Best Natalie Spences Podcasts (2024)

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STAGES Episode 530: BERT LABONTÉ 59:47

4h ago59:47

59:47

Growing up Bert LaBonté had eyes on an AFL career. A chance meeting with legendary actor Terry Norris gave him the confidence to pursue a life on the stage and he was soon studying the craft at Ballarat University. Several decades later and Bert is an established favourite on screen and stages; dramatic and musical, around Australia. Bert is presen…

1
STAGES Episode 528: EMMA POWELL 55:34

1h ago55:34

55:34

Emma Powell’s first performance was at the age of three when she appeared on US television with Ronald McDonald. As a grown-up, she toured Australia in The Pirates of Penzance with Jon English and Simon Gallaher. She then joined Les Miserables which toured to Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea and Cape Town. She went on to perform in Mamma Mia as ensemble…

1
STAGES Episode 527: STUART GREENE - A History of Sydney Theatres 1:30:00

4d ago1:30:00

1:30:00

STAGES welcomes back passionate theatre historian Stuart Greene in an episode which details the life of some of the Sydney’s iconic theatre venues. It’s difficult to contemplate that the Sydney CBD once was home to approximately 28 theatres and movie houses - sacred temples in which audiences experienced an escape of the imagination through enterta…

1
STAGES Episode 526: ARAX MANSOURIAN 58:07

7d ago58:07

58:07

Arax Mansourian is one of the superstars of the Armenian Opera and classical music. She started her career in her native Armenia and continued in Australia with Opera Australia. Her beautiful voice and unique timbre, as well as her iconic beauty and regal stage presence, are unforgettable. Arax was born in Beirut, Lebanon in a family of survivors o…

1
STAGES Episode 525: WENDY-LEE PURDY 1:03:14

12d ago1:03:14

1:03:14

Wendy-Lee Purdy’s performing career has been varied and exciting. After completing a Bachelor of Music Education degree at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, Australia in piano and voice, she then studied acting at the Australian Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is presently based in London. Wendy's launch into professional theatre commenced with …

1
STAGES Episode 524: BRUCE SPENCE - PT2 44:00

13d ago44:00

44:00

Bruce Spence is a cherished elder and pioneer of Australian theatre and cinema. He remains a vital presence on these platforms and was recently seen in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Angus Cerini’s Into the Shimmering World. The year also saw Bruce acknowledged as the recipient of the 2024 Equity Lifetime Achievement award. Bruce began …

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STAGES Episode 523: BRUCE SPENCE - PT1 1:24:40

14d ago1:24:40

1:24:40

Bruce Spence is a cherished elder and pioneer of Australian theatre and cinema. He remains a vital presence on these platforms and was recently seen in the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Angus Cerini’s Into the Shimmering World. The year also saw Bruce acknowledged as the recipient of the 2024 Equity Lifetime Achievement award. Bruce began …

1
STAGES Episode 522: JULIAN LOUIS 50:34

21d ago50:34

50:34

Julian Louis is a theatre maker and has been the Artistic Director of NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts) based in Lismore, NSW since 2007. The company has developed a national profile as one of Australia’s most exciting regionally based theatre organisations. The company presents a contemporary theatre program, made up of original productions,…

1
STAGES Episode 521: NATALIE GAMSU 54:33

1M ago54:33

54:33

Natalie Gamsu is a singer, actor and cabaret artist whose performances have been acclaimed in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Sydney and Johannesburg. Born in Namibia, Natalie studied Drama at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She established a strong following with her own solo cabaret shows, musical theatre, an…

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STAGES Episode 520 - CARMEL DEAN (SPOTLIGHT EPISODE) 1:43:11

1M ago1:43:11

1:43:11

Carmel Dean is a Composer, Arranger, Musical Director and Pianist. Her first musical, Renascence, was produced Off-Broadway by the award-winning Transport Group, and was named Best New Musical at the 2018 Off-Broadway Alliance Awards. The Original Off-Broadway Cast album is available on Apple Music and Spotify. Her song cycle Well-Behaved Women sta…

