Black Box Theatre is proud to announce the first wave of actors that will be taking part in this year’s 24 Hour Theatre Illawarra. These brave thespians will be truly sailing into the unknown – they have put their hands up to perform in plays that will not be written until 24 Hours prior to when they are to be performed. They will not know who they will be performing with, or which of our ten writers will be writing their script!

We have 37 actors locked in, we will be announcing the second wave of performers in the next week.

Missed our writers announcements? Read all about them here:
Writers Announcements: Round 1 | Round 2

But here are the first 17 actors that you will see perform original plays – scripts down – on Saturday 11^th May 2019 at the Bridge Street Theatre Coniston.

24 HOUR THEATRE ILLAWARRA
7:30pm Saturday 11th May (One Night Only)
at the Bridge Street Theatre Coniston
Tickets: $22 Adult | $17 Concession | $12 Pension / Carer
Secure your seat securely via Trybooking.com
24 Hour Theatre is a Black Box Theatre Production
Produced by Luke Berman | luke@blackboxtheatre.org
Plays may contain coarse language and adult themes
and may not be suitable for children under the age of 14.

 

CAST (Wave 1):

KAYLEE ASHTON

Kaylee has been onstage dancing and acting for more than 15 years. Her acting studies include musical theatre at McDonald College of Performing Arts and a three-year intensive acting course at Ann Peters in South Australia. She has trained and competed in multiple dance styles and in Theatre Sports/Improv Teams. She moved to Wollongong this year to undertake a Creative Arts (Theatre) Degree at UOW.

Kaylee has performed in the Short+Sweet Festival of Illawarra (2018) and Sydney (2019). Whilst also being involved in productions of the Phoenix Theatre and Rising Arts Productions.

ARTHUR GALLAGHER

After falling into theatre during high school where Arthur played iconic roles such as Frankenstein and Richard iii, he set his sights on studying to be an Actor at the University Of Wollongong. Since moving to Wollongong in 2018 Arthur has been involved in over ten productions and projects, including Boris in Magnum Opus, Lane in the Importance of Being Ernest, Simonides in Lystestra, and directed and acted to two award winning short and sweet Illawarra Plays (2018), as well as countless improvisational performances with Rising Arts Productions.

 

SOPHIE BENTLEY

Sophie Bentley is a young actress who is very excited to be participating in 24 Hour Theatre for the third year in a row. She completed her Diploma in Acting at AFTT last year, and learnt a lot from amazing tutors and wonderful actors. She has been in a few shows over the couple of years she has been involved in local theatre, including Sleighed to Death and The Laramie Project at Wollongong Workshop Theatre, 1984 and Our Country’s Good at The Roo Theatre, and Magnum Opus at the Phoenix Theatre. Last year she has the honour of performing Quality of Life, a 24 Hour Theatre piece written by Sevgi Murphy at Short and Sweet Sydney – which ended up winning Judges Vote and People’s vote in its week, and making it to the high profile gala finals. Sophie loves performing in 24 Hour Theatre each year, and is excited to see what everyone can create in this experience.

TYLER COX

Tyler has been in love with the theatre for many years and has acted in multiple performances including the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee playing Olive Ostrovsky, one of the witches in Macbeth at the IPAC and various characters in a stage adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s poems. Tyler is currently studying acting at The Academy of Film Theatre and Television where she has had the opportunity to act in plays such as Sam Shepard’s Savage Love, and was recently involved in Sydney’s 2019 Short and Sweet Festival, where her play made it to the Wildcard finals. She has also trained under Fiona Findley at The Drama Studio at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre. During her spare time she also loves to be involved in the odd short film and various student projects. Tyler is very excited to be a part of this year’s 24 Hour Theatre.

KIAH SASSALL

Kiah is back for a second go at 24 Hour Theatre after successfully surviving the challenge last year. She has been involved in the Illawarra theatre scene since 2016, appearing in shows such as Travelling North with Roo Theatre Company in 2016, Carrie the Musical with IYAP in 2017 and most recently in 2018 in Bridgeworks at the Phoenix Theatre. She also starred in the very first Short and Sweet Illawarra last year. She can also be found behind the scenes working as both a Stage Manager and Stage Hand for IYAP in their productions of Rock of Ages and Aladdin Jnr respectively as well as Stage Managing Woods-Ray Theatricals debut musical The Wizard of Oz. She is beyond ready to take on whatever the writers can throw at her this year and blow last year’s challenge out of the water.

