🎭 The Comeuppance
🗓️ 30 April to 25 May
📍 Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre
🎟️ redstitch.net

In this episode of Showtime, I sit down with actor Julia Grace, whose recent performance in Red Stitch’s The Comeuppance has drawn praise for its emotional depth and raw honesty. Our conversation unpacks her creative journey, one that began not from a grand childhood dream of stardom but from a simple desire to connect. As a kid, Julia admits she felt out of place during school lunchtimes and was often looking for somewhere she felt she belonged. That search led her to audition for a school play on a whim, which in turn opened the door to a world she had never expected to enter: acting.

Rather than chasing the idea of becoming an actor from a young age, Julia’s path evolved through experience and instinct. She speaks candidly about not having a fixed goal in her youth, instead following the opportunities that felt right in the moment. That organic approach gave her the space to fall in love with acting for what it truly is: a chance to explore, to empathise, and to connect with others through storytelling.

Throughout our chat, Julia touches on the misconceptions people have about what it means to be an actor. From the outside, it can seem glamorous, but as she explains, the job requires deep emotional labour, vulnerability, and constant personal excavation. It is not just about learning lines or playing dress-up—it is about confronting parts of yourself, stepping into uncomfortable truths, and telling stories that may challenge your own worldview. She emphasises the need to approach characters with curiosity rather than judgement, even when portraying people whose values or choices differ from her own. That open-mindedness is a cornerstone of her process, allowing her to tap into the richness and contradictions of the human experience.

A recurring theme in Julia’s work—and in her reflections during our conversation—is death. Far from being morbid, she sees death as a lens through which we can more clearly understand life. By examining mortality on stage, we become more attuned to the choices we make offstage. It is a reminder, she says, of the urgency of being alive and present. Theatre, when it leans into these existential questions, becomes a mirror for the audience. It invites us to sit with discomfort and consider what matters most.

Julia also shares how the pandemic reshaped her understanding of connection, both personally and professionally. After years of lockdowns and isolation, returning to the stage felt like a kind of healing. In The Comeuppance, the themes of reunion and reflection are particularly poignant. She believes audiences are now more open to those kinds of stories—ones that hold a mirror to our shared experiences and remind us of our need for community. Theatregoers are not just looking for entertainment; they are seeking meaning, catharsis, and a sense that they are not alone in their struggles.

For Julia, creativity is not a luxury but a necessity. She describes the emotional and spiritual starvation that occurs when artists are unable to create. In her view, art is vital to our wellbeing. It nourishes the soul in ways that are difficult to quantify but deeply felt. The drive to create, to express, and to connect through performance is not something she sees as optional—it is essential.

She also offers encouragement for those unsure of their own path. Her story is a powerful reminder that careers do not always begin with a clear roadmap. Sometimes, it is enough to follow what feels right and trust that each step will lead somewhere meaningful. Passion can emerge from unexpected places. What matters most is staying curious and open.

Julia’s reflections on acting go far beyond technique or training. They speak to the heart of what makes theatre special. It is not just about scripts and stages, but about the shared moments between performer and audience. It is about using storytelling to wrestle with what it means to be human. Whether through laughter, grief, or introspection, theatre offers a space for connection—and in a post-pandemic world, that connection feels more urgent than ever.

Speaking with Julia was a powerful reminder that acting is not just a craft but a calling. It is a way of engaging with the world, of asking difficult questions, and of bringing people together. Her journey is one of vulnerability, strength, and deep compassion—and it left me inspired to keep searching for meaning in every story we tell.