in the Eugene International Film Festival, Eugene, Oregon USA 2008 and was winner for the Audience Choice award for Best Short Film at Hells Half Mile, Film Festival, Bay City Michigan USA 2008.
TRACIE MORLEY
Tracie teaches dance at ACTT. Her wide industry experience includes dance captain for My Fair Lady and Singing in The Rain; resident choreographer for Sisterella; resident director/choreographer for Oh What a Night; played the role of Travesty and was dance captain under the direction of Baz Luhrmann for Moulin Rouge, and worked as Dein Perrys’ assistant on Bootmen. Tracie choreographed Danny Deck Chair, Love Bites and has worked with Glenn Close and Harry Connick Jnr on South Pacific and HappyFeet with George Miller. She was assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain/Performer & Swing in The Boy From OZ with Hugh Jackman.
EDDI GOODFELLOW
Eddi Goodfellow is a multi-skilled artist, designer, producer and multimedia technician with over 20 years of experience working in theatre, digital media, creative youth and community initiatives. Eddi teaches technical production for The Core and runs ACTTs Youth courses. She has a Bachelor of Creative Arts from Wollongong University (Directing & Lighting Design). Eddi has worked as a Mentor, Teacher & Workshop Director for various youth organisations and in 1995, she received the Young Australian Citizen Award for her creative work with the children and community in Yulara & Mutujulu, NT. Eddi was awarded an ‘Emerging Producer Grant’ in 2007 by the Screen Producers Association of Australia. Her professional experience includes work in various roles across some major productions including: ‘Trocadero’ Sydney Festival; ‘The Oracle’ Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Malthouse, Brisbane Festival, Adelaide Festival; ‘Complicity’ Short Film; Company B Belvoir; B Sharp; Sydney Theatre Company’s ‘War of the Roses’ & ‘Gallipolli’; and ‘Jam on Toast’.
YVONNE KOWER
Yvonne Kower teaches yoga, movement and dance to Core, Diploma and Music Theatre students at ACTT. Since graduating from the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance, she has workshopped with Teatr Zar, Cheek by Jowl, and with actors from Gardzienice, Song of the Goat and DV8 Theatres as well as performing with Trestle Theatre Company in London. She has facilitated workshops at QUT and University of Melbourne, taught movement for actors at James Cook University and Charles Sturt University, and taught Dance Education at Australian Catholic University. Recently, in addition to her work as a yoga teacher, Yvonne has studied the Lecoq method at the London International School of Performing Arts and presented a Master of Art research paper at the Laban International Conference in London on Movement on Screen.
ANDREW LINDSAY
Andrew is a Graduate of the Lecoq Theatre School. He was also a participant in the Laboratory for the Study of Movement with Lecoq and Krikor Belekian, and took additional classes with Monica Pagneaux and Philippe Gaulier. He subsequently co-founded Red Weather with two fellow Lecoq students. The Sydney Morning Herald described their first work as “a perfection.” Andrew worked with the company for eight years, as a writer, performer and director. Freelance performing and directing credits include Canberra Theatre Company, Entr’acte, Kickhouse Theatre, Deckchair Theatre, Skylark Mask and Puppet Theatre, Gonghouse, and Ethnochip (Berlin). He is the author of two novels, The Breadmaker’s Carnival and The Slapping Man. Most recently he co-wrote and performed Mermaids In The Well And The Devil’s On My Shoulder with Kavisha Mazzella at Melbourne’s La Mama theatre.
MARGARET KAYE
Margaret Kaye teaches Awareness Through Movement classes, based on the Feldenkrais Method of Movement to students on the ACTT Professional Actor Program. She has been teaching the Feldenkrais Method of Movement for over 20 years and is a certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, Assistant Trainer and member of the Australian Feldenkrais Guild. Margaret has a passion for creativity and clarity in movement and over the years has taught at a range of Australian professional acting schools and dance schools as well as on professional productions with the Bell Shakespeare Company amongst others and with private clients who work across the performing arts, in performance of one kind or another. She also specialises in balance for seniors, movement workshops for computer based activities, and injury and posture management.
JILL BROWN
Jill is an Acting graduate from Theatre Nepean, studied singing at the NSW Conservatorium of Music and has a Masters in Theatre Studies, Directing from UNSW. She has 30 years experience as a professional singer and actor and has been a theatre director since 1994. She was Head of Voice Studies and Lecturer in Performance in the Acting and Performance programmes at Theatre Nepean UWS for ten years. In 2008 Jill was Vocal Designer for critically acclaimed groundUP! at the Carriageworks in Redfern. In 2004 Jill studied and performed with Roy Hart Theatre in the south of France. She produced the December 2010 Australian tour of Roy Hart company members. Jill is Artistic Director and conductor of a cappella ensemble Let It Go Edith.
2. CAROLINE MOONEY
Caroline has been a Tutor, Choreographer and Director at ACTT for 8 years and teaches dance and movement to Music Theatre, Diploma and CORE students. She trained in Classical Dance, Contemporary (LCDT), Jazz and Music Theatre styles of dance, singing and acting with (amongst others) Pat Wilson, Aarne Neeme, Ross Coleman and Krissie Koltai. She has worked with some greats including Phil Collins, Kylie Minogue, Meryl Tankyard, Princess Diana and Prince Charles, and Aussie talents such as Bert Newton, Sharon Millerchip Todd McKenny and Nicky Webster. Performance highlights include Ertha Kitt Tour, the World’s Greatest Dance Spectacular, Chicago Tour, Beauty and The Beast and Wizard of Oz. Caroline also worked on Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Miss Saigon and Bell Shakespeare and works with Opera Australia.
NAOMI LIVINGSTONE
Naomi teaches Script Analysis Technique, combining the approaches of Practical Aesthetics and the Eric Morris System. She is a graduate of the ACTT Professional Actor Program. Maomi has studied at The Atlantic Acting School in NYC and under Kate Gaul, Sam Strong and Imara Savage. Theatre credits include Combat Fatigue, An Ordinary Street and The Ophelia Experience. She is in currently in pre-production for a feature film Lorem Ipsum, and has worked on shorts with award-winning director Michael Bates and Jenna Erikson. Naomi also has a solid background in Dance, from David Atkins' Dynamite Dance Studios and holds a BA in Communications/Journalism and a Post-graduate Certificate in Commerce/Media Sales.
For more information call 02 9213 4500 or email info@actt.edu.au
