Actors live and work in an environment that asks a lot of them. Auditions, rejections, financial uncertainty, intense rehearsal periods, performance anxiety, public scrutiny, relationship dynamics, creative vulnerability, and the challenge of sustaining a career in a highly competitive industry all place unique demands on actors. As a psychologist who works with artists and performers, I’ve often noticed that the framework we hold for performers has a specific difference. When people outside the performing arts experience stress, they’re often encouraged to step back, do less, or find fulfilment elsewhere. But performers rarely want to care less about their craft. They want to keep creating, keep striving, and keep showing up for the work they love. The question becomes: how do we develop the skills to manage high levels of stress sustainably? In this conversation, we’ll explore the psychological realities of life as an actor. We’ll discuss the thoughts that can undermine confidence, the emotions that come with putting yourself on the line creatively, the physical demands of rehearsal and performance, and the challenge of balancing the pressures of work with the realities of everyday life. Most importantly, we’ll look at practical ways to build psychological flexibility and resilience so that stress doesn’t consume the energy you need for what matters most: telling stories, connecting with audiences, and bringing your creative work to life. Whether you’re navigating the stress of auditions, managing performance nerves, recovering from setbacks, or simply trying to sustain a long and meaningful career in the arts, this session will offer practical insights and plenty of opportunity for discussion. Bring your questions. The world of performance is demanding, but there are many skills we can learn that help us meet those demands while continuing to grow as artists and as people. Dr Shona Erskine is a registered psychologist in private practice with 30 years’ experience working in the arts sector. After graduating the Victorian College of the Arts (Dance, 1994), she spent decades working as a dancer while qualifying as a psychologist. She has an expertise in psychology for performing and visual artists and work through professional companies, universities, and in private practice. The focus of her psychology work includes performance and creativity as well as communication and complex systems. She has a keen interest in best practice models for artists that attend to the whole person with compassion and curiosity.

A terrific opportunity to hear from Australian actor Shabana Azeez as she prepares to begin filming Season 3 of The Pitt in the US. Equity member Kat Hoyos sits down with Shabana to explore her journey from starting out in Adelaide to working on one of the most talked-about TV series today. Widely regarded as one of the most popular shows of the moment, The Pitt has captured global attention with its gripping storytelling and distinctive style. This a great opportunity to hear firsthand about the experiences, influences, and stories that continue to shape her work. They discuss how she has navigated the industry, developed her craft, and embraced the opportunities and challenges of an international career. Shabana Azeez has quickly established herself as one of the most exciting actors to watch with her undeniable talent and magnetic screen presence.  As a breakout star of HBO Max’s Emmy-winning hit series, THE PITT, she can be seen reprising her role as “Victoria Javadi” in the second season which is currently streaming on Max in the USA, Binge in Australia and a number of other platforms around the world. She recently wrapped production on SBS’s new drama, THE AIRPORT CHAPLAIN. The eight-part series stars Shabana opposite Hugo Weaving and captures the high-stakes world of a bustling international airport, told through the struggles and triumphs of the workers who keep it running. Recently in film, she voiced the lead character of “Saira” in the animated feature film LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS which was selected for the 2025 Berlinale where it won the Teddy Award and honored with an AACTA Award for ‘Best Indie Film’. Previously in film, she starred as “Irene” in the feature film, BIRDEATER, for which she was awarded ‘Best Actress’ by the Australian Film Critics Association. The film also won the AACTA for ‘Best Independent Feature Film’, the audience award for ‘Best Australian Narrative Feature at Sydney Film Festival’ and had sold out screenings at Melbourne International Film Festival prior to a very well-received release in the USA at SXSW. Shabana co-won ‘Best Female Actor’ at Tropfest in 2019 and was nominated for ‘Best Performance’ at Stellar Film Festival and ‘Best Actress’ at the South Australian Screen Awards for her work in the feature CRUSH. She also plays “Lali” in the short film I’M THE MOST RACIST PERSON I KNOW which won the Special Jury Award at SXSW 2025, ‘Best Short Film’ at Cinefest Oz in 2025 and ‘Best Short Film’ at the 2026 AACTA Awards. Previous television credits include roles on the animated series TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA, ABC’s IN LIMBO, SBS’s THE HUNTING, Netflix’s APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, Disney+’s NAUTILUS, ABC’S UTOPIA and WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?. Shabana also regularly lends her voice and talent for accents to voiceover work and audiobooks, including the very important story Home to Biloela by Priya Nadesalingam.  Splitting her time between Australia and Los Angeles, she continues to take on bold, diverse roles that showcase her talent and versatility while highlighting her passion for telling stories that push the envelope.

