Meet Our Team
Managing Director
Michael has a life long passion for the performing arts. As a child, many of his happiest memories were attending drama and theatre classes. He believes that the professional skills he learned and the friends he made back then formed the foundations for his future career and life.
After graduating with a B.A. in Educational Theatre (Adelaide) and a M.A. in Drama & Theatre Studies (London) he pursued a career in corporate management and leadership.
Most recently he was the Managing Director for the performance management consultancy Smart Chameleon, and prior to that was the Group Manager for Allianz Australia’s national sales and service centres. He also worked in senior leadership roles with Westpac and Halifax Bank of Scotland.
Over a period of more than 20 years, Michael developed expertise in financial management, business development, customer service, learning and development, and team building. He has worked across a diverse range of industries including banking, insurance, pay TV, telecommunications, pharmaceutical and the performing arts in Australia, the UK, Europe, Singapore and the Philippines.
Michael is incredibly excited by the opportunity to come full circle and join Theatre Bugs where he can directly contribute to the personal and creative development of a new generation of young people.
In his spare time, Michael is the Artistic Director of Red Phoenix Theatre company and enjoys travel adventures, digital photography, billiards, fishing, and cooking.
Office Manager
Terese has been working at Theatre Bugs since 2005 as part of the Admin team.
Looking for a challenge and change from working in the medical environment, Terese was excited to join Theatre Bugs. Over the years she has been privileged to be a part of the amazing growth at Theatre Bugs. The variety within her job keeps her passionate about her position as Admin Manager.
She especially loves seeing the confidence, excitement and development children gain at Theatre Bugs. Her son Thom attended Theatre Bugs for 10yrs. She was proud to see his passion for performing arts develop to such a high level while the confidence he gained has been invaluable.
Terese enjoys working with the wonderful staff at Theatre Bugs and with the ongoing support of her family, she looks forward with excitement to what Theatre Bugs continues to offer.
Production Manager (Monday, Tuesday & Friday)
From the age of 13 Sharon was performing with an Auckland Youth Theatre and United Theatresports in New Zealand. She has worked in film and television in New Zealand, England, South Africa, Zimbabwe and continues to perform at Adelaide’s Holden Street Theatres with the award winning Red Phoenix Theatre Company.
She has a Licentiate Teacher Diploma of Speech and Drama and continues to perform in theatre/tv/film. She currently trains at the Actors Studio, Adelaide.
Teacher
Abby has been part of the Theatre Bugs and Adelaide Theatre Academy family for 13 years as of 2025. Having partaken in the combo classes Adelaide Theatre Academy’s Performance Academy, and the Teacher Development Program, Abby gained a passion for the theatre which grew each time she returned to Theatre Bugs.
Over the years Abby has developed her skills through participating in jazz, contemporary, tap, violin, martial arts, private singing classes and the performance opportunities that Theatre Bugs and Adelaide Theatre Academy have to offer. Some of her highlights include Baroness Bomburst in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sebastian in The Little Mermaid Jr, Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and Patrick Star in the South Australian Premier of the SpongeBob Musical Youth Edition which marked her final performance with the Performance Academy before becoming a teacher.
However, her performance chops aren’t limited to Theatre Bugs. Abby recently made her debut with Now Productions as Helen Walsingham in Kipps: Half a Sixpence, another statewide premier, and chose to return to Now to play Miss Honey (Matilda) and Maria (the Sound of music) in Light Up the Stage, a cabaret style production. Additionally, she has appeared in seasons 1 and 2 of Mikki Vs the World and was the 2020 recipient of the Arch D Radio: Female Junior ‘On the Mic’ Award; a success that she attributes to her confidence gained through Theatre Bugs and Adelaide Theatre Academy. Additionally, Abby has a passion for learning both on and off the stage and was appointed as the Gleeson College Vice President in 2023 and has moved on to study a Bachelor of Media at the University of Adelaide.
Abby is looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for her at Theatre Bugs and Adelaide Theatre Academy and can’t wait to help others further their skills in the theatre environment.
