Coaches

STEPH –
Stephanie Waites

She / Her

DRAMA SCENE Founder (Head Coach and Writer)
Drama Scene Players Inc. – DRAMA & CREATIVE ARTS DIRECTOR / President
BA Theatre, Theory & Practice (Hons)
PROUD MEMBER OF ACTORS EQUITY since 1978
Theatresports® Teacher Accreditation
St John Emergency First Aid certificate
International Thespian Society, Life Member

Trained in Theatre, Drama, Voice, Singing, Dancing (RAD Ballet, FATD Tap, Jazz Ballet), with fourteen years professional performance experience including Title roles in professional musical theatre productions and roles in film, television, voiceovers and radio plays, Stephanie Waites worked across Australia and in the United Kingdom before establishing Drama Scene back home in Sydney in 2003.

In response to working professionally from the age of 8 years old and with fifteen years’ experience working with; pre-school aged children, school students, children with special needs, teenagers and professional child Actors, Stephanie continues to write for children and to develop a range of unique programs for children and young adults in the creative, practical and performing arts. This includes over two decades writing original, Process Theatre inspired programs for Drama Scene’s classes teaching 5-14 year olds.

Steph is trained in Improvisation and a former Judge for Impro Australia’s TSC (Theatreports® Schools Challenge).  She also acts as a mentor to Student Primary Drama Teachers and since 1999 she has been invited to run workshops training Primary Teachers to use drama in the NSW Primary School Curriculum for Drama NSW, Drama Australia and the Sydney Theatre Company. Steph has presented at Drama conferences Australia wide on a range of topics from Puppetry for 5 year olds to developing performances from found objects and using Drama to teach subjects such as Literacy, Maths and History. Specialisations include Acting Techniques, Voice, Movement, Mime, Improvisation, Musical Theatre, Puppetry, Mask, Characterisation, Shakespeare, Script Analysis, Playwriting, Playbuilding, Theatresports®, Monologue Creation, Theatre/Film Audition Technique and Drama Scene’s unique ‘DramaDance’ program.

Steph’s play for 5-12 year olds, Puppy Wishes was developed and performed in three Sydney Primary Schools and she was invited to the Drama Australia National Conference held in Perth, Spaces Of Performance to present a process workshop.

Steph continues to pursue funding for the Drama Scene Players Inc., particularly for projects promoting the work she and her Drama Scene trained Coaches do using Drama for; positive mental health in Teens, for children on the Autism Spectrum, for young people with Special Needs, as a tool to encourage resilience.

In collaboration with Ever After Theatre (the only NSW Company for Adults with an Intellectual Disability) and Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre, Stephanie ‘s DSP Inc. project from 2012 – 2018 was the facilitation of weekly Drama classes for Disabled children including children with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities and children on the Autism Spectrum.

Through DSP Inc., Stephanie Waites was also the Creative Arts Director for DS Teens original theatre projects – Time, 11.11, Space and DramaScener performances of group devised Play, Toyshop.

2020-2021 saw Drama Scene move on to digital learning and the discovery of Zoom as a tool to teach Acting On Camera & Onscreen. Stephanie Waites wrote and produced original “Zoom” Plays including, Zooming Off To Zigibob and SSSHh!, and she delivered online Drama programs to students across Australia with support from Create NSW & the NSW Government.

2026 brings the opportunity for a new cast of young Actors to experience the production of a Play as Steph is Directing a new project for Drama Scene Players in Sydney, March to September.

In her personal time, Steph is a volunteer with The Pyjama Foundation and she provides mentor care for children and young people living in Out Of Home Care / Foster Care, (and she always seems to be getting ready for another roadtrip or overseas adventure).

https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn569682

Amy Hack

Actors Centre Australia
Atlantic Theatre Company (USA)
Patrick Studios (Australia)

Amy has been working professionally across theatre, music theatre and film/television around the country for 15 years. Training at the Actors Centre Australia, Atlantic Theatre Company in NYC and Patrick Studios Australia for dance, Amy loves to explore different creative mediums within the Perfoming Arts Industry including writing, devising, choreographing and teaching. Amy has performed in various productions for Griffin Theatre Company, the Hayes Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare and other theatre companies across the country, at such venues as the Sydney Opera House and the Arts Centre Melbourne. Amy is thrilled to be able to share all she’s learnt about creative expression, play and story-telling with the next generation of artists.

