ACTING GRADUATES

2021

ACTING GRADUATES

SIMON HUNTER

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

2020 and 2021 have been years of signiﬁcant change and one element that all

great actors carry is the ability to embrace change.

On behalf of Sydney Actors School, I want to congratulate each and every graduate.

You have met a challenge over the past two and a half years; to expand yourself into

the lives of characters while at the same time ﬁnding your own authentic self. We

hope you take the spirit of Sydney Actors School with you on your new journey and

access not just the craft, art and professionalism of acting, but remember why you

want to be an actor. The world needs storytellers to remind us of what is valuable,

worthwhile and what is to be cautioned. We hope you bring your authenticity to

every character you portray.

Congratulations on graduating and our sincerest best wishes for your new journey

ahead.

We look forward to hearing of your continued success.

REBECCA JOHNSTON

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

The graduating class of 2021 has attacked their training experience with

determination and curiosity – relishing the opportunities oered to them. If the

tenacity and creativity they’ve exhibited within the walls of SAS is any indication,

they will be exciting additions to the Australian entertainment industry.

To this graduating class; I would encourage you to be unafraid of exploring territory

outside your comfort-zone. Be fearless – don’t waste time being afraid of making

a mistake, or ‘getting it wrong’. We always say that Acting School is a place where

you should have no fear of getting it wrong, or of falling on your face. That sense

of abandon, of courage, doesn’t have to cease as soon as you walk out the front

doors. I encourage you to be brave. Be fearless. Encourage others to be brave – to

be fearless. Live your life with inspiration, kindness, resilience and creativity, and

surround yourself with other people who do the same.

I want to thank this group of students for their energy and their passion. This is a

multi-talented and unique group; their training has been an eventful journey – full

of twists, turns and triumphs. They are a strong and supportive ensemble and I am

proud of all they’ve worked to achieve over the past two and a half years. I wish

them every success for their next chapter.

GARTH HOLCOMBE

DIRECTORS NOTE

Graduating from drama school is a once in a lifetime experience unlike any other.

After years of blood, sweat, tears (and a diet of tinned tuna on corn thins and your

best mates banana from the bottom of their bag) you are confronted with your

ﬁrst big audition- SHOWCASE- because what no-one tells you is that while it was a

dicult audition to get into drama school, the one to get out is even harder!

So, welcome to the Sydney Actors School Show Case, 2021.

There is no better time for these passionate, dedicated, generous, talented and

intelligent humans to go out into the world and tell their stories- out into an industry

that is mending, healing and desperate to rediscover itself. There will always be

room and space for new artists dedicated to their craft, eager to help the world

learn, grow, evolve and enrich itself.

These actors are those actors; and these actors are ready. We open the doors for

them, just as the doors were opened for us by those who came before us, and we

wish them best in their individual paths of creation and expression across the Film,

TV or Theatre industries.

What you are watching today is a collection of contrasting scenes chosen by the

actors from a wide variety of sources and in diering styles, genres and formats. We

have enjoyed blending and building these scenes into a kaleidoscopic storytelling

dream, with the stories both isolated yet also interconnected. You will see the

actors in numerous roles, in varied scenarios and from dierent perspectives.

It’s been an honour to direct this years Show Case with this new generation of

Young Actors- they’re a ﬁery bunch with a wicked sense of humour, the warmest of

hearts and the most exciting of adventures ahead of them.

ESMEE DE LA RAMBELJE

Esmee was born in Holland and raised in France. After ﬁnding a

passion for acting, she decided to move to Australia with a desire to

see the world. In addition to acting, Esmee has pursued directing and

writing, directing her ﬁrst short ﬁlm The Bank Heist in 2020. While at

Sydney Actors School, Esmee has also developed a love of comedy.

Her comedic ability can be seen in upcoming graduation production

Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (2021) directed by Shane

Anthony. Esmee is very excited to see what’s next for her moving

ahead.

GABRIELLE BOWEN

Gabrielle is an actor, writer and director creating on Gadigal Land. In

addition to her training at Sydney Actors School, Gabrielle is a graduate

of the NIDA Actors Studio (2018), and she holds a Bachelor of Social

Work from USYD (2016). Born with a ﬁerce love for acting, she has since

developed into a multidisciplinary artist, branching out into writing,

directing, editing and producing. Last year she wrote and produced her

debut short ﬁlm Disturbance. Her second short ﬁlm Acceptance is the

Worst Step, is currently in post-production, with Gabrielle as the writer and

director. Gabrielle is so excited to keep learning and growing in the arts.

ARIANE DE SOUZA

Ariane is a multifaceted Brazilian artist, expressing her unique point of

view through acting, singing, dancing and songwriting. Before her time at

SAS, Ariane completed a Journalism degree and trained in Kung-Fu. Since

moving to Sydney, Ariane has performed as a professional singer and dancer,

and currently appears in a TVC for St. George Bank. While at SAS, Ariane

performed in Animal Farm (director Kevin Jackson), The Irresistible (director

Kim Hardwick) and will be seen in the upcoming graduation production A

Kind of Alaska (director Shane Anthony). During her training, Ariane became

a conﬁdent producer, production designer and cinematographer, and she is

passionate about utilising these skills in future projects.

