Written by Lizzie Macaulay

There are some invitations in life that make your stomach do a little flip before your brain has even processed what’s been asked of you.

This month’s invitation from Joy was absolutely one of those.

“Hey Lizzie, do you fancy giving acting a go this month?”

My insides curdled a little, but also… when was I ever going to put myself out of my comfort zone into something I’d be lying if I said I’d never considered?

Did I have any acting chops whatsoever?

The last time I’d tested my thespian abilities was in my high school production of ‘The Hobbit’, where I had one line, which I’m confident I delivered hammier than the hammiest of ham sandwiches.

These days, my orating is limited to business events and bedtime stories…

Not completely unrelated skills, but certainly never reaching into the depths of vulnerability that real acting does.

But I’ve always admired the bravery it takes to embrace the spotlight and express yourself in such a vulnerable way.

So if Joy thought I could handle it, well… perhaps it was time to find out.

And so, I found myself standing outside the charming theatre building, taking a deep breath before stepping into what would undoubtedly be uncharted territory.

I was greeted by Kyle Davis, the lead actor in Z-PAC’s upcoming production of ‘Misery’.

Kyle is charismatic (and comes with a North American accent pre-installed, which is rather helpful for the play’s Colorado setting), enthusiastic and utterly dedicated to what seemed to be his home away from home.

Next to arrive was theatre president Katie O’Neill, who amongst her many hats is the lead actress in the upcoming production.

She’s managing to ingest and embody 80+ pages of dialogue alongside her day job as Head of Year 7 at Urangan High and busy mum duties on top of it all.

I was immediately struck by her dedication not only to her role, but also to the special community space she’s been charged with leading.

Finally came Z-PAC artistic director and director for ‘Misery’, Jonathan Canning, another local teacher with a deep love for the arts.

He’s deeply committed to the Z-PAC community and focused on ensuring the longevity of this special art space, starting with nurturing its current custodians.

The building itself is full of charm and history.

Its 128 seats sat empty for now, but I could sense the thousands of theatre-goers who’ve filled them over the years.

It was an honour to see the space ‘in a state of undress’.

I’ve only ever been here on performance nights when the lights are about to dim and the show is about to begin.

Even without an audience, there’s still so much character and life to the place.

The three filled me in on the upcoming production, and it was immediately clear they’ve put so much of themselves into it.

Hours upon hours of rehearsals, yes, but also the thought that goes into set design, costuming… even what soup to spoon into Kyle’s mouth that will be unpleasant for realism, but not too unpleasant because… unpleasant…

(You’ll have to go watch to understand that one fully… wink…)

It’s clear there’s no stone left unturned, and it’s not because they have to, but because everyone associated with the Z-PAC community has found their own little enclave of like-minded humans dedicated to art and culture and sharing that love with as many people as possible.

But I’d run out of time to stall on ‘my big moment’.

I’d been invited to deliver a scene from the upcoming production alongside Kyle (playing Paul), whilst I got to step into Annie’s shoes (usually filled by Katie).

I got briefed on the backstory of ‘Misery’.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the film, and to my great shame, I’ve never read the book. Katie generously lent me her script, beautifully annotated with her careful notes and insights.

I sat with Kyle, who was so generous with his energy and patient with my complete lack of it (not by design, but as someone who is utterly untrained and completely out of their depth!). The lights were bright and hot, and I immediately got a real sense of how intimidating getting on stage must be at first.

We began running through the scene, and whilst I was doing my best to focus on the dialogue, I managed to read a stage direction out loud halfway through.

That’s what you call a true face-palm moment.

I stumbled and fumbled a few more times after that, but we made it through, and everyone in the room was gracious enough not to visibly cringe at my delivery.

Then I had the absolute privilege of standing back and watching the masters.

Kyle and Katie ran through the scene, and well… it’s fair to say there was a contrast between the first performance (mine) and the second (Katie’s).

Katie and Kyle’s acting was a true partnership.

Give and take, rise and fall.

They were collaborators inhabiting characters, and even from the periphery you could see that when they slipped into the moment, the rest of the world just melted away.

They were no longer Kyle and Katie, but truly were Paul and Annie for those few minutes. It’s got to be an absolutely tantalising thought for audiences who’ll be joining them for the full show at some point throughout October.

What did I learn from the experience?

Well, probably that I’m still better suited to keyboards than ‘treading the boards’ (a lack of talent rather than a pure lack of will).

But the group was so accepting and encouraging that I can see how one might be tempted, especially if they’ve been curious about theatre or have been involved elsewhere before.

There’s something about the immediacy of live performance that simply can’t be replicated. Yes, curling up in your PJs for a Netflix double feature is incredibly tempting after a wild week, but there’s something visceral about being in the room, sharing that collective breath-holding moment when the lights dim and the magic begins.

What struck me most was how welcoming this community is.

Whether you’re interested in acting, set design and construction, lighting, sound, ushering, or any other aspect of bringing a production to life, there’s a place for you here.

No experience necessary, just enthusiasm and a willingness to be part of something special.

I’m so pleased that I was coaxed out of my little hidey hole once more, and that I got such a close-up view of what it’s really like to let go and immerse yourself in a character, even if my own attempt was rather more ‘letting go of inhibitions’ than anything particularly artistic.

Sometimes the best adventures are the ones that scare us a little first.

With heartfelt gratitude to Kyle, Katie, Jonathan, and the entire Z-PAC Theatre community for their patience, encouragement, and for sharing their artistic home with me. ‘Misery’ runs from 10th-26th October 2025, directed by Jonathan Canning. For tickets and more information about getting involved, visit the Z-PAC Theatre website zpactheatre.com.au or check out their social media. Trust me, it’s time to get off the couch and into the theatre.