EXCLUSIVE INDUSTRY STORIES
Let me take you behind the scenes with an exclusive look into my latest projects and some stories from the archives
RECENT PRODUCTIONS
2024: two national tours for Sydney Theatre Company's plays Julia and RBG: Of Many, One; the films Mortal Kombat 2 for Warner Bros. Pictures, War Machine for Lionsgate Films and independent film Smashing for Zoic Films; the classic musicalWest Side Story for Opera Australia; the national tour of Six the Musical; the NSW tour of The Queen's Nanny for Ensemble Theatre; and pre-production for the 2025 Melbourne season of the play Shirley Valentine for Neil Gooding Productions.
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JULIASydney Theatre Company - national tour (May to Oct 2024)
Director: Sarah Goodes Dialect & Voice Coach: Jennifer White CAST: Julia (plus 10 other roles): Justine Clarke Young Woman: Jessica Bentley Understudy: Caroline Craig |
★★★★ TIME OUT: "When Julia Gillard’s distinctive voice first emerged from Justine Clarke’s mouth on Opening Night of Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Julia, the audience literally gasp-screamed. It was, without mincing words, pretty freaky"
CLICK TAB TO READ MY BLOG AND MORE REVIEWS ...
CLICK TAB TO READ MY BLOG AND MORE REVIEWS ...
MAY-OCT 2024: THEATRE - JULIA (SYDNEY THEATRE CO.)
JULIA
Sydney Theatre Company
National tour: May to October 2024
Venues: Melbourne Theatre Company, Canberra Theatre Centre, State Theatre Company of South Australia and Sydney Opera House
National tour: May to October 2024
Venues: Melbourne Theatre Company, Canberra Theatre Centre, State Theatre Company of South Australia and Sydney Opera House
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CREATIVE TEAM INCLUDES:
Director: Sarah Goodes Designer: Renée Mulder Lighting Designer: Alexander Berlage Dialect & Voice Coach: Jennifer White CAST: Julia: Justine Clarke Young Woman: Jessica Bentley Understudy: Caroline Craig |
REVIEWS INCLUDE
★★★★ The Guardian Australia ★★★★ Time Out Sydney
TIME OUT: "When Julia Gillard’s distinctive voice first emerged from Justine Clarke’s mouth on Opening Night of Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Julia, the audience literally gasp-screamed. It was, without mincing words, pretty freaky"
CITY HUB: "Clarke slides seamlessly from one persona to another, absolutely nailing the idiosyncrasies and voices. Her imitation of Gillard’s unmistakable vocal intonation is spot on without being parody"
IN REVIEW: Interview with Justine Clarke "I also had the most wonderful voice coach (Jennifer White), who was rigorous with me! We found such beauty in her [Gillard’s] accent."
STAGE WHISPERS: "It’s not just the voice – her physicality changes, to be, Julia. It’s an acting masterclass"
MY MELBOURNE ARTS: "Justine Clarke is a revelation as Gillard, capturing the younger version of herself with much excitement and spirited by life's possibilities. Perhaps there's a glint of naivety. Clarke presents in her natural voice when speaking directly to the audience and only with Gillard's accent when quoting her, with incredible guidance by voice coach Jennifer White, who also did fantastic work with Heather Mitchell in the recent production of RBG in Melbourne"
BROADWAY WORLD: "Her energy and her timing are electric. With rapid changes in accent, she charts Gillard’s childhood with Welsh parents, her life in Adelaide, and her ascent to Parliament. ... Justine Clarke’s world-class performance is unforgettable"
MY BLOG NOTE: October 2024
It's such a pleasure to return as the Dialect & Voice Coach for Sydney Theatre Company's play Julia by Joanna Murray Smith. Starring wonderful Justine Clarke in this iconic story and role, it delves into the events that lead up and fuelled to former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's now famous "misogyny speech". A show like this asks Justine to master Julia's highly recognisable voice and accent, and voice multiple other characters including Julia's Welsh parents, a Welsh coal miner, her Adelaide neighbours, varying journalists, radio shock jocks and three former Australian Prime Ministers. My job was to train Justine to master all these roles and shifts in dialect, voice, gender, age, character and personality styles, physicality and body language and real quotes. It also required me to teach Justine how to vocally replicate and deliver Gillard's full verbatim "misogyny speech" ... which I phonetically transcribed every word of! The play is an athletic feat. Justine is onstage for 90 minutes, shapeshifting vocally and physically before the audience's eyes with little more than her voice, body and some simple costume changes. It's a true joy to watch and the show leaves audiences giving Justine an immediate standing ovation at the end. Our tour is 5 months and this year we have understudy extraordinaire Caroline Craig as part of the team and training with me to be match fit ready at any moment. The sold-out production has also just been announced for a further tour in 2025!