TAMMY HEARDER

Tammy is an actor, singer and dancer based in Sydney. During her time at

SAS, Tammy trained under the guidance of tutors including Lyn Pierse and

Philip Quast and performed in The Irresistible (director Kim Hardwick). She

can be seen in upcoming graduation production Five Women Wearing

the Same Dress (director Shane Anthony). In 2020, Tammy directed her

ﬁrst short ﬁlm Disturbance and discovered a talent for producing. With a

passion for developing material that has a social impact, Tammy brings

her unique experiences into her role as an actor and a collaborator. Tammy

plans to continue pushing boundaries and incorporating these skills into

her career.

EMILY SMITH

Born and raised in Rural NSW, Emily is an actor based in Sydney. Her

love of performance began at ten years-old when a NIDA short course

toured to a town two-hours away. Since then, Emily has continued

down a creative path, ﬁnding a passion for musical theatre, stage

and screen – relishing roles both in front of and behind the camera. At

Sydney Actors School Emily established a reputation as a prepared

and dedicated artist through her work under the guidance of Kevin

Jackson, Pip Edwards, Shane Anthony and many more. Emily

consistently creates content for her YouTube channel Living with Emily.

pushing boundaries by developing diverse and independent stories.

CARMEL RODRIGUES

Carmel Rodrigues is an actor, singer and choreographer based in

Sydney. Her love of stage and screen began when she was coached

by Jessie J and the Madden Brothers as a contestant on The Voice,

Season 5. Prior to her training at Sydney Actors School, Carmel

completed one year of Music Theatre at AIM. During her time at SAS,

Carmel has explored and developed her passion for theatre with Garth

Holcombe, ﬁlm with Pip Edwards, voice work with Simon Masterton

and movement with Julia Cotton. Carmel is excited to share her

ingenuity and adventurous spirit with the industry.

ROB C. WELLS

Rob is an actor, writer, and creative producer based on Gadigal

country. Prior to graduating from Sydney Actors School, Rob studied

engineering, education and dance, having trained in Ballet (RAD) for

ten years. With exorbitant energy he dives head ﬁrst into everything he

does; from contemporary works - The Irresistible (director Kim

Hardwick, 2020) or Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (director

Shane Anthony, 2021), to Shakespeare in Bard on the Beach (2019), to

work of his own. Rob can’t wait to continue telling stories to the

world, and to show his dad that the theatre isn’t just a “stage”.

ANTHONY SPEED

Originally from Bathurst, Anthony came to Sydney with a

passion for comedy and is leaving Sydney Actors School with

ambitions to also write and produce films. During his training,

Anthony developed his craft on stage and screen with the

opportunity to work with Kim Hardwick, Kevin Jackson and Lyn

Pierse. Anthony’s short film The Bank Heist was selected to be

produced in his final year which has further sparked his ambition

to enter the industry as a versatile artist.

GABRIELLE

BOWEN

CARMEL

RODRIGUES

ESMEE

DE LA RAMBELJE

EMILY

SMITH

TAMMY

HEARDER

ANTHONY

SPEED

ARIANE

DE SOUZA

ROB C.

WELLS

2021 ACTING GRADUATES

GRADUATE SHOWCASE PROGRAM

SCENES

ACTORS SCENE

Esmee de la Rambelje & BIRDLAND

Emily Smith by Simon Stephens

Carmel Rodrigues & STEALING SWEETS AND

Anthony Speed PUNCHING PEOPLE

by Phil Porter

Gabrielle Bowen & GLOW

Tammy Hearder by Liz Flahive & Carly Mensch

Ariane de Souza & BEGIN AGAIN

Rob C. Wells by John Carney

Gabrielle Bowen & KILLING EVE

Emily Smith by Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Esmee de la Rambelje & BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR

Ariane de Souza by Abdellatif Kechiche &

Ghalia Lacroix

Tammy Hearder & MONSTER

Carmel Rodrigues by Patty Jenkins

Anthony Speed & NO ACTIVITY

Rob C. Wells by Trent O’Donnell

*Please note - dialogue has been edited in rehearsal for educational

and showcase purposes

SHOWCASE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Director Garth Holcombe

Technical Director Tiahnn Heusmann

Lighting Design Martin Kinnane

Camera Operators Devyn Heusmann & Alex King

Sound Recordists Aysha Galloway & Michael Giglio

Set Construction Supervisor Ashley Curry

Composer (Lonely) Ariane De Souza

Arrangement (Lonely) Ariane De Souza & Carmel Rodrigues

Dance Captain Tammy Hearder

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