The Creative Life with Renee Lim, Alexander Berlage, Monica Sayers and Michael Balk

Host(s)

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  Renee Lim

  Renee Lim is a performer, educator and medical doctor. In addition to her appearances on Australian film and TV including Five Blind Dates, The Dry, Black Snow, Clickbait, Ask The Doctors, East West 101 and Please Like Me, and theatre works like Into the Shimmering World, As Luck Would Have It, The Wolves, Grace Under Pressure, and His Mothers Voice, Renee is the Director of Program Development at the Pam McLean Centre (an educational centre designed to improve communication in the health sector using behavioural psychology, and character improvisation), designing all their experiential courses, and defining strategy and support for their expert team, as well as being an educator at the University of Sydney and UNSW, and doing 1:1 coaching.  She is also a successful presenter and public speaker across multiple sectors. She is a locum doctor in Palliative Care and Geriatrics Departments in NSW, and CEO of Changineers, an Educational Technology social enterprise.  Her consulting work in the areas of the Human Factor and Engagement across the For Purpose sector have most recently seen her as an Advisor to the Paul Ramsay Foundation, running culture change programs for groups like MSF and WSLHD FLASH, and as a consultant to Violet, supporting people caring for those at the end of life. In her spare time, she is a co-creator of nayinthelife.com, a wellbeing online creative collaboration with writers, Clare Hennessy and Abigail Honey, and is a writer, producer and director with KFilms.  Most recently, she has taken on the role of Director of Engagement at The Vault at KXT on Broadway. All of this work is part of her goal to help people find value in themselves, and therefore, be comfortable with who they are @anayinthelife.
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  Monica Sayers

  Monica Sayers is a proud Australian born Chinese artist working as an actor, director, voiceover artist, yoga teacher and DJ. Having studied at Actors Centre Australia & ATYP, Monica continued her training at NIDA, graduating with a Bachelor in Dramatic Arts in 2004. Over the years she has worked extensively across different mediums including TV’s -The Messenger, The Unlisted, Rake, Love My Way, All Saints, The Royal (UK) and The Clinic (IRE). She has featured in countless commercials, corporate training videos, short films, voiceovers, podcast interviews and currently recording her second audiobook. Monica’s main theatre highlights are Romeo and Juliet (Bell Shakespeare) Chimerica and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Sydney Theatre Co) Hay Fever (Melbourne Theatre Company) Moon Rabbit Rising (Belvoir 25A) In 2023, Monica turned to directing -co-directing In A Moment - winning Best Short in the Best Film Awards this year in L.A. Other directing highlights include Noodle Salad, and A Day in the Life of Instagram for Slanted and NTOFP’s Luna Festival, Rockstars and Tricks & Tricksters Circus Cabaret for NIDA, and one of the educational shows for Poetry In Action’s current 10 month tour. Rounding out the last 6 months, Monica assistant directed Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, which just closed at the Hayes Theatre over June long weekend. Currently collaborating with Yr 11 students on a piece for the Nepean Nexus Festival of Drama and Technology in late June and in rehearsals for a play for then Old Fitz - Fewer Emergencies - part of the Late Night season.
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  Alexander Berlage

