CAST
Lesley Coleman plays Amanda
Lesley has been an independent actor since 1994, with appearances in television including NEIGHBOURS (three characters), OFFSPRING (recurring character), UNDERBELLY SQUIZZY, PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK plus television commercials, short films, corporate videos, theatre, audio plays and voice overs.
She is the interviewer, researcher and co-producer for Mystical Dog Productions’ Tete-a-Tete web series. Her training includes Meisner (Steppenwolf Theatre), Elizabeth Kemp’s dream character work, Strasberg (the NY Actors’ Studio), Chubbuck, Michael Chekhov, Mike Leigh, Patsy Rosenberg and Carol Rosenfeld. Her other interests include 10 years on the board of Family Life Ltd (including Chair and Vice Chair), consulting to Launch Housing on strategy and organisation design and volunteering with the Lort Smith Pet Therapy program and Pets of the Homeless. Lesley has a long-held interest in homelessness and the reasons people lose their secure accommodation and is passionate about social issues affecting women.
Fiona Crombie plays Marie
Originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, Fiona is an actor and producer based in Melbourne. She is a graduate of the 16th Street Actors Studio full time course (2018/19), a member of 24 Carrot Production Company and a board member of Rollercoaster Theatre Company. Fiona’s recent Credits include Mary Queen of Scots in the Regina Monologues (24 Carrot Productions/dir. Sharmini Kumar), Julie in Father’s Home (Short/dir. Hannah Foster), Claire in Laughter Club (Short/dir. Adam Ciancio) and Charlotte Lucas in Pride & Prejudice & Five Years (24 Carrot Productions/dir. Sharmini Kumar). Fiona’s producing Credits include Gruesome Playground Injuries (Deepcut Productions) and Saints of Joan (24 Carrot Productions)
Jazba Singh plays Sonia
Born in India, raised in Canada, Jazba has recently found a home in Australia. After studying acting techniques in LA, Ottawa/Toronto and Melbourne, Jazba made her acting debut in the Indian film industry in 2019 and recently wrapped work on the Australian short "The Untold'. In 2021, she made her debut in theatre in the 24 Carrot Production "The Regina Monologues". Jazba was also the host of “Celebrate Ottawa” on Rogers TV in Canada and has presented a number of investigative documentaries around the world.
Holding a master’s degree in Sociology and Law, with a focus on critical race and gender work, Jazba is a passionate advocate for equity, representation and inclusion.
Serious Meerkat plays TsiTsi
Serious Meerkat is excited to be a part of Home Truths with Mystical Dog Productions. She has recently worked with Black Shell productions as Effy and Hair Girl in the We Blak skits, at 88 Miles productions as the Spirit in The Prelude short film, along with some film extras work for Fox 8. She has also been cast in various stage productions from musicals to Shakespeare, most notably as Queen Njinga in The Regina Monologues by 24 Carrot Productions and as Sophie in Ruined by Lynn Nottage. Serious_Meerkat has studied Theatre Performance and Film Acting Techniques at the Australian Theatre for Young People and the National Institute of Dramatic Art. When she’s not acting, you can catch Serious_Meerkat making digital art, producing films and planning secret shows with her favourite people.
Katerina Kotsonis plays Helen
Katerina was educated at Latrobe and Melbourne Universities. She has accumulated a diverse body of work in theatre, television and film. Her theatre credits include: THE HONEY BEES (Red Stitch), ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER (MTC), CAFÉ REBETIKA (Arts Centre), CRUEL AND TENDER (MTC), BORN YESTERDAY (MTC), THE WHITE ROSE (Midsummer Festival), BETRAYAL, FORTY LOUNGE CAFÉ (La Mama), THE LAST PROXY (toured Australia), PUNUYIOTA (Writers Festival), AIMA (Universal Theatre), THE MAGIC BOW (QLD), PERICLES (Theatreworks), HAPPINESS (La Mama), THE HEARTBREAK KID (Athenaeum).
On television, she has been seen in WENTWORTH, SEVEN TYPES OF AMBIGUITY, THE EX-PM, NEIGHBOURS, BED OF ROSES, VERY SMALL BUSINESS, SHORT CUTS, THE SECRET LIFE OF US, BLUE HEELERS, WILDSIDE, THE GAMES, ACROPOLIS NOW and PAPER GIANTS. Her films include HEAD ON, COP HARD, SURVIVING GEORGIA, WAITING AT THE ROYAL.
In her early years, Katerina was part of the renowned performance art group PRIMARY SOURCE.
She has appeared in numerous award winning short films and has worked on radio doing soundscapes and voice overs. She was also part of the ensemble in the award winning web series LITTLE ACORNS.
Katerina is also co-artistic director of the Greek Australian Short Film Festival which is part of the Greek Film Festival.
In addition, Katerina has worked with the process of Creative Development in a number of NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK and enjoys this immensely. These include: ANTHEM (Arts Centre) SECURITY (by Michele Lee), HOMEBOY (MTC), THE HONEY BEES (Red Stitch), and THE HOUSE OF KING (Forty Five Downstairs).
