AUSTRALIAN CAST
Owen Teale
Theatre includes: A Doll’s House – Tony Award® for Best Featured Actor in a Play (West End/Broadway); No Man’s Land (West End); Under Milk Wood, Mary Stuart, Macbeth (Theatr Clwyd); Creditors (Donmar/BAM); Rutherford and Son (Sheffield Crucible); Julius Caesar, Henry IV, King Lear (RSC); Ivanov (National Theatre); The Country (Royal Court).
Television includes: The Rig, The Pembrokeshire Murders, A Discovery of Witches, Line of Duty, The Hollow Crown, Spooks, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones.
Film includes: Save the Cinema, Dreamhorse, Tolkien, The Last Legion, King Arthur.
Aisha Aidara
Aisha Aidara is a Melbourne-based performer. She received a Diploma of Musical Theatre in 2018 from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) and continued her studies at the Victorian college of the Arts (VCA) before commencing her professional theatre debut as Rose Granger-Weasley in Michael Cassel Group’s Melbourne production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Recently, Aisha performed on stage in Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s production of Julius Ceasar.
Cameron Bajrakatarevic-Hayward
Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward (he/they) is a Melbourne (Naarm) based Actor, Musician, Singer and Dancer. Originally from Western Sydney (Darug Nation), Cameron moved to Naarm in 2020 to study at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA).
Since moving to Naarm, Cameron was part of the 2022 performance season for the VCA in Mongrel: Cracked (dir. Maude Davey and Sarah Ward), Merrily We Roll Along (dir. Jason Langley), Morning Melodies 2022 (dir. Jayde Kirchert).
Following their time at VCA Cameron performed as Young Ebenezer in A Christmas Carol 2022 (dir. Matthew Warchus) and recently played the role of Dolokhov in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (dir. Dean Drieberg) at Darlinghurst Theatre Company. Cameron is proudly represented by Ian White Management and is a MEAA member.
Kaya Byrne
Kaya (he/him) is a graduate of The Victorian College of the Arts. He most recently appeared in The Hello Girls (Heartstrings Theatre Co) in his hometown of Canberra.
Recent theatre credits include: the national tour of Come From Away (Newtheatricals), Chess (Storeyboard Entertainment), and HOSH: West Side Story (Opera Australia). Kaya has also appeared in Lazarus and Ragtime (The Production Company), Ring! Ring! and The House on Fire at the Edge of the World (Fringe Replanted), The Wind in the Willows (Australian Shakespeare Company) and Gilligan’s Island: The Musical (Left Bauer Productions).
On-screen, Kaya appeared in the You-Proof Banking campaign (NAB), the short films The Tide and My Straight Mate, and the web-series There After. He is also a passionate instrumentalist and songwriter and is excited to be releasing his debut EP Belladonna/Supernova in 2024.
Benjamin Colley
Benjamin is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (BA Music Theatre) and is delighted to be returning for the 2023 season of A Christmas Carol.
His other performance credits include the recent national tour of Mary Poppins, the 40th Anniversary international tour of CATS, the national tour of Shrek The Musical, the 40th Anniversary tour of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and The Wind in the Willows with the Australian Shakespeare Company.
He has also musically created and directed several productions for Melbourne Shakespeare Company, notably Romeo and Juliet, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors and The Tempest.
Benjamin is so grateful to be bringing back George, the bells, the accordion, and all of the whistles to share with you the music and the magic of this exquisite piece of theatre once more!
Andrew Coshan
NZ born Andrew Coshan graduated from the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2018, and has since worked professionally on both sides of the Tasman.
Notable works include Melbourne Theatre Company’s A View From The Bridge for which his portrayal of Rodolpho earned a Green Room Award nomination, Australian Shakespeare Company’s Hamlet as Laertes, the Hayes Theatre production of Merrily We Roll Along as Franklin Shepard, the New Zealand Tour of Jersey Boys as Nick Massi, My Brilliant Careeras Harold Beecham, The Production Company’s Thoroughly Modern Millie, Opera Australia’s The Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour and most recently as Hapgood in Anyone Can Whistle at the Hayes Theatre.
Andrew has also featured on the long running Network 10 series Neighbours.
Bernard Curry
Bernard Curry comes from a large family of performers. Early roles in commercials, short films, school musicals and productions with Track Youth Theatre, and the lead role in Channel 9 series Snowy kick started a career which now spans over 30 years. Bernard can currently be seen alongside Katherine Langford in the Jocelyn Morehouse directed mini-series Savage River. In recent years he was a part of the all-star ensemble cast of the award-winning event series Fires and starred alongside Lucy Lawless in popular Ten Series My Life Is Murder, as well as featuring in Paramount + comedy Spreadsheet, Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries for Acorn TV and Channel Ten’s How To Stay Married.
