LAURA MAY  Playing MARY

SIMON LEE

Playing Father Woods/ Bishop Sheil/ Alexander MacKillop / Ensemble

Jade Fuda

Female understudy. Also playing Flora MacKillop/ Sister Theresa / Ensemble  

Laura May studied a Bachelor of Performance and graduated from the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art in 2013. After graduating, Laura trained in the Bell Shakespeare Graduate Program and then concentrated on Shakespearean performance for the next four years, performing in many productions with Bard on the Beach, including A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice and The Merry Wives of Windsor. Laura also performed in the Educational Tours of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream for Bard on the Beach Theatre. https://www.bardonthebeach.net

It was during these tours that Laura found a passion for Theatre in Education, believing it to be an immersive way of allowing students to understand the literature and subjects they study. Having the opportunity to take these plays to schools in remote areas of NSW, QLD, ACT and VIC was an experience Laura will always cherish as not all schools have the opportunity to see theatre and schools benefit so much from theatre in education performances. 

Laura also works in Production Publicity, actively promoting companies such as Packemin Productions, (who recently performed Wicked at Riverside Theatre Parramatta )and Birdie Productions (who will soon be performing Fame at the Bryan Brown Theatre in Bankstown). Laura loves assisting theatre companies to promote their work to help communities access the huge range of wonderful performances/ creative people that we have on our doorstep here in Sydney.

Laura is excited and honoured to be playing Mary Mackillop in Mary: A Story of Courage. She can't wait to be able to bring to life, such an iconic person who helped shape Australia and the educational system that we are a part of today. 

Simon trained at ACTT (Actors College of Theatre and Television) in 2009 and then went on to train in Los Angeles at the renowned Eric Morris Actors Studio in 2012.

In 2015 Simon trained with Lynette Sheldon in her Sydney workshop tour and studied practical Aesthetics Australia under Melissa Bruder.

Simon's professional career began in 2013 with his Self- Produced run of David Williamson's 'The Removalists' at the Tap Gallery Sydney. He has since toured with educational Theatre Companies such as; as Kinetic Energy Theatre and Bard on The Beach Shakespeare Company 2016. For Bard on the Beach Simon performed in the Summer Season of ROMEO AND JULIET and MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Simon also completed the educational tour for Bard on the Beach - performing MACBETH to secondary school students across Australia in NSW, QLD and VIC, a role he particulary enjoyed. https://www.bardonthebeach.net

Simon is also a professional Children's entertainer performing private events at Birthday parties and childrens shows. Simon is also a Drama Teacher teaching children from the ages of 5 - 11 years old.

'Mary - A Story of Courage' is Simon's first project with Blue Whale Theatre and he is excited to bring to life the story of Mary MacKillop for school children in his country.


Jade Fuda is an Actor and Director with a Bachelor of Performance from the Australian Academy of Dramatic Arts. Since graduating in 2013 Jade became heavily involved in Theatre In Education and Childrens Entertainment.


In 2014 Jade teamed up with Entertainment Blue Moutains and performed to school groups promoting the preservation of the Wollemi Pine Tree in the interactive kids show: 'The Wollemi Warrior Adventure'. http://www.admit1.com.au

Jade then joined Blue Whale Theatre Company, performing in numerous early years shows such as 'Goldilocks' in 'Storybook Delights', 'Evie' in 'Evie The Christmas Elf' and  'Staying Healthy with Sailor Sam'. Jade then went on to play the leading role of Catherine McAuley in Blue Whale Theatre's touring production 'A Bright Light in the Darkness'. While working on 'A Bright Light in the Darkness' Jade performed the show 88 times throughout NSW, QLD, VIC and WA and by the end of 2017 will have performed the show over 100 times! Jade particularly enjoys taking shows to rural town and small schools on her travels so that the children there can experience stories/ history coming alive, through the magic of theatre.


Jade Alex also works as a director/ producer and has directed numerous TIE shows such as; 'AKIO!' A physical theatre/ anti-bullying story produced by Blue Theatre Company. Akio was performed at the at Hayes Theatre Darlinghurst in 2015. https://www.weekendnotes.com/akio-hayes-theatre-co/


Jade also directed the primary School Christmas show 'The Snow Princess' for Blue Whale Theatre in 2015 and 'Mother Goose' for Entertainment Blue Mountains.


Jade is a seasoned performer with Blue Whale Theatre and is excited to embark upon this new production on the life of Mary MacKillop.

Brinley Meyer

Playing Flora MacKillop/ Sister Theresa / Annie / Ensemble. Also understudy to Mary MacKillop

Brinley has worked professionally in theatre, film and TV for the last 15 years. After graduating from The Actors Centre Australia in 2009 she joined Theatre in Education Company “Poetry in Action” and travelled extensively across NSW bringing poetry and literature to life  for young people in secondary school audiences. https://www.poetryinaction.com.au

Brinley is no stranger to historical educational theatre having worked for the last 6 years as a performer with Convict Footprints Productions bringing award winning productions about Australia’s history to both public and school audiences. http://convictfootprints.com.au

A keen history buff Brinley has recently finished a sucessful run of 'The Women of Wiseman' following the history of Wiseman and the Hawkesbury.

This is Brinley's first production with Blue Whale Theatre and she is excited to be involved in a production about Saint Mary MacKillop - an inspirational, strong Australian woman.