1
STAGES Episode 519: RUPERT NOFFS & MARK TREVORROW 54:33

2M ago54:33

54:33

Old Friends Mark Trevorrow, Rupert Noffs and Bev Kennedy have much in common; great musicianship and their love of Stephen Sondheim’s extraordinary songbook. They have crafted an intimate evening of cabaret celebrating the late, great composer/lyricist’s vast cannon. OLD FRIENDS! features solos, duets, mashups and medleys, with light hearted banter…

1
STAGES Episode 518: GREGG ARTHUR 41:36

2M ago41:36

41:36

Gregg Arthur is an original voice who has learned from and performed with music industry giants all over the world. His warm baritone and huge range allows him to embrace an audience with a tender ballad and thrill with outstanding vocal acuity, but most of all it’s his emphasis on rhythm and phrasing that has brought him admiration from legends an…

1
STAGES Episode 517: WEST END REPORT - SIMON PARRIS & IAN PHIPPS 1:01:41

2M ago1:01:41

1:01:41

Two of STAGES favourite Arts workers have recently returned from pilgrimages to London …. and have inhaled the smorgasbord of musical and play offerings playing on West End stages. Publicist Ian Phipps and ‘Man-in-Chair’; Simon Parris, return to the STAGES podcast to share what they saw .. what they liked, what they didn’t …. and perhaps even to bo…

1
STAGES Episode 516: SILVIE PALADINO 53:03

2M ago53:03

53:03

Silvie Paladino has established herself as one of Australia’s most versatile and talented entertainers. Her first theatrical role was Eponine in the Australasian tour of Les Misérables. She was then invited to perform the same role on the West End in the London production. In 1997, Silvie returned to London and performed the role of Fantine in Les …

1
STAGES Episode 515: ANTON BEREZIN 52:54

2M ago52:54

52:54

After originally studying double degrees in Law and Arts (Politics and Economics) at Monash University, Anton Berezin found success as an Actor, Producer, Writer and Director. He established his first Production Company in 1994. He is known for his roles in commercial musical theatre productions for over 30 years, in celebrated productions such as …

1
STAGES Episode 514: BENJAMIN OSBORNE 1:05:57

2M ago1:05:57

1:05:57

Originally from Melbourne Australia, Benjamin Osborne made his stage debut in the original production of The Boy from Oz. This was followed by appearing in Shout - The Legend of the Wild One and the original Australian company of Mamma Mia! During his time there, he assumed the role of Dance Captain for the Australian and Asian tours. Benjamin then…

1
STAGES Episode 513: EWAN CAMPBELL 48:26

3M ago48:26

48:26

Ewan Campbell, Australia's No. 1 television warm-up artist, is the creator and founder of Stentorian Communications. He is an actor, director and presentation coach; a talented and multi-faceted performer, with vast experience in corporate training and facilitation, voice-overs, and MC roles. Ewan has successfully written produced and facilitated p…

1
STAGES Episode 511: RODNEY FISHER - Part 2 55:09

3M ago55:09

55:09

Rodney Fisher is a stage director who has worked in most major theatres in Australia and for all Australian theatre companies as well as Opera Australia, VSO, Bavarian State Opera, Royal Ballet London and Legs on the Wall. He has directed in England, Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong and at the Spoleto Festival, Charleston, South Carolina. He has worked …

1
STAGES Episode 510: RODNEY FISHER - Part 1 1:06:48

3M ago1:06:48

1:06:48

Rodney Fisher is a stage director who has worked in most major theatres in Australia and for all Australian theatre companies as well as Opera Australia, VSO, Bavarian State Opera, Royal Ballet London and Legs on the Wall. He has directed in England, Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong and at the Spoleto Festival, Charleston, South Carolina. He has worked …

1
STAGES Episode 510: VALE John Newman (30/8/1930-28/7/2024) 1:22:34

3M ago1:22:34

1:22:34

In July we lost one of the pioneers of entertainment in Australia - Mr John Newman. We featured John in an episode recorded in March 2022. John Newman is the savvy entrepreneur who pioneered the glory of theatre restaurant in Australia, with the establishment of the iconic Tikki & John’s in Melbourne. The venue fast became an institution in the cit…

1
STAGES Episode 509: JOHN BELL 1:26:05

3M ago1:26:05

1:26:05

John Bell has been named by the National Trust of Australia as one of ‘Australia’s Living Treasures.’ Born in Maitland, NSW, in 1940, he is a theatre polymath whose work has shaped the evolution of a distinct Australian theatre. Educated at University of Sydney, Bell acted in university theatre and made his professional debut in 1963 in the Old Tot…