JORDAN CUNNINGHAM

Jordan has played many roles on and off stage over a number of years now. Playing the role of Dracula has always been his favourite role. As well as Brad in Hairspray and being a lead dancer in multiple productions including Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Boy from Oz. He has also choreographed multiple shows including Peter Pan, Pirates of Penzance and currently choreographing Charlotte’s Web at Roo Theatre. He helps with drama classes at Roo under the guidance of Josif Jovanoski and loves the opportunities he has been given at Roo.

 

MICHAELA BARNETT

Michaela performed with Arcadians as a child/ young teen and was always given the goofy parts, which Michaela feels suits her personality. She also performed for 2 years with the South Coast and Tablelands Scouts which she describes as “raw and very entertaining for the scout mob”.

During high school, she did drama as an elective and was very proud of achieving a band 5 for her individual performance.

Michaela has been limited in her ability to act as she has been working in the Terri in Arnhem Land teaching at a preschool but has recently moved back to the Illawarra.

IHAKA JONES

Ihaka Jones is a Bachelor of Creative Arts student majoring in Theatre at the University of Wollongong, with experience writing, acting, devising and directing for the stage. Over the past 12 months, Ihaka has been involved in seven productions in the Illawarra, beginning with his first ever show, Bridgeworks 2018 followed by his first musical Mack the Knife, both at the Phoenix. He performed in both shows of the short season of original works at the Roo Theatre – Verdict and Wild. Ihaka performed a sold-out season of an ensemble-devised graduate show with the University called One Hit Wonders. He then made his directorial debut with Bonnie & Clyde the Musical with the Arcadian’s Theatre in early 2019. His latest show was the Irish tale of Finn McCool at the Phoenix, and he is currently readying himself for his second musical with the Phoenix – Man of La Mancha.

BRANDON FAIRLEY

Brandon is 22 years old and thoroughly enjoys singing and acting. In the past 3 years, he’s performed at Roo Theatre, Workshop Theatre, Phoenix Theatre as well as the Illawarra Youth Arts Theatre Project. Some shows you may have seen him in include The Buddy Holly Story as Murray Deutch, The Wedding Singer as a Mr T impersonator, Miss Saigon, Cannibal The Musical as James Humphrey, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest as Aide Warren, The Witches Of Eastwick as Joe Marino, 1984 as Noori, Magnum Opus as Knight of Templar, Verdict as Ryan Turner, various roles in Angels in America, People Die as Kyle Drakon and Bonnie & Clyde the Musical as Buck Barrow.

 MOLLY GARRY

Molly Garry trained in Wagga Wagga under Jill Tucker at ‘Speaking Out Speech and Drama’, fostering her skills as a performer by competing in regional drama eisteddfods since the age of seven. This experience eventually earning her Certificate of Communications through the Australian Speech Communication Association in 2017.

Molly was also been heavily involved in school productions, such as musicals Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2013, High School Musical in 2015, and All Shook Up in 2017. Molly also hosted variety shows ‘Shine!’ (2016), Share the Love (2018) and starred in student-run Shakespeare performances. She debuted as Maria in Twelfth Night (2016) and Beatrice in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ (2017). She is currently completing a Bachelor of Performance at the University of Wollongong.

TEIHANA GARDENER-GREENTREE

Teihana has previously been in musicals ever since year 6 and she has recently left year 12 to partake in a cert IV in community services at TAFE. Teihana has been a major part of many musicals, including taking on the lead role in the original musical Out Of The Darkness. The most recent musical she has been involved in was Beauty and the Beast at Shellharbour Anglican College where she was the understudy to the lead character ‘Belle’. Teihana has previously sung in the Kiama carols 2 years in a row with a solo as well as a group performance. She is looking forward to what opportunities the future can bring in theatre.

