Michael McNish has called Villanova Players home since 2010, accumulating over 20 productions across Brisbane's community theatre scene and a reputation for playing men who are absolutely not coping. Recent highlights include the grief-ravaged Macduff in Macbeth and a memorable turn in My Brilliant Career, both with St Luke's Theatre. Favourite roles include the tightly wound Walter Bryce in Natural Causes, the scheming Joseph Surface in The School for Scandal, Richard in The Lion in Winter, and Don John in Much Ado About Nothing — a rogues' gallery he is quietly proud of. Michael is delighted to return to Villanova Players in the wonderfully unhinged world of Blithe Spirit as Charles Condomine, a man convinced his life is perfectly under control. It is not. He hopes you enjoy watching it fall apart.

"My scariest moment on stage was in An Italian Straw Hat, 2010. My first speaking role. The lead actor forgot a prop, invented a line to excuse himself, and disappeared offstage — leaving me alone in the spotlight with nothing but a smile and a prayer. He came back... eventually."

Phoebe moved to Brisbane from the Hunter Valley three years ago to study an arts and business degree. She has recently been a part of The Cliffnotes of Insanity (Brisbane Arts Theatre), Black Comedy (Sunnybank Theatrical Society) and Dido and Aeneas (Musical Matinees Inc).

Phoebe has also played an ancestral ghost in a production of The Addams Family (Singleton Theatrical Society), in which she enjoyed haunting the theatre and breaking the fourth wall to stare down and spook the audience… before bursting into song of course!

Kiah is haunting the stage as Elvira in Villanova's production of Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit. Previous credits include Roz Hay in Moon Over Buffalo, Julia Stoner in A Night of Sherlock Holmes, Lucy Steele in Sense & Sensibility, and Twink Futrelle in Christmas Belles. When not conjuring up spectral mischief, Kiah enjoys sewing and rollerskating, though she hasn't found a safe way to do both simultaneously, yet.

Kiah's spookiest moment on stage came mid-kick-ball-change, during a spirited dance number to "All That Jazz," she stood on a chair (as choreographed) and promptly went straight through the seat (not as choreographed).

This is Alison’s first production with Villanova and she is delighted to have this opportunity to play the eccentric Mme Arcati, a contrast to the kindly Beulah her most recent previous role in Come From Away. Past favourite roles have included : Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun; Mrs Johnson in Blood Brothers, Anna in The King and I, Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz and Sara Jane Moore in Assassins to name but a few. When not on stage Alison has enjoyed directing high school productions of West Side Story, Oliver, Les Miserables, My Fair Lady, The Secret Garden, Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music and Oklahoma! While she has some bucket list roles still to achieve on stage herself she hopes perhaps to pursue some further directing projects in the future.

Alison recalls her spookiest moment on stage was hearing her voice through a sound system for the first time!

Jade has a background in dance and musical theatre, with past credits including ensemble roles in Carousel (Queensland Musical Theatre), Annie, and Oliver! (Savoyards). Most recently, Jade played Rachel in David Williamson’s The Great Divide with Villanova Players.

"My spookiest moment on stage was when so many cast members had COVID or other illnesses the director played Bill Sykes at one day’s notice!"

Troy Bullock has been acting regularly in Brisbane for over ten years. He has played lead roles in productions including The Foreigner, Deathtrap, Private Lives, Gaslight, An Ideal Husband, Hidden in this Picture and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and David Williamson's The Great Divide for VPs in 2025. 

This is Troy’s fourth performance with Villanova Players. Last time he bickered with his castmate, Jane Binstead, over beachfront property developments. This time it's just because they're married.

Jane has been involved in theatre – on and off the stage – for more than 20 years and loving every minute of it! Recent acting credits with Villanova Players (VPs) include The Great Divide by David Williamson (2025) Away (2024); Sweet Delilah Swim Club (2023) and Letters to Lindy (2022). Other VP’s highlights include Her Big Chance by Alan Bennett (2020); The Memory of Water (2009) and Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet (2007). Jane has also tread the boards with St Luke’s in Private Lives (2018), Philadelphia Story radio play with Nash Theatre (2017) and Sunnybank Theatre’s Beyond Reasonable Doubt (2016). Behind the scenes, Jane leads VP’s publicity efforts. She directed The Bear by Anton Chekhov (2021), and her next directorial effort, The Shoe-Horn Sonata runs from 18 to 20 September. 

Book your tickets from www.villanovaplayers.com or the box office at Blithe Spirit !

"Not many spooky moments on stage, but certainly plenty of terrifying ones, such as playing Lindy Chamberlain!"