Who We Are

Michaela Bedel is an actor, producer, and founder of Thursday’s Child. Based in Melbourne, she has built a career spanning theatre, film, television, and commercial work.

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Her screen credits include the US series Preacher (Sony Pictures/AMC) and roles in feature films We Will Never Die and Searching Inside the Pitch Black Night. On stage, she has performed in over 300 shows with Complete Works Theatre, including Macbeth (Lady Macbeth) and Romeo and Juliet (Juliet). Michaela’s passion for feminist theatre led her to produce and perform in Slut by Patricia Cornelius, earning critical acclaim and recognition in The Age.

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Michaela has trained extensively in Meisner Technique (Ward Acting Studio, Impulse Company), and screen acting (16th Street, TAFTA, NTDS and Joy Studio). She holds a Master of Marketing Communications from the University of Melbourne, complementing her creative practice with expertise in arts marketing. She was awarded the William P. Carr Scholarship, Kingston Arts’ New Blood Award, and a development residency with NIDA.

Rachel Baring is a theatre director with over 15 years of experience, having staged productions across the UK, the US, and Australia. A NIDA graduate (Directing, 2011), she was selected for the MTC Women Directors’ Program in 2015.

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Her directing credits include Slut (2020 & 2024), Hildegard/Knef, Too Ready Mirror, Marie Antoinette, Brustwarze – The Wart on My Breast, Murder Ballads, and The Goat; or Who is Sylvia?. Her work has been featured at Melbourne Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, and Ramsgate Festival (UK).

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Rachel has worked as a dramaturge and mentor, collaborating with artists such as Gale Edwards and Max Lyandvert. She also served as Festival Director for Short+Sweet Theatre Festival, curating over 50 productions per season.

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With a strong background in new writing, devised theatre, and feminist storytelling, Rachel continues to create bold, thought-provoking work.

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