Work
With Us
Audition for one of Australia’s most experienced and respected school theatre companies. A unique opportunity to make a difference to the lives of students, with full-time paid contracts for early career actors in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Why audition
for Brainstorm?
We have 40 years experience in the industry, performing live theatre to over 260,000 primary and high school students each year. Our shows help schools create safer and more positive environments for their students, addressing issues such as bullying, cyber safety, resilience, mental health and respectful relationships. Each show is developed by our passionate team of creatives, teachers and psychologists, and scripts are constantly updated to ensure content is relevant and challenging for our audiences.
We are dedicated to nurturing a positive environment where actors feel valued and supported in all aspects of their work. Our actors have the opportunity to contribute to the lives of children and young people in a meaningful way, while developing their technical, creative and professional skills. Learn more about what we do and check out our current shows for primary schools and high schools.
Brainstorm offers full-time paid employment for actors:
- Weekly wages when performing are paid above the ‘Live Performance Award’ ($1,438.94 before tax in 2024) and rehearsals are paid at the Award rate. Plus Holiday Pay, Sick Pay, employer’s contribution to Superannuation & Workers Compensation Cover;
- The majority of the work is in the actors’ base city, with only some weeks away from home (see list of roles and contracts below for more detail);
- Actors also receive a tax-free ‘Living Away from Home Allowance’ of $1361.90 per week whenever the work is away from their base city. In instances when actors are away for extended periods of time (e.g. for rehearsals, the South Australian tour and the Newcastle tour), accommodation is provided by Brainstorm Productions and actors receive a Meals and Incidentals Allowance instead of the Living Away from Home Allowance;
- Company cars are provided.
Read on for more information about the essential criteria, audition process, roles and additional FAQs.
Brainstorm’s head office is located on Bundjalung Land. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of all the lands on which we operate. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the contributions and unique storytelling traditions of the oldest living culture in the world.
Auditions for our 2025 Season are now open!
Essential criteria for actors
Must be at least
19 years old
Playing range
of 16-24
Current drivers licence and good driving record
(Learners licence not sufficient)
Fit, healthy and able to
travel away from home
(most of the work will be in your base city, with only some periods away – see contracts below for more details)
Energetic and
responsible
Some singing, physical
theatre and dance experience
an advantage.
Brainstorm Productions is a
Child Safe Organisation
The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is central to all recruitment decisions. It is an offence under the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 and the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 for a person convicted of a serious sex offence or child related personal violence to apply for these positions.
Before an offer of employment is made, we will require your permission to conduct a Police Check and a mandatory criminal record check for any history of violence or sexual based offences to provide you with a Working With Children Check number.
How to apply
Auditions for our 2025 Season are now open!
To apply, please submit the following:
- A completed online application form;
- A video of your initial audition;
- Current CV;
- Current headshot.
For your audition video you will need to perform one of the monologues provided, sing ‘Happy Birthday’ unaccompanied and tell us briefly why you want to work for Brainstorm Productions and what you think you can bring to the role.
If you are represented by an agent, please discuss the position with them before applying and list their details on your application form. We will contact your agent regarding callbacks and contracts, if applicable, or if we require any further information.
Click here to access the online application form, monologues and instructions for preparing and submitting your audition video.
Submissions close at 5pm AEDT on Monday 4 November 2024.
PLEASE NOTE: We understand this is a busy time for graduating actors. If you are unable to submit a self-tape by the closing date, please contact us. We may be able to arrange an extension in some circumstances.
If you have any further questions about our acting auditions you can contact us at:
Auditions are now open for 2025!
About the
callbacks
Once you have submitted your application form, CV, headshot and audition video, we may ask you to attend an in-person callback. If you are required for a callback you will be contacted via email, either directly or through your agent if you are represented.
Callback dates:
- Brisbane/Meanjin: Thursday 7th November
- Sydney/Gadigal: Monday 11th November
- Melbourne/Naarm: Wednesday 13th November
If you are not able to attend a callback on the specified date/s please let us know on your initial application form. We may be able to arrange an online callback in some circumstances.
