24 HOUR THEATRE ILLAWARRA 2022
Saturday 6th August
at the Bridge Street Theatre
Located next to Coniston Train Station
Tickets: $25/$20
BOOK NOW
CAST ANNOUNCEMENT
The writers are in, the captains are announced, now meet the bravest cast of actors in the Illawarra this year!
There is no greater challenge than to learn lines and interpret a character in only 7 before performing to a likely full house at the Bridge Street Theatre Coniston.
As always, none of our artists know who they will be working with until 24 Hours Prior to the performance, nor do they know which of our seven writers they have been allocated. But all will be revealed this FRIDAY NIGHT when our 24 Hour Theatre Illawarra gets underway.
Be sure to book tickets early as this is a one night only event, there are limited tickets available.
2022 WRITERS:
Tom Peach
David Rienits
Alex Cuff
Sarah Hurnall
Tegan Ware
Riley Jones
Kelly-Maree Michael
2022 CAPTAINS:
Cathy Bates
Bradley Ward
Sophie Baylis
Dylan Horvat
Julian Levanic
Gabriela Gonzalez
Jordan Cunningham
CAST:
Alex Groombridge
Amy Mortell
Andrew Gobran
Ashleigh Magoffin
Billie Prescott
Clara Saddi
David Attrill
Ella Everett
Jarrod Sleiman
Jen Guerrieri-Cortesi
Lisa Omodei
Ruby Ballantyne
Sienna Karunarathne
Steph McAulay
Tammy Kisela
Alex Groombridge
Alex has been acting since 2014, starting out in musicals. Through this, he soon discovered his love of plays and has performed in many roles including Pitt the Younger in Blackadder the Third, Bob in Blackadder Goes Fourth, Antonio in Twelfth Night and many more, including a large variety of roles in local, original works.
Alex is also no stranger to the short play format and enjoys participating in both 24 Hour Theatre and Short + Sweet almost every year, in both the Illawarra and Sydney.
He hopes to get back in touch with his musical roots in the future, get into voice acting and looks forward to the day he can build a robot strong enough to take down King Kong (that monkey’s had it too good for too long).
I do 24 hour theatre whenever I can. It’s a great way to challenge myself as an actor and work with both familiar and new faces.
Alex Groombridge
Amy Mortell
Amy has completed a drama subject in high school and NIDA bootcamp. She has performed in a number of plays with leading roles. She has had no experience in the last few years but is excited to participate in more theatre programs.
Since relocating from a rural town, I’m excited to get involved in the local arts and theatre events. I look forward to meeting new people and challenging myself.
Amy Mortell
Andrew Gobran
Andrew trained at Actors Centre Australia, this will be his second 24 hr theatre performance. Andrew has been performing on stage in the Illawarra since 2014 doing musicals such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, Adams Family and Hair, also performing in Plays such as Bengal Tiger in the Baghdad Zoo, Get Smart, Nellumbonesia and directed the Brendan Bate written Damien’s Wake.
When not on stage Andrew has also been working as an extra or featured extra, most recently you would have seen him on the Netflix series Pieces of Her in Episode 4, the PM’s Daughter on ABC Iview and the soon to be released Bali the movie coming soon to Stan. Andrew has done many other TV shows and Commercials.
Andrew’s dream role would be in one of the next Fast and Furious movies were he can mix his two passions of fast cars and acting and work with his bald headed peers of Vin Diesel and Dwayne The Rock Johnson
24 Hour Theatre is heaps of fun and such a great vibe!
Andrew Gobran
Ashleigh Magoffin
Although Ash is a newcomer to the Illawarra stage, Ashleigh has always been a keen community theatre actress from early age. From drama, comedy, Shakespeare and musicals she loves to do it all. Ash is very excited to tread the boards again post lockdown.
I’m here because I want to get connected with other performers and artists in the Illawarra while also improving and challenging my skills.
Ashleigh Magoffin
Billie Prescott
Billie is a year ten drama and art student at WHSPA. She is a 2022 Griffin Theatre Ambassador and a member of her school’s Improv Company. Billie landed her first professional voice-over job at 6 and has since voiced many ad campaigns. Her film animation debut came in 2019 when she voiced the roles of Ashima and Danika in Alice-Miranda’s Friends Forever and again in 2021, with A Royal Christmas Ball, both streaming on Stan.
In this, her fifth year, as a student of The Drama Studio at IPAC, Billie played the lead role in the National Theatre Connection Festival’s production of “Find a Partner”. Billie’s passion for drama and storytelling drives her desire to develop her craft and create new works in collaboration with other local talent.
I love pushing myself in my acting and rising to a creative challenge!
Billie Prescott
David Attrill
David’s main training was with the Q theatre in the early 1980s and much of his work was done at that time with the New Theatre. He has experienced most types of film, tv and theatre over the years including being a regular contributor to Short+Sweet Sydney.
