Chats with Creatives

This week Bronte Charlotte chats with Jessica Stanley, an actor, writer and the co-founder of the artistic collective Spinning Plates Co. This episode was recorded the day after the Green Room Awards were anounced so Bronte and Jess chat about their collective surprise and excitement for each others nominations. They also dive into their experience collaborating with each other on Jess’s new one woman show Shut Up I’m A Vampire for Melbourne Fringe Festival in 2022, and the way they came to find the conclusion the show. They talk about Jess becoming a marriage celebrant and how its changed Jess’s life as a creative, wanting there to be more work in the industry for independent creatives, and how society has impacted peoples need for public recognition and validation.

During this episode we discuss:

• [01:56] Pieces of Shit NOMINATED for 3x Green Room Awards, the joy of having your work recognised and how surreal it feels, Bronte’s experience finding out about the nominations
• [10:29] Shut Up I’m A Vampire NOMINATED for a Green Room Award, how unexpected the nomination was, how deeply impactful the live sound was in the production
• [14:29] How Jess and Bronte met, touring educational theatre, why Jess wanted Bronte to direct Shut Up I’m A Vampire, their collaborative experience working together, and how deeply important the end of a show is especially in a show that dives into triggering content
• [25:37] Jess’s experience of Melbourne Fringe Festival ‘22 doing two shows at once, sometimes doing 4 shows a night, what Jess learnt from that experience and how she would do things differently next time
• [35:30] How Jess got into marriage celebrancy, the time it took to get to the point of being able to leave retail and her experience being able work in an area that makes her happy and content
• [43:26] Wanting there to be more work and people in work in the industry, awards and accolades and how deeply our need for validation runs, Jess’s feelings surrounding recognition and awards and how our society has impacted her need for validation
• [54:11] Jess’s love of reading and the joy she felt working on Spinning Plates Co. most recent show The Crocodile at 45 Downstairs, and the joy of everything else in the creative world

RESOURCES

• Spinning Plates Co.
• Howard Fine Actors Studio
• Nu-Disco! at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 4-6 May
• Pieces of Shit at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 27-29 April

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Jessica Stanley on Instagram @jstanny

This week Bronte Charlotte chats with Alexander Lloyd, an actor/producer from Adelaide of Greek/Cyprian and Egyptian decent. This conversation dives into financial stability and sustainability and how it supports your creative practice, Alex’s experience transitioning from law to performing, how deeply important it is to be gentle with yourself when self-doubt creeps in, and having other passions to fill up your life. We discuss the importance of recognising when you’re getting worn out. prioritising rest, and allowing yourself to let go from the pressure of a creative persuit for a moment. Alex has been a series regular on the Netflix Series Gymnastics Academy; A Second Chance. His other credits include NBC's La Brea, Network Ten's Five Bedrooms, and ABC/Netflix's Why Are You Like This. 

During this episode we discuss:

• [02:07] How Bronte and Alex met, Alex’s original training in law, transitioning into performing, how important the communication that is integral to law is in the performing world
• [05:22] Moving to Melbourne, the film & TV industry in Adelaide vs Melbourne, Alex’s favourite film and theatre experiences, Meisner classes with Impulse Company Australia
• [11:39] Working together on a feature film in 2022, how to handle the negative voices that creep up on you during filming, allowing yourself to breathe and focus on the job
• [24:41] Producing the short film Farrah, multi tasking in different roles on projects, Gruesome Playground Injuries (dir. Erica Chestnut)
• [29:07] Financial stability and sustainabilty supporting your creative practice, finding a balance between passion projects and everyday work, giving 100% of yourself to the moment you are in
• [40:01] The importance of curiousity as a performer, being okay with wanting other things and having other passions, allowing yourself to change your mindset in your approach to your work, prioritising rest if you’re worn out

RESOURCES

• Nu-Disco! at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 4-6 May
• Pieces of Shit at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 27-29 April

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Alexander Lloyd on Instagram @alexanderlloyd__

This week Bronte Charlotte chats with Tehya Nicholas about theatre, writing, creativity, and the industry. A beautiful discussion interrogating the relevance of theatre in todays society, the validity of different stories and the importance of art. Tehya is a writer and performer who has just completed her honours, with queer ecological theatre as her focal point, after graduating from RMIT with a distinction for her Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing). Tehya has trained as an actor at 16th Street Actors Studio, The William Esper Studio and The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

During this episode we discuss:

• [04:36] How Tehya and Bronte met, Tehyas journey into acting after finishing school and finding creative writing, and her honours year writing a play and an exagesis on that play which was an eco dramatic text about the climate crisis
• [14:59] The Crocodile by Tom Basden, the joy of lighthearted intelligent theatre, when art speaks directly to you, and being able to view your own work objectively
• [21:14] Tehya’s transition from performing to writing, having other passions, collaborating as a playwrite, not being condemmned to working completely alone for the rest of your career, 
• [24:51] The Western narrative structure and the need for society to move away from it, the relevance of theatre, what is relevant, what are we saying in our work, the argument of whats valid and what has the right to take up space
• [34:01] Constructive feedback, how to set healthy boundaries, and the need for synthesis between the independant world and main stage world
• [46:26] Taking yourself seriously as a creative, not having a structured daily practice and allowing yourself to indulge in creative practices in whatever ways work for you
• [51:09] Completing projects, seeing good theatre, and seeking out the things that bring you joy

RESOURCES

• Nu-Disco! at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 4-6 May
• Pieces of Shit at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 27-29 April

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Tehya Nicholas on Instagram @tehya_nicholas

This week Bronte Charlotte chats with Ellen Marning, a writer and performer from Wollongong, New South Whales. In 2022 Ellen Marning wrote and performed in two new works, Shticky Business (MICF) and Nu-Disco! (Melbourne Fringe). Ellens other credits of co-creation and performing inclue Matraphobia, Stocktake: Bitches in Business and the web series incarnation of Stocktake: Bitches in Business. She is also a core member of the 5Am performance group and has been touring the physical theatre show The Bells for several years. In this episode we chat about Ellen’s process writing and devising new shows, kicking on after a massive year, teaching as a side hustle, and the constant search for balance between financial stability and creative fulfilment. For this years Melbourne Internation Comedy Festival Ellen is playing Ned Kelly in the new musical Ned Kelly: The Big Gay Musical, written by our amazing former guest Kaine Hansen.

During this episode we discuss:

• [01:51] Teaching school aged children and holding onto your energy
• [06:03] How Ellen and Bronte met, Ellens first experience of something wonderful going wrong on stage, Bronte and Ellen reminiscing about their childhood sports experiences and how it has impacted them today
• [19:19] Ellens acting teacher Fiona Finley, crying competitions, throwing back to Gloria Jeans and the bubble lids that fit extra cream on top of your caramel frappe
• [24:44] Ellens dream to go to drama school after having seen theatre in London, including The Woman In Black - the second longest running show in the West End - her search for life experience, a gap year in Germany and beginning an arts degree at Sydney Uni
• [33:19] The making of Ellens one woman show Nu-Disco! and how important an audience is to a performance, dealing with hecklers and rowdy audience members, how a venue encourages a certain behaviour from different audiences
• [54:25] Finding the comedy in what’s already there, how Ellen made her comedy cabaret Shticky Business
• [1:00:14] Functioning as a creative in a field that doesn’t necessarily financially support us, feeling behind in all the markers of a capitalist society, having a creatively successful year and it’s impact on you financially
• [1:06:18] Real Housewives, the physical theatre performance The Bells and Ellens impressive physical capabilities for performance, and the joy of collaboration

RESOURCES

• Ned Kelly: The Big Gay Musical at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 17-23 April
• Nu-Disco! at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 4-6 May
• Pieces of Shit at PIP Theatre in Brisbane, 27-29 April
• The Bells, 5 Angry Men

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Ellen Marning on Instagram @ellen.marning

This week Bronte chats about two things she’s been thinking about lately. Essential workers and identity! 

During this episode we discuss:

• [00:20] Living in the city with the longest lockdown in the world due to COVID-19, and eating a delectable banana muffin
• [03:34] Diving into the concept of essential workers, questioning your place in society, Virginia Gay’s monologue from Cyrano and how impactful it was to watch
• [09:31] Grappling with the concept of identity
• [16:17] How society requires us to work and earn money to survive
• [18:08] We’ll always be working to understand ourselves
• 
  

GET IN TOUCH!

Email me or flick me a message, I’d love to hear from you. 

Who are you? 

How do you identify? 

Has that changed at all since the pandemic started? 

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

This week Bronte reflects on last week’s episode and the response she received about the way that we speak to ourselves. She challenges herself by sharing kind words said about her and the podcast, and shares how she is working to build kindness and self compassion into her life.

During this episode we discuss:

• [00:20] Reflecting on last week's episode, a quick check in with Bronte post show cancellation, and a moment to say thankyou for your kind words and support.
• [06:54] The way we speak to ourselves can tear us down instead of building us up, what Bronte can offer at this time, and finding connection.
• [09:57] What is our knee jerk reaction to kind words and compliments, how Bronte responded to the messages she received from last week’s episode, and challenging herself by saying those kind words out loud.
• [18:17] Doing something to lift your spirits and still finding it hard, but persevering for yourself
• [24:31] Checking in with those you think may be struggling, and reaching out when you need support

GET IN TOUCH!
Email me or flick me a message, I’d love to hear from you.
How are you coping with your close contact relationships throughout lockdowns?
How is your head and your body and your heart?
How are you? Really?

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!
Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

This week Bronte chats about life, sharing her recent experiences and discoveries about her personal practice, her mental health, and her motivation. It is a short snippet into the life of the host of Chats with Creatives, at a time where we all need just a little more connection in our lives.

