Blog Post
Meet Ashley & Madidi: Voice, Belonging, and the Power of Regional Theatre
Every so often, you encounter a theatre story that quietly reshapes how you think about where great work comes from. In this episode, Andrew sits down with Ashley Rogers-Bredin and Madidi McKenzie, two rising creatives behind Warrnambool’s production of & Juliet. Their conversation is a celebration of regional theatre—not as a stepping stone, but as a creative home where confidence, courage, and community take centre stage.
From first auditions to full-scale musical leadership, Ashley and Madidi’s journeys reveal how deeply theatre can shape identity, purpose, and voice when people are trusted early and supported well.
Where It All Began: Growing Up in Theatre Communities
For both Ashley and Madidi, performance wasn’t a late discovery—it was woven into childhood. Dance studios, school halls, family encouragement, and local productions became places of belonging. Growing up in regional Victoria meant fewer resources, but also fewer barriers to getting involved. There were stages to stand on, people willing to teach, and communities eager to show up.
They reflect on how these early experiences fostered gratitude and confidence. Regional theatre didn’t just teach them how to perform—it taught them how to collaborate, how to commit, and how to care for the people beside them.
Taking the Leap: A First-Time Director’s Journey
At just 23, Ashley steps into the role of director for his first full-scale musical—an iconic, globally recognised show. He speaks openly about the weight of that responsibility and the emotion of leading a company he once grew up within. Having spent a decade as a performer in the same community, Ashley brings empathy into the rehearsal room, understanding both the excitement and vulnerability of young performers.
From casting to concept to seeing the band and cast come together for the first full run, the process has been as overwhelming as it has been affirming. What stands out most is his pride—not in the scale of the production, but in the people bringing it to life.
Becoming Anne: Finding Depth, Maturity, and Voice
For Madidi, playing Anne Hathaway has been a turning point. Unlike roles she’s played before, Anne requires stillness, reflection, and emotional maturity. As a wife and mother, Anne exists in a different life stage—one Madidi hasn’t personally experienced—prompting deeper preparation and conversations beyond the rehearsal room.
Through Anne, Madidi explores themes of worth and self-trust. Anne is a woman who asks to be heard, who challenges the narrative she’s been handed, and who dares to imagine a different ending. It’s a role that has demanded more—and given more in return.
Rewriting the Story: Why & Juliet Resonates Now
While & Juliet bursts with pop anthems and humour, its emotional core runs much deeper. Ashley and Madidi unpack why the show speaks so strongly to young audiences today. At its heart are stories of identity, heartbreak, empowerment, and self-discovery—experiences that feel immediately recognisable.
The musical reframes familiar narratives, centring female voices and making space for queer and non-binary representation. Characters like Anne, Juliet, May, and Frankie remind audiences that every voice matters, and that rewriting your story is not only possible, but necessary.
Community as the Backbone of the Work
The conversation continually returns to Warrnambool itself. This production exists because of volunteers, long-standing relationships, families, and creatives who give their time not for prestige, but for love. From costume makers to musicians in the pit, the show is the result of hundreds of unseen hours.
Ashley and Madidi speak with pride about showcasing regional talent at a high calibre—and about the joy of proving that powerful, relevant theatre doesn’t only happen in capital cities.
Why This Story Matters
At its core, this episode is about courage: the courage to step into leadership, to trust your voice, and to chase what makes you happy. It’s about young artists being given real responsibility—and rising to meet it. And it’s about theatre as a space where people learn who they are, together.
Ashley and Madidi’s story is a reminder that big ideas don’t need big cities. Sometimes, they begin in community halls, regional theatres, and rehearsal rooms filled with trust. And when they do, they remind us why theatre still matters—because it gives us permission to speak, to listen, and to imagine something more.
Meet Ashley & Madidi: Voice, Belonging, and the Power of Regional Theatre
Every so often, you encounter a theatre story that quietly reshapes how you think about where great work comes from. In this episode, Andrew sits down with Ashley Rogers-Bredin and Madidi McKenzie, two rising creatives behind Warrnambool’s production of & Juliet. Their conversation is a celebration of regional theatre—not as a stepping stone, but as a creative home where confidence, courage, and community take centre stage.
From first auditions to full-scale musical leadership, Ashley and Madidi’s journeys reveal how deeply theatre can shape identity, purpose, and voice when people are trusted early and supported well.
Where It All Began: Growing Up in Theatre Communities
For both Ashley and Madidi, performance wasn’t a late discovery—it was woven into childhood. Dance studios, school halls, family encouragement, and local productions became places of belonging. Growing up in regional Victoria meant fewer resources, but also fewer barriers to getting involved. There were stages to stand on, people willing to teach, and communities eager to show up.
They reflect on how these early experiences fostered gratitude and confidence. Regional theatre didn’t just teach them how to perform—it taught them how to collaborate, how to commit, and how to care for the people beside them.
Taking the Leap: A First-Time Director’s Journey
At just 23, Ashley steps into the role of director for his first full-scale musical—an iconic, globally recognised show. He speaks openly about the weight of that responsibility and the emotion of leading a company he once grew up within. Having spent a decade as a performer in the same community, Ashley brings empathy into the rehearsal room, understanding both the excitement and vulnerability of young performers.
From casting to concept to seeing the band and cast come together for the first full run, the process has been as overwhelming as it has been affirming. What stands out most is his pride—not in the scale of the production, but in the people bringing it to life.
