SCHOOL INCURSIONS AND YEAR 12 DRAMA EXAM/ AUDITION TUITION

Kate is available for school incursions leading up to productions, to teach acting skills for the camera or general drama work for wellbeing and fun. She also teaches year 12 students leading up to their exams and auditions for drama schools such as NIDA, VCA and 16th street Actors Studio (full time course).

Kate has a Masters in Education (Melbourne University, High Class Honours) and teaches the next generation of teachers at MGSE (Melbourne Graduate School of Education, Melbourne University). Kate is currently on the board of the Australian Children’s Theatre Foundation and has been invited in 2023 to teach the next generation of Directors at Swinburne University (how to work with actors).

She works as a specialist teacher for the peak body for Drama Education, Drama Victoria. She delivers programs for regional and metro students (and their teachers) so that ALL students have access to Drama, no matter their socio-economic circumstances.

Her work as an Acting Coach for children has seen her running Youth Programs for acting schools such as 16th Street Actors Studio and TAFTA, workshopping and filming self tapes for young actors (8-18 years old) and is recommended by casting agents such as Oh Jackie O and Centrestage.

In 2023 Kate has been invited to write the Education Pack for Victorian Opera and Opera Australia’s Idomineo (alongside the wonderful Tim Ryan), and Galileo (alongside Tim Ryan and Claire Wearne). She will continue this work in 2024.

Kate has been the Head of Drama and a Language & Literature specialist at Australia’s first progressive school Preshil, The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School.

She use’s contemporary contexts and stimuli pertaining to the world of young people today. She promotes creativity, critical thinking, concept and inquiry-based learning which she believes contributes to a holistic educational and well-being practice.

Her work as an innovative teacher of Language and Literature and Drama was recognised by Victoria’s Independent School’s body in 2018. ISV filmed her teaching practice as part of a project that aims to start conversations with and between teachers regarding their current innovative practices in curriculum and pedagogy. She was also invited to speak at the World Drama Education Congress in Iceland in 2022, the New Zealand Drama Conference 2022 and was a Keynote speaker at the 2023 Victorian Drama Conference.

Kate has designed and taught specialist programs such as ‘The Artistry of Science’ for Victoria’s Arts Learning Festival. Here she facilitated workshops on those fundamental questions that unite the sciences and the arts.

Kate has been a guest director for regional schools such as Alexander Secondary College; taught acting for the camera at TAFTA for secondary schools; and offers private tuition for those students undertaking VCE Drama or the International Baccalaureate program DP Theatre. She also offers tuition to those wanting to audition for acting schools here and across the globe such as NIDA , VCA , and WAAPA.

COME PLAY at TAFTA!

We take our passions seriously. But we also act because it's fun, right? Research suggests that the more we play, the deeper connections we make between the learning and our entire bodies. In other words, through play we have a full-bodied experience. This is of course excellent for the field of acting.

Join Kate Ellis for three evenings at TAFTA to find nuance and colour in your audition pieces and work, through experimentation and play. Through Kate’s unique approach to scene work you will open up a multiverse of choices for any one scene, proffer unique auditions and have fun while doing it.

Kate has worked with international artists such as Lucy Fry, Aisha Dee and Connor Jessup as well as on International programs and with International
Production Companies such as ‘The Saddle Club’ and Temple Films (Anupam Sharma). She has worked on Australian Features such as ‘Judy and Punch’ and ‘That’s Not Me’ and with actors in such stage productions as Hamilton. She teaches at acting schools such as 16th Street Actors Studio & TAFTA in Melbourne/Naarm, Australia. She further supports artists and the broader community through her writing, participation in Q and A’s and through government initiatives with Drama Victoria. She recently spoke at the World Drama Education Congress in Iceland.

Miranda Harcourt Masterclass and Auditing opportunities

THRILLED to be auditing Miranda Harcourt 's masterclass at 16th Street Actors Studio.

Miranda has worked with actors like Nicole Kidman and for creators like Peter Jackson. The below is text taken from 16th Street Acting Studios website… secure a position or audition my wonderful actors. FUN!

“(Miranda) is Intuitive, Unique, Amazing”

Nicole Kidman, Academy Award-winning actress and producer

Miranda Harcourt brings her sensational 2-day Masterclass to the Melbourne studio.

A unique opportunity to work intensively with one of the most celebrated film coaches in the business. In her active workshops and with her unique slideshows and case studies she gives you a direct insight into how top actors and directors work on major feature films around the world.

Renowned as a performance-pilot, not only does Miranda support stars at the highest level, but also guides emerging talents into stellar careers.

Her clients have won and been nominated for multiple Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, BAFTAs and AAFTAs, most recently a 2022 Golden Globe win and Best Actress nomination at the 2022 Academy Awards.