Spotlight on The Players: Meet Libby & Keiden

In celebration of The Players hitting the road to perform for students all around Australia, we interviewed two actors from Team Juliet during the rehearsal process to learn more about their passion for arts education, Shakespeare and journey to becoming a member of The Players. Meet Libby (pictured middle) and Keiden (pictured left).

Could you share a little bit about your journey to becoming a member of The Players?

Libby:  After nursing for 5 years, I decided to go after my dream career! I auditioned for Actors Centre Australia and graduated from this institution last year. I saw graduates before me audition and work as a Player and on Bell’s mainstage, which inspired me to audition for The Players. Especially after watching Bell’s mainstage productions throughout my degree!

Keiden: I grew up heavily involved with the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music as a child, so performing was always something that I had been involved in at an early age. But it wasn’t until high school that I got involved in drama; humbly beginning with musical theatre (both school productions and community productions) and eventually wanting to challenge myself with plays. My career in Theatre In Education began last year in 2025, where I had the wonderful opportunity to tour and share poetry with school kids around Australia and New Zealand, and it’s been such a privilege to say that I can continue my career in 2026 sharing the poetry of Shakespeare to Australian school kids.

Did The Players ever visit you in school? Describe the impact this had on you.

Libby: Yes! I remember them coming to my high school! It was extra special as one of the Players that year was a previous student of my school. It was the first example I had of someone “making it” in such a tough industry from my country town in Central West NSW. I remember asking that performer “How?!” And felt that since that moment, having a career in the creative arts would always be a goal of mine.

Keiden: The Players visited my high school back in 2012, when the Players toured with 4 artists. They had performed a show around Macbeth. The thing that really resonated with me was the wit and the accessibility of the performance, and the high octane energy the actors brought in (including a young Jules Billington!).

What most excites you about the tour ahead?

Libby: I’m so excited by the vast experience and brilliance of creatives I get to work with throughout this tour! As well as building a strong relationship with my team and travelling Australia, sharing the works of Shakespeare! Especially with the young people in regional and rural towns, who I can hopefully inspire the way I was when I was in high school.

Keiden: Being able to share the gift of Shakespeare and storytelling to young people all across Australia. And also checking out some of the best pies the country has to offer.

What message do you have for young (or young at heart!) people who are new to Shakespeare?

Libby: Give it a chance! Allow yourself time to soak it all in. You’ll surprise yourself by how much you will not only understand, but also get invested and impassioned by the rich characters and their stories. Shakespeare examines the human condition to its extremes. His plays are incredible.

Keiden: Shakespeare can be intimidating. I’m still intimidated by it. But Shakespeare is so quintessentially human that it’s a joy when you begin to break through and understand it. Also make sure to see a production of a Shakespeare play. They are meant to be seen and not read!

How has Shakespeare impacted you as an artist and person?

Libby: Shakespeare has always intrigued me. I found it challenging to engage with when we sat in English class in high school and took turns in reading it aloud. It was only when I got to study it in acting school that I truly fell in love with his work. Shakespeare is meant to be performed, embodied – lived in. It is a gift to the actor and continues to challenge and inspire me as I work with Bell.

Keiden: During the bootcamp, Bell Artistic Director Peter Evans shared some words of wisdom that I think encapsulates my relationship with Shakespeare best. Peter shared that to work on Shakespeare demands actors to be as researched and as prepared as possible. The attention to detail and the rigor required is daunting, but also, as Peter pointed out, is what the standard should be for every role us actors undertake throughout our careers. Not all text/scripts/roles will give you the level of detail Shakespeare does, but we should be aspiring to be as prepared for any role. 

The Players embark on their tour from 20 April and will be sharing Shakespeare with schools all around the country. We wish them the very best for the exciting and meaningful journey ahead!