Elizabeth Walley is an actor, writer, director, dramaturge, drama teacher and presentation skills trainer. She has worked professionally in commercial radio, film and television, and trained with Uta Hagen at the HB Studios in New York.
Elizabeth's play 'The Trauma Project' was performed at fortyfivedownstairs in March 2021, following a La Mama Explorations development in 2019, and her devised work 'Beside Myself' won the ISANA 2023 award for international student engagement.
In 1993 her first short play, ‘Commodities’, was produced at the Covent Garden Theatre Club, London, and in 1994 the play received a second season at the New End Theatre in Hampstead. Whilst living in London, Elizabeth was engaged by Angus & Robertson to dramatise the book ‘G’Day: Teach Yourself Australian’ for a UK book tour. She later optioned the book for television, and produced a pilot for the BBC.
Upon returning to Australia in 1995, Elizabeth established the theatrical partnership ‘equipoise productions’, and staged an outdoor production of Shakespeare’s ‘Measure For Measure’ at the Northcote Amphitheatre. Her play ‘Louder Than Words,’ was produced at the Carlton Courthouse in 1996, at Chapel Off Chapel in 2000, and received a 3CR Best New Australian Play Award.
Elizabeth’s acting credits include regular appearances in theatre, television drama and commercials. She was most recently seen in ‘Offspring’, produced by Southern Star.
Directorially, Elizabeth has worked with Alec Gilbert to devise his cabaret show ‘Smart Alec’ for the Butterfly Club. Together they launched the production company ‘double garage’ in 2010. She has written, directed and performed in a cabaret homage to Noel Coward, called ‘An Evening With Noel’, and both written and directed a number of productions for the double garage drama studio ‘Confidence For Kids’.
Elizabeth has worked as a ‘Presentation Skills Trainer’ for the Australian Institute of Management, for VCE music students at Princes Hill Secondary College and for corporate and private clients. She offers interview, public speaking and drama coaching for primary and secondary students, and has written a book for children in the upper primary years entitled ‘Cool As A Cucumber’.
Elizabeth holds a PhD (Playwriting) from RMIT, a Master of Creative Writing (RMIT) and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology), She was Resident Director for Melbourne Writers' Theatre from 2014-2023, and works regularly as a dramaturge and freelance director.
