The Lovers

Established in 2006, Shake & Stir Theatre Co is one of the largest privately owned and operated theatre companies in Australia and a major force in the national and NZ touring landscape.

Whether presenting staged adaptations of classic literature, contemporary Shakespeare for young people or politically and socially motivated new work, Shake & Stir are renowned as producers of high-quality entertainment incorporating cutting edge production values with contemporary relevance and diverse audience appeal.

Natalie is a performer hailing from Yuin country (South Coast NSW). After completing her BMus in Musical Theatre at the Australian Institute of Music, she made her professional debut playing the titular role of Muriel Heslop in Global Creatures’ national tour of Muriel’s Wedding The Musical in 2019. The role saw Natalie nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Musical and a Green Room Award for Lead Role in Musical Theatre.

Other theatre credits include On A Clear Day You Can See Forever at the Seymour Centre, As You Like It for the Melbourne Theatre Company and The Lovers for The Bell Shakespeare Company, receiving a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Supporting Role in a Musical for her performance. In 2020, Natalie made her television debut starring in the ABC series Aftertaste, written by Julie De Fina and produced by Closer Productions, playing opposite Erik Thomson and Rachel Griffiths, then reprising her role in 2021 for season two. Natalie’s performance received glowing reviews from critics and viewers and launched its second season in 2022. The same year Natalie also appeared on Netflix in the romantic comedy film A Perfect Pairing.

In 2024, Natalie appeared in Ride The Cyclone and the Sydney Theatre Award winning musical Zombie!: The Musical for Hayes Theatre, Return To Paradise for the ABC and the feature film The Deb, which made its world premiere as the closing film at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival where Natalie received widespread acclaim for her performance.

Jason is a 2016 graduate from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Bachelor of Performing Arts (Music Theatre). He has most notably been a part of the Australian and international original companies of Hamilton. Jason recently completed his four-year stint in the titular role of Alexander Hamilton in January at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.

Other theatre credits include Aladdin (Disney Theatrical Group), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Michael Cassel Group) and Guys and Dolls (Opera Australia / Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour) as Nicely Nicely Johnson. He received a Sydney Theatre Award Nomination for Best Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical for Hamilton.

He has been seen on television in Deadly Women (Season 11) and Christmas with Delta Goodrem (Nine Network), as well as Frankie in Motown Boys – Four Seasons Tribute Group (Carmelo Pizzino). Jason is a proud member of MEAA since 2021.

Jayme-Lee’s musical theatre career began in Disney’s The Lion King playing the role of Young Nala in 2005. She trained at the Victorian College of the Arts and completed a Diploma of Music Theatre at Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance.

Most recently, Jayme-Lee appeared in the role of Reno in Dusty The Musical – In Concert for Prospero Arts at QPAC, following an extraordinary Australian tour as Alline in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, also understudying the title role. Other credits include the role of Bulda in Disney’s Australasian tour of Frozen, the role of Violet Beauregard in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for Crossroads Live, and understudy for the role of Nabalungi in The Book of Mormon for the Gordon Frost Organisation.

For Stage Art, she performed in In The Heights and played the role of Celie in the Australasian premiere of The Color Purple, for which she was nominated for a Green Room Award.

Loren Hunter is one of Australia’s most versatile triple threat artists. She graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts’ renowned Music Theatre program. Loren starred as Jane Seymour in the original Australian cast of SIX The Musical, touring nationally and reprising the role a third time for the latest Australia and New Zealand tour.

Loren’s other theatre roles include Evie May Murphy in Evie May, Mimi in Rent (Hayes Theatre Co), Liza Minnelli in The Boy From Oz (The Production Company), Mary in Jersey Boys (Prospero Arts Company/Woodward Productions), Glinda in The Wizard Of Oz (Prospero Arts), Elphaba in Wicked (Free Rain Theatre Company), Jean in American Psycho (BB Arts/2 Doors Productions), and Mitzi in Georgy Girl (Richard East/Dennis Smith).

