STAGES with Peter Eyers

Paul Saliba has been described as 'a man of fire'. His dance and choreographic work radiates a sense of energy, light and warmth. The man himself is excitable, committed and vital. A conversation with Paul is enlightening and re-affirming. Paul was only guest No:7 when he talked with STAGES. He reflected on his time with The Australian Ballet, and a car accident that could have put an end to his career. He expanded on his work with The Sydney Dance Company and a key period studying in New York with the great Martha Graham. He danced in the celebrated film of the ballet 'Don Quixote' alongside Nureyev, Aldous and Helpmann. Paul's work is fed by a fascination with world cultures and their employment of dance as personal expression, as storytelling and as history. He is one of our treasured custodians of dance in Australia. Everyone who has worked with Paul, or been taught by him, recognise a resounding brilliance and passion. These qualities are contagious and evidenced beautifully in this joyous conversation. What a delight to talk dance with Paul Saliba.

Robert Love recently completed two decades as the Director of the City of Parramatta's Riverside Theatres. It was a role he relished; overseeing one of the most highly attended venues in the country. Love founded his own theatre company - 'Toe Truck Theatre' in 1976, providing a valuable social and educational role to students in regional and urban schools. Subsequent roles travelled management positions with organisations such as the University of Sydney's Seymour Centre, the State Theatre Company of South Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company, Fox Studios and News limited; eventually taking up the baton at Riverside Theatres in 2000. He was made a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for 'significant service to the performing arts, particularly in Western Sydney, as an administrator, and as a supporter of Independent artists'. He joined STAGES in early 2020 for a riveting conversation pondering the place of the Arts in nourishing a population, the dilemma of Arts funding, the future of theatre as an art form, and his own stellar career as a leader at various Arts organisations. Interesting to note that this conversation took place B.C. - before Covid! Thank you Robert - and Congratulations!

Bruce Roberts is a welcome presence in households around the country. As the genial Newsreader for WIN News, he has anchored more than 18,000 primetime news bulletins and written extensive content featured in the nightly broadcast. Bruce has been with WIN News for 13 years, daily presenting bulletins aired throughout Victoria, the ACT and New South Wales. As a graduate in performance from the National Institute of Dramatic Art, he is no stranger to the camera. For three years, Bruce played Constable Nick Parrish in the iconic Australian series, Home & Away; cast in the role the day after completing Drama school. A sojourn in the U.K. during the 90s provided him opportunities to traverse the stage in a breadth of performance from Shakespeare to Pantomime. He also commenced roles presenting and reporting for the BBC and SKY Sports. Returning to Australia, he played the role of Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia for the Sydney and Australasian tour of the show. Having tried to lycra, he made the switch to suit and tie, with a focus on journalism in 2008. Bruce joined STAGES to reflect on all elements of performance and presenting; and just a little, on the pull of football. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Amy Campbell is one of Australia's most accomplished dance talents with a career spanning all areas of the entertainment industry. Her extensive list of choreographic credits include Once (Darlinghurst Theatre Co), In The Heights (Blue Saint Productions in association with The Hayes Theatre), the Australian premiere of Violet, the national tour of HAIR (Sydney Opera House and Peace Productions), An Act Of God (Darlinghurst Theatre Co), Spring Awakening (ATYP), the original Australian work Guilty Pleasures (Blue Saint Productions) and Oklahoma for The Production Company. Amy's theatre credits include dance captain and role cover in the Australian tour of Dirty Dancing, Fame The Musical, Saturday Night Fever, Xanadu, the world premiere of King Kong Live on Stage, principal dancer in Opera Australia's Carmen and the Resident Choreographer of The Bodyguard Musical Australia. She was also the Choreographer/Movement Director and Assistant Director on The Sydney Symphony Orchestra's productions of Funny Girl, Porgy and Bess and Candide. Amy has performed domestically and internationally, dancing alongside Kylie Minogue, Flo Rida, Redfoo, Tina Arena, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Sam Sparro and Sam and The Womp. She has choreographed on Dance Academy, The X Factor and ABC's Giggle and Hoot. Last year Amy choreographed Velvet Rewired and was revival choreographer for Carmen (Opera Australia). She has twice prepared to make her directorial debut originating a brand new Australian production of A Chorus Line with The Darlinghurst Theatre Company. But as with much of live theatre and the work of production houses around the country, Covid is determined to pause this essential expression. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify and Whooshkaa. Also where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Peter Cousens name is synonymous with the musical theatre in Australia. His contributions are many - as a leading man, producer and passionate advocate of the form. From 2006 to 2008 he was CEO and Artistic Director of Kookaburra: The National Musical Theatre Company. The Company produced seven musicals, two major concerts and fourteen cabaret events. He tours extensively around Australia with his own one man show and works regularly in concert performing in Australia's major performing arts venues and with Symphony Orchestras. Peter recently directed the feature film Freedom starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and William Sadler which he produced and directed in USA. Freedom enjoyed world wide release in 2015. He is a consummate artist who has invested his talent across many platforms, stages and roles. His experiences and garnered wisdom are vast. STAGES welcomes the opportunity to celebrate Peter Cousens. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Peter Cousens is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art and has carved a career as an actor, singer, producer, director, teacher and film director. He played the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera on London's West End for eleven months in 1997/98. He has starred alongside Russel Crowe in Blood Brothers, the late Richard Harris in Camelot and has had an extensive career playing major roles in musicals throughout Australia, New Zealand and England. His musical theatre roles include Tony in West Side Story; Eddie in Blood Brothers; Mordred in Camelot; Chris in Miss Saigon; Nanki Poo in The Mikado; Motel in Fiddler on the Roof; Eddie in Blood Brothers; Bill in The Sentimental Bloke; Raoul in the Australian production of The Phantom Of The Opera; The Phantom in London's West End production of The Phantom of the Opera; Alex in Aspects of Love; Marius in Les Miserables; Ravenal in Hal Prince's Show Boat; Marius in Fanny; The Celebrant in Bernstein's Mass; Anthony and Tobias in Sweeney Todd; Bobby in Company; Mr Makin in The Hatpin; Floyd in Floyd Collins; Bobby in Company; Vince in Strange Bedfellows. He has recorded five albums - Corner Of The Sky, From A Distance, A Life on Earth, A Musical Christmas, The Peter Cousens Collection and performs the role of Chris on the International Symphonic Recording of Miss Saigon. Peter is a consummate artist who has invested his talent across many platforms, stages and roles. His experiences and garnered wisdom are vast. STAGES welcomes the opportunity to celebrate Peter Cousens. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Peter Cousens' name is synonymous with the musical theatre in Australia. His contributions are many - as a leading man, producer and passionate advocate of the form. He is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art and has carved a career as an actor, singer, producer, director, teacher and film director. He played the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera on London's West End for eleven months in 1997/98. He has starred alongside Russel Crowe in Blood Brothers, the late Richard Harris in Camelot and has had an extensive career playing major roles in musicals throughout Australia, New Zealand and England. As an actor he has worked extensively with Australia's major performing arts companies including Sydney Theatre Company Macbeth, Measure for Measure, Nicholas Nickleby, Chicago, Chinchilla and Convict's Opera; Griffin The Falls; Philip Street Theatre Whose Life is it Anyway; The Queensland Theatre Company Camille, Breaker Morant, You Never Can Tell, The Sentimental Bloke; Marian Street, London Assurance & Fanny; Melbourne Theatre Company Company; Sydney Dance Company in Tivoli; Out of Joint (UK) The Convicts Opera; Darlinghurst Theatre The Paris Letter. On Television Cliffy, Phryne Fisher, Return to Eden, The Sullivans, Carson's Law, The Young Doctors, Son and Daughters, The Timeless Land and Under Capricorn. Peter tours extensively around Australia with his own one man show and works regularly in concert performing in Australia's major performing arts venues and with Symphony Orchestras. He is the Artistic Director of the Talent Development Project and conducts workshops and master classes with elite talent from Government Schools across NSW. Peter also conducts classes and workshops with the NSW Education Departments Arts Unit specifically around the development of performance skills for secondary students. He teaches in the Musical Theatre Diploma Course at NIDA and regularly directs theatre, conducts workshops and classes at Central Queensland University. He is a consummate artist who has invested his talent across many platforms, stages and roles. His experiences and garnered wisdom are vast. STAGES welcomes the opportunity to celebrate Peter Cousens. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Jonathan Mill is a gregarious presence who guarantees good work, and a giggle. His career as an actor has been paralleled with a committed support of his fellow performers through extensive work with the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance. He was pivotal in establishing the Australian AIDS fund-raising body of Oz Showbiz Cares; an organisation that produced the annual 'Hats Off' concert, which featured an extensive list of entertainers over 20 years. He graduated from NIDA in 1986 and has worked with the Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Belvoir St Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Sport For Jove, GFO, Cameron Mackintosh. On these stages he has played in productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, A View From the Bridge, Cabaret, King Lear, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Oliver!, The Crucible, The Ham Funeral, Mary Bryant, Moby Dick, Meet Me in St Louis, Buddy, Jolson, The Government Inspector, Twelfth Night and Waiting for Godot. For four and a half years he toured as Officer Krupke in West Side Story. Jonathan has written and directed many shows including cabarets for Caroline O'Connor, Margi de Ferranti, Leonie Page and Maree Johnson. His television work includes A Country Practice, Water Rats, Home and Away, All Saints and several seasons of Andrew Denton shows on the ABC. His most famous film appearance was in The Wiggly Wiggly Christmas. He has taught at institutions that include NIDA, Actors Centre Australia, Flinders University, Adelaide Centre For The Arts, Brent Street, Sydney Actors School and Westside Actors Studio. Jonathan served four terms as the Federal Vice President of Actors Equity and for many years has represented Australian performers on numerous boards nationally and internationally. He has been a champion to many and shares his story with his trademark passion, candour and humour. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Bev Kennedy is generally regarded as one of Australia's leading Musical Directors & accompanists, having worked on over 40 professional productions. Shows she has worked on include Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia! The Producers, We Will Rock You, The Lion King, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Chicago, Wicked, & The Concert version of Sunset Boulevard with Judi Connelli. She was assistant Musical Director for Simon Gallaher's Pirates of Penzance, which is the highest selling recording of a musical in Australian history & also won an Aria award for best soundtrack. Most recently Bev has been working on the shows Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, School of Rock, Evita featuring Tina Arena, Muriel's Wedding, Jersey Boys, Jekyll and Hyde in concert with Anthony Warlow & was Musical Director on the touring version of Avenue Q and the Australian premiere of Heathers for which she was nominated for a Sydney theatre critics award. She was also nominated for a Green room award for her work as Musical Director on Gutenberg the Musical. Bev has also worked for Cove Musical Theatre Agents booking musicians & entertainers at the Regent Hotel during the 2000 Olympics when it was the official SOCOG hotel & host to several international dignitaries & Royal families. She has worked as Musical Director for two years on Short, Sweet & Song and for several Mardi Gras 'Hats Off' Concerts, including the 2008 Hats Off Meets the Stars Come out concert. She has also worked as Musical Director on the Light the Night charity concerts raising money for leukemia research. In 2008, Bev was the official pianist at the World Youth Day Papal Welcome which was televised worldwide. The year before she played at Kerry Packer's memorial which was also broadcast live around the World. In 2011 Bev was Musical Director for the Luminale Festival at the Sydney Opera House under the direction of Paul Capsis. In the past Bev has accompanied International artists such as Joan Rivers and Grammy award winners Liz Callaway, Jose Carreras, Basement Jaxx, Thelma Houston and Sir Bryn Terfel. She continues to play for award winning artists such as Bob Downe, Trevor Ashley, Tina Arena & Anthony Warlow. She is also a Consultant & Adjudicator for the Sydney Eisteddfod and a teacher at the Actor's Centre & the Talent Development Project. Bev is currently the talent co-ordinator for Sydney's premiere cabaret venue, Claire's Kitchen. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Henry Moss is a queer stand-up comedian. His comedy cabaret QUADRUPLE THRE4T was nominated for Best Comedy at 2019 Brighton Fringe and was a Reviews Hub LGBTQI pick for Vault Festival in 2020. Henry recently performed his Work In Progress version of HENRY: QUEEN OF SQUATS at Fringe Futures Festival at Pleasance. With Soho Theatre's pro comedy Lab his stand-up material has been workshopped by Soho Theatre's associate director Adam Brace. As a producer, Henry was co-producer on Unlikely Productions Vault show '1&Only' and production assistant on numerous Les Enfants Terribles shows. In the past year, Henry has continued to develop his online presence, now with over 14k followers on TikTok. His niche explores and satires life in musical theatre, drama school and life in London. He posts daily sketches and is developing a devoted fan base who are keen to see his work live in London. Henry has also played multiple sets across the UK with industry accolades at We Are Funny Project Dalston, Comedy Virgins Stockwell, and The Warren Late Show Brighton. In the UK he has been a featured performer in Big Girls Don't Cry which played across the UK in major venues such as Sheffield City Hall, Cast Doncaster and The Lowry, Manchester. As a producer, Henry recently completed a Masters in Creative