Katerina was born and bred in Melbourne.
Tim Smith plays Bill
Tim has had a keen interest in acting since his youth. He attended Flinders Drama Centre after highschool and graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Hons). He continued his training at 16th Street Actors Studio and The Justin Lehman Studio in Melbourne where he resided for eight years. He’s had the opportunity to perform in a variety of plays including John Cariani’s Almost, Maine at the Meat Market Stables, Molly’s Shoes by Adelaide-based playwright Alex-Vickery Howe, and The Flick by Annie Baker. He’s performed in the Adelaide Fringe on numerous occasions and shown up in a variety of short films in which he’s played a devious psychologist, a power-hungry corporate professional, and a local drunk (to name a few)!
Tim is also a freelance event and portrait photographer, an avid coffee-enthusiast, and fills his schedule with work ranging from corporate roleplay gigs to disability support. Tim is looking forward to being a part of Home Truths and shedding some light on an important issue in the lives of so many Australians.
Ruby Vadiveloo plays Laura
Ruby is an Australian actor and voice-over artist, and a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. During her 8 years in the US she was fortunate enough to work on many incredible theatrical and on-screen productions such as: The Macallan Manor (US National Tour), Deadly Humor (Off-Broadway, NY premiere), Love and Information (NYC), Twelfth Night (NYC), Outbreak (NYC), Stargazers (Melbourne Fringe), Opera of Cruelty (NYC) , Sacred Ground (NYC), Optus ASOC Commercial (NYC).Ruby is honoured to be involved in this project, and thanks Mystical Dog Productions for creating this poignant and important offering.
Ruby acknowledges this work was created on the lands of the Kulin Nation, and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging, and the long histories of storytelling, culture, and art on this land. Sovereignty was never ceded.
Takashi Takiguchi plays Hiroshi
Taka has a Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts. His major productions include producer/artist at the ButohOUT! Festival (2018 – 2021), Huru Hara (ButohOUT! Ensemble) 2020, MAP Producer of Moreland Arts and Performance Festival 2019, Pelem Festival Operations Manager (Indonesia, 2016, 2018, 2020), MAP Delhi Workshop Festival Associate Operations Manager (Manager, India) 2017, 2018, numerous solo dance performances and workshop facilitation and management.
Kirsty Reilly - choreographer, dancer
Kirsty is an accomplished performing arts practitioner, specialist, and educator with over 28 years of professional experience as a director, choreographer, movement specialist, theatre practitioner, educator, consultant, and artist.A graduate from Deakin University, NIDA, and Gloria Payton Fellowship recipient, Kirsty has trained and worked with companies and mentors including Theatre de Complicite, Monica Pagneux, Philippe Gaulier, Sydney Dance Company, and Belvoir St theatre Sydney. She also works as an educator and consultant in acting institutions, film and television training studios, universities, the corporate sector, theatre companies, and schools nationally and internationally. These include The National Institute of Dramatic Art Australia (NIDA), Melbourne University (VCA), The Conservatoire of Scotland, Deakin University, Actors Centre Australia, 16th Street Actors Studio, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company and Australian Opera, Grace Acting Studios and Blink Dance theatre Company.
She is currently completing a PhD in Indigenous/mainstream theatre practice.
Willow Conway
Appears in Proof of Concept video
Melbourne based actor/dancer/performer, Willow works in a variety of mediums including film, TV and theatre. Since graduating with an Advanced Diploma of Acting in 2001, Willow has explored Method based acting, Meisner, Michael Chekhov Technique, Mike Leigh method and Laban. As a theatre practitioner, she uses the techniques of Butoh, Buffon, Burlesque and Cabaret, and is a solo artist of self-devised pieces performed nationally and internationally including Japan, USA, Paris and London.
Credits range from the virginal nun Isabella in Measure for Measure to the drug addicted sex worker in Dirty Pictures and White Day Dream, Voodoo Trash Dolls, Empire, All of Which Are American Dreams, Elmo, Burlesque Hall of Fame (2013 & 2018) and director/creator of The Living Museum of Erotic Women. Willow has received various awards including Best Actor for the short film Kylie Divine' (SA ZOOM! Short Film Festival), Green Room Award for Theatre production Das SHOKU! Shake (ensemble member) and in 2016 Willow was crowned Miss Burlesque Australia.
Bilby Conway
Appears in Proof of Concept video
Bilby was born into a family of performers and following this path, has recently began her acting journey. To date Bilby’s credits include her dramatic role in the award-winning short film “The Man Who Caught a Mermaid”, and stage appearances including 1984 and back up dancer for Miss Burlesque Australia’s award-winning act in 2016. She is currently undertaking acting training with renowned teacher, Peter Blackburn, participating in weekly classes in Movement Improv, and Character Analysis. Bilby has a background in contemporary, jazz and hip-hop dance, having performed and trained through her teens, which has given her great body awareness and understanding of emotions. Bilby is currently doing a certified Yoga Teacher Training course which is profoundly complimenting her acting journey. Bilby is drawn towards dramatic roles that delve deep into the heart and soul of the character.