Tasha O’Brien

Lucy Quill: If you chose to retreat from the world and the people in your life as Cristina in Cristina In The Cupboard does, where would you go and why?
If I wanted to go on a holiday anywhere in the world I might pick some place exotic like Brazil, somewhere romantic like Paris or somewhere with an amazing arts industry like Berlin. I suppose however if I truly wanted to retreat, to get away from everything and everyone, I’d pick some place secluded where I could gather my thoughts and not be distracted by everything the world throws in our way. Some place like Fowler’s Gap which is past Broken Hill in rural NSW. I went there for a week last year and was overcome by the sense of freedom due to the complete isolation. No technology. No stress. Just the stars – the real stars – above you and untouched nature surrounding you.

What’s your favourite trait of your character Belinda and why?
Belinda’s confidence and resilience. Others might see it as cockiness, and contextually it might often be the case, but to her credit she truly believes in what she says and she’ll fight with you until you agree with her. She always makes the best out of the worst situations. If there’s a way she can come out as the hero she will! She might be a bit of a one-upper but I think deep down it’s just a coping mechanism she uses to feel connected to everyone, anyone.

What message have you personally taken away from exploring the Cristina In The Cupboard script?
There are a lot of messages I’ve taken from this script and I mean that sincerely. Cristina In The Cupboard is such a universal story about human connection and the similarities within our differences. For me one of the big messages is that even if you give up on the world and yourself, there will always be people in your life that never give up on you and that might frustrate you as it does Cristina, but you can’t help the way other people feel about you. Another message is that life sucks – but that’s ok! It may be clichéd but you have to take the bad with the good because without it you just can’t appreciate how good it really is. With ups there are downs, but with fear comes joy.

What’s your favourite holiday memory?
My first trip overseas. I went to visit my friend who had moved to New Zealand. I was welcomed by his family into their home and they were so excited about making sure I had the best time! We did a mini road-trip around the South Island, we did the touristy things like Milford Sound, but we also would just drive and randomly stop to see the hidden gems like when we got up early, drove in our pjs and ate breakfast at some lookout where some bikies asked us to take their photo. We stayed at great hostels, we stayed at awful hostels, and it just made the trip more memorable.

What is one of the most bizarre things you’ve experienced?
Bizarre…that’s a tricky one. Probably the looks on people’s faces when a bunch of us were trying to do deep and meaningful acting exercises as part of a uni excursion in the middle of Taronga Zoo. Especially when it was often silent and we were just using facial expressions. We must’ve looked like the biggest bunch of weirdos. I definitely saw some parents physically holding their kids back.

Lucy Quill

Tasha O’Brien: What do you think makes Cristina In The Cupboard unique so that people shouldn’t miss out on seeing it?
Lucy Quill: Cristina In The Cupboard is such a unique piece of work because it’s creating a magical world that is Cristina’s mind, where time, thoughts and memories are all skewed, yet there’s something extremely real and relatable about her projections. The experiences and feelings that Cristina is projecting in her mind are things that we’ve all gone through as humans, and it lets you feel like you’re actually normal and like you have a place in the world because you’re clearly not the only one who has had these experiences, and that’s what makes this play so enthralling and hilarious.

What are the similarities between yourself and your character Erica?
Oh geez I hope I’m not TOO similar to Erica! She means well, bless her, but she’d be quite taxing to be around! In saying that, I love her for her faults, which no doubt she sees as extremely endearing qualities. Erica genuinely feels she knows what’s best for everyone in every situation. She’s got an answer for everything and relates to anything you’ve ever been through. If you’re going through a break up, she totally gets it because she broke up with a boy when she was 14 and she felt sad too, probably a bit sadder than you actually. If you have a cold, she has the flu etc., etc… I think we all have a tendency to do that. We want to relate to people and their experiences and we want to be heard and validated, sometimes as the cost of hearing someone else and validating them! I know that if someone is telling a cool story, I’m trying to think of a similar experience that I’ve had so I can jump in when they finish and say ‘That’s like the time I…’. I think it’s human nature to do this and while Erica demonstrates this in an extreme way, this is where I can empathise with her and relate to her the most.

