We are thrilled to introduce our incredible teams of professional actors for 2025, who are already making an impact in schools across Australia. These talented performers are bringing thought-provoking and inspiring theatre experiences to primary and secondary students, covering important topics in ways that resonate with young audiences.
Meet James & Niamh
James and Niamh are our first Melbourne-based team, and they’ve been hitting the ground running! Over the past month, they’ve been performing Being Brave for primary schools and The Flipside for high schools. They’ve visited more than 22 Victorian schools already this term, and their performances have been met with enthusiasm as they encourage students to think critically about courage, choices, and resilience. Read what Melbourne schools are saying about these performances in 2025.
We’re pleased to welcome Niamh to the Brainstorm team. Originally from Alice Springs, NT, Niamh went on to train at the Victorian College of Arts (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Acting) and is currently studying a Master of Primary Teaching. Niamh is deeply passionate about children’s access to live performance, and was inspired to audition for Brainstorm when she saw one of our shows while teaching at a Melbourne primary school last year.
We’re also grateful to have James back for his third year as a Brainstorm actor. James is a graduate of the Bachelor of Performing Arts at Federation University, Ballarat, and it’s fantastic to have his experience and energy back on stage.
Niamh and James will be bringing their engaging wellbeing incursions to Melbourne schools this year, including Geelong and the Mornington Peninsula. They’ll also be heading to South Australia in Term 2, sharing their live theatre performances with students in the Adelaide region.
Meet Hayley & Sebastien
Our Brisbane-based duo, Hayley and Bas, have been bringing Zanna and the Lost Code and Wired to schools throughout South East Queensland, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba. Hayley and Bas are both recent graduates of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in the Bachelor of Acting, and they’re thrilled to be joining Brainstorm in 2025.
With 42 performances already under their belt, they’ve been captivating students with their dynamic storytelling and powerful messages about mental health, cyberbullying and online safety. Here’s what Queensland schools are saying about their performances:
Meet Mitchell and Josie
A big welcome to Josie and Mitchell, our first Sydney-based team! They’re performing The Protectors for primary schools and Verbal Combat for high schools in the Sydney region this year, including Newcastle, Central Coast, and the Blue Mountains.
Mitchell and Josie are just finishing their first week of performances after completing rehearsals.
Mitchell is a Sydney actor who recently graduated from the Bachelor of Performance and Theatre (Acting Intensive) at the University of Wollongong. Josie is originally from Dubbo, NSW, and is a graduate of the Elder Conservatorium Bachelor of Music Theatre (Adelaide, SA) and the Diploma of Music Theatre at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. She spent 2024 working on touring productions throughout Asia, and is excited to settle in Sydney for a year of educational theatre.
Verbal Combat is a new show for 2025 and The Protectors has undergone significant updates since it was last performed in 2019, so we can’t wait to hear how students and teachers respond to these new performances!
Behind-the-scenes of our live theatre for schools
Bringing our productions to life takes weeks of dedicated preparation. During rehearsals, our actors work closely with directors, movement coaches, and industry professionals to refine their performances and ensure they can connect with students in meaningful ways.
From character development to choreography, every detail is fine-tuned to create an engaging and impactful experience for students. This process is supported by our incredible behind-the-scenes team, whose expertise ensures that each show is polished and ready to inspire young audiences. This year we’ve been lucky enough to work with Matthew Wells (who was visiting from the UK), assistant directors Rachel Marley and Rachel Jackett, and award-winning composer Sean Peter. Their expertise and creativity have played a vital role in bringing our productions to life.
We’ve captured some fantastic moments from rehearsals and early performances, so be sure to check out our social media pages (Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn) for behind-the-scenes videos. You can also learn more about our creative team here.
What's next?
In March, we’ll be welcoming Alex and Annie to rehearsals, where they’ll prepare to bring Being Brave and The Flipside to Melbourne schools. Then, in April, Jordan-Leigh and Amy will begin their rehearsals for The Protectors and Verbal Combat. We can’t wait to see them in action!
Thank you to all the schools who have welcomed our performers so far. We’re looking forward to an incredible year of storytelling, learning, and impact in schools across NSW, VIC, QLD and SA!
Get in touch with our friendly bookings team to make a booking for your school, or learn more about our 2025 program here.
