Kate’s first appearance on stage was as a singing rabbit in a primary school production. She went on to play the part of St George and was hooked. Unfortunately, slaying dragons is frowned upon in ‘real life’ so she took up theatre instead, where no one told her that St George had to be male.

Kate obtained a BA (Hons) in English Studies from Manchester Polytechnic in the UK, where she immersed herself in the theatre scene of the fantastically vibrant city. She immigrated to New Zealand in 1996, where she enjoyed performing in Christchurch, Wellington and the Wakatipu. Among other things she appeared as Mrs Elton in Emma, Witch 1 in Macbeth, Queen Elizabeth in Richard III, Dionne in Hair, Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible, Sister Jeanne in The Devils, Jelena in Necessary Targets, Maria in Twelfth Night, Lucy in Secret Bridesmaids’ Business, and Jeanette in The Full Monty.

Since arriving in Canberra in 2012 she has performed in Improbable Fiction, Twelfth Night, Casanova, Gaslight, Macbeth and Oh, What a Lovely War! for Canberra Rep, as well as The Hollow for Tempo Theatre, At Home at the Zoo for Something Borrowed, In Loco Parentis for the Street Theatre (Canberra Critics Circle Award), Cara Carissima for The Acting Company with Shadow Pits, and Vinegar Tom for COUP: Canberra. She also performed in the award-winning short film With Little Hope. (Cinema New York City Film Festival Best Short Film)

In Canberra Kate has directed an International Women’s Day performance of excerpts from Carol Ann Duffy’s The World’s Wife for Crouching Giraffe, Coda for Shirley for The Acting Company in association with Shadowhouse Pits, Neighbourhood Watch and Blithe Spirit for Canberra Repertory, and a couple of ten-minute plays for Short and Sweet. Other previous directing credits include plays Popcorn, Night Cleaners and Blackadder:Bells for Queenstown Shakespeare Trust, and the musicals Beatlemania ’64 and Cribbies for the Arrowtown Entertainers. 

Kate wrote and directed Scene Stealers and promenade performances Shakespeare on Location and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gardens in Queenstown, and a Shakespearean compilation, An Error of Comedies, which toured the South Island of New Zealand. For the 150th anniversary of the discovery of gold in Arrowtown, she was commissioned to write a series of site specific theatre pieces for the official commemoration of the Chinese Miners’ Village. She has also written a ten-minute play, Sorry, which was performed at Short & Sweet, and published a novel, Mornington Crescent.

THEATRE

2021  The Penelopiad (in production) | Penelope | Crouching Giraffe in association with papermoon theatre

2019  Wicked Sisters | Meridee | papermoon theatre

2019  A Doll’s House | Helene | Canberra Repertory Society

2018  Coda for Shirley | Sarah | The Acting Company

2017  Paper Cuts | Caravan Dreams & Mother to an adult daughter | Budding Theatre

2017  Trelawny of the Wells | Mrs Mossop | Canberra Repertory Society

2016  Santa Baby | Christmas in Yorkshire | Yorkshire woman | Budding Theatre Productions

2016 Box and Cox | Mrs Bouncer | papermoon theatre

2016  She Stoops to Conquer | Mrs Hardcastle | Canberra Repertory Society

2015  The Art of Teaching Nothing | Clara | Free Rain/Budding Theatre

2015  The Crucible | Ann Putnam/Martha Corey | Canberra Repertory Society

2014  Blithe Spirit | Mrs Bradman | Canberra Repertory Society

2014  The Unexpected | Lisa | Canberra Short+Sweet Festival

2014  Nothing is Sacred | Budding Theatre Productions

2014  Warts and All | Dotty | Long Run Theatre Productions

2013  The Fridge | Barracuda/Ms Minetti/Repairer | Duck Bunny Theatre

2013  Ten Years On | Jess | Canberra Short+Sweet Festival

2013  Therapist | Mary | Canberra Short+Sweet Festival

2013  The Reluctant Shopper | Katrina/Debbie/Shop Assistant | Long Run Theatre Productions

2013  Calendar Girls | Annie Clarke | Canberra Repertory Society

2012  Lost in Yonkers | Gertrude Kurnitz | Canberra Repertory Society

2012  Wyrd Sisters | Granny Weatherwax | Women’s Theatre Forum TAC

2012  The Logues | Cynthia’s Baggage & Brain Waves | Rep STUDIO

2011  Out of Order | Nurse Foster | Canberra Repertory Society

2011  Gertrude’s Hamlet | Gertrude (The Mother) | Women’s Theatre Forum TAC

2011  The Logues | My Mother’s Corset & Dog in a Tree | Rep STUDIO

2011  Secret Bridesmaids’ Business | Housemaid & ASM | Canberra Repertory Society

2010  Survival Instinct | Rose | Canberra Short+Sweet Festival

2010  My Name is ART | Gloria | Canberra Short+Sweet Festival

2010  The Logues | Marty | Rep STUDIO

2009  It Runs In the Family | Sister (Matron for two shows)| Canberra Repertory Society

ARTSOUND RADIO PLAYS

2015 - 2021  Various Plays | Various characters | papermoon theatre

AWARDS

2016 Nomination – Best Supporting Actress She Stoops to Conquer | CAT AWARDS

2010 Winner – Best Actress Survival Instinct | Canberra Short + Sweet Festival

CORPORATE VIDEO

2014  Radiation Oncology | Patient Education DVD |        Cancer Patient | Southern Cross Ten

2012  Department of Veteran Affairs | Anne | Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art

SHORT FILMS

2017  The Little Spinster | Mother | Will Scott

2014  Disorder | Paloma | CIT Production (LittleWhiteLies Production)

2013  The Reenactment | Gertrude | CIT Production (A9nine Production)

Martha is an emerging actor and theatre-maker with a passion for ensemble work and devised pieces. Born and raised in Canberra, from a young age Martha has performed in many capacities across Canberra’s community theatre scene. From monologuing at Smith’s Alternative, to directing in Canberra College’s theatre production course, she is passionate about exploring all facets of the theatre-making process. In 2018 her original short play ‘Miss’, which she both wrote and performed in, placed as runner up in Canberra’s ‘Short + Sweet’ play festival. 

In 2020 she studied in Perth at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where she received her Diploma of Acting. While at WAAPA she performed as Alfieri in Arthur Miller’s ‘A View From The Bridge’, Katherina in Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, and various roles in Caryl Churchill’s ‘Love + Information’. She currently teaches as a Workshop Artist at Canberra Youth Theatre, where she is also a member of their emerging artists company ‘Emerge’. 

Next year Martha plans to move back WA and bring her work to the Perth Fringe Festival. Her own devised work focuses on the voice of a female ensemble, hence her interest in ‘The Penelopiad’. Through the experience of this show Martha has met some extraordinary women who have inspired her and galvanised her passion for female voices in theatre.