Shanta is an experienced screen acting coach working with youth and adults for over 15 years as coach, course trainer and course creator. Shanta has a deep respect for and joy in the acting craft and a training style that aligned with and complemented her mentor and Nicholson’s Academy founder Fern Nicholson. Fern’s key intention in developing an acting program was to support actors towards longevity as a working artist and this intention is central to Shanta’s ethos and approach to teaching.

Wayne Nicholson is a writer / director / podcast extraordinaire. Studied and completed many courses through the Australian Film & Television Radio School and has worked at the Fox Studio in Sydney. He has written and directed many films, commercials and documentaries in his years in the business and has consulted with the marketing giant J.Walter Thompson on numerous advertising campaigns. Clients include: Converse, Toyota, Red Bull, Rio Tinto and Land Corp.

As a commissioned writer, he has written and developed feature screenplays for Screenwest, Screen Australia and Forgeworks, as well as a 10 part documentary series for the Discovery Channel.

Megan Hollier was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, but frequently spends time in LA. This year alone she has starred in multiple projects, stealing scenes as Rachel in SBS's Iggy & Ace (2021), True Colours (2022) and in the feature films; How to Please a Woman (2022) and It Only Takes a Night.

A burgeoning multi-hyphenate Megan co-created and acted in Single Ladies (2019), earning a nomination for Best Actress at Santa Monica Web Series. She also won Best Actress for her performance in The Golden Road (2016) at the Next Gen Short Film.

A true artist, Megan is committed to the work, studying with greats such as the late and great Elizabeth Kemp, as well as the work of Susan Batson and Larry Moss.

An alumni of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she has had a stellar career since graduating in 2015.

Noel is also an award-winning playwright. To his credit are the following full length plays: Last Bus to Contrition, The Picture House, and Confetti from Graceland and several one act plays including: A Day in the Life, The Potato Eaters, Heaven’s Above and Holly & Ivy.

He is currently a Lecturer at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University. Noel also teaches acting for the Perth Actors Collective Theatre Workshop, Stage Door and Frog Management.

Infectious, enthusiastic, unique and a teacher of creativity; these are just some of the ways past students have used to describe training with Ellis. Having trained internationally at Lecoq school in Paris and toured the world as an independent award-winning actor, Ellis brings fun and creativity (and a crazy sense of humor!) that really allows you to feel free and immersed in the work and taken on a journey of learning. Ellis teaches at WAAPA and a number of other training institutions in WA and is a much sought-after and respected specialist teacher in movement and creativity