Director, Producer, Actor 

Katherine is an innovator with extensive experience in strategic project development and delivery of public/private projects. Her focus spans cultural production, agriculture, education, civic and commercial projects in Australia and overseas. Katherine’s style is marked by strong analytical skills, commercial acumen and a capacity to listen. She brings to her work the insights of an artist’s eye, matched by competency and commitment to deliver ideas into reality

Sarah grew up in The Roxy Theatre, with years of participation in the Leeton Eisteddfod and school productions, including Top Hat Tales, an original production written by English Master Ron White in the late 80s. As a girl, she wrote and directed a production of Pinocchio:the Musical, a co-production between Leeton Youth Choir and Di Salvatore Dance Academy (1985). Always writing, she went on to work as a senior speechwriter for government ministers in Canberra, raising her three children as a single mother and eventually publishing her first book of poetry in 2005. Since then, she has published five volumes of poetry, been recognised in Best of Australian Poetry a number of times and been shortlisted for various competitions. In 2020, she became a COVID refugee in her own hometown, and during the lockdown, founded the Leeton Art Deco Writers Collective, soon to publish their second volume of collected works, and this year established local publishing house, Riverina Press. She has waited a long time for this wonderful chance to meet Jake and be part of The Roxy Theatre community again. She plans many future collaborations with Jake and the team.

Jasmine is an accomplished Sydney-based theatrical lighting designer and programmer, working with both the professional and independent theatre community. Recognised for her creative expertise and producing inspiring lighting designs, Jasmine was thrilled to be the lighting designer for the Jekyll & Hyde 25th Anniversary Concerts starring Australia’s best, Anthony Warlow and Jemma Rix in 2019. Jasmine’s musical background has influenced her programming style to compliment and highlight a range of musical styles and genres. Her latest works include Jersey Boys (So Popera Productions), the inspiring song cycle Well Behaved Women (Hayes Theatre), Catch Me If You Can (Hayes Theatre), Grease: The Musical (So Popera Productions), Small Mouth Sounds (Eternity Playhouse), the 2018 national tour of Letters To Lindy directed by Darren Yap. In 2020 she was delighted to win the Sparrow Mentorship program for lighting design with Trudy Dalgleish.

My parents, as great lovers of the stage and amateur performers, gave me a deep appreciation of theatre. An art teacher in Griffith and then Leeton, I loved creating sets and props for school and community-based events. Encouraging young people to find a place in the Arts is a passion. I also enjoyed being stage manager for Grease 2010, and production and stage manager for Oliver in 2012, both community musicals held at The Roxy Theatre. It’s truly a privilege working with the Henry V Production Team as Costume and Wardrobe Coordinator, putting Simon Greer’s fabulous designs on set.

Phil Meline always loved music, and grew up at the best time in Leeton, any sport you chose to play, you could, BMX bikes and Blue Light Discos at The Roxy, movies, like when his brothers took him to see Jaws, when he spent a fair bit of time under the old tilt seat. He was part of a seminal local band “The Janitors” around 1988. In his own words, the band was ok, but it was more about the following, our friends, the people, playing at The Roxy back then to a packed house. It was a brilliant time. Phil is involved in this huge project that is Henry V because he was asked, and In a community like Leeton, where everyone knows everyone, if you are asked, you try your bets to deliver. He’s very excited to see where The Roxy goes in the future
- atmosphere and feel in a place mean everything, for artists and audience alike, and The Roxy has that. The whole team has worked so hard because they could see it was needed. He is grateful son, Harvey, has been on a break from studying Engineering at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst and he’s been a great help. Dad gave him no choice!, Although the work of setting building is behind the scenes everyone has been great and have so appreciated what they bring. Without the tireless effort and amazing practical and construction skills of Phil and his team, the show would not be possible.