Teacher
Alexia is a singer songwriter from Adelaide, Australia who performs and releases music under the moniker, “aleksiah”. She is an award winning performer, winning 4 SA Music Awards for best solo act, best pop act, best new artists and the coveted Emily Burrows award in 2024. She is a 2023 Robert Stigwood fellow and has had numerous write ups in Vogue Australia, is one of The Advertiser’s South Australian’s to watch in 2025 and one of Rolling Stone Australia’s “10 Women in Music to Watch”.
She has been singing from the age of 6, and grew up with a deep passion and connection to music, learning various instruments like piano and guitar from a young age as well. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Adelaide University’s Conservatorium of Music and has been teaching since 2021, while also touring all throughout Australia playing her music with renowned acts such as Cavetown, Lime Cordiale, Ball Park Music and more. She currently holds over 40k monthly listeners on Spotify with a total of 3 million streams. Alexia believes that music is a special gift that we share with each other, it’s about community and a way to understand each other. She believes that with her extensive academic and real-world knowledge she can foster love, passion, enthusiasm, knowledge and fun with music for her students. She hopes that under her supervision, her students can find their creative expression and their own voice
Course Co-ordinator, Administration, (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday)
Cassandra has always been passionate about the performing arts. Singing in the Catholic School’s Music Festival in primary school she fell in love with singing and performing. She has also been dancing since she was 4 years old. She has a background in Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical and Hip Hop.
Cassandra has recently had a baby girl at the end of 2022, which meant she was unable to teach regular classes however, she now edits and writes the programs each term for the combo classes. She also puts together the midyear shows for combo 1 (also end of year shows), 2, 3, Senior Musical Theatre & Advanced Combo 3 and Advanced Senior Musical Theatre and assists with the production of the end of year shows. She does some private singing lessons on a Friday afternoon.
Cass loves hearing about all the activities that the students do in classes and loves hearing about their progress in between working in the office on the front desk.
Her toddler now does Busy Bees classes as well!
Teacher
Meet Cassidy! Cassidy has been at Theatre Bugs for over 15 years. She loves working with kids and often says she has the best job in the world, not just because it allows her to wear bright colours, glitter, and funky earrings. She’s always dreamed of working in children’s theatre, and Theatre Bugs allows her to do exactly that.
Outside of working, Cassidy always finds time for her other aspirations. She recently completed her Bachelor of Psychology and is exploring her options for further education in 2026. She also makes time for fun, and is teaching herself acoustic guitar in her spare time, one day she would love to write her own songs. Cassidy also loves spending time with her friends and family, live music, musicals, nerdy TV shows, and pretending to be a mermaid when she goes swimming. And of course, being involved in musicals and productions EVERY chance she gets.
Teacher
Emma has a rich background in competitive dance and musical theatre and uses these skills to inspire young performers. She began her journey in the performing arts at a young age, competing in a variety of dance styles and performing in many musical theatre productions.
Passionate about teaching, Emma thrives on nurturing confidence, creativity, and a love for the arts in her students. She is dedicated to creating a positive and encouraging environment where young performers can explore their potential, refine their skills, and discover their unique artistic voice.
At Theatre Bugs/Adelaide Theatre Academy, Emma is proud to share her knowledge and enthusiasm, helping students grow not only as performers but also as confident, expressive individuals. She finds immense joy in guiding the next generation of artists to achieve their dreams and embrace the magic of performing.
Teacher
Living and breathing drama, dance and music from a young age, Georgia has undertaken specialist music, drama and dance classes for over 20 years. She has generated extensive dance experience in multiple genres including: jazz, hip hop, contemporary and Bollywood, and performed in a number of variety shows and musicals as a singer, dancer and actor, with her most recent work being performing as Kim in the award-winning show Fountain Lakes: A Very Foxy Parody Musical which she also co-wrote.
Georgia has worked at the State Theatre Company of SA as an Education Intern, Assistant Development Coordinator and Education Assistant. This role enabled her to develop a strong understanding of the inner workings of a major professional theatre company.