Catch a glimpse of the trailer below from Melbourne Theatre Company's YouTube channel
Copyright © 2024 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Prudence Upton/STC
★★★★ The Guardian Australia ★★★★ Time Out Sydney
TIME OUT: "When Julia Gillard’s distinctive voice first emerged from Justine Clarke’s mouth on Opening Night of Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Julia, the audience literally gasp-screamed. It was, without mincing words, pretty freaky"
CITY HUB: "Clarke slides seamlessly from one persona to another, absolutely nailing the idiosyncrasies and voices. Her imitation of Gillard’s unmistakable vocal intonation is spot on without being parody"
IN REVIEW: Interview with Justine Clarke "I also had the most wonderful voice coach (Jennifer White), who was rigorous with me! We found such beauty in her [Gillard’s] accent."
STAGE WHISPERS: "It’s not just the voice – her physicality changes, to be, Julia. It’s an acting masterclass"
MY MELBOURNE ARTS: "Justine Clarke is a revelation as Gillard, capturing the younger version of herself with much excitement and spirited by life's possibilities. Perhaps there's a glint of naivety. Clarke presents in her natural voice when speaking directly to the audience and only with Gillard's accent when quoting her, with incredible guidance by voice coach Jennifer White, who also did fantastic work with Heather Mitchell in the recent production of RBG in Melbourne"
BROADWAY WORLD: "Her energy and her timing are electric. With rapid changes in accent, she charts Gillard’s childhood with Welsh parents, her life in Adelaide, and her ascent to Parliament. ... Justine Clarke’s world-class performance is unforgettable"
MY BLOG NOTE: October 2024
It's such a pleasure to return as the Dialect & Voice Coach for Sydney Theatre Company's play Julia by Joanna Murray Smith. Starring wonderful Justine Clarke in this iconic story and role, it delves into the events that lead up and fuelled to former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's now famous "misogyny speech". A show like this asks Justine to master Julia's highly recognisable voice and accent, and voice multiple other characters including Julia's Welsh parents, a Welsh coal miner, her Adelaide neighbours, varying journalists, radio shock jocks and three former Australian Prime Ministers. My job was to train Justine to master all these roles and shifts in dialect, voice, gender, age, character and personality styles, physicality and body language and real quotes. It also required me to teach Justine how to vocally replicate and deliver Gillard's full verbatim "misogyny speech" ... which I phonetically transcribed every word of! The play is an athletic feat. Justine is onstage for 90 minutes, shapeshifting vocally and physically before the audience's eyes with little more than her voice, body and some simple costume changes. It's a true joy to watch and the show leaves audiences giving Justine an immediate standing ovation at the end. Our tour is 5 months and this year we have understudy extraordinaire Caroline Craig as part of the team and training with me to be match fit ready at any moment. The sold-out production has also just been announced for a further tour in 2025!
Catch a glimpse of the trailer below from Melbourne Theatre Company's YouTube channel
Copyright © 2024 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Prudence Upton/STC
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RBG: OF MANY, ONESydney Theatre Company - national tour (Jan to June 2024)
Director: Priscilla Jackman Dialect & Voice Coach: Jennifer White CAST: Ruth Bader Ginsburg (plus 29 other roles): Heather Mitchell Understudy: Lucy Bell |
★★★★ TIME OUT: "She makes the transformation seem easy. Her accent is almost faultless, and she inhabits the late justice in her gesticulations, her hunched frame in later years, her gravelly voice. You only realise the enormity of the task Mitchell had ahead of her once the lights are on and you’re shuffling out of the theatre. A feat, in itself."
CLICK TAB TO READ MY BLOG AND MORE REVIEWS ...
CLICK TAB TO READ MY BLOG AND MORE REVIEWS ...
JAN TO JUNE 2024: THEATRE - RBG: OF MANY, ONE (SYDNEY THEATRE CO.)