1
STAGES Episode 508: ANGELA PUNCH MCGREGOR 51:02

3M ago51:02

51:02

Angela Punch McGregor graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1974. Her early roles were in a renaissance period of Australian cinema, with lauded performances that garnered her a slew of AFI Awards, for the films The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith, Newsfront, and Annie’s Coming Out. Her career continued in numerous television productio…

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‘It’s Opening Night!’ - Playwright; James Elazzi 38:32

3M ago38:32

38:32

James Elazzi is an award winning playwright, screenwriter and director. His plays have been nominated in the NSW Premier's Literary Award three years consecutively, shortlisted twice in the Rodney Seaborn Award, four time award winner in the Sydney Theatre Awards and is a three time Silver Gull Playwriting Award Nominee. James' sold out theatre sta…

1
‘Stairway to Paradise’ - Remembering Theatre Architect Vivian Fraser; Sharon Fraser 47:31

4M ago47:31

47:31

Born in 1936, acclaimed Architect Vivian Fraser passed away in 2021. His name may not be immediately recognisable, but this Master Architect left a legacy that continues to reward the Arts community and their audiences. On his tombstone he jested that he would like the epitaph to read, “ … he provided simple answers to difficult problems.” It would…

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‘New Ways to Dream’ - Choreographer; Fabian Aloise 1:18:20

4M ago1:18:20

1:18:20

Fabian Aloise’s choreography has been critically acclaimed and has garnered multiple nominations including two Olivier Award Nominations for Best Theatre Choreographer, WhatsOnStage Award for Best Choreography, Stage Debut Award for Best Creative West End Debut and the Off West End Award “OFFIE” (winner). Recently he was also listed as one of The S…

1
‘Liz, Margaret, Molly, Marion and Mel’ - Playwright; Melanie Tait 1:08:35

4M ago1:08:35

1:08:35

Melanie is a writer for stage and screen with a proven track record in Australia and the UK. Her first play The Vegemite Tales won critical and popular acclaim, playing eight years in London, including two years on the West End. Melanie then trained as a journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where she worked for twelve years acro…

1
‘Make ‘em Laugh!’ - Actor, Producer, Presenter; Shane Jacobson 59:26

4M ago59:26

59:26

Shane Jacobson is one of Australia’s most loved, award-winning actors, presenters and entertainers. His incredible and varied career spans over 40 years both here at home and internationally. The successful film Kenny brought Shane world-wide recognition in 2006 as well as an AFI Award for best lead actor. Shane’s subsequent credits include Cactus,…

1
‘It’s Not Where You Start But Where You Finish’ - Highlights from 500 Episodes of The STAGES Podcast 51:17

4M ago51:17

51:17

To celebrate the 500 milestone we give you a highlights package - just a few of the stand-out moments from 7 years of the STAGES podcast. It is by no means ALL of the wonderful moments, but just a few that stand out for me - joyous moments along the way. The podcast has featured on-stage and off-stage roles from a variety of genres - Musical theatr…

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‘Hey Look Me Over’ - Episode No:1 Revisited; The Legendary Toni Lamond 1:08:33

4M ago1:08:33

1:08:33

To celebrate reaching this milestone of 500 … the podcast will be dropping an episode a day for the next week. It’s a stellar line up and I cannot wait to share each episode with you. Episode 502 is a highlights package featuring some of my favourite moments from the seven seasons of the show. Episode 503 features funny man and all round nice guy S…

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‘Together Again For The First Time’ - Mark Humphries chats to STAGES Producer/Host; Peter Eyers 1:26:07

4M ago1:26:07

1:26:07

After many requests and prompts, I’ve given in. The A-listers were not available for this milestone episode of the STAGES podcast, so you get me in the chair. But who to fire the questions and prod the guest? There was only one person in my mind; longtime listener and champion of all things theatre, Mark Humphries. The talented Mr Humphries is urba…

1
‘Infinite Joy’ - Actor; Nadine Garner 55:42

4M ago55:42

55:42

One of Australia’s most respected actors, Nadine Garner’s career has spanned film, television and theatre for more than 30 years. Nadine recently performed on stage in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s The Almighty Sometimes and Belvoir’s production of Tell Me I’m Here to rave reviews. Her recent screen credits include the ABC crime drama series Sava…

