Lights, camera, August! NIDA alumni are behind some of this month’s most exciting productions from spine-tingling sci-fi and a séance gone wrong, to a stunning coastal drama that will have you eyeing flights to Kangaroo Island. We have your monthly binges, theatre that’s not to be missed and a podcast to add to your rotation right here:
Alien: Earth will crash-land on FX Hulu on 12 August with Essie Davis (Acting, 1992) portraying Dame Silvia in the prequel series. Set two years before the events of Alien, life on Earth is threatened when a group of tactical soldiers investigate the contents of a space vessel responsible for transporting five of the most dangerous lifeforms across the galaxy.
Coming to cinemas on 21 August, Kangaroo Island tells the story of a struggling actress who returns to her hometown on Kangaroo Island and the resulting family tension that simmers to the surface. With Joel Jackson (Acting, 2013), Glenda Linscott (Acting, 1978) and Louis Henbest (Acting, 2022), this is a story of trauma, healing and self-discovery set against a stunning South Australian landscape.
Sink your teeth into Primitive War, the Vietnam-era science fiction adventure that follows a recon unit thrown into a jungle crawling with dinosaurs. Keep an eye out for NIDA trained talent in the cast Henry Nixon (Acting, 2000), Marcus Johnson (Acting, 2005), Albert Mwangi (Acting, 2021), Ryan Panizza (Acting, 2021) and Adolphus Waylee (Acting, 2021), and a special shout out to Dialect Coach Jennifer White (Voice Studies, 1998) for her vocal training behind the scenes.
27 years after 14-year-old Gracie Darling vanished during a séance, another girl goes missing during a reenactment. To uncover the truth, Gracie’s best friend Joni must face her fears and confront that night before anyone else falls victim to the evil haunting her town. Playing Gracie Darling is coming to Paramount+ on 14 August with Annie Maynard (Acting, 2004) and Anne Tenney (Acting, 1979).
From 10 August, you can catch Catherine McClements (Acting, 1985) and Alexandra Aldrich (Acting, 2011) in The Family Next Door on ABC and ABC iView. Based on the book by bestselling Australian author, Sally Hepworth, the story follows new neighbour, Isabelle, on her quest to solve a mystery and the four homes on the cul-de-sac that house her prime suspects. Expect a whole lot of twists and drama taking place in Australian suburbia.
Looking for a new thrill? The Assassin with Devon Terrell (Acting, 2013) is available to watch now on Stan. A retired assassin reunites with her estranged son when they are forced to work together in a fight for survival.
At Sydney Theatre Company, The Talented Mr Ripley is running from 19 August – 28 September with Faisal Hamza (Acting, 2024) and Andrew McFarlane (Acting, 1973) portraying characters from this beloved toxic thriller. Slaying in their behind-the-scenes roles are Set Designer, Elizabeth Gadsby (Design, 2013), Costume Designer, Emma White (Design, 2019), Lighting Designer, Damien Cooper (Technical Production, 1996), Associate Directors Tait de Lorenzo (Directing, 2019) and Kenneth Moraleda (Acting, 1995) and Associate Sound Designer, Madeleine Picard (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2023). Orphaned and penniless, Tom Ripley is a gifted mimic with a face no-one remembers who cons his way into the elite after a run in with the Greenleaf family.
Emerald City is on now until 23 August at Ensemble Theatre. This famous Australian satire by David Williamson has been refreshed for 2025 audiences with renewed direction just as many laughs. Melbournian screenwriter Colin, played by Tom O’Sullivan (Acting, 2003), is in a slump with box office bombs overtaking cinema sensations. Colin is convinced that moving to Sydney, his ‘Emerald City’, is the key to his success, but is it all smoke and mirrors, and what will he have to sacrifice to live his dream? Co-starring in this production are Aisha Aidara (Musical Theatre, 2018), Danielle Carter (Acting, 1993) and Rachel Gordon (Acting, 1996). Pay attention to the man behind the curtain, or in this case the men and women with alumni working behind it: Set, Costume and Video Designer, Dan Potra (Design 1991), Lighting Designer Morgan Moroney (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2021), Composer and Sound Designer Madeleine Picard (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2023), Stage Manager, Lauren Tulloh (Production, 2009) and Costume Supervisor, Renata Beslik (Production Crafts, 2007).
From classical antiquity to modern absurdity, New Theatre presents, The Frogs: In Hell They Sing Show Tunes adapted from Aristophanes’ irreverent play. Dionysus and Xanthias team up to resurrect a dead playwright and save the world of the living from war, plague and cuts to arts funding; along the way they meet some rather raucous frogs. With Sebastyen Filipinski (Stage and Screen Performance, 2024) and Pat Mandziy (Acting, 2021) as part of the cast, and lighting design by Holly Nesbitt (Live Production and Technical Service, 2023), this camp, queer and uniquely Australian play is a riotous good time. On stage from 14 August – 6 September.
Opera Australia presents Rusalka, playing now at Sydney Opera House until 11 August. Dreamy and romantic, this Slavic myth might sound familiar; a water nymph falls in love with a human prince and leaves behind all she knows to live on land. Full of magic and mystery, Rusalka is directed by Sarah Giles (Directing, 2008) with costume design by Renée Mulder (Design, 2008) and video design by David Bergman (Production, 2008).
Tune into Spencer McLaren’s (Acting, 1999) new podcast, McLaren Versus, where he sits down with some of Australia’s finest performing artists and talks all things industry. This month he interviewed Murray Bartlett (Acting, 1991) who discusses everything from his formative years training at NIDA to winning an Emmy for his role on The White Lotus. Listen on Apple Podcast, Spotify and other streaming platforms.
In case you missed it: NIDA celebrated four Emmy Award nominations in July, click here to find out who we’ll be cheering for on 15 September.
If you’re feeling inspired by all of the talent above, enrolment is open for our 2026 Diplomas, Bachelors and Masters programs. Find out more here.
Header image: Alien: Earth, left to right: David Rysdahl as Arthur and Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia. Image from Hulu/Disney FX. Photo by Patrick Brown.