Do It Again But Better

On this episode of Do It Again But Better, Jess chats to actor, writer, theatre maker, audiobook narrator and Shakespearean star, Elizabeth Brennan, as they recall their early days at Monash University, a shared audition experience involving a whole lot of making out, their mutual love of Blue Heelers, and Lizzie's various transport-related auditions that ended in disaster. There's a whole bunch of Steiner School myth-busting, and the only personality quiz you'll ever need: are you an Abigail, an Elizabeth, or a textbook Mary Warren?Elizabeth is a Green Room Award winning theater maker, writer and actor. Aside from stumbling her way into Disney+ series The Clearing, she has collaborated extensively with Bloomshed on such productions as Paradise Lost, Bad News, The Nose, Animal Farm and A Dodgeball Named Desire. She has played multiple characters over the last seven years for The Australian Shakespeare Company’s summer program, in between narrating a multitude of romantically inclined audiobooks and working with such company’s as Bell Shakespeare, The Rabble and Cultural Infusion. Further credits include the solo cabaret Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Ham, The Anzac Centenary Roadshow, The Crucible and several murder mystery themed corporate events.Lizzie will be performing once more with Bloomshed in The Importance of Being Earnest at fortyfivedownstairs from August 1-11th 2024.You can find Lizzie on Instagram at @lizziebrennnnnnYou can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.comYou can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.comYou can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetterThis podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.

On a Do It Again But Better first, Jess hosts two actors at once as Libby Brockman and Juliet Hindmarsh drop by for a chat. As well as acting, Libby is a producer, writer, youth worker and drama teacher, while Juliet is a self tape studio owner, drag king, and production manager. Between this vast array of creative roles, the three women discuss Libby and Juliet's upcoming show, Roaring Immersive Theatre, Juliet's ever-elusive role of playing an ant, Libby's unfortunate fainting moment, and some surprising connections that nobody saw coming.Roaring Immersive Theatre plays at the Vue Grand Hotel in Queenscliff from June 26th—July 13th, 2024.Libby trained at The National Theatre Drama School (Melbourne) as well as various intensives in Melbourne, London, Sicily and Catalonia. Whilst living most of her life in Melbourne, she has now moved to Geelong, and is loving it! She has a Bachelor of Youth Work & Youth Studies (RMIT) and utilises this in her role as Assistant Director & drama teacher at Grace Acting Studios.She is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to make engaging film & theatre that represents diversity and explores challenging stories. She loves immersive and intimate theatre, as well as working on quirky, independent short films & web series. Highlights include Mr Naismith’s Secret (TBC), Scarborough (The Honeytrap Theatre) and Never Ending Night (London & Melbourne).She has also had the pleasure of touring Shakespeare and kids shows around Australia with The Flying Bookworm and Essential Theatre.Juliet has performed in pits of mud, covered in blood, large bodies of water and on Torquay clifftops, has jumped off diving boards, from cliffs to crash mats, and repeatedly asked to play the object of queer attractions. It’s a tough life, but someone’s gotta do it. Juliet is most passionate about adventurous projects, and, as gender non-conforming actor, stories centring female and LGBTQIA+ characters. She’s worked extensively in stage, screen, and TVC productions over 15 years and is known for her lead role as the rebellious and chaos loving, Northern Irish ex-con, Fianna, in the stage-play ‘CROCODILE FEVER’ by Meghan Tylor, lead in the multi-award winning, queer-focussed short film, 'Plunge' by Kate Lefoe, and the brave but disappointing Prince Doogle in muddy adaptation of 'Ubu Roi' with 5 Pound Theatre. She’s also known by her dashing Drag King alter-ego Romeo-Romeo from the award winning Drag King duo, BROMEO.You can find Libby on instagram @libbybrockman9 or at www.libbybrockman.comYou can find Juliet on instagram @juliethindmashYou can learn more about Roaring Immersive Theatre at @roaringimmersivetheatre or book tickets here.You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.comYou can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter

On this episode of Do It Again But Better, Jess chats to actor, producer, writer and wardrobe warrior Sally Cheng. Fresh from St Kilda Film Festival, Sally and Jess discuss Sally's Septimius Award-nominated role in the apocalyptic Remi, on set dos and don'ts from a seasoned costume assistant, and attempt to quote passages from some of their favourite books and acting teachers at the same time.Sally Cheng is an actor and producer, known for Neighbours, Safe Home and White Fever. Her recent short film Remi has toured Flickerfest, St Kilda Film Festival, Revelation Perth, and was Nominated for Best Actress at the Septimius Awards. Sally has worked on a variety of short films, commercials and webseries, theatre, as well as writing and producing her own films. Sally has trained with a variety of coaches around the world in both classes and private coaching. She has studied with Lisa Robertson, Howard Fine, Miranda Harcourt, Damian Walshe-Howling, and more. Sally's approach is to always find the truth in the scene, circumstance and moment. You can find Sally on Instagram at @iamsallychengYou can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.comYou can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.comYou can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetterThis podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.