Loren also performed in the musical theatre adaptations of the film Strictly Ballroom, directed by Baz Luhrmann, and King Kong, based on the 1933 Universal Pictures classic, both for Global Creatures.

Mat is best known for his performance as Barry Mann in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which won him a 2018 Helpmann Award. He was recently nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award for his portrayal of Roger Davies in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical during the 2023–25 Australian tour.

His other credits include Tommy in The Who’s Tommy (Victorian Opera), Tobias in Sweeney Todd (SOSA, Victorian Opera and Sydney Opera House), Mark in RENT (Sydney Opera House/Sugary Rum Productions), Lea Salonga’s Australian tour, Henrik in A Little Night Music (Victorian Opera), There’s Something About Music (The Little Red Company), Lazarus (The Production Company), backing vocals for Hugh Jackman’s Australian tour, Torch Song Trilogy (Darlinghurst Theatre Co), and Down Under (RIOT film), directed by Abe Forsythe

His original EP is available on all streaming platforms.

Indigo is a Melbourne-based creative whose spirit and love for life is evident on stage and off. She is a highly sought-after and accomplished performer, and one of the most exciting young choreographers in the industry. Her most recent onstage credits include Hamilton (Michael Cassel Group), which she performed in five countries and worked on with the original creative team in New York City, and Magenta in the Australian tours of Matador.

Indigo’s versatility and unique artistry have allowed her to work across many areas of the performing arts — from featuring as a vocalist on ABC’s A Very Musical Christmas, to co-choreographing the national tours of immersive theatre shows Oracle and Mansion. She has danced for artists such as Baker Boy, Vanessa Amorosi, Guy Sebastian, Tones and I, and Sheppard, and performed at events such as the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony in Birmingham and the Australian Open.

Her passion for dance as a form of connection and storytelling drives her choreographic work and has allowed her to work with elite youth dance companies across Australia and New Zealand, as well as facilitate movement workshops for communities in the Philippines, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Indigo was also named the champion of Grounded: Battle of the Arts in 2018 and awarded Best Choreography in 2019.

Jenni (she/her) grew up on Darug land in NSW and is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts Music Theatre BFA Program. Since graduating, she has furthered her training at the Michael Chekhov Association Summer School in Connecticut. Most recently, Jenni has been screlting up a storm in the camp love letter to Céline Dion, Titanique, for the Michael Cassel Group, understudying and performing the roles of Céline Dion, Rose Dewitt-Bukater and Molly Brown.

Other theatrical credits include understudy Mary Jane Healy in Jagged Little Pill (GWB Entertainment), Toni/Ensemble in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (TEG/Dainty), Cordelia in Falsettos (StageArt Productions), Anna Moss in High Fidelity (Hayes Theatre), Young Phyllis in Follies: In Concert (Storeyboard Entertainment), Kinky Boots (Michael Cassel Group), understudy Principal Rosalie Mullins in School of Rock (GWB Entertainment), and Lady Sings It Better (Edinburgh Fringe Festival).

Jenni is also passionate about supporting the creation of new works, especially queer and female-forward pieces. Most recently, she was featured on the Spotify demo release of Matthew Predny and Jake Nielsen’s new musical Salem’s Revenge.

Nic trained at the Griffith University Conservatorium in Queensland, graduating in 2022 with a Bachelor of Musical Theatre. Most recently, Nic appeared in the Australian tour of Jesus Christ Superstar for Crossroads Live. In 2024, Nic originated the role of James Gribble in Round The Twist the Musical, written by Paul Hodge and directed by Simon Phillips for Queensland Theatre, for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Matilda Awards.

Other theatre credits include the 2024 cast of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, understudying Rocky and Eddie/Dr Scott; Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, understudying the title role of Joseph; and the 2023 production of Kinky Boots at Chapel Off Chapel as Richard and Harry understudy.

Performance highlights at QCGU include Pat Denning in 42nd Street, Robbie Hart in The Wedding Singer, J. Pierpont Finch in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Kenickie/Johnny Casino understudy in Grease at Queensland Performing Arts Centre in 2021.