RBG: OF MANY, ONE
Sydney Theatre Company
National tour: January to June 2024
Venues: Sydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre Centre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Riverside Theatre, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, State Theatre Centre WA
National tour: January to June 2024
Venues: Sydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre Centre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Riverside Theatre, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, State Theatre Centre WA
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CREATIVE TEAM INCLUDES:
Director: Priscilla Jackman Designer: David Fleischer Lighting Designer: Alexander Berlage Dialect & Voice Coach: Jennifer White CAST: Ruth Bader Ginsburg (plus 29 other roles): Heather Mitchell Understudy: Lucy Bell |
REVIEWS INCLUDE
★★★★★ Sydney Morning Herald ★★★★★ Stage Noise
★★★★1/2 ArtsHub ★★★★1/2 The AU Review
★★★★ Time Out Sydney ★★★★ Limelight
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: "Heather Mitchell represents Ruth Bader Ginsburg across her life, from an excited 13 year old to a dying 87, and every atom of the actor seems to change in doing this. Her mimicry of President Bill Clinton is eerily and hilariously accurate. She also variously depicts RBG's husband Marty, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, President Barack Obama and a deliciously caricatured Trump"
UNSW: Interview with Heather Mitchell " I worked with this wonderful voice coach, Jennifer White, she's absolutely fantastic. And she really helped me find images for each of the other characters"
TIME OUT: "On stage, she makes the transformation seem easy. Her accent is almost faultless, and she inhabits the late justice in her gesticulations, her hunched frame in later years, her gravelly voice. You only realise the enormity of the task Mitchell had ahead of her once the lights are on and you’re shuffling out of the theatre. A feat, in itself."
THEATRE THOUGHTS: "Heather Mitchell is exquisite and virtuosic in this mammoth role; her physicality and tone transcend decades of life in a perfect balance of tenderness and stoicism. ... She transforms from young student, determined and vulnerable, to an elderly woman, so desperate to see a female elected president in her lifetime. Having recently listened to Mitchell's self-narrated autobiography, I was shocked at how natural her Brooklyn accent felt in this dynamic and demanding role that sees her also voicing presidents Clinton, Obama, Trump, and her husband Marty"
MY BLOG NOTE: January 2024
It's a joy to be back as the Dialect & Voice Coach for Sydney Theatre Company's RBG: Of Many, One by Suzie Miller and starring Heather Mitchell in this award-winning, tour-de-force performance. Heather plays US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (from 13-87 years), as well as 30 other characters including her husband, family, law and court colleagues ... and three famous male Presidents. And yes, it was my job to analyse, learn and coach Heather to replicate all of their voices, dialects, genders, ages, personality and character styles, physical mannerisms and body language, and real quotes We first presented the show in 2022 at the Wharf Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company to rave reviews and sold-out houses. We're now returning for a season at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House from Feb 2024 followed by a national tour to Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Wollongong, Parramatta and Perth. It's a true pleasure coaching Heather again in all 30 voices, accents and character physicalities, and to train understudy extraordinaire Lucy Bell to be match fit in all roles and ready at any moment.
A must see production! Catch a glimpse in the trailer below
Copyright © 2024 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Prudence Upton/STC
★★★★★ Sydney Morning Herald ★★★★★ Stage Noise
★★★★1/2 ArtsHub ★★★★1/2 The AU Review
★★★★ Time Out Sydney ★★★★ Limelight
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: "Heather Mitchell represents Ruth Bader Ginsburg across her life, from an excited 13 year old to a dying 87, and every atom of the actor seems to change in doing this. Her mimicry of President Bill Clinton is eerily and hilariously accurate. She also variously depicts RBG's husband Marty, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, President Barack Obama and a deliciously caricatured Trump"
UNSW: Interview with Heather Mitchell " I worked with this wonderful voice coach, Jennifer White, she's absolutely fantastic. And she really helped me find images for each of the other characters"
TIME OUT: "On stage, she makes the transformation seem easy. Her accent is almost faultless, and she inhabits the late justice in her gesticulations, her hunched frame in later years, her gravelly voice. You only realise the enormity of the task Mitchell had ahead of her once the lights are on and you’re shuffling out of the theatre. A feat, in itself."