Becoming Anne: Finding Depth, Maturity, and Voice
For Madidi, playing Anne Hathaway has been a turning point. Unlike roles she’s played before, Anne requires stillness, reflection, and emotional maturity. As a wife and mother, Anne exists in a different life stage—one Madidi hasn’t personally experienced—prompting deeper preparation and conversations beyond the rehearsal room.
Through Anne, Madidi explores themes of worth and self-trust. Anne is a woman who asks to be heard, who challenges the narrative she’s been handed, and who dares to imagine a different ending. It’s a role that has demanded more—and given more in return.
Rewriting the Story: Why & Juliet Resonates Now
While & Juliet bursts with pop anthems and humour, its emotional core runs much deeper. Ashley and Madidi unpack why the show speaks so strongly to young audiences today. At its heart are stories of identity, heartbreak, empowerment, and self-discovery—experiences that feel immediately recognisable.
The musical reframes familiar narratives, centring female voices and making space for queer and non-binary representation. Characters like Anne, Juliet, May, and Frankie remind audiences that every voice matters, and that rewriting your story is not only possible, but necessary.
Community as the Backbone of the Work
The conversation continually returns to Warrnambool itself. This production exists because of volunteers, long-standing relationships, families, and creatives who give their time not for prestige, but for love. From costume makers to musicians in the pit, the show is the result of hundreds of unseen hours.
Ashley and Madidi speak with pride about showcasing regional talent at a high calibre—and about the joy of proving that powerful, relevant theatre doesn’t only happen in capital cities.
Why This Story Matters
At its core, this episode is about courage: the courage to step into leadership, to trust your voice, and to chase what makes you happy. It’s about young artists being given real responsibility—and rising to meet it. And it’s about theatre as a space where people learn who they are, together.
Ashley and Madidi’s story is a reminder that big ideas don’t need big cities. Sometimes, they begin in community halls, regional theatres, and rehearsal rooms filled with trust. And when they do, they remind us why theatre still matters—because it gives us permission to speak, to listen, and to imagine something more.
Meet Ashley & Madidi: Voice, Belonging, and the Power of Regional Theatre
Every so often, you encounter a theatre story that quietly reshapes how you think about where great work comes from. In this episode, Andrew sits down with Ashley Rogers-Bredin and Madidi McKenzie, two rising creatives behind Warrnambool’s production of & Juliet. Their conversation is a celebration of regional theatre—not as a stepping stone, but as a creative home where confidence, courage, and community take centre stage.
From first auditions to full-scale musical leadership, Ashley and Madidi’s journeys reveal how deeply theatre can shape identity, purpose, and voice when people are trusted early and supported well.
Where It All Began: Growing Up in Theatre Communities
For both Ashley and Madidi, performance wasn’t a late discovery—it was woven into childhood. Dance studios, school halls, family encouragement, and local productions became places of belonging. Growing up in regional Victoria meant fewer resources, but also fewer barriers to getting involved. There were stages to stand on, people willing to teach, and communities eager to show up.
They reflect on how these early experiences fostered gratitude and confidence. Regional theatre didn’t just teach them how to perform—it taught them how to collaborate, how to commit, and how to care for the people beside them.
Taking the Leap: A First-Time Director’s Journey
At just 23, Ashley steps into the role of director for his first full-scale musical—an iconic, globally recognised show. He speaks openly about the weight of that responsibility and the emotion of leading a company he once grew up within. Having spent a decade as a performer in the same community, Ashley brings empathy into the rehearsal room, understanding both the excitement and vulnerability of young performers.
From casting to concept to seeing the band and cast come together for the first full run, the process has been as overwhelming as it has been affirming. What stands out most is his pride—not in the scale of the production, but in the people bringing it to life.
Becoming Anne: Finding Depth, Maturity, and Voice
For Madidi, playing Anne Hathaway has been a turning point. Unlike roles she’s played before, Anne requires stillness, reflection, and emotional maturity. As a wife and mother, Anne exists in a different life stage—one Madidi hasn’t personally experienced—prompting deeper preparation and conversations beyond the rehearsal room.
Through Anne, Madidi explores themes of worth and self-trust. Anne is a woman who asks to be heard, who challenges the narrative she’s been handed, and who dares to imagine a different ending. It’s a role that has demanded more—and given more in return.
Rewriting the Story: Why & Juliet Resonates Now
While & Juliet bursts with pop anthems and humour, its emotional core runs much deeper. Ashley and Madidi unpack why the show speaks so strongly to young audiences today. At its heart are stories of identity, heartbreak, empowerment, and self-discovery—experiences that feel immediately recognisable.
The musical reframes familiar narratives, centring female voices and making space for queer and non-binary representation. Characters like Anne, Juliet, May, and Frankie remind audiences that every voice matters, and that rewriting your story is not only possible, but necessary.
Community as the Backbone of the Work
The conversation continually returns to Warrnambool itself. This production exists because of volunteers, long-standing relationships, families, and creatives who give their time not for prestige, but for love. From costume makers to musicians in the pit, the show is the result of hundreds of unseen hours.
Ashley and Madidi speak with pride about showcasing regional talent at a high calibre—and about the joy of proving that powerful, relevant theatre doesn’t only happen in capital cities.
Why This Story Matters
At its core, this episode is about courage: the courage to step into leadership, to trust your voice, and to chase what makes you happy. It’s about young artists being given real responsibility—and rising to meet it. And it’s about theatre as a space where people learn who they are, together.
Ashley and Madidi’s story is a reminder that big ideas don’t need big cities. Sometimes, they begin in community halls, regional theatres, and rehearsal rooms filled with trust. And when they do, they remind us why theatre still matters—because it gives us permission to speak, to listen, and to imagine something more.