Roles for Actors
Below is a list of the roles we are casting for 2025 with an overview of each contract.
Please note:
- ‘Brisbane’ refers to Brisbane/Meanjin & surrounds (i.e. occasional short periods away in Toowoomba, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast)
- ‘Melbourne’ refers to Melbourne/Naarm & surrounds (i.e. occasional nights away in Geelong or Mornington Peninsula)
- ‘Sydney’ refers to Sydney/Gadigal & surrounds (i.e. includes Campbelltown, Central Coast and Blue Mountains)
- ‘North Coast NSW’ refers to the Far North Coast of NSW/Bundjalung Country, from Lismore to Tweed Heads.
- All holidays are in the actor’s base city.
- ‘Male role’ means you will be playing predominantly male-identifying characters. ‘Female role’ means you will be playing predominantly female-identifying characters. Gender-diverse actors and actors who identify as non-binary can specify in their application form which roles they wish to be considered for.
Click the arrows below to view the details of each contract.
1 ‘female role’ & 1 ‘male role’
Shows: ‘Wired’ and ‘Zanna & the Lost Code’
Dates: 2 January to 29 August 2025 (with possible extension based on demand), plus 2-5 days of pre-rehearsal work prior to the contract start date.
Overview:
- 3 weeks rehearsal on Far North Coast NSW (near Byron Bay) accommodation provided
- Term 1: 10 weeks in Brisbane and 1 week on Far North Coast NSW
- 1 week holiday in Brisbane (includes Good Friday)
- Term 2: 10 weeks in Brisbane
- 2 weeks holiday in Brisbane
- Term 3: 7 weeks in Brisbane plus possible extension in Brisbane based on demand
Please note that actors will be required to work on the Brisbane Show Day Public Holiday (13 August 2025). All other QLD public holidays, actors will not be required to work.
1 ‘female role’ & 1 ‘male role’
Shows: ‘The Flipside’ and ‘Being Brave’
Dates: 2 January to 15 August 2025 (with very likely extension to 19 September based on demand) plus 2-5 days of pre-rehearsal work prior to the contract start date.
Overview:
- 3 weeks rehearsal on Far North Coast NSW (near Byron Bay) accommodation provided
- 2 days to drive to Melbourne and then 1 day extra rehearsal in Melbourne.
- Term 1: 10 weeks in Melbourne
- 2 weeks holiday in Melbourne (includes Good Friday)
- Term 2: 5 weeks in Melbourne and 6 weeks in Adelaide (accommodation provided in SA)
- 2 weeks holiday in Melbourne
- Term 3: 4 weeks in Melbourne plus very likely 5 week extension in Melbourne based on demand
1 ‘female role’ & 1 ‘male role’
Shows: The Flipside’ and ‘Being Brave’
Dates: 24 March to 31 October 2025 (with very likely extension to 28 November or longer based on demand) plus 2-5 days of pre-rehearsal work prior to the contract start date.
Overview:
- 3 weeks rehearsal on Far North Coast NSW (near Byron Bay) accommodation provided
- 2 days to drive to Melbourne and then 2 extra days rehearsal in Melbourne
- Term 2: 9-10 weeks in Melbourne and 1-2 weeks in regional Vic (Gippsland)
- 2 weeks holiday in Melbourne
- Term 3: 8 weeks in Melbourne and 1 week in regional Vic (Ballarat area)
- 2 weeks holiday in Melbourne
- Term 4: 4 weeks in Melbourne plus very likely 4-6 week extension in Melbourne based on demand
Please note that actors MAY be required to work on the Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday (4 November 2025) if the tour is extended. All other VIC public holidays, actors will not be required to work.
1 ‘female role’ & 1 ‘male role’
Shows: ‘Verbal Combat’ and ‘The Protectors’
Dates: 23 January to 29 August 2025 (with possible extension based on demand) plus 2-5 days of pre-rehearsal work prior to the contract start date.