THEATRE THOUGHTS: "Heather Mitchell is exquisite and virtuosic in this mammoth role; her physicality and tone transcend decades of life in a perfect balance of tenderness and stoicism. ... She transforms from young student, determined and vulnerable, to an elderly woman, so desperate to see a female elected president in her lifetime. Having recently listened to Mitchell's self-narrated autobiography, I was shocked at how natural her Brooklyn accent felt in this dynamic and demanding role that sees her also voicing presidents Clinton, Obama, Trump, and her husband Marty"
MY BLOG NOTE: January 2024
It's a joy to be back as the Dialect & Voice Coach for Sydney Theatre Company's RBG: Of Many, One by Suzie Miller and starring Heather Mitchell in this award-winning, tour-de-force performance. Heather plays US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (from 13-87 years), as well as 30 other characters including her husband, family, law and court colleagues ... and three famous male Presidents. And yes, it was my job to analyse, learn and coach Heather to replicate all of their voices, dialects, genders, ages, personality and character styles, physical mannerisms and body language, and real quotes We first presented the show in 2022 at the Wharf Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company to rave reviews and sold-out houses. We're now returning for a season at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House from Feb 2024 followed by a national tour to Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Wollongong, Parramatta and Perth. It's a true pleasure coaching Heather again in all 30 voices, accents and character physicalities, and to train understudy extraordinaire Lucy Bell to be match fit in all roles and ready at any moment.
A must see production! Catch a glimpse in the trailer below
Copyright © 2024 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Prudence Upton/STC
THE ARCHIVES
MARCH 2024: MUSICAL - WEST SIDE STORY (OPERA AUSTRALIA)
WEST SIDE STORY
Opera Australia: Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour
March/April 2024
March/April 2024
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CREATIVE TEAM INCLUDES:
Director: Francesca Zambello Musical Director: Guy Simpson Associate Director: Eric Sean Fogel Dialect Coach: Jennifer White CAST INCLUDES: Tony: Billy Bourchier Maria: Nina Korbe Anita: Kimberley Hodgson Bernardo: Manuel Stark Santos |
REVIEWS INCLUDE
★★★★ The Guardian Australia ★★★★ Time Out Sydney
TIME OUT SYDNEY: "A triumphant spectacle"
ARTS REVIEW: "every word of Sondheim’s lyrics and Laurent’s dialogue was heard with stunning clarity"
THE GUARDIAN: "Felt like falling in love for the first time ... with a new cast and a new sense of itself, there it was: the magic. The way love comes into a life and rewrites the world"
MY BLOG NOTE: 16 March 2024
Coaching: New York & Puerto Rican accents and Spanish language
It's lovely to return as Dialect Coach for Opera Australia's 2024 season of West Side Story. The setting and venue on Sydney Harbour is truly breathtaking. This is my sixth time coaching this classic musical and my third coaching it for Opera Australia. I previously coached their 2019 season on Sydney Harbour, as well as their international touring production. For a sneak peek, check out the spectacular trailer below!
Copyright © 2024 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Keith Saunders/Opera Australia
★★★★ The Guardian Australia ★★★★ Time Out Sydney
TIME OUT SYDNEY: "A triumphant spectacle"
ARTS REVIEW: "every word of Sondheim’s lyrics and Laurent’s dialogue was heard with stunning clarity"
THE GUARDIAN: "Felt like falling in love for the first time ... with a new cast and a new sense of itself, there it was: the magic. The way love comes into a life and rewrites the world"
MY BLOG NOTE: 16 March 2024
Coaching: New York & Puerto Rican accents and Spanish language
It's lovely to return as Dialect Coach for Opera Australia's 2024 season of West Side Story. The setting and venue on Sydney Harbour is truly breathtaking. This is my sixth time coaching this classic musical and my third coaching it for Opera Australia. I previously coached their 2019 season on Sydney Harbour, as well as their international touring production. For a sneak peek, check out the spectacular trailer below!
Copyright © 2024 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Keith Saunders/Opera Australia
aug 2023: theatre - on the beach (sydney theatre co.)
