It’s showtime!
Michael Ca ssel A stylish and theatrical workspace keeps this producer energised.
HOW W OULD Y OU D ESCRIBE Y OUR
Stylish, theatrical and inviting. WHAT APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT THE SPACE? I fell in love with the oor-to-ceiling windows, with views of the city and harbour, and the outdoor deck. WHAT ARE YOUR WORKSPACE ESSENTIALS? I love my standing desk. I’m in meetings for the majority of the day, so I stand while catching up on emails, or making phone calls – it keeps me energised and focused. Other than that, it’s my computer, a jug of water, my phone headset (so I can wander when on calls) and that’s me covered. HOW DOES YOUR OFFICE REFLECT THE WORK YOU DO? We’re a creative organisation, so the ability to connect between departments is really important. The best ideas and creativity come from collaboration. HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS? Our focus is on producing and delivering the world’s very best live entertainment experiences – either on stage in Australia, or throughout the world. COULD YOU DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY? I usually start quite early, catching up on overnight emails and calls with the US. Then I’ll head to the gym before starting my day. I love being at the of ce as it’s always energetic and the day can cover myriad topics and people. The engagement, both with my team and with our various stakeholders, clients or partners really keeps me focused. I tend to head home around 6.30pm, making it in time to put the kids to sleep. Then it’s a few evening calls with London, and some more emails, before calling it a day. DO YOU USE YOUR OFFICE TO ENTERTAIN CLIENTS? We do! Since we moved to this of ce last year, we’ve really made use of the outdoor deck. We’ve been hosting regular Friday afternoon drinks, where we invite along any partners, friends, cast/crew who happen to be in town. Instead of scheduling lots of catch-up meetings, we’re able to say, “Join us for a drink on Friday and we’ll have a chat then”. WHAT IS A DREAM WORKSPACE OBJECT YOU WOULD BUY RIGHT NOW? We’re always adding to the of ce decor – currently my focus is on landscaping the outdoor deck. We’re installing new lighting and plants, as well as a bar. IF YOUR STUDIO WERE LOCATED ANYWHERE ELSE, WHERE WOULD THAT BE? New York. WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO? I’m quite excited by our line-up in 2019. We have Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opening in February; three concert tours locked in; The Lion King continues to tour internationally, and we’re bringing the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo to Sydney in October. We also continue to keep a watchful eye on Pretty Woman and The Cher Show, both on Broadway. Hopefully, we’ll soon be making plans for both to open in Australia. michaelcassel.com