Michelle Carey
Michelle Carey
Director, Actor, Stage Manager
Michelle is a graduate of QUT who has worked in Brisbane, Sydney and London, as an actor, physical theatre practitioner, teacher and director. She has a background in dance and circus, having trained and performed with Vulcana Women's Circus, Starving Artists, Sanctum theatre troupe, and co-founded educational company, Swoop Physical Theatre.
Biography
Michelle’s passion for facilitating meaningful theatre experiences for young people has led to a rich career in secondary education, where she has built and developed countless projects in Theatre, Circus and the Arts generally. She has also directed theatre for young people through plays such as Away, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Alone it Stands, Ruby Moon, musicals including Little Shop of Horrors, Into the Woods and Guys & Dolls; and self-devised productions Il Carni Fresche and When the Curtain Falls. Michelle is a self-confessed risk-taker and has recently given up full-time work to follow her own artistic pursuits, which has drawn her to directing live theatre, most recently with Ad Astra for The Laramie Project (2021), Toy Symphony(2022) and The Normal Heart (2023).
Reviews
“Michelle Carey absolutely lived up to the expectations set by this brand new theatre. Carey takes Michael Gow’s first full length show and sets it onto the stage with vitality and dynamism, carried by some amazing performers. Carey has done more than simply reflect Michael Gow’s work onto a fresh, inviting new stage. She’s given these actors an opportunity to become part of this living, breathing narrative unlike any other, and not a single player has wasted this opportunity.”
Michael Di Guglielmo - Stage Door Podcast | Read Review Here
“Michelle Carey’s production is first class and engages the audience from the get go.”
David Kary | Sydney Arts Guide | Read Review Here
“Led by Director Michelle Carey there’s a lot going on in this intense production. Toy Symphony explores bullying, substance abuse, death and grief. At times this play is uncomfortable to watch but it’s also a compelling look at creativity and human response.”
Natasha Ciesielski | Sydney Scoop | Read Review Here
“Lively direction by Michelle Carey keeps us invested in the storytelling”
Suzy Wrong - Suzy Go See | Read Review Here
“It is fitting that the first production in the space is from one of the giants of Australian playwriting. Michael Gow’s “Toy Symphony” reminds us that we should embrace creativity and difference with compassion and patience. And that there can be a little bit of magic in everyone!”
Kate Gaul - Theatre Travels | Read Review Here
Kramer’s wit and wisdom mean that this could never be a drab play – and, especially in the first act, parts of the script are bitingly hilarious – but without the New York humour and pace, it could labour and confuse. That is never an issue with such a bright cast, masterfully directed by Michelle Carey and Anna Loren.
Beth Keehn - Stage Whispers | Read full review
Ad Astra have staged The Normal Heart in a simplistic and slick style, directed by Michelle Carey and Anna Loren. The cast, led by experienced actor, Gregory Wilken as Ned Weeks, are confident and compelling.
Lilian Harrington - Absolute Theatre | Read full review
Led by Michelle Carey as director, the cast and crew of Toy Symphony have strived and succeeded in creating an astounding performance that leaves the audience feeling both pleasantly satisfied and craving more.
Marita Bellas Miles - Theatre Travels | Read full review
‘Under the careful guide of director Michelle Carey, the show is meticulously moulded to this unique space.’ ‘Toy Symphony by Michael Gow is expertly constructed by the cast at Ad Astra.’
Michael James - QNews | Read full review
Director, Michelle Carey and her team, have shown some creative initiatives; for example, the basic set design was made up of old “60s” suitcases, and as the scene unfolded there were some important changes made to these e.g. early in-class scenes for 5A, were replicated by the hilarious Mrs Beverley Walkham, using an old over- head projector and chalk board strategies along with a suitcase lid as a conductors stand and suitcases as desks. Because Carey had the actors in well- costumed multi-roles, they supported and tapped into the rhythm, and energy from Wilken, who portrayed a strong characterization of Roland Henning, as he developed and orchestrated his scenes, e. g. the scene between Steve Gooding (Samuel Webb) and Roland Henning, over a drug deal, showed sharp contrasts and good intention.