ON THE BEACH
Sydney Theatre Company
June to August 2024
June to August 2024
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CREATIVE TEAM INCLUDES:
Director: Kip Williams Assistant Director: Kenneth Moraleda Voice & Accent Coach: Jennifer White CAST INCLUDES: Dwight: Tai Hara Moira: Contessa Treffone Peter: Ben O'Toole Mary: Michelle Lim Davidson John Osborne: Matthew Backer |
REVIEWS INCLUDE
★★★★★ Time Out ★★★★★ ArtsHub ★★★★★ The Au Review
★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ Suzy Goes See
THEATRE TRAVELS: "Given that the American character’s accents did not have a hint of a put-on Aussie cadence, Voice & Accent Coach Jennifer White deserves special mention for her contribution. Tai Hara embodied the perfect American naval officer and it was with some surprise that this critic discovered after the show that he is, in fact, a ‘dinky di Aussie’"
MY BLOG NOTE: 15 August 2023
I've just wrapped up as the Voice & Dialect Coach for Sydney Theatre Company's epic play On The Beach directed by STC's Artistic Director Kip Williams and adapted for the stage by Tommy Murphy, after Nevil Shute's classic novel. A joy to work with Kip again on our 4th production together, and such a delight to work alongside Tommy for the first time ... even though we've known each other for 20 years! The cast included Tai Hara, Contessa Treffone, Ben O'Toole, Michelle Lim Davidson, Matthew Backer, Tony Cogin, Emma Diaz, Vanessa Downing, Elijah Williams and Alan Zhu ... many who I've worked with before and some who I taught at NIDA. On The Beach opened 22 July and played at STC's Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney.
Copyright © 2023 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Daniel Boud/STC
★★★★★ Time Out ★★★★★ ArtsHub ★★★★★ The Au Review
★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ Suzy Goes See
THEATRE TRAVELS: "Given that the American character’s accents did not have a hint of a put-on Aussie cadence, Voice & Accent Coach Jennifer White deserves special mention for her contribution. Tai Hara embodied the perfect American naval officer and it was with some surprise that this critic discovered after the show that he is, in fact, a ‘dinky di Aussie’"
MY BLOG NOTE: 15 August 2023
I've just wrapped up as the Voice & Dialect Coach for Sydney Theatre Company's epic play On The Beach directed by STC's Artistic Director Kip Williams and adapted for the stage by Tommy Murphy, after Nevil Shute's classic novel. A joy to work with Kip again on our 4th production together, and such a delight to work alongside Tommy for the first time ... even though we've known each other for 20 years! The cast included Tai Hara, Contessa Treffone, Ben O'Toole, Michelle Lim Davidson, Matthew Backer, Tony Cogin, Emma Diaz, Vanessa Downing, Elijah Williams and Alan Zhu ... many who I've worked with before and some who I taught at NIDA. On The Beach opened 22 July and played at STC's Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney.
Copyright © 2023 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Daniel Boud/STC
MAY 2023: THEATRE COACHING - JULIA (SYDNEY THEATRE CO.)
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Date: 1 May 2023
I started 2023 back at Sydney Theatre Company on two plays for them. First off, in January to early February, I gave voice coaching assistance to the company's touring production of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde. Directed by STC's Artistic Director Kip Williams and starring Ewen Leslie and Matthew Backer, the play was a huge success in 2022 and this year it's returning with a tour to Perth and Adelaide. |
In early February, I started as the Voice & Dialect Coach on STC's play Julia directed by Sarah Goodes and written by Joanna Murray-Smith.
The show stars the wonderful Justine Clarke and focuses on the life and career of Australia's first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard, in particular the events that led up to her now world-famous "misogyny speech".
It's been an honour and joy to coach Justine to master Julia's iconic voice and accent, as well as to voice multiple other characters including Gillard's Welsh parents, a Welsh coal miner, her Adelaide neighbours, varying journalists, shock jocks and three former Australian Prime Ministers. This truly has been one of those "career highlights" jobs.
This is the second time play Justine and I have worked on together after I coached her in the one-woman play Girls & Boys for State Theatre Company of South Australia in 2022 and again for Sydney Festival in early 2023.
We kicked off "Julia" at Canberra Theatre Centre from 18 March 2023 and opened in Sydney at the Sydney Opera House on 4 April to rave reviews and sold out shows with standing room only.
Copyright © 2023 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Prudence Upton/STC
DEC 2022: THEATRE COACHING - RBG: OF MANY, ONE (SYDNEY THEATRE CO.)
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Date: 20 December 2022
I'm wrapping up an excellent year coaching for Sydney Theatre Company with an incredible production ... that's now become my favourite in all my years of coaching. For the last few months, I've been Dialect & Voice Coach on RBG: Of Many, One directed by Priscilla Jackman and written by playwright/lawyer Suzie Miller and starring the formidable Heather Mitchell in a tour-de-force role. |
A one-woman play with Heather as late US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, it's a portrait of one incredible woman who changed history, the law and the lives of women.
