STAGES with Peter Eyers

For 26 years Tony Delroy was at the helm of a nightly, nationally broadcast, late show called Nightlife on ABC radio. He fronted the show with barely a sick day offering his listeners an informative entertainment, into the early hours of the morning. Delroy's enormous breadth of interest and knowledge helped to garner his success, along with a passionate understanding of his audience. Nightlife fe...

Andrew Ross studied Acting at NIDA in 1984. He returned as Head of Music in 2010. Prior to his appointment, Andrew worked as a musical director, singing coach, pianist, actor and writer. He has performed and musically directed productions for most of Australia's state theatre companies and commercial producers; on productions including Miss Saigon, The Venetian Twins, Mary Bryant, The End of the R...

Every Sunday night, for the past 15 years, a weekly Drag celebration has been presented at Sydney's Stonewall Hotel on iconic Oxford Street. Polly's Follies is a Sydney institution having commenced life at the famous Albury Hotel some 28 years ago. Presiding over this has been the doyen of Sydney Drag, Polly Petrie; a tough broad with humour as dry as the Sahara, the glamour of Zsa Zsa Gabor and t...

Amy Maiden seems to have done it all. Entering the entertainment industry as an Actor, she has also embraced the roles of Producer, Podcaster, Publicist, General Manager, Advocate, Cruise Director and Front Singer of The Mabels. As a passionate proponent of the Arts from the age dot, it would seem that Maiden was always going to be a Woman of the Theatre - her challenge would be 'which hat fits be...

Mark Morrissey is one of the elders of the Agent profession in Australia. Now in his 34th year, Morrissey Management represents and guides the careers of many of our finest actors on local and world stages. Morrissey began his career as an actor in television shows like Rafferty's Rules, Sons and Daughters and Prisoner; a perfect vantage point to garner essential experience by observing work behin...

Community Theatre experience, performing in plays and musicals, offers an opportunity to develop skills and socialise. It can also provide a safe and nurturing haven to explore burgeoning talents and connect with a broad audience. In this episode we examine the role of community theatre with three performers who have cultivated quite an impressive repertoire of roles, in the work they have done wh...

STAGES most popular guest in our first season was Geraldine Turner. She delivered fascinating anecdotes and observations from a stellar career in show business, that continues to reward and frustrate. There have been more than a few requests to get her back on STAGES for further reflections and wisdom. The first section of this interview was recorded earlier in the year when Geraldine was about to...

Community Theatre provides an opportunity for the amateur practitioner to practice and develop their creative skills in a variety of roles - these include direction, design, front-of-house, marketing and of course, performance. The term amateur defines one who participates in a pursuit without payment but is driven by passion. Community theatre is a platform for passion - it provides for participa...

Peter Casey is one of Australia's most versatile Musical Directors, having established a career spanning the genres of musical theatre, arena presentations, symphonic concerts, orchestration, television and recording. Over several decades he has been at the helm for many commercial musical theatre productions; guiding, nurturing and supporting talent as they navigate the storytelling required by t...

Stand-up comedy is an art form requiring tremendous courage, quick wit and unique charm. Speaking directly to a live audience, the performance can deliver the comic terrific euphoria, or bewildering frustration, as the humour lands perfectly or somehow misses the mark. It is acknowledged as the freest form of comedy writing and regarded as an extension of the person performing, who often draws upo...

Rodney Delaney has relished a life in the theatre as a performer and director. The recent period has seen him provide the most essential of roles; that as Dresser for artists and productions at Opera Australia. He is passionate about the Arts and in a conversation one always manages to glean new knowledge, generous compliment, an analysis of a recent theatrical offering and generally some deliciou...

Nicholas Brown is an artist of many dimensions - actor, playwright, singer, songwriter and screenwriter. The Australian-Indian actor has explored many roles, from genial host on Playschool, presenting a multicultural face to a young audience; and a foray into the celebrated Bollywood Film Industry, making his mark in a succession of villainous characters. Direct from secondary education, Brown was...

For 22 years the Stage Door at The Lyric Theatre in Sydney has been attended by John C. Goad. He is a charming and generous soul, with a wicked sense of humour and a valiant sense of duty. He has seen the comings and goings of many a theatrical as they have taken up occupancy at the theatre, playing a season and then moving on. The Stage Door is the entrance to the magic and illusion of the theatr...

