Episodes

  • On this episode of Do It Again But Better, Jess chats to actors and co-directors Eve Morey and Claire Frost, following their recent Fringe show Instructions not Included, written by Claire. Tune in as they share notes on writing, intimacy coordination, the joys of producing, being asked to audition inside a fast food chain, blowing your NIDA callback, and discovering your own Wikipedia page.


    Claire's debut play, "Instructions Not Included", is a manifestation of the two sides of her professional personality battling to be heard. One part of her is an actor, disillusioned with her future in acting. The other part is a marketing professional, using her experience and knowledge to find the confidence she needs to move through the world. Throughout Claire's experience as an actor, the role of marketing in theatre and film has always captivated her. When Claire finished her Creative Arts degree at Deakin University, she went to The National Theatre Drama School. Claire completed a Masters of Marketing Communications at the University of Melbourne to engage with the field from an educated perspective. In 2019, Claire returned to acting, completing the Part Time program at the Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia as well as participating in the Acting Masterclass with Howard Fine.


    After graduating from NIDA in 2006, Eve has worked as an actor on stage and screen for the past 18 years. Eve is probably most recognised for her nearly decade-long role as Sonya Rebecchi on the long-running serial drama, Neighbours. Eve earned a Silver Logie Nomination for Best Actress and a Gold Logie Nomination in 2019 for her work. Eve’s more recent acting credits include Mystery Road (S2), Total Control (S2) and More Than This, as well as the Sundance award-winning film, Shayda. In early 2019, Eve began to pursue her passion for supporting actors in performance through the role of Acting Coach/Dramaturg, before heading to the UK later that year to undertake Intimacy Coordinator training with Ita O’Brien. As an IC, Eve has supported various screen productions including the feature film, Shayda (Sony Picture Classics), as well as numerous television productions with her more recent credits including Surviving Summer (Netflix), White Fever (ABC) and the yet to be released, Apple Cider Vinegar (Netflix). Following her character’s departure from Neighbours, Eve worked as the serial drama’s resident dramaturg/acting coach for three years.


    You can find Claire on Instagram at @clairefrost

    You can find Eve on Instagram at @morey.eve


    You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • 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 @lizziebrennnnnn


    You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  • 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.com

    You can find Juliet on instagram @juliethindmash

    You 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.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • 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 @iamsallycheng


    You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • On this episode of Do It Again But Better, Jess chats to actor, voice artist, dragon rider, spider whisperer, and everyone's favourite Slytherin, Louis Corbett. Louis had some amazing stories and advice to share from his decades-long acting career as he tells Jess about his years spent on The Cursed Child, as well as the gig where he ate his weight in lollies, the unlikely role that he got recognised for in public, and the time that he tried to rock a Missy Higgins song for an audition and failed spectacularly.


    Louis has been working as an actor since the age of six years old. His Australian TV credits include: 'Blue Heelers' (Southern Star); 'Stingers' (BSLM); 'We Can Be Heroes' (ABC); the ABC comedy 'It's A Date'; playing the Young Graham Kennedy in 'The King' (Dir: Matthew Saville/Grundy) and 'Tangle' (Southern Star) amongst others. Most recently, he appeared in recurring roles on both Wentworth (Foxtel) and Romper Stomper (Stan). Louis’ feature film credits include 'Macbeth' (Dir: Geoffrey Wright), Paramount’s 'Charlotte’s Web', where he played Avery opposite Dakota Fanning and the lead role in 'The Dragon Pearl' opposite Sam Neill. U.S. TV credits include 'Deceit' (Lifetime TV) and 'Nightmares and Dreamscapes: Umney’s Last Case' (Coote/ Hayes). Louis has also appeared in the short film series 'Tiny Town', directed by Tim Dean. Louis has performed for many years in Melbourne's independent theatre scene and has also worked with the Melbourne Theatre Company in 'All My Sons' and the Tim Winton play 'Rising Water'. Most recently, Louis performed as an on-stage swing in the original cast of 'Harry Potter and The Cursed Child' (Michael Cassel Group).


    You can find Louis on Instagram at @chewysorbet


    You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • 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 @alexiamaybrinsley


    You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • 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 @kaisergruenewald


    You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • 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 @wontbeforgettingthatpod

    To 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.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • 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 @emilyclarecarr


    Emily 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.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • 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.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • On the first episode of Do it Again But Better, Jess chats to actor, audiobook narrator, director, yoga teacher and all-around darling Annabelle Tudor about some of her audition highs and lows, including that time she auditioned in a garden bed, inadvertently going a little bit method in preparation for playing the Courtesan, and a mysterious case of the Snookies.


    Since completing her BA (Acting) at Federation University Arts Academy Australia in 2016, Annabelle has enjoyed a varied theatrical career in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Highlights have included originating the role of Hannah in the Australian cast of Puffs, playing Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing for Melbourne Shakespeare Company, and Witch One and Lady MacDuff in Macbeth for The Australian Shakespeare Company. She recently made her television debut on ABC’s Gruen and has also narrated over 30 audiobooks.


    Annabelle will be playing Beatrice in Melbourne Shakespeare Company's March 2024 season of Much Ado About Nothing. You can find Annabelle on Instagram at @belletudor.


    You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Join Naarm/Melbourne-based actor, writer, voice artist, producer & marriage celebrant Jess Stanley as she chats to her fellow creatives about their audition experiences—the good, the bad and the pure cringe—as well as acting and life in general.


    You can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.com

    You can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.com

    You can find Jess as a marriage celebrant at @stanbymeceremonies or at www.stanbymeceremonies.com

    You can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetter


    This podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.