This is your first theatre performance in two years, has the role been what you were hoping for?
Yes, it has been. It’s been such a blast playing Erica, and it’s also been a massive challenge and learning experience. Portraying Erica in the hyperbolic way that she’s been written, whilst still capturing her authenticity has been a challenge that I didn’t initially expect I would come across. I was a little surprised by how complex it’s been to play a comedic role, but it’s something that I’ve loved tackling. I set out to challenge myself when I auditioned for Cristina In The Cupboard, so I’m extremely grateful that this role has given me the opportunity to do that as I’ve learnt so much and feel like I’ve achieved a lot.

How old were you when you had your first kiss?
I was 13 and it was at an underage rage that we all used to go to every Friday night called ‘Redz’. I was wearing low-ride, bootleg jeans with a classic Supré slogan tee that let everyone know that I was a ‘Hustler’, in case they hadn’t realised already. I was cutting shapes on the dance floor to ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem and a boy called Greg started dancing with me. He was from another school so I didn’t know him that well but when he leaned down to kiss me I took the opportunity because my friend Abbie had already kissed like three guys in her lifetime. It wasn’t romantic and it was totally gross but I was so happy to have had my first kiss.

Have you travelled to any out of the way places and/or have any interesting travel stories?
I was on an island in the Caribbean with my family and we were doing a bus tour with about 20 other people. The tour guide drove us up to the top a cliff so we could see the point where the Caribbean Sea meets the North Atlantic Ocean. He pulled up and hopped out of the bus and we followed. My sister and my dad had gotten out of the bus, but mum and I were still in there when the bus started rolling back towards the edge of the cliff because the tour guide forgot to put the handbrake on! Just a minor oversight! We all started screaming and pushing each other towards the door and luckily the driver managed to jump in and pull the handbrake in time to save us from going A over T over the cliff. #gratefultobealive

Tasha O’Brien and Lucy Quill are appearing in Cristina In The Cupboard by Paul Gilchrist.
Dates: 13 – 30 July, 2016
Venue: The Depot Theatre

Cherrie Whalen-David

Caspar Hardaker: What is the most valuable experience you’ve gained from working on Plaything?
Cherrie Whalen-David: This play is a real workout for the brain. Not only is the play quite wordy, so challenging to learn the dialogue, but there is the abstract element to get my head around as well.

What is your favourite pastime when you have no obligations to anything?
I love spending time with friends and family enjoying delicious food and wine.

Are there such things as aliens in our galaxy?
Not in my world, but perhaps I’ve just been too busy to notice them.

What’s the most awkward experience you’ve had whilst performing?
During The run of The Cherry Orchard (last year at The Depot Theatre) I managed to tip coffee all over myself one evening , luckily my character had a butler to help tidy her up.

Are you a cat or a dog type of person?
We currently have 2 cats whom I love but am secretly hoping to get a white West Highland Terrier one day.

Caspar Hardaker

Cherrie Whalen-David: Your character in Plaything loves to party. What’s your idea of a great night out?
Caspar Hardaker: My idea of a great night out is actually completely different to my character’s. I actually would prefer having a night in with movies and a glass of red. If I’m planning on having a big one then I guess I would love to be able to buy food and alcohol without spending too much money but that’s somewhat of an inescapable conundrum in my life.

A character in Plaything dies suddenly in mysterious circumstances. What would you choose as your last supper?
As a last supper I would have to go with a superfluous amount of garlic dip, garlic bread, Woodford Margherita pizza, and a lovely glass (or bottle(s)) of Shiraz.

How tall are you Casper?
Last time I checked I was about 6 foot 5, or 6 foot 6. In centimetres I think I’m around 195cm.

