Sydney Opera House

Damian Calllinan

One of Australia’s most popular and multifaceted comedians returns yet again to the Complete Works Of William Shakespeare(Abridged), reprising his role and adding another credit to an extensive and colourful CV spanning 14  years of live theatre, stand up comedy and television.

With starring roles on TV sketch show Skithouse and regular guest appearances on comedy series The Wedge and AFL comedy Before the Game, and guest roles on the popular drama City Homicide, and Rove Live, the former drama teacher turned stand up and character comedian has garnered an impressive list of accolades including the TV Best Newcomer at the 2003 Australian Comedy Awards, as well as the ABNN Foreign Exchange Award, which saw Callinan pack his bags for the Edinburgh Fringe, the Spaznuts MICF Piece Of Wood – Comedians Choice & Moosehead Award as well as countless others stashed away in his trophy cabinet.

Callinan also has a prolific radio career, including co-hosting stints on JJJ and 774ABC, as well as regular segments on Radio National, Mix FM, Fox and MMM. He can currently be heard on Radio National doing regular satirical arts pieces and on 774ABC in a variety of character and co-hosting roles.

Year after year he has produced quality shows on the Australian festival circuit that have showcased his skills as a gifted writer, stand-up and character comedian. A regular on the Melbourne Comedy Festival Road Show since 2001, Callinan has also garnered an impressive career as an in-demand speaker, debater and MC at corporate events and serves as a board member on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and is Co-artistic Director and Workshop Convenor for the MICF Class Clowns.

John Leary

A graduate of the Theatre Nepean, John Leary has recently featured in the highly interesting play The Oak Room which saw him perform with a different actor every show in a daring performance that has earned the actor positive reviews. Featured in some of the classic Shakespearean plays like The Taming of the Shrew, Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Leary also has film credits in international films, The Art of Darts and Dying and the popular Spike Jonze film Where the Wild Things Are. The acclaimed actor and playwright has also been the recipient of the Phillip Parsons Young Playwright of the Year award in 2007 and was nominated for the Best Independent Production, 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards.

Leary’s television credits include guest appearances in popular Australian shows All Saints, White Collar Blue, Water Rats and A Country Practice. 

Greg Fleet

Writer, comic, actor, broadcaster, it’s fair to say Greg Fleet is multi-talented. From humble beginnings performing stand-up, or rather sit-down (he was too nervous to stand) at Melbourne’s Prince Patrick Hotel in 1987, the NIDA trained actor has become one of the country’s most experienced and enduring stand-up comics.
Fleet boasts a resume featuring regular appearances on some of Australia’s most popular television shows including the likes of Rove Live, Spicks & Specks and Good News Week. Building up a name for himself as a consummate professional and writer over his extensive career, Fleets list of solo shows have proved hits at major festivals such as The Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Making over 1500 appearances in venues across the UK and Australia, the award-winning Fleet has appeared in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare(Abridged) in 2001, as well as Shakespeare’s classic plays ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘Twelfth Night’. He is also currently working on film scripts for projects including Ten Years in a Long Sleeved Shirt and a film version of his popular stand-up show and book Thai Die as well as writing a six part sitcom about comedians called “Die On Your Feet’.

Still don’t know the name? You may just know the voice. As one of Australia’s leading voice over performers, Greg Fleets voice has probably sold you everything from beer to a holiday and the current high point of his life is doing the voice of the yellow dog in the Home Hardware ads!