1
‘Stories on a Grand Scale’ - Opera Singer; Warwick Fyfe 59:05

5M ago59:05

59:05

Warwick Fyfe is an Australian opera singer, considered to be one of Australia’s leading exponents of the Wagnerian repertoire and is the recipient of Helpmann and Green Room awards. Warwick has performed throughout Australasia and internationally. Most recently, he has sung the rôles of Wotan / Wanderer (MO, OMM and Alberich, OA). Other Wagner rôle…

1
‘I Lived for Art; I Lived for Love’ - Opera Director; Edward Dick 40:41

5M ago40:41

40:41

Edward Dick trained as a theatre director with Cheek by Jowl, and has directed acclaimed theatre and opera productions across the UK and abroad. Edward’s first short film, An Act of Love, starring Stephen Mangan and Gina McKee, premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2010 and has played at festivals around the world. His second short That Woman…

1
‘Look What Happened to Mabel!’ - Stage Legend; Caroline O’Connor 1:31:19

5M ago1:31:19

1:31:19

The annual TONY Awards ceremony celebrates the best and brightest of the Broadway season. And I’m delighted that one of our favourite performers, who has graced the great white way, is the STAGES guest for our TONY episode. Caroline O’Connor is one of the foremost interpreters of musical theatre in the world. Projects have taken her from Sydney to …

1
‘Stories that Sing’ - Renowned Director; Neil Armfield 1:06:12

5M ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Neil Armfield AO is a leading Australian director of theatre, opera and film. Alongside Rachel Healy, Neil was Artistic Director of Adelaide Festival between 2017 and 2022. Prior to that, Neil was the inaugural Artistic Director of Belvoir St Theatre, which he also co-founded, for 17 years. As Artistic Director of Belvoir, and for other companies, …

1
‘Satin on my Shoulder and a Smile on my Lips’ - Stage and Screen Favourite; Genevieve Lemon Pt2 52:15

5M ago52:15

52:15

Genevieve Lemon has appeared in many premiere Australian productions in a 40-plus year career including Steaming, Steel Magnolias, Seventeen, Miracle City, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Billy Elliot, which she also played in London’s West End. Other performances include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Death of a Salesman, Summer Rain, The Vene…

1
‘Luck Be a Lady’ - Stage and Screen Favourite; Genevieve Lemon Pt1 1:17:25

5M ago1:17:25

1:17:25

Genevieve Lemon has appeared in many premiere Australian productions in a 40-plus year career including Steaming, Steel Magnolias, Seventeen, Miracle City, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Billy Elliot, which she also played in London’s West End. Other performances include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Death of a Salesman, Summer Rain, The Vene…

1
‘Fascinating Rhythm’ - Cabaret Icon; Dillie Keane 41:20

5M ago41:20

41:20

Dillie Keane is one-third of iconic Cabaret trio Fascinating Aida. She is presently in Australia for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, where alongside her partners in song, Liza Pulman and Adèle Anderson, Fascinating Aida will present a 40th anniversary show. Since their first performance together in 1983, the trio have racked-up millions of internet …

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‘The Soldier Tir'd of War's Alarms’ - Veteran Actor; Robert van Mackelenberg 1:20:07

5M ago1:20:07

1:20:07

Extensive experience throughout Australia in theatre, film, radio and television, over several decades, established Robert van Mackelenberg as one of our leading actors. Studying in New Zealand, Robert’s journey through the theatre was as a stage manager first but he soon found his true place was in assuming the great roles in classical and contemp…

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‘If They Could See Me Now’ - STAGES 5-Year Catch-Up; Alexander Berlage & Todd Jacobsson 1:13:27

5M ago1:13:27

1:13:27

The STAGES podcast is now in its Seventh year. Over that time we’ve garnered a vast number of insightful and glorious conversations with a broad range of artists. Some of these have recorded fascinating histories with the elders from various disciplines - theatre, dance, opera, musical theatre, television - the list goes on. We’ve also been able to…