Andrew Waldin

Performing Arts (Stage and Screen) – ACA
Diploma of Musical Theatre – NIDA

Andrew Waldin is a Sydney Theatre Award Nominated Actor (Best Newcomer, 2022) and some of his recent credits include the Original and AUS Tour of Marvelous (AR Entertainment), the AUS/NZ tour of The Shrek Rave (Like It Love It), The Front Page (New Theatre), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Michelle Guthrie Presents). Andrew has a Diploma of Musical Theatre (NIDA) and a Bachelor of Performing Arts (ACA). Andrew has Directed, Musical Directed and Choreographed shows including Matilda, Seussical, Into the Woods, Shrek, and Mary Poppins for school’s across Sydney including; Arden Anglican School, Stella Maris College, and SCEGGS Redlands.

Ash Sakha

He / Him

Advanced Diploma in Stage and Screen

Ash Sakha is a motivated and passionate, Sydney based actor of Middle Eastern Descent (Iranian) who also speaks Farsi. His fascination towards the craft lead him to studying at the Actors College of Theatre and Television, completing his Two-year Advanced Diploma in Stage and Screen. His TV Credits include Home & Away (Chanel 7) and Doctor Doctor (Chanel 9).

Chantelle Vella

She / Her

BA of Music Theatre 2010, Western Australian Academy of Performing

Improv Theatre Sydney
Master of Speech Pathology – University of Technology Sydney
Master of Health Communication – University of Sydney
Bachelor of Science (Nutrition) – University of Wollongong

Chantelle’s training at ITS has her on the path of being an emerging Improviser in Sydney. Chantelle is a creative Speech Therapist who has had a passion for drama, storytelling and performance from as young as she can remember. Over the last decade working within the healthcare industry, Chantelle has taken a strong interest in the intersectionality between the arts and health. She is dedicated to supporting young people to ‘find their voice’, inner-strengths and confidence through self-expression. Chantelle brings a positive energy to that stage and teaching others.

Charlotte McKee Wright

She / Her

B Dramatic Arts (performance) – Excelsia College

Charlotte is a trained actor with experience across screen and stage and has been performing since she was 10 years old. Some recent credits include The Caucasian Chalk Circle (2022), Bustown (2023) and This is NOT a Hollywood Romance (2024), the latter of which she co-wrote and starred in for the Sydney Fringe Festival. She made her directing debut in 2025 at the Short + Sweet festival, to great success. Charlotte is passionate about telling underrepresented stories and inspiring creativity and courage in younger generations.

Dane Iles

He / Him

BA of Music Theatre 2010, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)

Dane began his performance training at a young age and in his last high school years was invited to attend Newtown High School of the Performing Arts. While in Sydney, he worked professionally in film, television, and various theatre productions. Eager to extend his skill set, Dane moved to Melbourne to study full time dance at Industry of Dance. While in Melbourne, he devised and performed his cabaret I’ve Got A Story at The Butterfly Club. He was later accepted into the WAAPA music theatre course and graduated in 2010.

Dane has always had an affinity with children, their education, and children’s entertainment. This was instilled in him by influential teachers (over the years) who helped shaped his character and fostered his education. Dane Has also worked abroad in children’s theatre with Tokyo Disneyland, LATT children’s theatre in Seoul South Korea, and recently completed a tour of NSW with Meerkat Productions bringing book week to life for children across the state.

Jean Hanjue Zhang

Graduate – NOW Theatre (China)
Master of Speech Pathology – University of Sydney, completion December 2025

Jean is a passionate improviser with experience learning and performing in the U.S.A., China, and Australia. With a background in after-class teaching, she loves inspiring young minds by unlocking their potential through fun and engaging play. Jean is about to complete her Master of Speech Pathology at the University of Sydney, blending her skills to foster communication, compassion, resilience, and trust through drama. She is thrilled to share her passion for creativity, play, and self-expression with the next generation.