Dean Drieberg is an acclaimed creative with almost three decades’ experience in theatre, advertising and events. He recently directed Nine for NIDA and Dial M For Murder for Smoke&Mirrors Productions. Dean is Resident Director for Disney's The Lion King and was Resident Director of Hamilton for the Australian, New Zealand and International tours from 2021 to 2025. He directed Promises, Promises at Hayes Theatre, the Australian Premiere of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (nominated for Best Musical in the TimeOut Sydney Arts & Culture Awards and 3 Sydney Theatre Awards) for Darlinghurst Theatre Company, the Australian Premiere of Passing Strange (nominated for 5 Green Room Awards including Production of the Year) for Antipodes Theatre Company, co-directed Colour And Light: The Art of Sondheim (winning 2 Green Room Awards) and Sunday In The Park George (Green Room Award nominee for Best Direction and Best Multimedia Design) for Watch This - Australia's Sondheim repertory company for whom he is Co-Artistic Director, directed and designed bare the Musical and the Australian Premiere of Memphis the musical for StageArt. Dean has worked on over 20 national tours and has produced advertising campaigns and major events across Australia, New Zealand, in Tokyo and New York. Dean is an advocate for theatre that is inclusive of Indigenous, Bla(c)k and people of colour, artists with a disability and LGBTQIA+ artists.

The actors you love to watch aren’t just talented — they’re prepared. Every nuanced choice, every layered moment, every scene that pulls you in and won’t let go? That comes from the work they do before the camera rolls. There’s no single “right” way to prepare. Every actor is different. Every role demands something different. What separates the good from the unforgettable is having a full toolkit — and knowing which tool to reach for. In this class, Kym Jackson walks you through proven methods for breaking down a scene, building a character from the ground up, locking in your lines, and showing up to your next film & TV audition or shoot fully prepared and ready to deliver. Kym Jackson (S.W.A.T., N.C.I.S.) is an Aussie actress credited with 70+ feature films & TV episodes. Her 2026/2027 releases include We Bury The Dead opposite Daisy Ridley, Born To Lose with Sarah Pidgeon and Dylan Arnold, The Cryptid opposite Emmy winner Charlie Adler, and Wild Card with David Arquette.A member of MENSA, Kym is the author of the Amazon best selling textbook, The Hollywood Survival Guide For Actors. As a regular speaker for organizations including SAG-AFTRA, MEAA, WIFT, Spotlight, Kym has taught thousands of actors to successfully pursue a career acting professionally in the film & TV industry.She is the founder of the Secret Actor Society app and membership site, which connects actors worldwide with casting directors, provides a supportive community, and contains masterclasses on how to navigate the film industry as an actor. Kym’s mission is to share knowledge with her peers and the next generation of talent.Kym is also a SAG-AFTRA convention delegate, who in 2022 co-authored and gained unanimous support from the delegation for her resolution to limit self tape lengths - a key point in the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike negotiations.