Not only does Heather play RBG from 13 to 87 years, but she also plays 30 characters in total, each with their own voice/dialect ... including RBG's family, her husband, law professors, Supreme Court Justice colleagues and former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Trump.
It's an incredible joy and honour to coach Heather, and a true privilege to tell the story of the brilliant and notorious RBG.
The show opened on 3 November and is sold out until we close on 23 December 2022.
Copyright © 2022 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Prudence Upton/STC
NOV 2022: film COACHING - seriously red
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Date: 26 November 2022
In 2020 and 2021, I had the pleasure of coaching the wonderful Krew Boylan for her lead role in the film "Seriously Red". Not only was Krew to play the lead, but she also wrote the script and it was being produced by her production company Dollhouse Pictures (founded by Krew, Rose Byrne, Shannon Murphy, Jessica Carrera and the film's director Gracie Otto). |
Krew plays Red, an Australian real estate agent who wants to escape her 9 to 5 job and becomes a Dolly Parton impersonator.
My role was as Dialect Coach to Krew for her Dolly Parton voice, accent ... and even the way Dolly laughs!
An added joy is the film has full support from Dolly Parton herself and is filled with her songs.
Check out the trailer below and the film's just opened in Australia!
Copyright © 2022 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Kane Skennar/Dollhouse Pictures
SEPTEMBER 2022: TELEVISION COACHING - BALI 2002
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Date: 28 September 2022
Earlier this year, I had the honour of coaching on the TV series Bali 2002 which is now airing on Stan. It's the true story of the everyday heroes from Bali, Australia and beyond who tried to bring order, hope and healing out of the chaos and senseless attacks in 2002. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I was dialect coach to Rachel Griffiths in her role as Dr Fiona Wood - burns skin specialist, surgeon and 2005 Australian of the Year. Her revolutionary spray-on skin helped so many of the attack survivors. |
And now to her dialect ...
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Fiona is Yorkshire-born, London-trained and at the time of the attacks, she'd been living in Australia for 15 years. So her voice is 3 dialects in one! All blended with her humility, warmth of personality and medical brilliance. No pressure, right?!
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It's one of the toughest real dialects and voices I've ever had to coach ... constantly and delicately dancing from Yorkshire to London to Australian sound patterns and back again.
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But I loved researching and learning her unique voice. And I loved coaching Rachel in the role. We worked really hard to get it right and to honour Fiona's true self and sounds with specificity and authenticity.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The end results are always out of the hands of a dialect coach ... due to direction, script changes, shooting and post-production editing decisions. So my hope is that it's turned out as honourably as the input undertaken.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Here's to all the heroes who helped heal and save lives during those horrific events and beyond, particularly Dr Fiona Wood.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Fiona is Yorkshire-born, London-trained and at the time of the attacks, she'd been living in Australia for 15 years. So her voice is 3 dialects in one! All blended with her humility, warmth of personality and medical brilliance. No pressure, right?!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It's one of the toughest real dialects and voices I've ever had to coach ... constantly and delicately dancing from Yorkshire to London to Australian sound patterns and back again.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But I loved researching and learning her unique voice. And I loved coaching Rachel in the role. We worked really hard to get it right and to honour Fiona's true self and sounds with specificity and authenticity.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The end results are always out of the hands of a dialect coach ... due to direction, script changes, shooting and post-production editing decisions. So my hope is that it's turned out as honourably as the input undertaken.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Here's to all the heroes who helped heal and save lives during those horrific events and beyond, particularly Dr Fiona Wood.
Copyright © 2022 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Endemol Shine Australia/Stan
JULY TO OCTOBER 2022: THEATRE COACHING - a raisin in the sun (STC)
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Date: 23 Sept 2022
I'm back at Sydney Theatre Company coaching another two plays for them - after having just wrapped two others for the company. The first is A Raisin In The Sun directed by the formidable Wesley Enoch. This iconic and towering American play tells the story of the Younger family in 1950s Chicago as they search for a happier life, freedom from racism, poverty and segregation, and a new home "with a whole lotta sunlight". |
My role is as Voice Coach and I'm supporting the child and adult cast with their voice and text work.
The show opened on 1 September to rave reviews and we're running through to mid October.
Such a pleasure to coach this cast and with Wesley.
