In Seminar, four aspiring young novelists sign up for private writing classes with Leonard, an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmourned.
Meet the cast of Seminar who are bringing Theresa Rebeck’s provocative comedy to life this March at Beaumaris Theatre.
Alicia Patzer - Kate
After her first role as a ‘Bubble #2’ in an under the sea kindergarten production, Alicia went on to pursue her love for performance- studying at the Regional Institute for Theatre in Newcastle, NSW in 2006, taking on her most memorable roles in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and A Comedy of Errors, Kafka’s The Trial, The American Dream, and Stephen Adly Guirgis’ The Last Days of Judas Iscariot before completing her acting studies in 2010.
Since her move to Melbourne, Alicia has featured in TVC and music video roles as well as recently shifting her focus to modelling while she completes her psychology degree.
Bruce Hardie - Leonard
Bruce is making his Beaumaris Theatre debut in Seminar this March. Bruce has performed with theatre companies across Melbourne, including recent productions of God of Carnage, Jake’s Women, Caught in the ‘Net, Leading Ladies, All Things Considered, Seasons Greetings, and most recently in Sylvia for which Bruce has been nominated for a Lyrebird Award for Best Actor in a Comedy.
Bruce is also President of Pop Culture Theatre who you may have seen appearing at VDL One Act Play Festivals.
Christopher Newton - Douglas
We are thrilled to be welcoming Christopher back to the Beaumaris Theatre stage! You might remember Christopher from his powerful performances in the Great Gatsby and August: Osage County.
Christopher is an actor from Newcastle, NSW. After completing his Advanced Diploma in arts, and a brief season of Grubble, a children’s theatre show in the Sydney Fringe, he set his sights on Melbourne. Since then he has been a part of the theatre in education company Page to Stage, performing in their productions of Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet and The Tempest. He has appeared in BATS’ production of 12 Angry Men and Death of a Salesman.
Rebecca Simpson - Izzy
Rebecca began her actor training at The Actors’ Conservatory Brisbane where she completed an Advanced Diploma of Screen and Stage Acting (2012) and performed in various productions, including Macbeth and The Importance of Being Earnest. She went onto perform in the annual Short + Sweet Theatre Festival 2013 where she played the role of Cassie in Outside the Box.
It was in Brisbane that Rebecca discovered her love of physical theatre and studied Suzuki Technique with Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre Company, Butoh with international teacher Fran Barb and Unarmed Combat and Swordplay with Marcus Hogan. In 2015, Rebecca relocated to Melbourne to take part in the full-time program at the Howard Fine Acting Studio where she trained with many notable teachers and performed in plays such as Proof, Three Years From Thirty and Two Rooms.
Most recently Rebecca has been teaching children’s theatre, writing and staging the 2018 production Night At The Toy Store for Love Performing Arts, Reservoir.
Stuart Anderson - Martin
You will recognise Stuart from his many performances on the Beaumaris Theatre stage including the Ugly Stepsister Salmonella in Cinderella - The Panto and Edward in Echoes last year.
Stuart has loved performing since before he even really knew what it was. His journey started properly when he joined DK Productions at the age of 5 and he hasn’t stopped getting into whatever facet of performing that’ll have him since.
When not bopping about the stage, Stuart is an aspiring voice performer, who can be found doing anything from voicing a heroic knight in battle, to a friendly voice telling you about the importance of routine chiropractor visits.