Acting
When I left High School, I was lucky enough to get a place on NIDA Open Young Actor’s Studio. I had done lots of their short courses, but spending a whole year learning with a group of 12 emerging actors was a blast. I continued my studies with a Cert IV in Stage and Screen with DramaWorks Academy and Perform Australia. Since 2021 I have been studying all things film with the amazing Bus Stop Films and loving it.
In 2020 I became a La Boite Theatre emerging artist in their Assembly Programme where we presented Quick Fixes written by Indiah Morris and directed by Sarah Ogden.
I had the immense honour of watching the initial collaboration between performer Olivia Hargroder and director Sarah Ogden as part of La Boite's 2020 program: ASSEMBLY. The pair brokered a new way of working - building and creating a short work that blended movement and text inside of a process of their own making. It was truly exciting to watch and, I believe, the beginning of a new relationship between the two artists that could lead to some exemplary performance work.
Daniel Evans
Freelance Director
Co-starring with Anna McGahan in the short film Sunshine, has definitely been a highlight. It premiered at the 2021 Brisbane International Film Festival. Now on the film festival circuit, it has been shown in Perth, India and the USA, so far.
My own documentary See Me For Who I Am with Belinda Adams and Citrine Sun Entertainment finished in the top 5 in the All Abilities Film Festival 2020.
I have loved doing training videos for Down Syndrome Qld, especially the one on employment where I get to play a very BAD employee. Recently, a teacher rushed up to me for a selfie. ‘My class love you, because you’re the funny one!’ she explained. How exciting to bring a bit of a laugh into the classroom!
Playing a character, exploring themes, challenges, deep emotion, fun and laughter is a joy for me. Sharing that work on stage or screen to make a difference, however small, in someone’s life is a privilege.
‘From supporting Olivia in rehearsal rooms, I have seen how integral theatre and performance is to Olivia. Acting and performance allows Olivia the freedom to explore her creative self in so many different aspects. Dance allows her a uniquely powerful method of self- expression to tell stories and convey the depths of her emotion. Through monologues she is able to tell stories, both her own and other characters, revealing her innate and quirky sense of humour’.
Rachel Layt Drama Coach
Stage and Screen Credits
Jul 2019 Short film ‘Redeem’ with Dramaworks Academy
Aug 2019 Played Brack in ‘I Hate Hedda'- Queensland One Act Play Festival
Jun 2020 Juiced TV Live cross to Carmit Bachar from Pussycat Dolls
Sep 2020 TV Commercial Qld Government ‘Stand By Me’
Sep2020 ‘See Me for Who I Am’ All Abilities Short Film Festival Documentary Category - starred and co-produced with Citrine Sun Entertainment
Oct/Nov 2020 Assembly2020 La Boite Theatre Company Emerging Artists Programme ‘Quick Fixes’
Hip-Hop Performance Crew 2019-2021 Inside Outside Dance. Multiple performances
Aug 2021 Lead Actor DSQ Employment Training Video
Oct 2021 ‘Sunshine’ short film lead ‘Maddie’-Taste Creative/Bus Stop Films-
-Brisbane Int Film Festival Australian Premiere October 2021
-Cleveland International Film Festival US Premiere April 2022
Feb 2022 Training video ASE Digital Professional Workforce Action Plan
Mar 2022 Lead Actor Training Video DSQ Safety in Social Media
Aug 2022 Indelability Arts Ensemble with Clint Bolster
Aug 2022 Now and The Future Podcast
Sep 2022 True Grit Sydney Opera House
Oct 2022 ‘We will Always Have Dance’ Premiere BIFF