Harvey finished Year 12 at St Francis College in 2019. He studied music for his six-year tenure, and is a very talented guitarist, like his dad. He had a gap year at Sunrice to prepare for university. He is an obsessed fan of West Ham, in the English premier league soccer - “hammers”- and is enjoying being part of the crew and just helping out.Both of Phil and Harvey enjoy days fishing on the ‘bidgee’, with wife and mum Nat and sister and daughter Adelaide, and happy weekend with netball for the girls, and motor bike riding and music for Harv and Dad.

Riley is Leeton born and bred. He studied Drama at Leeton High School from Year 9 to Year 12 and starred in school productions of Legally Blonde (as Emmett Forrest) and Back to the Eighties (as Mr Cocker) under the directorship of teachers Bec Van den Huevel and Kellie Goman. He has been working in hospitality since finishing school and continues to do so whilst exploring his creative aspirations. When the opportunity came up in 2018 to work with Jake Speer on Inside Water, Riley jumped at the chance. Jake was looking for an intern –someone he could rely on and who would really respond to the environment and opportunity to learn all aspects of film production. Jake’s mum Tania was working at the high school

at the time and said to Jake ‘I’ve got someone for you’, because she recognised something in Riley, and the mentoring relationship really took off. Being involved in Henry V is a very different experience, but there are many similarities in the experience with Inside Water, especially of thinking on your feet, and how people join together to work as one. Riley and Jake’s grandmothers are long-term best of friends.

Being asked to come on board as the Associate Director to Jake on Henry V was an opportunity that Bonnie couldn’t refuse. As both a Shakespeare enthusiast and a historian, Henry V is the perfect alignment of her passions. She has been thrilled by Jake’s approach to storytelling and the stage, and the chance to work with more of the fabulous arts community in the Western Riverina.

To then be asked to join the cast, also to play alongside her mother in her stage debut – Henry V 2021 just keeps getting better! Based in Griffith, Bonnie works across the museum, gallery, and theatre. She has been involved in staging Shakespeare productions since the age of 15, taking the role of Director in more recent years. For Bonnie, Shakespeare’s work continues to hold universal truths, and when we are lost for words, Shakespeare speaks for us.

Born in Sydney, Greg has lived in Wagga Wagga since 2015. In civilian clothes, he works as an artist, exhibiting in regional galleries and capital cities across the country. He also teaches English to high school students at Wagga Wagga High School. Henry V will be Greg’s acting debut, so it was with both trepidation and great excitement that he undertook the role of Pistol, seeing it as an honour to add to the history of theatre in Leeton, and to help spark a new era of creative expression and development in the region for years to come. Having taught Shakespeare since 2003, this production has allowed Greg to experience Shakespeare’s work from new and exciting perspectives, and he hopes it will open up an even deeper understanding and appreciation of his work and worldview.

Born in Albury, but now living in Leeton working for a local accounting firm, Andrew got the acting bug in Newcastle, where amateur theatre is very popular. He immediately fell in love with everything about it. Andrew was extremely excited to see the auditions pop-up here and even more thrilled to be asked to be involved. To be involved in such a professional production has been a real privilege, and
the bonds that have been formed between the cast and across the region promise much for the future.

Jock Lander’s theatrical debut was in his 2009 Kindergarten performance Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. Since then, Jock has appeared in several Griffith community productions. In 2015 and 2017 he appeared as a member of the ensemble in Beauty and the Beast and Wicked. In 2019 he starred as Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde. Jock’s Shakespearean debut was in 2019 as a member of the Fairy Ensemble in Griffith Regional Association of Performing Arts (GRAPA)’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream. He is currently a Year 12 boarding student at St Francis College in Leeton and has singing lessons with John Sloan, and dance training

at DiSalvatore Dance Academy. Jock is incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity to perform alongside the extremely talented cast of Henry V.