Copyright © 2022 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: STC
MAY/JUNE 2022: THEATRE COACHING - 2 plays for SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY
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Date: 30 June 2022
It's been a pleasure to be back coaching for Sydney Theatre Company for the past two months. I've just wrapped coaching another two plays for them - my fifth and sixth for the company. I was the Voice & Text Coach on The Tenant of Wildfell Hall directed by Jessica Arthur - an adaptation of Anne Brontë's novel by Emme Hoy. I was also the Voice & Dialect Coach on Top Coat directed by Courtney Stewart - a new play by Michelle Law. Wonderful to work with such brilliant female directors and playwrights - and our exceptional and diverse casts! Copyright © 2022 Jennifer White. All rights reserved. Photo credits: STC |
APRIL 2022: TELEVISION COACHING - BALI 2002
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Date: 10 May 2022
It's been a joy to recently coach one of the leads for the upcoming TV series Bali 2002 for 9Network and Stan. The production looks at the tragic Bali bombings and the heroes from all over the world who helped bring order, hope and healing. It's currently filming so I can't share more than that. Here's the link to the show's IMDB page for further public details. Copyright © 2022 Jennifer White. All rights reserved. Photo credit: Stan/Endemol Shine Australia |
JAN/FEB 2022: THEATRE COACHING - GIRLS & BOYS (State Theatre co of S.A)
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Date: 28 February 2022
It's been a real joy to recently coach my first play for State Theatre Company of South Australia (STCSA) ... Dennis Kelly's Girls & Boys. I've been a fan of his writing since I coached a production of his play DNA here in Sydney a few years ago. Directed by STCSA's Artistic Director, my friend Mitchell Butel and starring the wonderful Justine Clarke, Girls & Boys is a breathtakingly powerful one-woman play for these times! |
In a nearly 2 hour monologue, Justine leads the audience through a gripping, thrilling and chilling tale of a woman's journey through love, children, marriage challenges and the horror of domestic violence.
Limelight Magazine's review states:
- Justine Clarke as Woman is utterly remarkable. As the lone actor, she conveys myriad characters with fluid ingenuity, conveying the opening mischievous and vulgar banter in a style that is almost that of a standup comedian. The consummate precision with which she delivers her accent, gesticulates and mimes, lends much to the quality of this production, but it is the matchless rarity of her eye locking us into engagement, her varied timbre and seemingly endless varieties of expression, that elevate this to a performance of an extraordinarily special nature.
https://limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/girls-boys-state-theatre-company-south-australia-adelaide-festival/
Copyright © 2022 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: headshot - Shanahan Management
JAN 2022: film COACHING - GOLD
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Date: 26 January 2022
In 2021, I had the pleasure of coaching on three feature films and one of those was "Gold" for director Anthony Hayes. I've always been a fan on Anthony's extensive body of work so it was a pleasure to step in to post-production and be his dialect coach for ADR (that's the re-voicing component during a film's editing phase). The movie's a gritty apocalyptic thriller about greed and the extremes people will go for it. You can catch it from today on Stan. |
Director/co-writer: Anthony Hayes
Cast: Zac Efron, Anthony Hayes, Susie Porter
Copyright © 2022 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: MattNettheim/Ian Routledge
Cast: Zac Efron, Anthony Hayes, Susie Porter
Copyright © 2022 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: MattNettheim/Ian Routledge
SEPT 2021: film COACHING - CARMEN
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Date: 25 September 2021
My third film for 2021 has been the upcoming feature film Carmen directed by Benjamin Millepied and produced by Goalpost Pictures, my 3rd movie for the Goalpost team. Benjamin's known worldwide for his exceptional work as ballet choreographer on Black Swan and this new film is a modern-day reimagining of the opera Carmen. |
I started coaching pre-production in January and had the pleasure of coaching lead Melissa Barrera as Carmen and other cast members when the film started shooting. I then jumped back on board in August and have just wrapped up coaching the post-production ADR with our phenomenal team located all over the world.
Another job that's been a real joy from start to wrap! Can't wait to see the final director's cut when it's released.
Copyright © 2021 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Ben King/Goalpost Pictures
Another job that's been a real joy from start to wrap! Can't wait to see the final director's cut when it's released.
