Join us for an entertaining and insightful in-person armchair chat with actor, writer, singer, theatre company co-founder, producer and Intimacy Coordinator, MICHALA BANAS (McLeod's Daughters, Always Greener, Upper Middle Bogan, Nowhere Boys, Run Rabbit Run) about her career to date. This event will take the form of an interview with Incognita Enterprises' Creative Director, Sally McLean, before taking moderated questions from the audience in attendance on the night.

USE CODE "HAPPYNEW2024" AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF ALL TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT!

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

MICHALA BANAS

Michala Banas is a multi-award-winning film, television and theatre actor. Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Michala’s career began very early with her first film credit at the age of 5. Since then, she has forged a remarkable career, starring in over 40 films, television and theatre productions.

She quickly became the go-to girl for TV drama in Australia starring in Always Greener, McLeod’s Daughters, Winners and Losers, Halifax Retribution and Nowhere Boys. More recently, after the huge success of Upper Middle Bogan, in which she played the much loved and feisty Amber Wheeler, she has been in high demand for comedy and television with Bad Mothers for Channel 9, Hamish and Andy’s True Story, Luke Warm Sex, Get Krack!n and most recently Gold Diggers. Michala’s film credits include That’s Not My Dog, Ned, Scooby Doo and Nowhere Boys: The Book of Shadows. Michala is also a writer, a founding member and co-artistic director of Green Room nominated theatre company, The KIN Collective, and producer on the ground-breaking documentary, The Show Must Go On.

As well as acting on screen, Michala has found herself Co-Hosting many shows, these include The 7pm Project (Network Ten), The Circle (Network Ten). Additionally Michala has been a Panel Member on well-known shows such as Have You Been Paying Attention (Network Ten), Show Me The Movie! (Network Ten), Hughesy, We Have A Problem (Network Ten), 20 to 1 (Nine Network), Dirty Laundry Live (ABC).

As well as nominations for several television awards, Michala earned a Helpmann Award (2010) for her stage acting debut in Avenue Q and she has starred on stage in several productions at the Melbourne Theatre Company. Some of Michala’s theatre credits include Boy Swallows Universe, The Odd Couple, The Beauty Queen Of Leenane, Funny Girl and she most recently played "Mary" in The Memory of Water for Ensemble Theatre (NSW). She is also a proud member of MEAA.

Michala’s skills have naturally moved her off camera to MC, Hosting and Presenting duties, with her natural charisma and being a talented improviser she has found herself presenting at many events such as the AACTA awards, DGA Awards and Co-Hosting the Casting Guild Awards.

Michala has also crossed over to Radio where she has regularly been a guest or co-hosted on a number of programs including The Matt & Jo Show (Fox FM), Chrissy Sam and Browny (Nova) and Hamish & Andy (Fox FM).

To see Michala's full CV, CLICK HERE.

ABOUT OUR INTERVIEWER:

SALLY McLEAN

An award-winning multi-hyphenate creative, Sally McLean began her work in the entertainment biz in her mid-teens and has since performed lead, guest and supporting roles in numerous Australian, US and UK film, theatre and television productions.

A graduate of The Actors Institute UK, Sally’s notable screen acting credits include the lead role of “Angie Powers” in the BAFTA Award-winning BBC miniseries Bootleg opposite Tim Robinson, lead guest role of “Stacy” in the AACTA Award-winning ABC TV series Utopia opposite Celia Pacquola and recurring guest roles of “Miss Giddens” in the AACTA Award nominated ABC/CBBC TV series The Worst Year of My Life – Again! opposite Tiarnie Coupland and “Barb” in the cult hit USA Sony/AMC TV series, Preacher opposite Pip Torrens & Christopher Kirby.

Predominantly working on screen, Sally is also an experienced dramatic Shakespearean actor with Musical Theatre roots and has played over thirty lead and supporting roles in theatre in both Australia and the UK. Highlights include roles in the West End premiere of the drama Annabel’s Requiem, what is believed to be the first all-female production of Macbeth in the UK and the professional Australian premier of the hit off-Broadway musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

She is currently the Creator/Director and lead ensemble member of the multi award-winning digital series Shakespeare Republic for which she was named the winner of the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award for Best Digital Series in the USA in 2017, which saw Sally join the ranks of fellow CINE alumni such as Steven Spielberg (the then CINE President) Oprah Winfrey, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, Jim Henson, Mike Nichols, Robert Altman, Spike Lee, Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese and Sydney Pollack, among others. Fellow award winners that year were Christian Slater’s Mr Robot, Variety’s Actors on Actors and National Geographic’s M.A.R.S. series.

To read more about Sally's work, CLICK HERE.

EVENT DETAILS:

DATE/S:
Friday, January 12, 2024

TIME:
6.30pm-8.30pm
(Doors open at 6pm)

COST*:
Full price: $50+BF
Concession: $40+BF (Concession card to be shown at admission)
Student & Seniors: $25+BF (Student or Seniors Card to be shown at admission)
MEAA Concession: $25+BF (MEAA card to be shown at admission)

*USE CODE "HAPPYNEW2024" AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF ALL TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT!

Full Information about the Incognita@Montsalvat program: https://events.incognitaenterprises.com

*The rear of the Barn Gallery at Montsalvat. Photo by Sally McLean*

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

WELCOME TO INCOGNITA@MONTSALVAT

Incognita Enterprises is delighted to be partnering with the prestigious and historically significant Arts venue, Montsalvat, located in breath-taking surrounds in Eltham, Victoria, just 37 mins drive from the Melbourne CBD, where we will be offering a program of workshops, masterclasses and live theatrical events across the 2024 calendar year.

Come join us for writing workshops, acting masterclasses, Shakespeare classes and other Performing Arts educational offerings for teenagers and adults from January to March 2024. Attend entertainment industry Q&A sessions each month right through 2024 with experienced actors, directors and others to learn more about the film, television and theatre industries. Come along to our monthly play readings from January to December 2024, where professional actors will read new plays from emerging and experienced playwrights.

Later in the year, we are excited to be offering two theatrical events that you won’t want to miss. A very special theatrical production, written for Montsalvat’s 90th Anniversary celebrations and a large scale immersive promenade Shakespeare theatre installation – both featuring professional actors and showcasing the Montsalvat Resident Artists’ talents and works. More information to come on both these events, so make sure you subscribe to our mailing list, so you don’t miss out!

We look forward to seeing you at beautiful Montsalvat in person!

MAIN HEADER PHOTO: Michala Banas. Photo by Alex Vaughan.