As a founding member of the GRAPA theatre group in Griffith, Bernie Maxwell has had a life-long passion for drama. He has over thirty productions to his credit as an actor, producer and playwright. Bernie has a degree in Theatre Studies from University of New England and is a multiple Canberra Area Theatre Awards nominee for acting and writing. One of Bernie’s proudest achievements in theatre was the opportunity to perform at the iconic Adelaide Fringe Festival. He now suspects that Henry V in the spectacular Roxy Theatre could well top that.

Adam Mitchell is a Leeton local, born and bred. Currently working as a Law Clerk for Farrell Goode Solicitors in Narrandera and undertaking legal studies, Henry

V has provided him with the opportunity to rekindle his love for drama ignited back at school by the mentorship of beloved English teacher Stephanie Scott, who tragically passed away in 2015. When Adam is not grappling with the Law, he enjoys going to the gym, all things basketball and having a laugh

Griffith born and bred and mum to three amazing girls, Belinda has always had a love of performing arts, working at the Griffith Regional Theatre and being involved in local productions over the years. Moving to Wantabadgery about ten years ago to help run the family cattle and sheep property, Belinda also works as a library officer at Charles Sturt University and passionately loves books and history. Although she had supported daughter Bonnie from the sideline in all of her drama endeavours, Belinda had never auditioned or performed on stage so she took a leap of faith when she heard about Henry V, and here she is!

To play alongside her daughter on a stage will always be a life highlight for her.

Growing up in West Wyalong, Charles lives in Wagga Wagga, and graduated from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in 2020 with a Bachelor of Stage and Screen (Acting). He has starred in local TV advertisements and hopes to pursue an acting career in the big cities. As a strong advocate for art in regional areas, Charles participated in ARTSTATE 2020, where he directed a CSU creative industries play The Best Of Lazzi and performed in the third season of the improvised experimental show, TOME. In May, Charles is performing in the fourth season of TOME at the Anywhere Festival in Brisbane. He loves exploring the language of Shakespeare and enjoyed bringing to life some of his most famous characters during his university days, including Tybalt and Paris from Romeo and Juliet and the infamous Scottish king, Macbeth.

Cass is a born and raised Leeton girl. She studied creative and performing arts at Charles Sturt University in Wagga, and now teaches Drama and Visual Arts at Leeton High School; where they are excitedly working on their 2021 production of Shrek the Musical! In her spare time she enjoys hanging out with family and friends, cooking, reading and being creative. Being involved in Henry V is such a fantastic opportunity and Cass is loving working in a collaborative and creative environment with likeminded people in this wonderful community. She can’t wait to share and utilise this learning experience with her own drama students.

Hilary spent most of her childhood in Narrandera and has always considered it was home. She returned to the area three years ago from Sydney, and works in disability support for a remarkable company, Kurrajong. She studied costume and art at university where she was introduced to theatre. Every aspect of it is magic (perhaps the exception of bump out) And so highly addictive she is thrilled to be in the Henry V fold.

Alec Pisan was born and raised in Griffith but intends to leave at the conclusion of his gap year to study at university. He has been involved in two amateur productions previously, the first being a local production of Legally Blonde: The Musical (2019), and the second, GRAPA’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2019). Alec likes Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain. He’s not into health food, he’s into champagne. He likes waking up at midnight, because he has a considerably bad sleep schedule. He is thrilled to be part of this world-class production which has fed his hunger for drama and adventure, swords and knee- high boots.

Aly is a married mum of two boys, and Head Teacher of English and Creative and Performing Arts at Leeton High School. She is also a published author and accomplished writer, but considers herself a very inexperienced performer. For

the past 25 years she has taught a wide range of the great William Shakespeare’s texts in the classroom, however, she has never performed in front of an audience. This experience, whilst exciting, has certainly challenged her; allowing her to see beyond his words to the nuances of language, character and physical interplay that reveals the beauty and brutality that is Henry V. Becoming a Shakespearian actor unexpectedly has been both exhilarating and absolutely terrifying, but she wouldn’t swap it for the world.