In 2015 Bernard returned to Melbourne from Los Angeles to play the role of Jake Stewart in the hit series Wentworth, which ran until it’s final season in 2021. During this period he also had guest roles on the critically acclaimed SBS miniseries Sunshine, the hit NBC series Blindspot and Channel Seven telemovie Hoges. Prior to that he spent five years working in Los Angeles where he had roles in TV series’ NCIS, CSI, Once Upon a Time, Pretty Little Liars, Ravenswood, Mistresses and Faking It. He had a lead role in two feature films, Bordering on Bad Behavior with Tom Sizemore and Impact Earth with Tom Berenger.
Bernard has also appeared in Australian series including Neighbours, Home and Away, Packed to the Rafters, Blue Heelers, State Coroner, Halifax fp, Something in the Air, The King and Satisfaction to name just a few. His film roles include The Dish, Puppy and The Junction Boys. His theatre work includes the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses and The Rocky Horror Show at the Regent Theatre.
Bernard was a founding member of charity ONE IN FIVE, which helps to fund research programs into mental illness, and remains an active ambassador for the charity.
Anthony Harkin
Anthony Harkin’s extensive theatre credits include Kinky Boots (Michael Cassel), Neighbourhood Watch (Melbourne Theatre Company), The Sound Of Music (Gordon Frost), Next to Normal (Hayes Theatre), Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages (New Theatricals), Twelfth Night (MTC), Packer and Sons (Belvoir), Gypsy (Hayes Theatre), Shane Warne the Musical (Token Events), Miss Saigon (Miss Saigon Australia), Cabaret (IMG and Japan and Korea Network Tours) and A Month in the Country (Sydney Theatre Company).
On screen Anthony has appeared in Young Rock, The Alice, All Saints and in the feature films The Bet and Right Here Right Now.
Anthony also co-wrote and directed Dedications which toured nationally to critical acclaim.
Deirdre Khoo
Deirdre Khoo (she/her) is a Singapore-borne actor who relocated to Australia to pursue a career in the arts. She graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts’ (WAAPA) Bachelor of Music Theatre, having trained in music theatre, film & television.
Deirdre is an up-and-coming artist who is building an impressive portfolio following her graduation. She was most recently seen as Janet in the 50th Anniversary Tour of Rocky Horror Show Australia. She previously made her professional debut in Darlinghurst Theatre Company’s production of ONCE as Ex-Girlfriend, Swing and Dance Captain, in which she performed the lead role of ‘Girl’ on several occasions to great acclaim.
Deirdre is extremely excited by new works in Australia, and recently recorded an audio-experience album for RUTH: The Musical by Isaac Shatford as Darla Ren, under the direction of Hayden Tee.
Deirdre’s performing credits start from when she originated the role of Julia O’Brien in a new Australian musical, 2084, that premiered in Western Australia. Her notable credits include Allison Vernon-Williams in Cry-Baby (dir. Chris Parker), Maggie Winslow/Vocal Captain in A Chorus Line (dir. Crispin Taylor), Rosie in Mamma Mia! (dir. Shaun Rennie), Pepper in Maki Morita’s Trash Pop Butterflies, Dance Dance Paradise (dir. Amelia Burke), Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (dir. Nicola Bowman) and Scotty in Merrily We Roll Along (dir. Brent Hill).
In 2020, Deirdre was a semi-finalist of the inaugural Artists of Colour (AOC) Initiative. She is also a member of the MEAA.
Deirdre is honoured to be a part of this beautiful Christmas story, and would like to thank her family, friends, and agents at Working Management for their continuous love & support.
Stephanie Lambourn
Stephanie is thrilled to be returning to the Comedy Theatre and this magnificent production. Originally from Brisbane, Stephanie has performed in Australia, The United Kingdom and throughout the USA. Favourite theatre credits in the USA include: The Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd, Queen Margaret in Henry VI Parts I, II & III (Utah Shakespeare Festival), Laura in The Glass Menagerie, Luisa in The Fantasticks, Olivia in Twelfth Night (Great River Shakespeare Festival) and Mary Warren in The Crucible (Arkansas Repertory Theatre).
As an actor-musician, Stephanie has performed as part of the Kit Kat Club Ensemble/Violinist in Cabaret (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre), Mrs Cratchit/Tin Whistle/Mandolin in A Christmas Carol (Golden Gate Theatre – Broadway SF) and as Audrey/Violinist in As You Like It (Great River Shakespeare Festival.)