Beyond the Gun – Creative Partnerships There’s a distinct difference between being cast as an actor in a theatre production and working as a creative collaborator and developing your own work. This session examines how actors can step into producing and move into the developmental life of a project—contributing ideas, shaping the script, and influencing the work as it develops. Actors such as Ngoc Phan, Nicholas Brown, Julia Robertson, Amy Ingram, and Cameron Hurry have expanded their work into producing, writing and directing. This conversation explores how actors can evolve their practice, build a reputation for meaningful creative input, and become initiators and collaborators whose contributions extend beyond performance into the heart of the work itself. Amy is a multi-award-winning actor and theatre-maker based in Brisbane, later this year she will appear in the return season of Pride And Prejudice at QTC and the World Premiere of Suzie Miller’s Strong Is The New Pretty touring Nationally. Ngọc is an award-winning actor, director and playwright. Her diverse theatre work includes Vietgone, Boy Swallows Universe and Good Grief (Queensland Theatre), Laurinda (MT), Love Stories (Brisbane Festival/QPAC), Horizon (Playlab Theatre), Medea (Shock Therapy Productions), We’re All Gonna Die, Away, A Streetcar Named Desire and Stunt Double (The Farm). Julia Robertson is a multidisciplinary theatre maker, director and actor living and working on Gadigal land. She is the Artistic Director of the award-winning devising group Little Eggs Collective, a recipient of the Ensemble Theatre’s Sandra Bates Award for Directing, and a Young Artists Program finalist with Opera Australia. Julia was recently nominated for Best Direction of a Musical at the Sydney Theatre Awards for The Producers (Hayes Theatre Co. / Riverside Parramatta). In 2026, Julia will direct the premiere production of STELLA, The Musical in Melbourne, as well as The Addams Family for Hayes Theatre Co. She will also work as Movement Director on 84 Charing Cross Road for the Ensemble Theatre, and as Assistant Director on Suzie Miller’s new work Strong Is the New Pretty for Sydney Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival. Nicholas Brown is a NIDA graduate who has forged an impressive international career across film, television and theatre as an actor, writer, singer, songwriter and leading man with major roles in Bollywood films, Australian drama and as a much-loved ABC Play School presenter. He plays a lead role in upcoming Alex Proyas science fiction musical film R.U.R. As a playwright, Nicholas won the prestigious Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting in the 2024 NSW Premier's Literary Awards for his play Sex Magick which was performed in the 2023 Griffin Theatre season. It was also nominated for a 2025 AWGIE and a 2024 Sydney Theatre Award. Cameron Hurry is a Brisbane based actor and writer. He completed his actor training at the University of Southern Queensland. Cameron’s theatre credits include: Pride and Prejudice (Queensland Theatre Company), Unconditional (Playlab Theatre), Three Little Words (Ad Astra), Twelfth Night (4MBS Brisbane Shakespeare Festival), Dance Nation (THAT Production Company), Grand Horizons (PIP Theatre), Frankenstein (Fractal Theatre), Macbeth (JUTE Theatre), Picnic at Hanging Rock (Brisbane Arts Theatre), and Aladdin and the Mysterious Magical Lamp, Jane Eyre, Little Women, Shadowlands (Harvest Rain Theatre Company). His film and television credits include: Spit, Boy Swallows Universe, The Bureau of Magical Things, Young Rock, and Wanted. Cameron has received the Matilda Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role – Independent Production (Grand Horizons) and has a proud member of MEAA for 20 years.

During this livestream session US dialect coach Charley Layton will offer a comprehensive accent study for those actors looking to improve their skill with the non-regional US dialect (and a bit of UK), which is highly sought after for auditions, self-tapes, voiceover work and more. Charley will give advice and feedback to participants as well as insight into the linguistics and physiology involved. Charley Layton is a NYC-based dialect coach and faculty member of the Atlantic Acting School. Recent credits include: Tommy the Musical on Broadway (Nederlander Theatre): Beetlejuice (Regional Tour), Jersey Boys (New World Stages), Awake and Sing! (Public Theater), Travels With My Aunt (Clurman Theater), Sense of an Ending (59E59 Theaters), Film /TV: “Humor Me” (Shout! Studios) & Showtime’s “Billions”BFA Drama NYUBA Linguistics Brooklyn College www.charleylayton.com

Actor and Equity member Monica Sayers will chat to Australian casting director Kirsty McGregor about discuss auditions, castings and the actor/casting director relationship. Kirsty McGregor’s journey from performer to an influential casting director working across Australia and internationally has had a significant impact on film and television. She is the recipient of three AACTA Awards and seventeen Casting Guild of Australia Awards, and has also received three nominations from the Casting Society of Americas well as an Emmy nomination. A long-time advocate for the craft of casting, Kirsty has been a leading voice within the Casting Guild of Australia, championing the recognition of casting as a key creative department. Her work has helped shape some of the most acclaimed Australian productions of recent years, including Lion, Animal Kingdom, Babyteeth, Colin from Accounts, Top Of The Lake, The Twelve, Apple Cider Vinegar and Bump. Her work continues to shape and elevate talent both in Australia and internationally. Kirsty is a proud member of the Casting Guild of Australia, the Casting Society of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