Georgia graduated with a Bachelor of Education and Arts (Drama specialisation) from Flinders University in 2016. She has experience teaching middle school Dance, Music and Musical Theatre, as well as Drama from Years 8-12. She has coordinated many plays and performances, and also directed and choreographed musicals including Grease, Seussical and Mamma Mia across many schools, including Seaford Secondary College, Henley High School, Sacred Heart College, St Peter’s College and currently Loreto College Marryatville.
Georgia has been a creative for many productions with Theatre Bugs and Adelaide Theatre Academy as a director and/or choreographer: credits include 13 The Musical, Moana Jnr, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Wizard of Oz, and in 2024, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
Georgia is extremely excited to be working with Theatre Bugs and is keen to pass on her passion for the performing arts to the next generation of Theatre Bugs.
Teacher
Giulia-Giorgina started Theatre Bugs at age two. She attended for thirteen years, performing with the senior ‘Show Bugs’ class and with Peter Combe. Highlights included the Credit Union Christmas Pageant and The Teddy Bears’ Picnic at the Adelaide Fringe.
Outside of Theatre Bugs, Giulia-Giorgina has taken lessons in acting, dancing and singing and has performed with Pelican Productions. Professionally, she performed as part of the children’s ensemble in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (TML Enterprises) and The Nutcracker (Imperial Russian Ballet) at the Festival Theatre. At Saint Ignatius’ College Giulia-Giorgina played ‘Belle’ in Beauty and the Beast, ‘Meg’ in Away, ‘Maria’ in The Small Poppies, was part of the ensemble in Singin’ in the Rain and choreographed ‘Beauty School Dropout’ in Grease. She participated in music ensembles as a vocalist, violinist and percussionist and performed in America as part of the school’s Music Tour. Giulia-Giorgina was elected Music Vice-Captain for her senior year and completed her SACE Drama and Solo Performance (Voice) with high grades. She also achieved her SACE Ensemble Performance with the College’s Senior Vocal Ensemble, which won first place in Division 2 at Generations in Jazz. Throughout her time at the College, Giulia-Giorgina won three gold and two silver medals with her Theatrical Dance Team at the Schoolaerobics Nationals in Sydney/Gold Coast. Giulia-Giorgina recently played ‘Kim MacAfee’ in Bye Bye Birdie with The Met, worked with Adelaide Fringe’s ‘Honey Pot’ and attended a university arts trip in Indonesia on the ‘New Colombo Plan’ scholarship.
Giulia-Giorgina is currently studying a Bachelor of Music Theatre with the Elder Conservatorium at The University of Adelaide.
Teacher
Hannah Smith is an aspiring director and theatre maker in Adelaide. Growing up in Murray Bridge, Hannah was motivated to create her directing opportunities in the community, producing multiple independent theatre shows through her small production company. Her love of theatre led her to undertake further study in Technical Productions at The Adelaide College of the Arts. She is now studying for a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) at Flinders University. While Hannah is studying, she teaches Musical Theatre classes with Theatre Bugs and the Youth Theatre at Murray Bridge Players and Singers.
Hannah has also had the pleasure of working with the Adelaide Fringe Festival and Festival of Ideas, including her role as venue technician for the Amphitheatre in the Botanic Gardens (Black Box Theatres). Directed works include At the Laundrette (2017), Inside Out (2018), Peter Pan a Musical Adventure (2017), OZ! (2021) and Bumming with Jane (2020/2021) and The Book of Everything (2023). She has also undertaken secondments with the State Theatre Company of South Australia on their production of Eureka Day. During her studies at Flinders University, she has assisted in productions of Sweet Road, Coming of Age in Australia, and Love and Information.
Teacher
Jas is a singer-songwriter, musician, and recording artist who completed her Bachelor of Popular Music and Creative Technologies at The Elder Conservatorium (The University of Adelaide). A multi-instrumentalist, Jas developed a love for music at a young age when she began taking piano lessons before expanding her repertoire by adding vocals and guitar.