If you weren’t an actor what other career would you like to pursue?
I would be pretty open to anything really. I don’t really know what I’d choose straight away but possibly something to do with children or music. Or maybe even both!

What’s your favourite time of the year?
My favourite time of the year is Spring. When the weather starts to change and you can smell the jacarandas and feel summer. Good vibes and festivities are upon the horizon and everything feels like it’s just around the corner. What’s not to love?

Cherrie Whalen-David and Caspar Hardaker can be seen in Plaything by Simon Dodd.
Dates: 30 Mar – 16 Apr, 2016
Venue: The Depot Theatre

Cherilyn Price

Ryan Henry: If you could sum up your character Zoe in three words, what would they be and why?
Cherilyn Price: Steadfast – someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me. Pugnacious – willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause. Passionate – open your heart to me, baby, I hold the lock and you hold the key.

What’s the most challenging and rewarding part about playing a character who has a younger self played by another actor in Through A Beaded Lash?
Most challenging: having a gorgeous young actor like Emily play the younger version, gee she must have really let herself go!!! Most rewarding: working out some shared mannerisms and vocal intonations so, hopefully, it’s not a total stretch for the audience to believe that it’s the same person 30 years later.

What excites you most about this production?
Lots of things about the play excite me, I spent the early 80’s nearly living on Oxford St, dancing the night away on the strip with my friends and so this is a very nostalgic experience for me. But my favourite part is that the play is written by a very dear friend of mine and I know this play is very close to Robert’s heart, so it’s a thrill to see it come to life.

If Zoe had a reality TV show, what would it be called and what would it entail?
Australia’s Next Top Fag Hag. A fly on the wall expose of Zoe’s teaching methodology as she puts fag hag wannabes through their paces!

In regards to acceptance of the LGBT community, what’s the biggest change you’ve noticed over time?
From my perspective, a big physical change is the decentralisation of gay bars. There used to be that large concentration of pubs and clubs along lower Oxford Street, like a beacon, and people would bar hop and run into friends and acquaintances along the way. The strip has now been diminished, not sure how many of the original clubs remain. Then of course over time there’s been increased legal recognition for same-sex couples and families and of course the push for marriage equality (um wake up Australia!) and the increased introduction of LGBT characters on television. These are all massive changes from the Sydney I first encountered when moving here in the 80’s.

Ryan Henry

Cherilyn Price: Your character Brent performs a drag routine within the play, how was that and how did you prepare for the scene? And how do you walk in those heels?
I’d be lying if I said that that particular process was a walk in the park. It really all came down to confidence and the right mindset. Knowing that when I walked on stage that I had to believe I was the most fabulous person in the room. That when I sang, every word sung was the only truth to be heard. With that in mind, cockiness and a narcissistic attitude are your best friend as a drag queen. As for the heels; countless hours of practice in rehearsals and realising beauty really is pain.

Who’s your favourite – Judy, Barbra or Bette?
Oh thats a tough one. As much as I adore this entire trio of performers, I’m going to have to say my heart lies with Barbra. I can’t deny my love for a broadway musical and it wouldn’t feel right to say someone could top the queen of the stage herself.

The play talks about the gay community of the 80’s, do you have sense of community where you live?
It’s difficult to answer this. I come from the western suburbs out in Penrith where there is a lot of stigma about people from their being very narrowed minded. I wouldn’t say that’s 100% accurate but there isn’t a sense of community for me personally as opposed to when I travel east and hit the city. I’m fortunate enough to be surrounded by friends and family who do bring about a sense of community, but I’m always reminded of a lack of community the moment you step beyond friendship and family ties.

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?
That depends if you included the things I haven’t been caught for! I’m kidding… sort of. I guess I would have to say, lying to work about a family illness to get out of a shift, which is awful I know! I just really didn’t feel like working and that was the first thing that popped into my head.