Nick Hardcastle is charisma on legs. A vibrant personality, it is no surprise that he has enjoyed success in various fields around the world. He may be immediately recognisable as Summer Bay resident Tim O'Connell in Home and Away or as the genial host of Video Hits. His TV credits extend to extensive work as presenter on a range of shows that have included Saturday Disney and five seasons of the...

Phil Scott has many strings on his long bow - actor, writer, pianist, singer, composer, reviewer and broadcaster. Adept across several mediums he has ensured that anyone who is present in his audience is guaranteed several smiles, much guffaw and rapt awe at his rapier wit and keyboard dexterity. He was a pivotal on-stage member of the annual STC Wharf Revue for 18 years demonstrating how satire d...

For 30 years Aaron Farley and his Drag persona Minnie Cooper have been entertaining audiences from Oxford street to Oxford circus. A happy accident in 2003 saw Farley fall into the art of Drag and a new Diva was born. Miss Minnie Cooper is an enamoured part of the Drag Industry and a recipient of more Drag Industry Variety Awards (DIVAs) than just about anyone, and has been awarded Entertainer of...

Born and bred in Adelaide, it would seem today's guest on STAGES was born to dance! Dance classes lead to competitive dance ... work in musical theatre and then to his success as one of the country's most versatile choreographers. Cameron Mitchell has acted as personal choreographer for musical theatre star, Caroline O'Connor; provided the steps to child entertainers Hi5. And he has choreographed...

Ron Creager is a fervent believer in saying 'Yes' to all opportunities presented to him. Sometimes prepared, sometimes not, it is this cavalier attitude that has allowed him to wear many hats and travel the world extensively as a solo pianist, accompanist, Musical Director and performer. Creager's talents extend to the composition of several musicals - Careful He Might Hear You, Aimee and When The...

The BBC described Ruthie Henshall as a mega-watt talent shining in all its dazzling brilliance. Scottish print media, The Scotsman commented, she has the kind of brilliant, high-voltage stage personality that can light up whole cities. Fair to say, Miss Henshall is the definition of a Star. Ruthie Henshall made her West End debut in 1987 in Cats, navigating several of the feline family before assu...

The working life of a dancer is relatively short. Not in all cases of course, but a day often arrives when a dancer can dance no more - so what are the options? How does one create new opportunities and future employment? Shane Colquhoun was a professional dancer for 12 years before detouring into Arts Management, studying at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. It was a change of cours...

Barry Dickins is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. He is a celebrated playwright whose work astutely portrays the marrow of Australian life, in deft characterisations of our idiosyncratic lifeblood and the telling of tales, tall and true. His talents extend to author, artist, actor, educator and journalist. His work is made up of acute observations and unique interpretation ... given...

It was whilst enjoying a successful career in the U.S., navigating a series of guest roles in high-profile television shows like Homeland, Law & Order, Blue Bloods and The Newsroom, that Fiona Choi was offered a life-changing casting at home - that of Jenny Law, the passionate matriarch of the Law family in the SBS series, The Family Law. Equals part pathos and comedy, the character has become ico...

Elizabeth Butcher is a humble hero of the Performing Arts in Australia. An administrator of considerable brilliance, she has steered many of our Arts organisations to prominence, accolade, survival and celebration; nationally and on the world stage. She was the dynamic General Manager of the National Institute of Dramatic Art for nearly 40 years, and together with its Director, John Clarke, steere...

An accident in her youth, could have ended the performance career of Chloe Dallimore. She was not going to let that happen. A determined focus and the discovery of pilates therapy, ensured that she would heal herself to then be available to take on the world - and more. Dallimore is one of our most cherished performers. Roles in The Producers, The Addams Family and Thoroughly Modern Millie have en...

A variety of performance roles in the ranks of JC Williamson produced musicals, Australian television and theatre restaurant, gave Jan Russ a first-hand knowledge of the actor's craft. Her great charm and passion for talent, ultimately lead her to a role in which she was able to guide and nurture many actors as they entered residency in one of Australia's most iconic locations; Ramsay street, Erin...