This production was staged in an interactive style, and audience walked through the set initially, alongside screened off acting areas. The building structure was utilized as part of the set, allowing for some special lighting and sound effects to capture the scene; important statements were written on the walls to tag key events in the play.
This boutique production company, Ad Astra, is emerging as an important professional theatrical company, which mounts quality works aimed to wow and impress audiences in this unique space in The Valley. Do not miss this quality production it will enthrall you.
Lilian Harrington - Absolute Theatre Read full review
While it may be a neglected work, the play’s themes and inherent theatricality will hopefully ensure its longevity. Magical elements, along with Gow’s poetic writing and trademark classical allusions make “Toy Symphony” an entertaining, albeit underrated Australian play, and under Michelle Carey’s direction, Ad Astra has presented audiences with a very fine production of it.
Meredith Walker - Blue Curtains Read full review
In order for the performers to work at the right tone for the space and for the designers to know what to design, the director must work harder than all other components put together to make it all work seamlessly. This is exactly what Michelle Carey has done with ‘Toy Symphony’. The show works exactly as it should with no single element standing out.
Despite a shoestring budget and some major limitations in space, ‘Toy Symphony’ sings with quality well beyond its means. Director Michelle Carey has helped her cast balance the right amount of humour and pathos in Gow’s script.
Oliver Hetherington-Page | Read full review
The creative staging of Toy Symphony included multiple entry and exit points, interesting divisions of space, and piles of suitcases emphasising the emotional baggage hauled around throughout the play. The walls of the black box Ad Astra theatre were covered in chalk writing, and this was added to throughout the production as Mrs Walkham delivered her lessons, including a fairly extensive history of Como and the Sutherland Shire. A number of props brought the primary school classroom to life – a chalkboard, overhead projector, and wall map were used particularly in the history lesson.
Backstreet Brisbane Read full review
‘A display of Astra-nomical talent. The performance is enthralling owing to its animated and dynamic reel of highly relatable characters. Each of the cast members demonstrates an impressive range, employing dramatic tension and impeccable comedic timing.’
Jessica Forbes - My Village News | June edition
Michelle Carey’s clean direction ensures a well-paced production as its nine actors play a rage of roles, including the youths who committed the crime, although not Shepard. While verbatim theatre can be difficult to master, Ad Astra rises to the challenge of making the production a dynamic one, thanks to the realism that members of the cast brings to their performances. Simple costume additions and adjustments help the audience to follow the actors in character as they jump from role to role without resorting to caricatures.
Meredith Walker - The Blurb Read full review
Ad Astra Plays
Upcoming Plays
Past Plays
Other Plays
Michelle’s recent directing credits include The Laramie Project for Ad Astra in 2021, and The Edward and Richard Opera Project, a chamber opera composed by Alexander Voltz, also in 2021. Between 2017 -2018, she directed Away by Michael Gow, Ruby Moon by Matt Cameron and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, with students and staff from Samford Valley Steiner School. Other directing credits with students from Brisbane Boys’ College and St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School include A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare (2015 & 2009), Alone it Stands by John Breen (2008) and Away by Michael Gow (2011), and group-devised projects Il Carni Fresche (2014), A Midwinter Night’s Dream (2013), and When the Curtain Falls (2010). Michelle has also directed musicals with young people including Little Shop of Horrors, Into the Woods and Guys and Dolls, and was co-director for Heartbeast Theatre company in Cloudcuckoland (2013)
Training
Michelle trained as a secondary Drama and Dance teacher and has a background in movement and circus. She trained with Vulcana Women’s Circus many moons ago when they were just forming and was part of performance ensemble Sanctum, too many years ago to mention. She is also the co-founder of Swoop Physical Theatre Company in Sydney.
Representation
Freelance