During this episode we discuss:

• [00:00] An introduction to Chats with Bronte while she rambles
• [03:16] How Bronte is currently moving through the world, and discovering the need for sharing time and space with different people to help break up the monotonous energy of the everyday that takes over in lockdown.
• [07:34] The instagram post that reminded Bronte about the global trauma we’re all experiencing, and that healing will come later.
• [15:07] This Way Up, the Aisling Bea Netflix series that EVERYONE should watch!
• [16:49] The feedback from Chats with Creatives and how important connection is at a time like this. 

GET IN TOUCH!

Email me or flick me a message, I’d love to hear from you. 

How are you coping with your close contact relationships throughout lockdowns? 

How is your head and your body and your heart?

How are you? Really?

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

This week Bronte Charlotte chats with Alex Hines, an actor, theatre maker, comedian, voice over and teaching artist. She was the co-lead in Monster & Bears’ comedy series Dee-Brief that was picked up by channel 10. She has created and produced several shows as the character Juniper Wilde and is currently developing her show To Shapelle and Back for this years Melbourne Fringe Festival which you can buy your tickets to right now! We delve into the making of these shows, how she got into making theatre, our similar journeys working in the industry as freelance actors, and how she is currently feeling about the industry in this moment. 

During this episode we discuss:

• [02:18] How Alex and Bronte met, reminiscing on decisions we made as teenagers, moving to Melbourne and a gender flipped Macbeth
• [13:03] How Alex got into stand up comedy and creating her own work, the birth of Juniper Wilde, being diagnosed with ADHD during a whirlwind year of creating several shows
• [22:03] Making Dee-Brief, the improvised web series that got picked up by channel 10 and the process of filming
• [26:00] Saying YES
• [28:10] Functioning as a freelance actor in Melbourne for nearly a decade, dealing with the impact of feeling undesirable to agents, and learning how to monetize your creative work 
• [38:09] With Pieces of Shit on the horizon, Alex asks if Bronte and Leigh Scully have ever worked together in a creative capacity before this and we flash back to the web series King of the Crossing that they made as a duo in 2020
• [41:30] The difference between text work and improvisation, and the hybrid structures that can be incredibly freeing for an actor, To Schapelle and Back, Alex’s Melbourne Fringe show this year that is a homage to Schapelle Corby
• [48:30] The struggle of being an actor in such a draining industry, and the power of being a creative working on your own work, the Australian industry and capitalism
• [52:15] Morning routine, sustainable practices and getting through each day
• [56:26] The joy of making people laugh, comedy, and the electric energy that travels between actor and audience

RESOURCES

• To Schapelle and Back 30 September - 17 October
• Juniper Wilde UTOPIA 15 October One Night Only!
• Pieces of Shit 11 October - 17 October
• Dee-Brief webseries, Monster & Bear

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Alex Hines on Instagram @hines.sight @juniper.wilde

This week Bronte Charlotte chats with Kaine Hansen about his show Wonderwall that was on at the Melbourne Comedy Festival ‘21 earlier this year. We talk about his experience creating his first solo show, how our attitudes towards death and loss and our own mortality can change suddenly, and the new exciting show he is working on for the Melbourne Fringe Festival, Close Encounters of the Murdering Kind with Sabina Gerardi!

During this episode we discuss:

• [02:30] How Kaine and Bronte met, high school bullies that impact your life, and how fascinating it is to see people change
• [07:45] Having all the time in the world to practice your art but still not having time to perfect anything, the confusion and pressure of labels and wanting to just focus on one thing, how Kaine got into acting and music and performing
• [15:41] Losing friends and family and how everyone deals with loss differently
• [20:53] Experiencing those existential moments of life and death, understanding death in different ways through cultures and religions that aren’t your own
• [27:36] Making Wonderwall, getting on stage after Melbourne lockdowns, writing music and comedy
• [30:23] Moving out of an institution learning with the same theatre makers for 3 years and into a solo show, the normalcy of procrastination, allowing your peers to inspire you, the fluctuations of creativity and being kind to yourself
• [38:47] Fringe 2021 and what's coming up for both of us, Close Encounters of the Murdering Kind, Pieces of Shit, poo stories and Bluey
• [50:42] Understanding the industry and knowing that so much is out of your hands, but finding your contentment in the creations you make
• [55:34] Creative joy and excitement, being proactive and interested in your mental health

RESOURCES

• Lousical the Musical by multi award winning comedian, Lou Wall
• Close Encounters of the Murdering Kind at Melbourne Fringe Festival ‘21
• Pieces of Shit at Melbourne Fringe Festival ‘21

Head over to the @chats.w.creatives instagram page to stay up to date with episodes and guests we have coming up!

Follow our host Bronte Charlotte on Instagram @bronteandsunshine

Follow this week's guest Kaine Hansen on Instagram @kainejhansen