Jordana Wegman

UNSW – BA Theatre and Performance
Graduate – Improv Theatre School

Jordana is an Improviser and Comedian with a BA in Theatre and Performance from the University of NSW. She have been featured in the Sydney Comedy Festival as well as Sydney Fringe Festival and has worked with Directors such as Kevin Jackson, Tessa Leong and Imara Savage. Most recently she graduated from the Improv Theatre School and performed with her improv team in the ITS Smackdown Finals. Jordana has taught Drama and Public Speaking at numerous NSW schools.

Luke Visentin

Bachelor Fine Arts (Acting) – NIDA

Luke is an enthusiastic member of the Sydney acting community, and when not teaching, he can be found frequenting the stages and screens of Sydney. Luke Visentin graduated with a BFA in acting from NIDA in 2020. Luke loves to pass his skills on to the next generation. He believes that studying drama can enrich all of us, improving our confidence, communication, decision making, public speaking, abstract thinking, and our empathy. It’s also a lot of fun! He’s excited to share his enthusiasm for acting working with Drama Scene.

Ella Sullivan (El)

Bachelor in Dramatic Arts
Diploma in Screen Acting

Ella Sullivan is a Sydney based actress with her Bachelor in Dramatic Arts degree from Excelsia College. After Completing her degree El continued to develop her craft at the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory where she specialised in screen acting and the Meisner Technique, training with Natalia Lazarus, a nationally known Acting Coach. Whilst abroad, Ella starred in the short film After You which received rave reviews at Los Angeles Film Festivals in 2024. El is experienced in both Stage and Screen acting, beginning her training in 2017 in association with Trinity College (London) and recently completing a screen intensive with Les Chantery.  Also an enthusiastic script writer, Ella Co-Wrote, Produced, and acted in Things Left Unsaid in 2023 which debuted at Excelsia College and Co-Wrote / starred in the short film Transcending (2022). 2025 sees Ella Co-Producing her most recent screenplay, Remembering You. A trained dancer, El has experience in several styles including Ballet, Contemporary and modern as well as physical theatre training which including a role in Some Things Change, a physical theatre based show in Sydney’ s 2023 Fringe Festival. El is also currently a member of the ATYP Youth Advisory Board and is excited to be new voice in this community. 

Savannah Melvin (Sav)

Bachelor of Dramatic Art

Savannah Melvin is a Sydney based actress. Sav is also an acting graduate with Bachelor of Dramatic Art and she spent 3 months studying screen in Los Angeles in 2024. Sav enjoys exploring accent work having completed accent courses at NIDA. You may have seen her in role as Claris From Paris at The Grounds (Alexandria). Savannah gained extensive experience guiding and helping children when she managed a jungle gym and children’s arcade for two years while completing her tertiary studies.

Tahlia Merlino

Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance- NIDA 2018
16th Street Actors Studio Full Time Program 2019/20
PROUD MEMBER OF ACTORS EQUITY since 2018

Tahlia is a NIDA trained actor experienced in stage and screen and a graduate of Melbourne’s 16th Street’s Full Time Actors Studio Program.  Her recent theatre credits herself include New Theatre’s The Park (2022),  Factory Space Theatre Company’s, A Peculiar River (2019) and The House That Dan Built’s, Tender Young Creatures (2017/18).

Tahlia is an experienced Drama Tutor, working expansively with  ATYP, NIDA,  Ettinghausens and The Next Step Performing Arts and Arts Theatre Cronulla.

Ziggy Resnick

She / They

Bachelor Fine Arts (Acting) – NIDA
Diploma of Arts (Musical Theatre) – AIM

Ziggy is a professional actor, performer, writer and acting teacher working in Sydney and Melbourne. Graduating from NIDA in 2020, Ziggy has gone on to perform at some of Sydney’s most prestigious theatre spaces, and worked with some of Australia’s finest directors and theatre practitioners. Ziggy has honed her teaching craft as one that combines playful and contemporary skills with traditional performance practice. Ziggy considers being a young, industry professional as her greatest teaching skill, consistently working as an actor allowing her to build her repertoire as a teacher as one that is ever-evolving, relevant and engaging for young people.