1
Vale Keith Robinson (1958-2024) 1:04:13

5M ago1:04:13

1:04:13

As one of our finest actors, Keith Robinson carved a career on stages around the country. As a wit and treasured talisman, he kept us informed and in stitches with his regular postings on social media. Keith’s repertoire of characters included the great clowns of Shakespeare. He was admired for his tremendous physicality in realising these endearin…

1
‘This is My Life!’ - Drag Legend; Doug Lucas 1:20:14

5M ago1:20:14

1:20:14

Entertainer Doug Lucas has been delighting audiences around the country for several decades as a comic, a creative and much loved drag performer. Chiefly his performance stage has been found in various Melbourne venues. Doug is a pioneer of these establishments, commencing Melbourne's first gay disco in 1975 and the legendary show evening, Pokeys, …

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‘Play Time!’ - Director, Dramaturge, Teacher; Iain Sinclair 1:05:04

6M ago1:05:04

1:05:04

Iain Sinclair is one of Australia’s finest, award winning theatre directors specialising in new writing and contemporary international work. Iain established the critically acclaimed theatre company Elbow Theatre in Canberra, where he received four Critics Circle Awards. He received a Sydney Theatre Award for his production of The Seed by Kate Mulv…

1
‘The Perfect Year’ - Stage and Screen Actor; Tim Draxl 53:55

6M ago53:55

53:55

Tim Draxl is an actor and singer with a career spanning more than two decades. Most recently he was seen in the SBS anthology television series Erotic Stories, for which he has received an AACTA Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama series, and the lead role in ABC’s four-part musical drama In Our Blood, for which he has received both an …

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‘A Wild and an Untamed Thing’ - The Original Australian ROCKY HORROR SHOW turns 50! 1:18:24

6M ago1:18:24

1:18:24

Happy Anniversary to the original Australian company of The Rocky Horror Show - the production opened at the New Art Cinema, Glebe on April 19th, 1974. This outrageous musical has a book, musical and lyrics by Richard O’Brien, and is a tribute to the B-grade Science Fiction and Horror films of the 1930s to early 60s. It’s premiere production was pr…

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‘Come With Me, And You’ll Be In A World of Pure Imagination’ - VIVID Sydney Artistic Director; Gill Minervini 51:14

6M ago51:14

51:14

Vivid Sydney is an annual celebration of creativity, innovation and technology, which transforms Sydney for 23 days and nights. In 2024, for its 14th year, Vivid Sydney will fuse art, innovation and technology in collaboration with some of the most boundary-pushing artists, musicians, thinkers and culinary experts of our time. Mark the dates 24 May…

1
Vale Frank van Straten (1936-2024) 1:01:03

6M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

In this Vale episode of the STAGES podcast, we remember Arts Historian - Frank van Straten, who passed away in April. Frank was the inaugural archivist at the Performing Arts Museum (now Australian Performing Arts Collection at Arts Centre Melbourne) and later its founding Director. Renowned as a theatre historian of supreme knowledge, Frank was th…

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‘Hooray for Hollywood’ - Writer, Journalist, Actor, Presenter; John-Michael Howson 1:35:30

6M ago1:35:30

1:35:30

John-Michael Howson worked as a journalist, starting in Mildura, Victoria, before moving to print and radio in Melbourne where he began writing comedy sketches and songs for revue clubs, theatres and television. After several years working in the UK and Europe he returned to Australia and created, wrote and performed in two of Australia’s most belo…

1
‘High Flying Adored’ - Stage and Screen Star; Stephanie Beacham 1:10:56

6M ago1:10:56

1:10:56

Stephanie Beacham is without a doubt one of Britain's most talented, beautiful and well-known actresses. Despite becoming world famous and an icon of the 1980s due to her role as Sable Colby in the American soap operas Dynasty and The Colbys and going on to have starring roles in shows such as Sister Kate, Seaquest DSV, Beverly Hills 90210, and Bad…

1
‘The Name on Everybody’s Lips ….’ - Musical Theatre Leading Lady; Lucy Maunder 46:30

6M ago46:30

46:30

Since graduating from WAAPA in 2006, Lucy Maunder has cemented her reputation as one of Australia’s musical theatre leading ladies performing in a huge range of roles over the last 17 years. Most recently she appeared as Winifred Banks in the critically acclaimed Cameron Mackintosh/Michael Cassel Group/Disney revival of Mary Poppins. Prior to this …

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