Copyright © 2021 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Ben King/Goalpost Pictures
FEB 2021: film COACHING - mortal kombat
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Date: 26 February 2021
From November 2020 to January 2021, I worked as the Voice & Dialect Coach (post-production) for Warner Bros' upcoming martial arts fantasy epic "Mortal Kombat". My first project in this genre, the team were absolutely wonderful to work with and I'm thrilled with the results we achieved. The movie's being released in April 2021 and I think fans of the video game franchise are in for a thrill! Copyright © 2021 Jennifer White. All rights reserved. Photo credit: Warner Bros Pictures |
2019-2020: TV SERIES COACHING - STATELESS FOR cate blanchett/netflix
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In 2019, I had the honour of being the Dialect Coach on Stateless, the six part television drama series co-produced/created by Cate Blanchett on the Australian immigration detention system.
I've compiled some of my blog posts onto one page for those of you who are fans of the show. Visit the Stateless page for:
Copyright © 2020 Jennifer White. All rights reserved. Photo credit: Ben King |
APRIL 2020: film COACHING - I AM WOMAN
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Date: 16 April 2020
In October 2018, I'd just wrapped ADR work on the animated film "Wonder Park" for Paramount Pictures when I was contacted by Goalpost Pictures. They asked if I would be the Dialect Coach on their upcoming film that was about to shoot in Sydney. And as soon as I heard the synopsis, it was a heartfelt YES! The film was I Am Woman directed by Unjoo Moon and is the story of Australian singer Helen Reddy. |
In 1966, Helen landed in New York with her three-year-old daughter, a suitcase and $230 in her pocket.
Within weeks she was broke.
Within months she was in love.
Within five years she was one of the biggest superstars of her time.
An icon of the 1970s feminist movement, she wrote the Grammy Award-winning song I Am Woman which galvanised a generation of women to fight for change and has become an anthem for women's equality. This is her story.
Look out for I Am Woman on Stan. It's a film I'm very proud to have been a part of.
Copyright © 2020 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Goalpost Pictures/Stan
Within weeks she was broke.
Within months she was in love.
Within five years she was one of the biggest superstars of her time.
An icon of the 1970s feminist movement, she wrote the Grammy Award-winning song I Am Woman which galvanised a generation of women to fight for change and has become an anthem for women's equality. This is her story.
Look out for I Am Woman on Stan. It's a film I'm very proud to have been a part of.
Copyright © 2020 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Goalpost Pictures/Stan
FEB 2020: THEATRE COACHING - BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY
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Date: 12 February 2020
Some shows come along as a Dialect Coach that are a beautiful gift from start to finish. Today I started work as Dialect Consultant for the musical "The Bridges of Madison County" at the Hayes Theatre Company here in Sydney. My dear friend Neil Gooding is directing and co-producing with Matthew Henderson. |
Neil and I have known each other for 20 years since I acted in the first show of his production company back in 2000. It was the Stephen Sondheim musical "Assassins" and I played Sara Jane Moore, alongside my actor friends James Millar and Luke Joslin.
Since then I've been the Dialect Coach on every show Neil has directed and/or produced so "The Bridges of Madison County" is a beautiful one to celebrate our 20th year of friendship and collaborations.
Not only that, this cast is filled with many exquisite musical theatre actors who I've known for a long time, performed with, trained at drama school with, coached in other productions, and one of them I taught when she was at drama school.
Such a gift to guide them all through the dialects of Iowa, Texas and Italy ... and to ride out to the Roseman Bridge with Robert and Francesca!
Catch the show at the Hayes Theatre from 11 March 2020 for 5 weeks. I can guarantee you'll cheer on the talents of Kate Maree Hoolihan, Ian Stenlake, Anton Berezin, Beth Daly, Michael Beckley, Katie McKee, Zoe Ioannou and Grady Swithenbank.
Copyright © 2020 Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: Neil Gooding Productions/Matthew Management/Hayes Theatre Company
SEPT 2019: THEATRE COACHING - CHICAGO
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Date: 25 September 2019
I've just wrapped a lovely couple of months coaching the cast and understudies on the musical Chicago at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney. The team includes Alinta Chidzey as Velma Kelly, Casey Donovan as Mama Morton and Tom Burlinson as Billy Flynn. It's exactly 10 years since I coached the last production in Sydney- that time starring Caroline O'Connor as Velma and Sharon Millerchip as Roxie Hart, and again produced by Gordon Frost Organisation. A joy to work on the show again! Copyright © 2019 Jennifer White. All rights reserved. Photo credit: Crossroads Live/Gordon Frost Organisation |
Photo credits: as listed per production. Explore More banners: Solomon and Marion: MTC. Yvonne Strahovski in Stateless: Ben King.
JENNIFER WHITE
© 2024 JENNIFER WHITE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