GEORGINA ROSE REED

Georgina hasn’t always been involved in the theatre, but drama has always seemed to find her. Performing and acting was always an interest, whether it was short plays at school, adding character into her dancing eisteddfods and performances, or trying to avoid getting in trouble. Her first formal role was as a singer/dancer/extra in a high school performance of Jesus Christ Superstar at age 12. It wasn’t until year 11 and 12 that she started studying drama at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts, through which she received grade A results and opportunities to perform her group devised piece in numerous competitions. Since school, Georgina has done some small performances under the stage name “Tommy Stardust” and recently has been part of an all-female performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, playing the roles of Balthasar, lady Montague and Paris.

NICK LEWIS

Nick has been involved in over 26 productions which include acting in six musicals, a play and providing technical and backstage support such as Stage Management, Producing, Technical Direction/Operation, Photography and as a director. In 2016 he played Nikos/Prof. Lowell/Ens. in AMTC’s Legally Blonde & in 2017 he was an ensemble member for The Little Mermaid. Nick performed with the Illawarra Youth Arts Project as Ja’Keith/Ensemble in Rock of Ages. Nick is a regular face around Shellharbour’s Roo Theatre Company, taking on the roles such as Mr Teavee in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Baracuda/Dance Ensemble in Saturday Night Fever, Brian Henderson/Dance Ensemble in Boy From Oz and most recently as The Duchess in Alice.

AMY WEARING

Amy is a young actress ready to take on new experiences in the acting industry. She has been a student of The Drama Studio at IPAC since age 8, is an active member of the Southern Stars Performing Company, and is heavily involved in Drama at school. She is in an experienced improviser with a passion for Theatre Sports and takes part in the Tournament of Minds. She has performed in several musicals, most notably Legally Blonde as well as other school plays. She recently appeared in the Mark Drama in Wollongong and is excited to take on the challenge of Black Box Theatre’s 24 Hour Theatre.

 

FLORENCE MOSS

Florence has been performing since 2016, where she performed in with Hair with the Arcadians. Since then, she has enjoyed working with more Arcadians’ shows, such as Seussical, Jekyll and Hyde most recently Bonnie and Clyde.  Florence has also performed with as well as with the IYAP in Taming of the Shrew and with the Phoenix Theatre Company in Mack the Knife, Lysistrata as well as a monologue in Phoenix’s inaugural monologue variety showcase, One. Florence is currently training at the University of Wollongong, currently completing her second year in the performance course.

GRACE CALLAGHAN

Grace has always loved theatre. Her mum would put on The Sound of Music or Phantom of the Opera and she would put on her best acting voice to play along. So she decided to take up drama and music in high school and she has been involved with theatre both inside and outside of university since. She has worked with The Phoenix Theatre and has enjoyed devising theatre pieces at uni. Last year, Grace got the opportunity to study drama at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (USA) where she was able to perform in a production of Bonnie and Clyde as well as in a performance troupe. She still loves to sing and act, and even Dance. Theatre never fails to put or smile on her face and loves the feelings and emotions that it inspires in her.

MADDISON HUISMAN

Maddison has just started acting hobby, making her one of the bravest members of this year’s 24 Hour Theatre. Her first show was in 2018 when she performed in the ensemble for Be More Chill with independent theatre company Wood-Ray Theatricals. Maddison recently performed in Nelumbonecea written and directed by Inga Silfr Jon with the Phoenix Theatre Company. Maddison has now returned to Wood-Ray Theatricals to take part in the ensemble for Anything Goes. Maddison loved acting and hopes to be in more shows in the future, she would like to learn more and mature as an actor and is sure to impress in this year’s 24 Hour Theatre.

 

24 HOUR THEATRE ILLAWARRA | Black Box Productions
7:30pm Saturday 11^th May | One Night Only
at the Bridge Street Theatre, Coniston | Home of the Phoenix Theatre Company
Produced by Luke Berman, Black Box Productions | luke@blackboxtheatre.org

Tickets: Adult $22 | Concession $17 | Pensioners / Carers $12
Book Tickets Here

Plays in 24 Hour Theatre may contain strong adult content.