  Alexander Berlage is a multi-award-winning director and lighting designer. His critically-acclaimed 2023 production of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE won 4 Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Independent Production, Best Direction of an Independent Production, Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production, Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production. His smash-hit, sold-out production of AMERICAN PSYCHO won 9 Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Direction of a Musical, Best Production of a Musical, Best Male Actor in a Musical, Best Set Design of an Independent Production, Best Costume Design of an Independent Production and Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production and more. Alexander’s production of GLORIA was nominated for 2 Sydney Theatre Awards. Alexander’s production of CRY-BABY received rave reviews, sold out and won 4 Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Direction of a Musical, Best Production of a Musical, Best Female Actor in a Musical and Best Set Design of an Independent Production. The same year, his productions of THERE WILL BE A CLIMAX, HOME INVASION and CRY-BABY received a combined total of 12 Sydney Theatre Award nominations. For THERE WILL BE A CLIMAX, Alexander was nominated for Best Direction of an Independent Production and Best Independent Production. Alexander’s directing work includes: for Darlinghurst Theatre Company, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN; for Sydney Chamber Opera, APHRODITE, FUTURE REMAINS (with Sydney Festival), EARTH.VOICE.BODY, RESONANT BODIES, DIARY OF ONE WHO DISAPPEARED (with Sydney Opera House); for Hayes Theatre Co., WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, AMERICAN PSYCHO, CRY-BABY; for NIDA, MR BURNS, THERE WILL BE A CLIMAX, GLORIA (Outhouse Theatre Co); A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, HAND TO GOD, (Red Line Productions); HOME INVASION (An Assorted Few/Old 505); THE VAN DE MAAR PAPERS (An Assorted Few/PACT); HYPNOPOMPIA (Gondwana Choirs). Alexander is developing Peter Ford’s new opera PETER PAN with Sydney Chamber Opera and Gondwana Choirs. In 2020, during lockdown when all the theatres were closed, he co-created and directed the smash-hit sold-out world premiere of SYDNEY THEATRE BUSES. As a lighting designer, Alexander works with companies including: Opera Australia, Sydney Theatre Company, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sadler’s Wells, Opera Queensland, Circa, Sydney Chamber Opera, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Belvoir, Sydney Dance Company, Griffin Theatre and Hayes Theatre Co. Alexander twice won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production – for his work on AMERICAN PSYCHO and on 4:48 PSYCHOSIS. He received Sydney Theatre Award nominations for his lighting design on RGB: OF MANY, ONE, THE WHALE, THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA VON KANT and DOUBT. Alexander’s lighting designs include: for Sydney Theatre Company, JULIA, HUBRIS AND HUMILIATION, RBG: OF MANY, ONE, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, LORD OF THE FLIES, CLOUD NINE, LETHAL INDIFFERENCE; for Birmingham Royal Ballet/Sadler’s Wells, A BRIEF NOSTALGIA; for Opera Queensland/Circa and Opera Australia, ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE; for Pinchgut Opera, PLATÉE; for State Theatre Company of South Australia/Belvoir: DANCE NATION; for CIRCA: PEEPSHOW: CLUB REMIX, DUCKPOND, for Sydney Festival and Seymour Centre, MUSEUM OF MODERN LOVE; for Griffin, DEAD CAT BOUNCE, GOOD COOK. FRIENDLY. CLEAN., NOSFERATU, THOMAS MURRAY AND THE UPSIDE DOWN RIVER; for Ensemble Theatre: MAJORIE PRIME, UNQUALIFIED, BUYER AND CELLAR, THE KITCHEN SINK; for Sydney Chamber Opera, ANTARCTICA, EARTH.VOICE.BODY, AWAKENING SHADOW, FUTURE REMAINS, POEM FOR A DRIED UP RIVER, DIARY OF ONE WHO DISAPPEARED, BREAKING GLASS, LA PASSION DE SIMONE, RESONANT BODIES, VICTORY OVER THE SUN, AN INDEX OF METALS associate; for Australasian Dance Collective, LUCIE IN THE SKY; for Belvoir 25A, THE OVERCOAT; for Sydney Dance Company, NEW BREED and PPY18-23; at Old 505 Theatre, HOME INVASION, THE BLOCK UNIVERSE, HILT; for National Theatre of Parramatta, GROUNDED; for Australian Theatre for Young People, MOTH, WAR CRIMES, BETWEEN US, LUKE LLOYD: ALIENOID; at the Old Fitz, EXIT THE KING, THE EFFECT, STALKING THE BOOGEYMAN, THERE WILL BE A CLIMAX, VERTICAL DREAMING, 4:48 PSYCHOSIS, DOUBT, CRIMES OF THE HEART, THE JUDAS KISS, THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA VON KANT, THE WHALE, MEN, FREAK WINDS, HOWIE THE ROOKIE; at Hayes Theatre Co, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, CAROLINE OR CHANGE, AMERICAN PSYCHO, CRY-BABY, HIGH FIDELITY, DOGFIGHT, EVERYBODY LOVES LUCY; for Critical Stages, SONGS FOR THE FALLEN, 4000 MILES, STONES IN HIS POCKETS; for Red Line, EXIT THE KING. Alexander holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Production) and a Master of Fine Art (Directing) from the National Institute for Dramatic Art, Sydney. In 2019, Alexander was awarded a Mike Walsh Fellowship.
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  Michael Balk

  Michael Balk is an actor, producer, presenter and singer and current President of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA). He has had extensive involvement in theatre, film and television with a large portion of the last decade focused on children’s entertainment. Michael was previously Associate Producer Programming with Nine Entertainment Co and appeared as senior actor in the network's children's programs SMASHHDOWN! and BrainBuzz. Michael is also known widely as scrapboy in the AFI & Emmy award-winning ABC kids show dirtgirlworld and Get Grubby TV. Previously, Michael was the Director of Entertainment at Australia Zoo and often works in advertising on television. A professional member of the Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts, Michael been a proud member of MEAA since 2000 and during his time as QLD President of the National Performers Committee he served on the Animation Committee, Screen Committee, and Intimacy Guidelines Committee.