Q&A With Kate Ellis

Acting Coach, Writer, Artist and Arts and English Education Innovator

During the May/June 2021 lockdown in Melbourne we sat down with the brilliant and insightful Kate Ellis to talk about about acting, how we can learn more about humanity through acting, celebrating your successes in times of uncertainty and finding your creativity in your voice, your body and the text.

A recording of the full Q&A is below:

In a discussion after the Q&A, Kate expressed how she wants all actors everywhere, but especially those that are in a lockdown scenario, to consider the latin stoic saying:

“Memento Mori”

It translates to ‘remember you have to die’, but also serves more literally to remind yourself to have a memento - an object or symbol - that reminds you of death. Not to develop a cynical, nihilistic perspective on the world, but in fact to do the opposite.

If we remind ourselves that there is an end, then we will do our best to make every living moment count, to enter the doorway between your past and the future and really live there. Fully go into each moment.

But it is important to listen to your body, your gut and your emotions, because sometimes making every moment count does not equate to doing more. Sometimes your body needs rest to make the most of the current moment.

Find something (or even better - create something), that reminds you of your own mortality. Use it before an audition, before you go on stage, or just on a random Tuesday to remind yourself to be fully present in that upcoming moment. To not expect it to be more, or diminish it to be less than what it is.