Equity Foundation Podcast Equity Foundation Podcast

There are so many hugely important roles in the world of musical theatre that help bring top productions to life and provide wonderful and rewarding careers for performers. If you are pursuing a career in musical theatre, do you know what it takes to be a swing or cover? What are the rewards and challenges? Hear from some of Australia's most successful musical theatre performers about what’s involved and what their work looks like day to day. This livestream will be chaired by Stephen Mahy (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) with panellists Julian Kuo (Hamilton), Shewit Belay (Wicked) and Ashton Lash (Hamilton).

This is a rare chance to hear from leading theatrical producer Michael Cassel, who has brought many of Australia's most successful theatre productions to life including Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, as well as the West End premiere of Sydney Theatre Company’s The Picture of Dorian Gray starring Sarah Snook. With Erin James interviewing, this is a chance to get a behind the scenes look at how top stage productions are cast, how to have the best chance of successful stage career locally and internationally, what you need to know about the industry and how it works to get ahead, the steps that theatre producers take to get a production up and running and Michael's plans for the future.

Actor and Equity member Clare Chihambakwe chats to Vancouver-based Australian actor and writer Ildiko Susany. Ildiko is currently a staff writer on Netflix's hit Virgin River and has written episodes in seasons 5 & 6. As an actor, Ildiko has appeared in Alaska Daily (ABC) opposite Hilary Swank, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (NBC), as well as Lost in Space (Netflix) and many more. Ildiko has navigated a successful Australian career into a flourishing North American career as both an actor and a writer. Ildiko will share how she did this, what she has learnt along the way, her experience as an Australian actor working overseas and how she successfully moved into screenwriting, what it takes and what is is like to work as a Netflix staff writer on an international hit show.

A basic intro for the experienced actor who needs to know what you need to do to move into the broad world of voiceover. Abbe Holmes is one of Australia's most recognized mainstream voice actors and will give you the essential steps to to get you started. This includes, understanding the skills unique to voiceover; how the industry works, tips for creating your voiceover reel and who you approach once you have it, setting up a home studio, whether you need an agent to get work and much more.

As the first point of contact with a potential employer, your marketing materials are an extension of yourself and an indication of your level of professionalism. Kym Jackson (This Is Us, S.W.A.T., N.C.I.S., The Secrets She Keeps) will give you a clear knowledge of how to make your entire acting toolkit (headshots, resume, demo reel, website, business cards) match those of any top working actor in the industry.

An opportunity for casting director Daisy Hicks to talk candidly with Equity member Monica Sayers about the actor and casting director relationship, offer advice about the audition process and answer any queries you may have.