Her diverse skill set has led Jas to take up several unique opportunities – tutoring students at St. Ann’s College, working as an audio technician at The Adelaide Convention Centre, and recording/engineering/producing music for various artists, as well as herself.
A multiple-time nominee in the pop category at the SA Music Awards, her highlights so far include being shortlisted to support Budjerah (Warner Music) on the ‘Therapy Sessions Tour’ and performing as a featured artist at Oz Asia Festival’s Lucky Dumpling Market in Elder Park, playing in front of opening weekend crowds of over 85,000 people.
Jas is extremely passionate about the entertainment industry and prides herself on her warm and friendly nature. Her enthusiastic and constructive approach to teaching reflects her continued desire to learn and grow as a musician (and person!). Jas is motivated to build a supportive environment where students can freely express themselves, increase their confidence, and discover their unique creative voice
Teacher
Jayden Ayling is a multi-disciplinary creative artist known for his dynamic presence both on and off the stage. As a performer, stage manager, and working creative, Jayden’s passion and dedication infuse every project he undertakes with a unique energy and flair.
Jayden has left his mark on the Adelaide arts scene through his involvement in many shows and productions. His favourite roles include; Smee in Peter Pan, and Bert in the award nominated production of Mary Poppins both with Adelaide Theatre Academy, and Nikos in Pelican Production’s Legally Blonde.
Jayden is the Company Director of AK Creative, an arts production company based in Adelaide and spearheads the creation of innovative performances that push boundaries and captivate audiences.
In addition to his achievements within the performing arts, Jayden is a passionate advocate for the continued growth and development of the arts community in Adelaide and beyond. He actively seeks out opportunities to mentor emerging talent, sharing his knowledge and experience to inspire the next generation of artists and creatives.
With a boundless enthusiasm for storytelling and a relentless pursuit of artistic excellence, Jayden hopes to captivate audiences and inspire fellow creatives with each new endeavour.
Teacher
Jordan is a recent Adelaide College of the Arts graduate, with an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts (Acting). Since the age of 6, she has been involved in the performing arts whether it was dancing, singing or musical theatre. Some of of Jordans recent performance highlights were the 2023 Fringe award winning show, BIMBO presented by Hannah Smith, Wendla in Spring Awakening
directed by Dave Mealor and Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins in her final year of school.
Having had past experience in teaching musical theatre and creative arts to young performers, Jordan is excited to begin her teaching journey at Theatre Bugs. She strongly believes in the importance of exposing today’s youth to a myriad of creative outlets.
Teacher
Olivia has been a part of Theatre Bugs and Adelaide Theatre Academy as a student for 13 years. During this time, she has been a part of the performances classes for 6 years and has performed in a number of musicals. Some highlights include Mrs Sowerberry and dance captain in Oliver as a part of the Adelaide fringe, and Lilly in Annie.
As Well as being trained in musical theatre Olivia has competed in a range of dance competitions in jazz, tap, hip hop lyrical and pom, on a national level as well as international. In 2021 her Pom team placed 3th in the dance worlds in Florida.
Olivia was a part of theatre bugs teacher development program for over two years in this time she assisted over 20 classes with 6 different teachers. She has learnt valuable lessons during this time in teaching and choreography. Olivia also has been the Assistant Choreographer for Porridge The Musical, Something on Saturday and Assistant Choreographer for Oliver, Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the Adelaide Fringe.
Teacher
Sian has been involved in the theatre industry since a very young age. She started her journey at Theatre Bugs at just 7 years old and has since developed a strong passion for the performing arts with her involvement in various Theatre Bugs production’s.
Sian’s professional experience includes being one of the children in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (TML enterprises), as well as being a soloist in the 2014 Catholic Schools Music Festival. Sian has performed with Pelican Productions; in various performances such as Bring it on and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as well as being involved in their annual Music Theatre Camp each summer. Sian was a member of her College’s Senior Vocal Ensemble and was able to perform at events such as Generations in Jazz.
Sian is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in drama and English, at Flinders University.
