Graduated with Honours in Performance Studies from the University of Sydney in 2001, a long list of theatre credits now tails Augusta Supple, full of playwright works, directing, producing, carpenting, performing, stage-managing, dramaturgy and even music. With a single sentence this woman melts your heart, lifts your soul and inspires you to do anything you desire. Her resume is more jam-packed than a shop-a-holic's bag in a half-price sale and she's got the wisdom of a woman twice her age. She's the multi-talented, multi-tasking, multi-everything player in the field of Sydney theatre and she kindly takes time out of her busy schedule to have a coffee and a chat with Zoe.

What is it about theatre that makes you get up in the morning?
I think that in today’s society everyone is very self-sufficient and separate, and theatre gives us an excuse to be in the company of other people, whether they be our friends or complete strangers. Theatre really confronts the idea that you don’t necessarily have to be confronted. It’s elevating and uplifting to see what can occur onstage in one night, and it’s certainly an inspiring thing to be in the presence of that. I definitely think about what’s happening in the micro and the macro, on my crusade of sorts to help create a community to support artists, particularly writers, who are lonely and solitary beasts; I like to stick up for people who feel lost sometimes.

Do you feel lost yourself at times, if you’re not working on a project or writing?
Sometimes, yes, but I think everyone does, they just don’t talk about it. I almost feel tired if I’m not ‘geared up to go into battle’. With responsibility comes loneliness; writers exist in their own head, left to their own complex burdens, so you can’t help but feel a bit lost sometimes, really.

What influences and inspirations caused you to get into theatre?
My first theatre experience was when I was really young, only 8, and a friend’s mum took me to a production of The King and I, and I remember just loving the sense of transportation, the wonder and magic of it, of a lot of things being jostled. My father really liked Oscar Wilde, and I’ve always loved literature, poetry, and just words. But yes, of course, there were the high school musicals I was forced to be in, along with elocution lessons and local eisteddfods.

What advice would you give to young people who are interested in getting into this ‘industry’?
I’m on the production side of things in theatre, never onstage, and people mistake my big personality’s for an actors, but I couldn’t do that because I don’t really like being told what to do (laughs) But I’m fascinated and always driven by what could be and what is possible, so if you’ve got that passion to create and explore, then don’t doubt that. You have to be fearless. You have to be brave and make everything count. The easy thing to do is to be frightened and that’s what everyone else does. You have to be able to admit when you’re wrong and be brave enough to fail. My philosophy is that I’m only happy when I know that everyone I’m working with is proud of what they’re doing and you have to regard people you’re working with as if they’re the next Cate Blanchett and always put the audience first.

What are you working on at the moment and what’s next?
I’m working on a new residency I just launched with theatre divisors, Blue Print, in Fraser Studios, I’m reading the scripts for the New Theatre’s Brand Spanking New productions, mentoring six shows in Fringe, and remounting stories from the 428, which is going to be on at Fringe at Sidetrack Theatre. But of course there are my reviews to write, friends to see, laundry to wash, you know…
 

When you're not working, where are you favourite places to go in Sydney?
Restaurant - Well if I'm in Newtown, definitely turkish pizza, but if I do love Victoria Room for a sophisticated dinner.
Bar - Funny that, because I don't drink anymore. An expired dare from four years ago has kept me dry. But I used to like the Courthouse in Newtown or Town Hall upstairs.
Cafe - Well Connected in Glebe or Buzz Bar in Newtown.
Venue - Stables Theatre for it's intimacy, Belvoir St Theatre for its red foyer and of course Sydney Theatre Company for its view.
Retail Shop - For clothes, definitely Retrospec'd, a lovely item there is always a treat for me for getting big chunks of work done.