STAGES with Peter Eyers

James Smillie has captivated audiences over several decades. Commencing his career at the age of 10, as an in-demand boy soprano singing with symphony orchestras and on radio, he continues to charm with his velvet voice on countless commercials, documentary narrations, and audiobooks.

Smillie was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents emigrated to Australia in the early 1950s when Smillie was still a child. He has worked in both Bri...

It’s TONY time once again and an opportunity to look at the ceremony and shows up for awards in our annual Tony episode.

STAGES is joined by publicist Ian Phipps and reviewer Simon Parris, to dissect the nominations and offer some predictions for the awards which will be presented on June 8th in New York City at radio City Musica Hall, hosted by Cynthia Erivo.

The three of us have all recently been in New York and enjoyed the delight...

Ainsley Melham began his Music Theatre Career in 2016, skating into the Hayes Theatre as Sonny Malone in Mathew Managements' Xanadu. 

Soon after he traded skates for a magic carpet and opened Disney's Hit Broadway Musical ALADDIN, in the title role. He toured Australia with the production playing Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

In February 2019 he made his Broadway Debut at the New Amsterdam Theatre reprising his role ...

Charles Kirsch is the producer and host of the Broadway focused podcast, Broadway Babble. The show has seen Charles conduct in-depth interviews with some of Broadway’s best, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carol Burnett, Harvey Fierstein, Chita Rivera, and Kelli O’Hara. Broadway Babble is now entering its sixth year, and most impressive is that the show’s 18 year old host commenced the venture when he was 12. 

An accomplished and avid...

With a career spanning four decades, Leigh’s credits are as diverse as they are extensive. An accomplished singer, dancer and actress, her stage roles include Marty in Grease – The Arena Spectacular, Demeter in Cats (Australia and Asia) and Consuelo in West Side Story. She also appeared in the Australian tour of The Wizard of Oz as an ensemble member and understudy for Glinda/Aunt Em, played Mrs Zebulan in Joseph and the Amazing Te...

Stephen Anderson is an actor who has navigated a thrilling career in musical theatre. Presently he can be seen in Titanique as Ruth Dewitt-Bukater, a role which earned him a Sydney Theatre Award. 

His extensive theatre work encompasses the Park Keeper/Northbrook in Mary Poppins, Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Father Alex in Mamma Mia!, Sergei in Matilda the Musical, Mendel in Falsettos, The Housekeeper in Man of L...

Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Vaughan Edwards trained in theatre, film and television design at London's prestigious Wimbledon College of Art.

After graduating, he worked in theatre design in London's West End before moving to New York.  Here, he was an associate to celebrated Oscar and Tony Award winner Tony Walton, working with him on such films as All That Jazz, Deathtrap, Prince of the City and Equus before moving on to...

Following her performance as Cassie in ‘A Chorus Line’ at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Sarah Bowden moved her life to New York City. 

For 12 years Sarah had been a vital contributor to the theatre of Berlin, Germany. She played major solo roles in the Wintergarten Variety Theatre, including Emily in the ‘Seifenoper’ (The Soap Opera), Sally in ‘Sally und Fred’ and Somalso in ‘Der Helle Wahnsinn’ (Absolute Madness). She shared t...

Hayden Tee hails from Maungaturoto in Northland but has made a name for himself globally as an acclaimed performer, makeup artist, director and recording artist in theatre, concert and cabaret throughout New Zealand, Australia, Asia, the U.K and U.S.A.

His extensive musical theatre portfolio has seen him play Javert in Les Misérables on Broadway, London’s West End, Australia, Dubai and New Zealand; Marius in Les Misérables on London...

Kurt Sneddon is an in demand photographer. He photographs actors, dancers, models and performers in the streets of New York City. 

Originally from Sydney, where he founded Blueprint Studios and became one of Australia's most-trusted photographers for the entertainment industry for 15 years, he now proudly calls himself a New Yorker!

His own experience as an actor is inherent to his work, with an innate understanding of what actor...

A multi-award winner, Alinta Chidzey most recently originated the role of Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical for Australia's national tour, with her work receiving outstanding reviews. 

She has played Velma Kelly in Chicago for the Gordon Frost Organisation, and Anita in West Side Story, which saw her nominated for several awards, including a Helpmann, Green Room and Sydney Theatre Award. In 2011 she won the Australian Dance Aw...

London-based Australian producer Garry is the GM in RGM. With over 25 years experience developing, producing and managing ground-breaking productions around the world, he is an impresario of great vision and passion.

RGM Productions is an independent, Olivier Award nominated theatre production company with an objective is to discover, develop and introduce new and compelling productions to new audiences around the world.  Establishe...

Tim Jones has led the Seymour Centre theatre venues in Sydney since 2009. Last month announced that he is stepping down from the role.

Together with a talented and passionate team, he has worked to position Seymour Centre as vital to the creative life of both the City and the University of Sydney. 

To achieve this he has initiated a range of curated artistic programs, focused on the presentation of outstanding contemporary performanc...

Matt West is the Director / Choreographer for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. Matt received the L.A. Drama-Logue Award, the L.A. Ovation Award, New York’s Drama Desk Award and London’s Olivier Award, for the much celebrated show, which is in the Top 10 longest running shows in Broadway history - with 5461 performances.

The classic story of Belle and her Beast has become an audience favourite around the globe. Matt recentl...

John O’May has worked in all areas of the entertainment industry encompassing music theatre, cabaret, drama, opera, concerts, comedy, radio, writing and directing.

His music theatre credits include Godspell, The 20’s And All That Jazz, Seven Little Australians (which he also directed), HMS Pinafore, Crazy For You, The Merry Widow, A Little Night Music (for which he won his first Green Room Award for Leading Male Performer), The Phan...

W.C Fields famously advised “Never work with animals or children”.

His advice would fall on ‘deaf ears’ for the creatives working on a new production of Annie, premiering at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney in March.

One of the creatives contributing to the show, in a very unique way is Luke Hura. Renowned as one of Australia’s leading Animal Trainers, Luke has been working intently with the canine actors playing Annie’s best friend San...

Anne-Louise Sarks is an international theatre director. Her work has premiered in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Mexico City, New York, Auckland, Warsaw, Mannheim, Perth, Mumbai, and Basel.

In April 2021, she was appointed as the Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Melbourne Theatre Company and launched her first season as Artistic director in 2023, directing the double bill Escaped Alone/What If, If Only and Bernhardt/Hamlet in 2023.

Prior ...

Easily lauded as one of Australia’s greatest entertainers, Debra Byrne commenced her career as a child star making her television debut on Brian and the Juniors, a children's variety and talent quest, in 1969. 

In April 1971 she became an original cast member on Young Talent Time. Byrne proved to be a popular cast member: going on to win the Logie Award for Best Teenage Personality and the TV Week Queen of Pop Award. 

Before leav...

Easily lauded as one of Australia’s greatest entertainers, Debra Byrne commenced her career as a child star making her television debut on Brian and the Juniors, a children's variety and talent quest, in 1969. 

In April 1971 she became an original cast member on Young Talent Time. Byrne proved to be a popular cast member: going on to win the Logie Award for Best Teenage Personality and the TV Week Queen of Pop Award. 

Before leav...