Overview:
- 3 weeks rehearsal on Far North Coast NSW (near Byron Bay) accommodation provided
- Term 1: 8 weeks in Sydney
- 2 weeks holiday in Sydney (includes Easter and ANZAC Day)
- Term 2: 10 weeks in Sydney
- 2 weeks holiday in Sydney
- Term 3: 6 weeks in Newcastle/Central Coast (accommodation provided ) plus possible extension based on demand
Please note that actors will be required to work on the ‘Australia Day Public Holiday’ (27 January 2025). All other NSW public holidays, actors will not be required to work.
1 ‘female role’ & 1 ‘male role’
Shows: ‘Verbal Combat’ and ‘The Protectors’
Dates: : 3 April to 31 October 2025 (with very likely extension into November based on demand) plus 2-5 days of pre-rehearsal work prior to the contract start date.
Overview:
- 3 weeks rehearsal on Far North Coast NSW (near Byron Bay) accommodation provided
- Term 2: 10 weeks in Sydney
- 2 weeks holiday in Sydney
- Term 3: 10 weeks in Sydney
- 2 weeks holiday in Sydney
- Term 4: 3 weeks in Sydney plus very likely extension in Sydney based on demand
Please note that actors will be required to work on Easter Monday (21 April 2025) and ANZAC Day (25 April 2025). All other NSW public holidays, actors will not be required to work.
Brainstorm Productions is Committed to Equal Employment Opportunities
We are committed to ensuring that all employees enjoy equal employment opportunity. This means that employees are treated fairly and equally when employment decisions are made and that unlawful discrimination does not take place. We aim to recruit a diverse range of people with a variety of talents and actors from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
FAQ
Yes, it is a full time job, Monday to Friday, for the length of your contract (excluding holidays).
Please see the list of roles above for the dates and length of each contract.
Most contracts start in early or late January but some do start later in the year (see list of roles for specific start dates).
Rehearsals are 3 weeks, Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm on the Far North Coast of NSW (near Byron Bay). Rehearsals are paid at award rates, and meal allowance and accommodation is provided. Most contracts also require you to do 2-5 days of pre-rehearsal work prior to these 3 weeks (e.g. a few days of training and choreography in your base city a few weeks prior to the rehearsals on the NSW Far North Coast). The pre-rehearsal dates will be arranged once the roles have been cast.
All shows are two-handers.
The sets are very minimal and fit in the back of a Toyota Rav 4. There are no ‘tour managers’ – actors are required to set up themselves at each school.
You do 1, 2 or 3 shows per day Monday to Friday in schools (maximum 15 shows per week but average about 10).
Weekly wages are paid above the ‘Live Performance Award’. Actors also receive a tax-free Living Away from Home Allowance whenever the work is away from their base city. Also included is Holiday Pay, Sick Pay, employer’s contribution to Superannuation, and Workers Compensation Cover.
When actors are away for rehearsals and the South Australian tour, accommodation is provided by Brainstorm Productions and actors receive a Meals and Incidentals Allowance instead of the Living Away from Home Allowance.
We will consider you for all roles based in the city you reside in (Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane), unless you ask to be considered in more than one location. If you wish to be considered for a role in another city, please specify on your application form (e.g. if you are currently residing in Brisbane, but wish to be considered for a job in Sydney and/or Melbourne).
No, an automatic, air-conditioned company vehicle is provided for each team, including fuel and running costs.
You MUST have a current drivers licence and a good driving record (L-Plates are not acceptable). If you are offered employment with Brainstorm Productions you will be asked to provide a copy of your driving record from Service NSW, VIC Roads or QLD Roads (depending on which state/s you have held a drivers licence in).
You must be fit, healthy and prepared to be away from home for short periods of time. However, some tours require more time away from home than others – please see the list of roles for an overview of each contract.
No, our tours are mostly based within the actors’ home cities and surrounds, with only some periods away from home (e.g. a few weeks in regional areas). The Melbourne-based actors also have some time in Adelaide. Please see the list of roles above for more information about each contract.
You will be notified by phone or email if you have been cast or if you are unsuccessful. If you are represented by an agent, we will notify you through them.
