Emily Stratten: Director/Teacher
Emily is the owner, creative director and acting teacher of Kiama Actors Studio. In 2015 Emily was named ‘Young Citizen of the Year’ at the Australia Day Awards for her work at Kiama Actors Studio. Emily has been the Director of KAS for the past five years and has an extensive Film/Television career. Emily continues to work around the world acting in projects for Disney, Channel 7, Discovery, FOX, ABC + more. Emily has worked closely with Academy Award Nominee James Cromwell, actor and comedian Kevin Hart, music artist Katy Perry and has contributed to the Australian Library and New York University writings on Australian Film Production.
Emily has trained at notable institutions such as NIDA, Margie Haber LA, The Groundlings LA, UCB LA and The Acting Center LA.
Emily coaches actors from all parts of the world. From Kiama to Los Angeles. Being an acting teacher is a passion of hers and Emily’s aim at Kiama Actors Studio is to “provide actors with opportunities and experiences that may not necessarily be available to them. I don’t think any dream is too big. If you can dream it, you can do it. I want to make sure students feel at home at KAS and that they can express themselves freely, through the skills they’ve learnt at the studio”
Special Guest Workshop Tutors
Jay Patterson:
Stunt Trainer
Jay has trained with the Film Industry Stunt Team and The Australian Gymnastics Academy. He has worked on Home And Away as an actor. And as a stuntman on Lord Of The Rings, Power Rangers, The Sydney Olympics, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards and Pirates Unleashed Stunt Show at Sea World Australia to name a few. Jay's workshop includes Stunt Training, Stage Combat and Sword Training.
Thom Green:
Industry Guest (Acting)
Thom Green is an award winning Australian actor who is best recognizable for his portrayal of 'Sammy' in ABC's television series 'Dance Academy'. Thom has also starred in the lead role for 'Camp' as Kip Wampler and Thomas Lasky in 'Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn'. He has also appeared on Network Ten and Channel 7 on 'Home And Away'. In 2008 Thom was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Actor in the short film 'The Ground Beneath'. Thom's workshop includes screen acting, industry knowledge and audition training.
Catrina Ralph:
Industry Guest (Musical Theatre)
Catrina is a dancer and musical theatre performer. Having danced for Broadway Dance Center in New York City, Catrina has also played Cassie in 'A Chorus Line' and has been dancing for 19 years, trained extensively in jazz, ballet, tap, musical theatre, contemporary, lyrical and hip hop - and more recently, singing and acting. Cat likes to treat all of her students as if they wish to pursue a career in the arts, encouraging the best out of them every lesson, and imbuing and extending onto them the wealth of knowledge she has gained through a diversity of mentors and teachers over the years.
Danielle King:
Industry Guest (NIDA Acting Coach)
Danielle King is a Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London) trained actress who has been working in Sydney as an actress and teaching artist for the last 8 years, for companies such as Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Sport for Jove, Australian Theatre for Young People and National Institute of Dramatic Art.
Justin Dela Cruz:
Musical Director
Justin is a vocalist, brass instrumentalist and classically trained pianist. In 2015 Justin was the musical director of KAS’s very successful musical ‘Memoirs Of Love and Murder’ and in 2016 Justin musically directed Kiama Actors Studio’s Mean Girls The Pantomime. Justin is a Piano and Music Theory teacher of eight years and has a degree in Contemporary Performance and Music Production at the Australian Institute of Music. Justin is an active session musician, working with various producers around Australia such as Tony Buchen and Mark Myers and has recently been performing and recording with artist Bec Sandridge. Justin has also been active in film composition and was awarded ‘Best Original Composition’ at the 2011 Robin Anderson Film Awards and again in 2012.