Acting Tutors

Our acting program tutors are some of Adelaide's most experienced industry leaders who are currently working within the industry as Actors, Directors and Producers, many of whom are specialists within their fields and some  who have earnt International acclaim for their work. They are committed to developing the skills of their students and to producing the actors of the future.

Joanne Hartstone

Joanne Hartstone is a South Australian theatre maker, actor and performer, playwright, director, producer and presenter, specialising in international theatrical collaborations, live theatre & cabaret, and immersive/site-specific events.

Jamie Harding

Jamie Harding is a prominent Adelaide-based actor, director, producer, and acting coach who trained at the Flinders Drama Centre, known for his work in innovative theatre (like VR integration in In the Pines), leading arts companies (Gener8 Theatre), and roles in Australian TV; Firebite and McLeod's Daughters.

Chelsea Griffith

Chelsea graduated from Acting at Adelaide College of The Arts in 2021. The following October, she was Assistant Director to Rosalba Clemente for Eureka Day by State Theatre Company of South Australia. She received a 2021 Carclew Fellowship to fund a creative development for a script she has written, which took place in January 2022. In this development, she received mentoring in dramaturgy and directing from Nescha Jelk. In April 2023, Chelsea was a directorial observer to Yasmin Gurreeboo for STCSA’s Every Brilliant Thing. In May 2023, Chelsea was director and dramaturg for Shore Break, a one hander written by Chris Pitman and presented by Brink Productions. She was given mentorship in directing by Chris Drummond during the lead up to the production. Shore Break will be presented at Stateside in September 2024. Chelsea is a regular tutor at Actors Ink teaching classes for adults and kids.

Matt Russell

Matt Russell is a graduate of the Centre for Performing Arts and has worked extensively as an actor across television, film, radio, and theatre. He holds a PhD in Creative Writing, with research focused on Renaissance rhetoric as both a creative methodology and critical theory, and his plays have been performed nationally and internationally. A much-loved member of the Actors Ink family for over 20 years, Matt is consistently praised by students for his engaging, thoughtful, and dedicated approach to teaching adults and young performers alike.

David Mealor

David is a multi-award winning and critically acclaimed theatre director, producer and teacher. An Honours graduate of Flinders University Drama Centre, he also holds a BA from University of Adelaide. David was a founding member of Brink Productions and part of its ensemble 1996 – 2005. In 2003 he was Brink’s Artistic Coordinator. Over his career, he has produced and directed nearly 40 theatre productions, worked as an actor in many more, and is a lecturer and director at Flinders Drama Centre and Adelaide College of the Arts.

Patrick Graham

Patrick has had a long career as an actor working across theatre, film, TV and radio. He has branched out recently to become a producer and creator for screen. In 2022 Patrick co-founded Switch Productions to champion authentic Australian stories and story tellers.

Alirio Zavarce

Alirio is an award-winning actor, director, and theatre-maker and has developed a unique and distinct “Methodology of Ability” that combines film, moving images and live performance in multiple bodies of work including “Sons & Mothers”, “The Book of Loco”, “The Migration Project” among many others.

Paulo Castro

Paulo Castro is an acclaimed Portuguese theatre director and filmmaker living in Adelaide. He has directed plays for the national theatre in Portugal, and had his works performed throughout the world, including France, Spain, Iceland, Mozambique, Belgium, Austria and Morocco.