Stephanie was a company member at The Great River Shakespeare Festival in MN for eight seasons, performing in over sixteen productions and for three seasons at the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival. On screen, Stephanie has appeared in Grey’s Anatomy and was the face of the Mayo Clinic’s “That’s Refreshing” campaign. Stephanie graduated with a Postgraduate Degree in Musical Theatre from The Guildford School of Acting in the UK. Stephanie is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.
Debra Lawrance
Debra is an AACTA and Logie Award-winning actor, who graduated from NIDA in 1977 and holds a degree in Dramatic Art – her classmates included Mel Gibson and Judy Davis. Debra has worked successfully in theatre, film and television since.
The highlights of her extensive television work include the lead role of Pat in two seasons of the ground-breaking ABC comedy series The Fast Lane written by John Clark and Andrew Knight, the long-running role of kindly foster mother Pippa in the hugely popular series Home and Away, and the role of Rose in all four seasons of Josh Thomas’ critically acclaimed series Please Like Me. Debra was awarded the 2015 AACTA Award (Australian Academy award) for Best Performance in a Television Comedy and the 2017 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in Please Like Me.
Debra’s other TV work includes roles on, Five Bedrooms (Series 3), Fisk, Neighbours, Get Krack!n (Series 2), Rosehaven (Series 3), True Story With Hamish & Andy, The Doctor Blake Mysteries (Season 4), Wentworth (Series 4), House Husbands (Series 4), and Hell’s Kitchen Australia where she put her cooking skills to the test as a contestant and eventual winner.
Debra is in series 4 of Five Bedrooms on Paramount+ as well as Amazon’s Class of ’07 which both premiered in 2023. Most recently, Debra enjoyed a glorious time off the grid in the jungle as a contestant on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!.
Debra’s film highlights include the highly enjoyable experiences of working with Tom Conti in Two Brothers Running, with Meryl Streep in Evil Angels (aka A Cry in the Dark) and the highly regarded The Jammed.
Debra’s theatre credits include the role of M’Lynn in the 2009 Australian tour of Steel Magnolias; the title role in the 2010 national tour of Driving Miss Daisy and Letitia Blacklock in the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane 2013/14 seasons of A Murder Is Announced. More recently she played Professor McGonagall in the Australian production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as well as the The Ghost of Christmas Past in the Melbourne production A Christmas Carol.
Debra has also been teaching vocal communication skills to women in the workplace – a role she is finding incredibly satisfying.
Samantha Morley
Samantha has just wrapped touring with GWB’s wonderful production of Girl From The North County. She is a graduate of Atlantic Acting School New York and University of Southern QLD (Bachelor of Music).
Theatre credits include The Guys (Classic Theatre Works), Billy Elliot (Working Title), Cats (International Touring Company), The Boy from Oz (Gannon/Fox), Fiddler on The Roof (TML Enterprises), South Pacific (Seabiscuit Productions), Nine (Manilla Productions) and The Hatpin (Magnormos).
Samantha’s film credits include ‘The Three Ages of Sasha’, ‘Now Add Honey’, ‘The Pinion’ and for television, ‘Wentworth’, ‘Dr Blake Murder Mysteries’, ‘Olivia Newton John: Hopelessly Devoted to You’, ‘Offspring’ and ‘House Husbands’.
As a vocalist, Samantha has sung with many of the country’s finest musicians in jazz and soul music. She is a longstanding member of the soul band Grand Wazoo and has most recently written and performed ‘Samantha Is Her Name – The Music of Julie London’ with her jazz trio. Samantha performed as the support act for Barry White in his final Australian concert tour with the vocal trio ‘The Funky Divas’ as well as many other concerts and television appearances.
In 2018 Samantha undertook three months of military training and went on to complete a two-year engagement as the full-time vocalist with the Royal Australian Air Force band. During this time, highlights included ceremonial events at Gallipoli Turkey, France and Belgium as well as a deployment to the middle east region to sing in a series of Christmas concerts for the troops.
Sarah Morrison
Sarah’s career began with Opera Queensland performing in La Bohème and Hansel and Gretel, before she gained her Bachelor of Arts in Music Theatre at the Ballarat Arts Academy. Sarah went on to play Tracy in Dust for Queens Theatre and Brisbane’s Powerhouse, Third World Blues for Company 11’.
Sarah originated the lead role of Lisa in the national tour of Ladies in Black which was a new work co-produced by the Queensland and Melbourne Theatre Companies. Next came Sophie Sheridan in the Australian tour of Mamma Mia! and then sellout seasons of Come From Away in the role of Janice and Others. Most recently, Sarah made her West End Debut when she joined the London production of Come From Away. Other credits include You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown in the role of Sally Brown.
In addition to her stage work, Sarah has appeared in television series such as The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Making Dust for ABC Artscape.