On this episode of Do It Again But Better, Jess chats to actor, singer, dancer, fellow marriage celebrant and radiant improv gal Alexia May Brinsley. Ever inspiring and full of energy, this chat took place on top of two pilates reformer machines as Alexia shares some incredible audition stories, including the "yoga retreat" that was actually full of lap dances, the time that she didn't quite make the cut as a hobbit, and the time that she possibly made a mortal enemy out of a pianist...Alexia triples as an improvisor, fitness instructor, and marriage celebrant. The holy trinity of lots of public speaking. She is also Musical theatre girlie so takes any opportunity to sing a show tune or kick a leg. Her dream career would be to be cast in Australian survivor and get really fit on the Island. Or the the Bachelor… which she has almost got, but those auditions are confidential!Until then, you can find her improvising most weekends in Melbourne with @thebighoohaa or on tour with various Comedy festivals.She is currently performing with @impromptunes at ACMI till the end of Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2024. Check out her page for her dates.In her lack of spare time, Alexia enjoys hot yoga, running and most obnoxiously creative things like writing poems, painting, singing and all extroverted extra things like bottomless brunches with as many friends as possible!You can find Alexia on Instagram at @alexiamaybrinsleyYou can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.comYou can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.comYou can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.comYou can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetterThis podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.

On this episode of Do it Again But Better, Jess chats to actor, voice artist, writer and beer connoisseur, Lord Dominic Gruenewald. Having spent the last several years in very close proximity as they regularly tour several shows around the state, Jess and Dom let you in on their secret sisterhood as they swap stories about auditioning for fake audition panels but still booking the role, their surprising connections to Sri Lanka, and their inability to escape from performing a certain Arthur Miller show forever and ever...Dominic graduated from The Actor’s Centre Australia in 2018 and quickly forged a prosperous career in Sydney’s Shakespearean scene, playing Iago with 63 Globes and Orsino/Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Bar’d Work’s sell out season of The Shakesbeer Sessions: Twelfth Night. He is a frequent performer with immersive theatre company Underground Cinema, as well as educational theatre company Complete Works. He is currently working as the swing on ASC’s touring production of Midsummer Night’s Dream. As you can tell from listening to this podcast, he has a beautiful voice that he has leant to numerous audiobooks.You can find Dom on Instagram at @kaisergruenewaldYou can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.comYou can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.comYou can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.comYou can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetterThis podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.

On this episode of Do it Again But Better, Jess chats to actor, stunt performer, podcast host, model and itchy boi, Seb Muirhead. Not too long returned from shooting a feature film together in Tasmania, they chat about the audition that began their bestie narrative and set them on an ancestral journey that somehow includes frogs, some of Seb's childhood gigs back in his native Scotland, and bond over their worst auditions ever, both for the same Shakespeare company...Originally from Scotland, Seb has called Australia home for the past twelve years. He studied acting at Edinburgh Acting School for four years. During his time there he appeared in a number of their theatrical productions, and had the pleasure of performing in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for two consecutive years. Since moving to Australia, Seb has appeared in Offspring (Network Ten), Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted To You (Nine Network) and Method (Nine Network). Seb also plays lead character Kevin McGavin in the feature film Ancestry Road, slated to be released in cinemas mid 2024. He is also a MEAA graded stunt performer, having done stunt work on La Brea, Ricky Stanicky and Neighbours.Seb hosts a podcast called “Won’t Be Forgetting That”, in which he interviews people that work in the arts and entertainment industry about all the awkward and embarrassing moments that they have had in the business. You can find it on all audio platforms at this link.You can find Seb on Instagram at @sebmuirhead and you can check out his podcast Won't Be Forgetting That at @wontbeforgettingthatpodTo hear Jess's episode on Won't Be Forgetting That, click here.You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.comYou can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.comYou can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.comYou can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetterThis podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.

On this episode of Do it Again But Better, Jess chats to actor, writer, marriage celebrant, comedian and one woman show machine, Emily Carr, as they compare notes on the joys of marrying people for a living, the hilarious insults people hurl at you when they see you in a TV commercial, and Em's tendency to be cast as the 'Miss Honey' type. As more drinks are consumed, the discussion veers far and wide towards ageing in the industry, women's mental health, and the somewhat planning of ridiculous hypothetical weddings.You can catch Emily in Duck Duck Goose at Theatre Works from April 3-13th. You can find her on Instagram at @emilyclarecarrEmily Carr is an actor, writer, celebrant & MC based in Melbourne. A graduate of QUT Drama, she has also trained with esteemed institutions such as NIDA and The Groundlings, refining her skills in acting, comedy and improv. With an extensive background in theatre and film, Emily has developed a passion for creating her own work. Her recent accomplishments include writing and headlining two solo shows ‘Beige Bitch’ and ‘Beauty Queen,’ both of which earned great critical acclaim, some lovely validation and the physical exhaustion of playing multiple characters at rapid speed while still drinking beer after every show. In the midst of writing her next show, Emily is excited to begin rehearsals for "Duck Duck Goose," set to grace the stage at Theatre Works in April with That Production Company.You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.comYou can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.comYou can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.comYou can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetterThis podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.

On this episode of Do It Again But Better, Jess chats to long-time friend, YouTuber, actor, writer, and favourite combatant Elliot Roberts, as they recall their times of studying Performing Arts together, El's persistently food-related TVC career, the joys of being a *famous* YouTuber, and his secret passion for a long-running reality TV show.Elliot is a YouTuber who makes videos about music and film with an emphasis on the Beatles. He’s also an actor who trained at the Howard Fine Acting Studio and has appeared in TV shows such as Molly and Glitch. Elliot lives in Melbourne with his partner Lauren and their dog Martha. You can find Elliot on Instagram at @elliotroberts and on YouTube @ElliotRobertsVideos.You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.comYou can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.comYou can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.comYou can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetterThis podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.