Who would you throw yourself under a bus for?
The obvious answer would be my family, friends and partner. No question. But if it was a choice between them and say, Meryl Streep, I honestly doing know who would survive that situation. I mean… Meryl is basically god, am I right?

Ryan Henry and Cherilyn Price can be seen in Through A Beaded Lash by Robert Allan.
Dates: 25 Nov – 12 Dec, 2015
Venue: The Depot Theatre

Zac McKay

Steve Vincent: What’s your most important/meaningful/memorable theatre experience?
Zac McKay: Definitely the first. Chinchilla with STC at the Drama Theatre Opera house. Directed by Rodney Fisher, designed by Brian Thompson. The set was completely white using the entire stage area, with a ballet bar running along the back wall. Stunning. The play itself about Nijinski Diaghilev, and the Ballet Russes. Coming straight from drama school to work with such a great bunch of actors including, Peter Carroll, John Gadden and Linda Cropper in such an iconic building was truly a blast.

Who would play you in the film “Zach McKay: It’s not OKay!!”
Nana Mouskouri. It’s a glasses thing.

Two Parter: In Ghosts you play Jacob Engstrand. a)What does Engstrand do on a Wednesday night? And b)What’s his spirit animal?
Gets pissed, falls unconscious in a gutter. Budgerigar.

In Ghosts, the only time we share the stage is in one scene where I enter but then you leave almost immediately!! What’s that about? Was it something I said?
You don’t say anything! However, you’re taller than me, younger than me, better looking than me, more talented than me, your have an agent a wife a car…. need I go on? I weep with despair every time I see you, and you ask about sharing the stage.

Any weird or wonderful pre or post show rituals?
No.

Steve Vincent

Zac McKay: What drew you to acting?
Steve Vincent: I was pursuing a career as a professional footballer when I met a beautiful young woman whose grace, confidence and worldliness struck me like a thunderbolt and woke me up out of my one track football mind! She was studying classical music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and her influence on me is huge, I started to see there was a lot more to life than football and I felt I needed to find a way to try and explore and learn every inch of life. Acting was the answer.

What Shakespearean character would you like to play?
Without a second thought or doubt… Shylock! I’ve loved and felt for him from the moment I read The Merchant Of Venice and would love a hit out at him. I came to the works of Bill late and Shylock was the first character I met and I keep returning to him over and over. I’m also a big Pacino fan and he brought a tenderness and humanity to a character many thought to be evil. I already know all his lines, all I need is to age a bit and I’m set!

How do you learn all those lines?
Repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition! It’s the old fashion way, but it’s the only way for me. Apps and recordings never lets it sink. I just repeat and repeat and as they sink I try to form images to associate and then recreate those “mind paintings” each time I repeat. The blocking helps, and then I take them for walks all over the city and try to make them conversations.

What pertinence does Ghosts have to a contemporary audience?
Ibsen’s works aren’t classics just because they are old. They’re classics because the themes he writes about are universal and transcend time or period or culture. I relate to my character Olswald because I can understand his issues with his world, his family, culture, his art and himself. As I too have gone through one or two of the same issues. The world gets older but the issues for people stay the same. It’s kinda sad when you think about it. But, if you’re a mum, dad, son, daughter, have hopes and dreams, strong ideals, have been lied to or have lied to someone, in love or out of love or been born… Then you’ll find something in Ghosts.

If you could achieve anything, having no limitations whatsoever, what would that be?
It’s going to sound corny but I’ve recently learned limitations are what you put on yourself. We live in a great country where we can set out to achieve anything! I’m the son of migrants, they had limitations due to a Franco ruled Spain. Their choice to move to Australia has resulted in a lifestyle for me where I can achieve anything! I owe it to them to do so. I’d also like to have a long lunch with Marlon Brando!

Zac McKay and Steve Vincent can be seen in Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen.
Dates: 7 – 24 Oct, 2015
Venue: The Depot Theatre