I have done a similar task with film and I’m up for a new challenge to try it on in live theatre.
David Attrill
Ella Everett
Ella Everett mostly resides within the musical theatre community, after being a part of ‘Deja Vu’ directed by Alex Cuff, she fell in love with being a part of plays.
In November 2021, Ella played an ‘Alien Goat’ in a short play festival run by Rising Arts Productions (it’s a bit hard to explain that one), but since then has been working and showing customers the way of internet banking. Ella’s looking forward to potentially be apart of the theatre scene again and to get within the 24 hour theatre challenge and face a feat all actors know too well, a lack of sleep.
Some past theatre experience includes: ‘Bare: a pop rock opera’ Woods Ray Theatricals, ‘Les Miserables’ Woolmington Productions, ‘Be More Chill’ Woods Ray Theatricalz, and ‘Rock of Ages’ iYAP.
24 Hour Theatre has an amazing reputation. I have heard nothing but incredible things from all of my friends who have been a part of it and I love having this opportunity to be a part of it.
Ella Everett
Jarrod Sleiman
Jarrod has been in many local theatre shows such as 13: The Musical (as Archie), Cannibal the Musical (as Bell), Red vs Blue (as Tucker), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (as Henry Salt), Bonnie & Clyde the Musical (as the preacher), Peter Pan (as Lone Wolf & Cecco), Othello (as Adie), The Tempest (as Stefano), MacBeth (as MacDuff), Get Smart (as Garth & Fred) and has been a director and/or writer for other stage shows such as Saturday Night Fever, Bridgeworks (2017 & 2018), Short + Sweet Sydney 2018, Tales from the Wasteland, Verdict, People Die and Tales from the Metropolis, as well as starring in, directing, writing and filming various film projects as well as being a student of JMC Academy in 2017 – and done some improv comedy in Playmates 2016 and 2017.
24 Hour Theatre is my favourite theatre event of the year.
Jarrod Sleiman
Jen Guerrieri-Cortesi
Jen has been involved in theatre for most of her life. Starting out with community theatre in the Blue Mountains before starring in Sydney Interactive Theatres’ production of “The Messenger” from 2012-2015.
She has studied short courses at NIDA and was a regular for Crash Test Drama and Short & Sweet Sydney. Upon owing to Wollongong Jen become a founding member of The Improverts and Room for IMOROVment performing in Campbelltown, Wollongong, Sydney Fringe Festival, as well as being a Scared Scriptless and Cranston Cup winner. She is a regular with Wollongong Comedy in Playmates. This is her 5th year of 24hr Theatre.
It’s always one of my favourite things to do on the theatre calendar. It’s fun and unpredictable and amazing to create quality theatre in a day.
Jen Guerrieri-Cortesi
Lisa Omodei
Lisa mostly does improvisation with Rising Arts Theatre, but when she’s not doing that, she acts a bit. Earlier this year she played a titular role in Albert & Jameson: A Play With Vampires, and in late October this year she will be playing Viola in Twelfth Night at the Phoenix Theatre.
I love to torture myself. I also think 24 Hour Theatre is a challenge that can have real-life application as a performance artist.
Lisa Omodei
Ruby Ballantyne
Ruby is a stage based actress, having performed in many musicals and plays, the most recent being ‘Scorched’ with director Emily Clockfire. She is doing a bachelor of theatre and performance at UOW (Second year), and is very passionate about her craft.
My stage manager from a previous show suggested I give this a go and it looked exciting, and here I am!
Ruby Ballantyne
Sienna Karunarathne
Sienna grew up in Australia, she is from a Sri Lankan background. Sienna has done acting training since she was 7 at multiple Drama studios, she is currently training at Drama Studio Australia (IPAC), and has been at IPAC for 4 years and counting. Sienna has also done singing since she was 7 and has dance since she was 4.
I always love performing and acting, I love to try everything and take advantage of all opportunities no matter what it is.
Sienna Karunarathne
Steph McAulay
Steph has participated in the last two 24 Hour Theatre events, and now she’s back for round 3! Since we last saw her, Steph hasn’t done much on the acting front, instead shifting her focus to finishing her music degree (which also included a minor in theatre). Now she’s studying Early Childhood Education and using her performance passion to engage the tiny humans.
I really enjoyed the experience the last couple times, and I have been waiting to get back into it.
Steph McAulay
Tammy Kisela
Tammy attended the prestigious Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts for Drama, Trained with Actors Co, and has been in the Wollongongs Short Play Exhibition, performed in Alice Through the Looking Glass and is currently working on the play Windy Gully with The Phoenix Theatre Company.
I love to challenge myself and 24 Hour Theatre sounds like a lot of fun!
Tammy Kisela
24 HOUR THEATRE ILLAWARRA 2022
Saturday 6th August
at the Bridge Street Theatre
Located next to Coniston Train Station
Tickets: $25/$20
BOOK NOW
Black Box Productions 