Grant Piro
This year, Grant Piro celebrates 40 years as an actor, having appeared in more than 100 productions, as well as being one of Australia’s busiest voice-over actors. His work has been recognised with several Green Room Award nominations and two wins (The Producers and The Merry Widow) along with both Helpmann and AACTA nominations.
Grant began his career in the 1980’s soap opera Sons and Daughters. Best known to young television viewers of the 90’s as the cult TV host of Couch Potato, just a sample of his many television credits include; Janus, Correlli, GP, Wildside, Seachange, City Homicide, Blue Healers, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, SeaPatrol, Jack Irish, HalifaxFP, The Librarians, GoodGuysBadguys, CrashBurn, Newton’s Law, How To Stay Married, Wanted, Ex PM 2, and My Life is Murder. In the biopics Olivia Newton John, INXS, Hoges, and Warnie. And more recently in ABCTV’s flagship comedy UTOPIA.
Some of Grant’s FEATURE FILM appearances include Rolf de Heer’s classic Bad Boy Bubby, Darkness Falls, The Outsider, The Condemned, Crime and Punishment, Mr Accident, The Lighthorsemen, Crocodile Dundee in LA, Mormon Yankees: The Spirit of the Game, Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark, Predestination, and alongside Daniel Radcliffe in Escape From Pretoria.
As a performer Grant’s one true love has always been the theatre. Highlights have included the world premiere of Realism, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, The 39 Steps, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, His Girl Friday, and The Odd Couple for MTC. The Merry Widow, Taking Steps, The Producers, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Under Milk Wood, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hand to God, Oklahoma, The Girl From The North Country, and opposite his wife Marina Prior AM in Hello Dolly!
Grant is delighted to be back with the GWB family and is proudly represented by the team at Ian White Management.
Jack Van Staveren
Jack is delighted to be a part of A Christmas Carol. Previous credits for GWB include 2:22 A Ghost Story and School of Rock.
He appeared as Ambrose Kemper in Hello, Dolly! (TPC) and was in the original cast of Dream Lover (GFO). Jack has toured South Africa and New Zealand with Scooby Doo Live (LLT) as Fred Jones, as well as the Australian tour of Scooby Doo: Level Up! Other credits include the Australian premiere of Dogfight at the Hayes Theatre and Opera Australia’s The Divorce.
Jack would very much like to thank his family, friends and Ian White Management for their ongoing support and encouragement.
Jasmine Vaughns
Jasmine began her career in Disney’s The Lion King (Disney Theatricals), where she played the role of Young Nala.
Later, in 2019 she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) studying at the Victorian College of the Arts. Most recently she toured Australia as a Standby in Come From Away (Newtheatricals).
Jasmine is thrilled to be joining the company of A Christmas Carol for this festive season.
Alexis Abela
Alexis is thrilled to be reprising her role in A Christmas Carol, after playing Tiny Tim during the 2022 season. She is honoured to be surrounded again by such an amazing cast.
Lexi is in Year 2 this year and she loves to perform, she studies singing at Michelle Slater Performing Arts Studio. When not performing Lexi loves to draw, play with her sisters and swim. She would like to thank her Mum, Dad, sisters and grandparents for their support. She hopes you enjoy the show.
Mira Feldman
Mira is 7 years old and is excited to be making her professional theatre debut in A Christmas Carol in the role of Tiny Tim.
Mira studies ballet at The National Theatre and enjoys singing in her school choir. She loves making cubby houses and drawing and her favourite colour is pink. Mira is represented by Triple Talent Management.
Evie Rose Hennessy
While Perthes disease is part of who Evie is, it doesn’t define her! Evie loves singing, acting and entertaining her friends and family. She is honoured to be returning to the role of Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol.
This performance is dedicated to her family and support system, those at her primary school, Dance World, and the inspiring and resilient kids from Camp Perthes Australia 2023.
Libby Segal
Libby (she/her) is a neurodivergent 11 year-old performer based in Naarm. Coming from a musical family, she followed in her siblings’ footsteps as she began studying violin with Toni Robson when she was just three years old. When she was six, she won first prize in ACMF’s National Songwriting Competition with Pop the Popcorn!
Performing in her school’s 2022 production of Ngulu-Nganjin ignited her passion for the stage.
Libby trains at AMTA, she studies voice at Lisa-Marie Parker Vocal Studio with Kate Schmidli and acting with Kate Ellis and Emily Joy.
Recent on-screen credits include campaigns for Toyota and Australia Post and a lead role in Pernell Marsden’s short film The Meaningless Daydreams of Augie & Celeste.
Libby is delighted to be making her professional stage debut in this magical production of A Christmas Carol.
Libby is proudly represented by Centrestage Agency, Libby would like to thank her family, friends and teachers for their support and encouragement.