Producing at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD) and completed a 6-month internship with Les Enfants Theatre Company (LET), assisting the Head of Education & Outreach. He is a graduate of Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, Brent Street, and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Discover more at https://www.mrhenrymoss.com/press The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Anthony Phelan grew up in Northern Queensland, and has enjoyed a varied career across film, television and theatre. Screen projects include Wanted Series 1 & 2, the series Seven Types of Ambiguity for ABC Australia, The Kettering Incident, Deep Water, Gallipoli, Rake, Spirited; Top of the Lake, directed by Jane Campion and the feature Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie. Anthony has over 100 theatre credits. For Belvoir Theatre these include The Laramie Project, Hamlet, Once in Royal David's City, Mother Courage and Her Children, Twelfth Night and The Wild Duck (including Melbourne, Perth, Vienna, Amsterdam and Oslo tours.) Anthony was awarded the 2011 Helpmann Award and the 2011 Sydney Theatre Award for his work in this play. Other theatre credits include, for The Sydney Theatre Company, Uncle Vanya, (Sydney, New York and Washington D.C.) and for The Bell Shakespeare Company, the National tour of King Lear playing the Duke of Cornwall. In August/September Anthony returns to the stage in the Queensland Theatre Company's production of Boy Swallows Universe. The stage play by Tim McGarry is adapted from the smash hit novel inspired by Brisbane author Trent Dalton's own childhood. "It's an exhilarating story of magic and madness, of beauty and brutality, of joy and heartbreak, and of the power of love to triumph over the darkest of circumstances". It's always a treat to catch up with Anthony and in this episode of STAGES he recounts how the grandson of a Queensland Cane Cutter became one the country's most dependable, engaging and finest actors. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify and Whooshkaa. Also where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Yvette Robinson trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. She has carved an exciting career in musical theatre roles in Australia, Europe and the U.K. Her numerous credits in London's West End include: The Woman in Blues in the Night (The New Wolsley Theatre), alternate Eva Peron in Michael Grandage's revival of Evita (The Adelphi Theatre), and Lead Woman in Side by Side by Sondheim. She was an original cast member of The Woman in White and also played the role of Marian Halcombe, at The Palace Theatre. Yvette returned to the Palace theatre as Marion in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert and her extensive stage resume includes Marguerite, Bare, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and Fatbusters. Through Europe she played the roles of Pearl & Dinah in Starlight Express in Germany, for over a year before moving to London. Yvette also performed as the alternate Donna in the International tour of Mamma Mia and performed I Do! I Do! at the Vienna English Theatre and Chess in Oslo, Norway. In Australia, Yvette's credits include: Julie Rooney in Jolson - The Musical; Factory girl & covering the role of Fantine in the 20th Anniversary Production of Les Miserables; alternate Belle in Beauty & The Beast: Original cast member and Ellen cover in the cast of Miss Saigon; Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, alternative Eva & the Mistress in Evita and the Bakers Wife in Into the Woods. Yvette has appeared on television in the role of Polly Posh in Cushion Kids for the Nine Network and in The Kosmos Kids for Wave Entertainment. She joined Harry Connick Junior and Glenn Close, as Nurse Heedy in the screen version of South Pacific and is on the original cast recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White. Yvette also writes and records her own original music and performs throughout London at many acoustic live music venues. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify and Whooshkaa. Also where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Hailed by the New York Times as a soprano of "gleaming sound, free and easy high notes, agile coloratura runs and lyrical grace," Jessica Pratt is considered one of today's foremost interpreters of some of bel canto's most challenging repertoire. Since her European debut in 2007 as Lucia di Lammermoor, Ms Pratt's schedule has included performances at opera theatres and festivals such as the Teatro alla Scala of Milan, Zurich Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Vienna State Opera and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, working with conductors such as Daniel Oren, Nello Santi, Kent Nagano, Sir Colin Davis, Christian Thielemann, Donato Renzetti, Pier Giorgio Morandi, Carlo Rizzi, Antonino Fogliani, Wayne Marshall and David Parry. The 2012/13 season brought several acclaimed debuts at Festival Verdi in Parma, including Gilda to Leo Nucci's Rigoletto, at Deutsche Oper Berlin as Lucia, at Vlaamse Opera in New Year's Eve Concert, at Teatro de la Maestranza in Sevilla (Gilda, once more next to Leo Nucci), in the role of Matilde in Guillaume Tell next to Juan Diego Florez interpreting Arnold in Lima, Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi in Reims, in the role of Lisinga in Demetrio e Polibio of Rossini in Neaples, and in the role of the protagonist in Giovanna d'Arco at Festival della Valle d'Itria in Martina Franca. In the 2013/14 season Ms Pratt could be heard in new productions of Lucia di Lammermoor at La Scala and in Amsterdam, as Amina in La sonnambula in Bari, Gilda in Padova, in the season opening of La Fenice as Inès in Meyerbeer's L'Africaine, as Musetta in La Bohème in Salerno, in her role debut as Violetta in La Traviata in Melbourne, as Zenobia in Aureliano in Palmira at the Pesaro Rossini Opera Festival as well as in recitals in Tokyo and Florence with Vincenzo Scalera. In 2014/15 the soprano made her role debuts as Cleopatra in Handel's Giulio Cesare at the Teatro Regio in Turin and as Amenaide in Rossini's Tancredi at the Opéra de Lausanne. Other performances included Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice; Elvira in I Puritani in Florence and in Melbourne; Lucia di Lammermoor at the Rome Opera House and at the Festival Granda in Lima; her role and festival debut as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Arena di Verona, where she could also be heard as soprano soloist in Carmina Burana; the soprano solo in Rossini's Messa di Gloria alongside Juan Diego Florez and La morte di Didone at the Rossini Opera Festival; as well asconcerts in Milan, Bonn, and London. Performances of the 2015/16 season included Jessica Pratt's returns to Florence, Turin and Melbourne as Lucia di Lammermoor, her debuts at the Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona as Desdemona in Rossini's Otello, at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia Valencia in Mozart's Davidde penitente and at the ABAO Bilbao as Amina in La sonnambula, her role debuts as Semiramide at the Opéra de Marseille and later at the Washington Concert Opera and as Linda di Chamounix at the Rome Opera House; and concerts in Oviedo and Moscow. More recently, Semiramide and Rosmonda d'Inghilterra at the Florence Opera House, a concert with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Rosmonda d'Inghilterra at the Donizetti Festival Bergamo, her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House New York as Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, and Rigoletto in Oviedo. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify and Whooshkaa. Also where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

A visit to the the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney's Kirribilli is generally greeted by the genial presence of James Birch. Either welcoming you into the auditorium or serving a drink from behind the bar, Jim's cheerful demeanour feels like an essential part of the theatre's aesthetic. In July, Jim celebrates 30 years of service with the Ensemble. He stumbled upon the iconic institution while residing in the neighbourhood. That eventful afternoon has lead to a triumphant run that has seen countless opening nights and celebrated seasons at the theatre. Jim's career commenced in the Navy; a perfect grounding for a life in the theatre and keeping everything ship shape. He compliments his work at The Ensemble with a passion for visual arts and painting; along with the joys of family. The famed theatre on the edge of Sydney Harbour, is committed to performing and presenting the best of international plays, well-loved classics and new Australian works. Each season prides itself on delivering powerful, memorable and engaging live theatre of the highest standard. Founded in 1958, the Ensemble Theatre is the longest continuously running professional theatre in Australia. And Jim Birch is no doubt the longest serving Front-of-House Manager in a theatre in Australia. We'll drink to that! The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify and Whooshkaa. Also where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

David Hooley is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. His theatre credits include Spamalot (Her Majesty's Theatre Melbourne), Fiddler On The Roof (Aus/NZ tour), Richard III (Sherrif's Court Theatre Glasgow), The Bends (Traverse Theatre Edinburgh), As You Like it (Shakespeare Globe Aus) and The View Upstairs and Aspects Of Love at the Hayes Theatre. David has been a photographer for over a decade; beginning as a theatre photographer in Hong Kong, and then branching into other facets of photography such as promotional and portraiture. Having lived and photographed in Hong Kong, Glasgow, London and New York, David now calls Australia home. This diverse background has contributed to his unique style of photography, ironically based in simplicity. In the theatre industry, he has worked with many of Sydney's production companies including Squabbalogic, Sugary Rum Productions, Neil Gooding Productions, the Actors Benevolent Fund, Hayes Theatre Co. and The Gordon Frost Organisation. His work has been published in multiple online publications including ItNews, Stage Whispers, Sydney Arts Guide, Timeout, USA Today, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph. David is a regular contributor to aussietheatre.com, writing articles and photographing mainstage theatrical productions for them. The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify and Whooshkaa. Also where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au