Bethany Simons – Speech and Drama Adjudicator
Bethany Simons is an award-winning performer, writer, producer and teaching artist based in Melbourne. Born and raised in Dubbo, NSW, Bethany completed her BA (Acting for Screen and Stage) Honours at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga.
Her original play, The Weather and Your Health, and cabaret comedy, Reception: The Musical – written in collaboration with Peter de Jager - have received four Green Room Award nominations including Best Independent Female Performer and Best New Writing for the Australian Stage. Both of her works have been published by Australian Plays and were selected for the VCE Drama Playlist (2012 & 2015). Reception: The Musical won Best Cabaret at the Melbourne Fringe Festival (2014).
Bethany’s producing experience is extensive, having performed and toured her works with Regional Arts Victoria, Melbourne Fringe Festival and Critical Stages to over 70 locations around Australia, she was also the 2012 recipient of the RAVE Touring Award for outstanding contribution to regional arts and culture.
As a teaching artist, Bethany regularly conducts drama, playwriting and industry workshops around the country. She has appeared as a guest speaker and presenter for various events including Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Australian National Academy of Music and has been a voice-over artist for 3MBS FM and Vision Australia Radio.
As a writer, she has developed narrator scripts for Southern Cross Soloists, and was a guest and feature columnist for AussieTheatre.com. She is currently the Program Director of Theatre Network Australia, producing events such as the Victorian Theatre Forum.
Finding her inspiration in the everyday, Bethany believes that nothing is funnier or more beautiful than real life and true stories.
She is interested in characterisation, text and devising and, as a theatre-maker, is committed to creating new work for the Australian stage that is honest, uplifting and entertaining.