Tyran Parke presents "A Conversation with…"

Caroline O’Connor at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Launceston.

Day 2, May 22, 2025.

I’m a fan of podcasts - particularly interviews with/between actors, directors and musicians and the interviewer happens to be extremely knowledgeable about the industry and career of their interview subject. ('WTF' with Marc Maron and 'Talk Easy' with Sam Fragoso are two great examples). But then there are interviews between artists who also happen to be great friends - these interviews are the best!

Tyran Parke is not only an adoring fan of Caroline O’Connor, he’s also performed alongside her and has been her director.  This interview was not just fly-on-the-wall; it was a cosy natter over a cup of tea, ending in the warmest of hugs - or felt as close as possible to it.

Caroline’s recollections reflected the kinds of ‘pinch me’ moments you’d expect from a career as diverse as hers, but it was all expressed with such a wide-eyed innocence and deep sense of gratitude and grace and very liberal doses of self-effacing humour.  It’s not difficult to see why. While Caroline grew up in Australia and considers it her home, she was born in Ireland. This fact was accentuated every time she acknowledged any of her former mentors or colleagues who happened to have passed away; punctuating each of their names with “May their heart and soul rest in peace”.  

Proving that you can take the girl out of Ireland, but…

This was an absolute privilege to witness such an intimate and entertaining conversation. Caroline shares her experiences so viscerally, that everyone in the room feels like they were right there with her. We were all in puddles of tears by the end. Very special.

Photographer: Isabel Scharm

With Nancye Hayes

Earl Arts Centre, Launceston.

Day 4, May 24, 2025

Back in 1998 Nancye Hayes received the shock of her life. It was during a curtain call of Show Boat at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney, when out of the wings appeared a fresh-faced Mike Munroe, to announce: “Nancye Hayes: This is Your Life”. She was 55 at the time and had been performing for around 35 years, racking up around 70 professional productions of various musicals, performed all around Australia. I guess it must have seemed like the right time to spring that kind of surprise on her, but as the saying goes -

We ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!

I find it kind of hilarious, given that it's 27 years later and Nancye has at least 45 more productions under her belt as well as appearances in TV and film. 

Every interview she gives these days must feel like Groundhog Day. But somehow during this interview, she still manages to come across as if she is sharing her stories for the very first time. Her sense of humour is sharp and her wild enthusiasm for the Australian Theatre scene is infectious.

Like Caroline, she started as a dancer and knew from a young age she wanted a career on stage, but her mother made her promise to complete a Secretarial Course first, so she’d have something to fall back on. She did the course, got a job and within a few months, was cast in the chorus of My Fair Lady and never looked back. 

Looking back at her illustrious career it’s hard to imagine that she used to be pigeonholed as a ‘character’ actor. 

“I wasn’t seen as leading lady material back then," she confided, "I was what they called an Eyes and Teeth Girl.” This drew a big laugh.

By the way, it has to be said, she still has the loveliest eyes and gorgeous smile and for an 'Eyes and Teeth girl' she's had a monumental career. When asked if there were any parts left on her bucket list, she said there’s nothing she feels she hasn’t done. Besides, after witnessing how she moved through the festival with such a strong sense of purpose and meaning, it’s very clear that championing our local industry and mentoring young people has been a profound driving force. 

All of the folks she came into contact with this week, young and old, on and off the stage, had no doubt as to Nancye's importance in the scheme of things. She was treated like royalty everywhere she went. It was an absolute joy to witness.

Among the many accolades she has received during her career, in March this year, she was given a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by Equity. 

I have only one thing to say to that: Oy! Hold your horses, lads! That’s jumping the gun a bit, don’t ya think? Our Nancye shows no sign of slowing down, let alone retiring. Just quietly, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if she returns for future AMTF’s. Her presence had such a big impact.

Reviews by Rose Cooper