Final Call

Having performed as a leading man on Broadway, the West End, throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia; Hayden Tee is an incredibly accomplished performer and creative. He spoke to us about the cultural differences across the different industries worldwide and what Australia can learn from the USA and UK. Hayden also chats about the logistics of getting a visa to work around the world, as well the impact COVID 19 had on his professional career and what conversations he's been apart of this year for the betterment of our arts industry.

Fiona Choi has worked extensively across the film and television and theatre and music theatre industries across Australia and beyond. We speak to her about the impact COVID 19 has had on her relationship with the arts community, as well her work that she continues to do with new initiatives to support a more inclusive and equitable industry. Fiona discusses the importance of Music Theatre Futures; a new biannual event hosted by the VCA Music Theatre department created by Jayde Kirchert and her role as a host of one of the panels in the event. We also hear from Fiona about the differences between the film/tv world, versus the theatre and music theatre industry as well as where she hopes to see the whole arts community shift in the near and distant future.

Peter Rutherford is a Musical Director, composer, freelance arranger and singing teacher. He's toured nationally and internationally with an array of major musical tours as a Music Director and musician. Peter speaks to us about the impact COVID 19 as had on his professional career, what tour life is like for a creative who is performing in the orchestra pit each night, as well as what his process is for creating his own work. He speaks to what he values as a creative and also where he hopes to see the industry progress and develop.

TW: Mention of rape and sexual harassment. Currently rehearsing the role of Curly McLain in the Black Swan Theatre Company production of Oklahoma, Emily Havea is a widely respected actor, singer and dancer in the Australian Arts community. She speaks to us about the impact COVID 19 has had on her professional career, as well as the importance of having diverse spaces to work and live in. We also hear from Emily how straying from traditional casting in shows that have been around for many years takes courage, but has a significant impact on the audiences who are viewing the work.

Esther Hannaford has played a broad array of leading and featured characters on stages across Australia; including playing Carole King in The Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. She recently stepped into the world of television, playing Sophie in ABC's Retrograde. Esther also lives with Crohn's disease - a chronic illness, which she and many other Australian's have to deal with everyday. We speak about the representation of characters with chronic illness and the significance of seeing these characters on our stages and screens. Esther also talks about her journey and how she continually works through living and working with Crohn's disease.

An award winning director, actor, dramaturge and teacher, Jason Langley joins us to discuss the shifts he had had to make to his schedule as a result of COVID 19. He also chats about how he approaches problematic material when directing and the payoff from approaching challenging work. Jason also reinforces the importance of contributing positive and inclusive change to the arts industry as a creative.

Natalie Gamsu has performed and created work across the world; in South Africa, throughout Europe and the United States before arriving in Australia. As well as her extensive performance CV, Natalie is also a passionate teacher, working at institutions across Melbourne. She spoke to us about her process for creating her own work, as well as her feelings towards the shifts the Australian Arts industry needs to make to ensure the work that is being produced accurately portrays the communities that are viewing the work.

Joel and his family run Two Left Feet Productions - a company who invest in theatre across Australia and the world. They have supported major productions like; Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera and The Book of Mormon to name just a few! He speaks to us about the role of an investor and how that has shifted as a result of COVID 19, as well the future he sees for Australian theatre from a financial point of view.

TW: Sexual Harassment. Bianca Baykara has worked consistently for the last 10 years in the commercial arts industry here in Australia and on tours around the continent. She speaks to us about her transition from the Australia/Asia tour of School of Rock to employment as a result of COVID 19 and the importance of not underestimating a Facebook voice memo - it could be a job offer! Bianca has a lot to share about her experiences dealing with oppression and her thoughts on how this industry feels to be constantly evolving into a more accepting environment for people to work in.

As a member of the People of Cabaret, Rhys Velasquez is a leader amongst the industry for actively striving to ensure creative spaces across Australia are safe and equitable for everyone. They join us to discuss the reality of having their contract in the Australian tour of Shrek the Musical finish early as a result of COVID 19 and how their journey as someone who identifies as gender fluid has influenced their career for the better. Rhys also speaks to their hopes for the industry as we move out of restrictions in place as a result of COVID 19.