A chance to hear from Equity’s National Industrial Officers Tess Chappell and Miles Hunt on performers’ employment contracts, usage payments and residuals. This will be of particular interest for new members and a refresher for established members. The discussion will cover the following topics: • Contract basics, how to negotiate an employment contract before signing and how to use your contract during your employment. • Usage – upfront buyouts and the curse of in perpetuity. • Residuals – backend payments and where they come from; • Agreements – how usage and residuals work in film, TV and streaming; • MEAA negotiations and payments for performers; • Commercials and rollovers • The difficulty with streamers; and • International Perspective – SAG and other jurisdictions and Q and A

Equity's Live Stream Program continues with esteemed casting director Lauren Wiley talking with Equity member Helen Dallimore about all things auditions, musicals, casting, current and past projects, the actor/casting director relationship and answering all your questions. Lauren Wiley is one of Australia’s most accomplished Casting Directors, bringing more than two decades of experience. She is currently the Casting Director for the forthcoming Australian premiere of A Beautiful Noise – The Neil Diamond Musical (TEG Dainty/Ken Davenport). Her extensive credits include MJ The Musical (Michael Cassel Group), Gaslight (Newtheatricals/Queensland Theatre), Hamilton (International Tour) and Hamilton (Australia) (Michael Cassel Group), Come From Away (Junkyard Dog/Newtheatricals), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Michael Cassel Group), and Kinky Boots (Michael Cassel Group). Lauren also served as Consulting Casting Director for Tina – The Tina Turner Musical (TEG Dainty/Stage Entertainment) and was Casting Administrator for Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Misérables (Michael Cassel Group). Lauren began her theatrical casting career at Sydney Theatre Company in 2009, appointed Casting Coordinator to Co-Artistic Directors Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton. She later returned to Sydney Theatre Company as in-house Casting Director under Artistic Director Kip Williams, a role she held until 2019. A graduate of Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Theatre/Media), Lauren spent two years based in London, where she worked as Casting Assistant to Jina Jay on major feature films including The Lovely Bones (Dir. Peter Jackson), Body of Lies (Dir. Ridley Scott), Agora (Dir. Alejandro Amenábar), and The Adventures of Tintin (Dir. Steven Spielberg) as well as time working for London’s most established talent agencies.

Join professional voice artist Alexandra Lopez for an essential introduction to the voice over industry, designed specifically for acting graduates ready to expand their career opportunities. Represented by Scout Management and specialising in coaching beginners, Alexandra will guide you through the unique skills and techniques that set voice work apart from stage and screen acting. You'll learn who to connect with in the industry, what equipment and training you'll need to be audition-ready, and how to stay productive and sharp between jobs. Whether you're curious about voice over or ready to dive in, this session will give you the practical knowledge and insider perspective to confidently navigate this exciting avenue of your acting career. Alexandra Lopez is the CEO of Alexandra Lopez Studios and the founder of Voice Over Collective. Represented by Scout Management, Alexandra has over 20 years of experience as a professional voice artist. She has voiced campaigns for brands including the SA Government, Shiels Jewellers, L'Oréal, Mitsubishi, Foodland, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and San Remo.

How to make money playing the role you were born to play: yourself. Or in other words: learn that the skills you have gained as an actor are of value beyond the script. A deep dive into what skills you have as a performer that can be monetized in other ways including corporate work as an MC, hosting children's shows, game shows and light entertainment with ongoing high profile warm up audience work. Michael worked as an actor on both stage and screen for several years. 1984 was a turning point as he began an on-air career as a television presenter, hosting children’s shows, game shows and light entertainment. What followed was a decade of profile building which opened opportunities in the corporate space as host and emcee of Award Nights, conferences, product launches and the like. Work that he continues to this day. 1990 saw another sideways turn as audience warm-up for Blind Date. More shows followed and Michael soon became the go-to-guy for audience warm-up for everything from The Voice, Australia’s Got Talent, Mad As Hell and sitcoms such as Acropolis Now, and All Together Now. He continues in this role now on Tipping Point – celebrating 35 continuous years applying the performance skills he learnt as an actor, to this arena. Along the way he has worked as Breakfast Radio host and has created television programs and produced others such as The Price Is Right, Bert’s Family Feud and Comedy Slapdown. Check him out: www.michaelpope.com.au