About Us
Creating Artists
Acting training methods that extend beyond traditional theoretical methods and embracing a science-based approach.
Here at Creating Artists we teach evidence-based acting techniques based on Dr Kylie Loveday’s published research to help actors reach the peak performance state. Our teaching methods are based on a theoretical framework called the “The hierarchy of needs for peak performance in screen acting” to assist actors reach their performance potential. We cultivate 4 main areas of actors tool kit to enable them to reach peak performance: preparation, performance, business, and mindset.
Our Founders
Joel Pierce
Joel has extensive professional experience spanning over 20 years in various fields, including TV, film, voice-over work, and theatre. He has also worked as an acting coach on sets and has taught acting for a decade. After completing a Bachelor of Arts (Drama), Joel's career took off as a series regular, appearing in over 300 episodes of the popular South African soap opera, EGOLI.
Joel has since worked on an array of projects including most recently ALMOST PARADISE (Amazon), LOVE AND MONSTERS (Paramount Pictures) and KONG VS GODZILLA (Warner Bros) and HARROW (ABC). Other projects Joel's worked on include THE END, THE BUREAU OF MAGICAL THINGS, HOME & AWAY, NEIGHBOURS, SCHAPELLE, HOGES, SEA PATROL, THE LOVERS, MONARCH COVE, and more. In addition to this, Joel is set to make an appearances on the highly anticipated third season of ROCK ISLAND MYSTERIES, second season of DARBY AND JOAN, and second season of MONARCH. Joel was the Acting Coach on the Action Comedy film ZOMBIE PLANE and has a valid blue card.
“I wish someone had told me this stuff 20 years ago.”
Dr Kylie Loveday
Kylie has more than 15 years of experience as an actor, voice-over artist, singer, and university teacher. She studied musical theatre at NIDA and Sydney, then specialised in screen acting. Kylie also holds a PhD in Performance Psychology from Griffith University and a BA in Psychology from the University of Wollongong.
Kylie’s credits include ONE PERFECT MATCH (Great American Family), AUDREY (SXSW), BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE (Netflix), SPACE CHICKENS IN SPACE (Disney/Stan), THE BUREAU OF MAGICAL THINGS (Netflix), MAKO ISLAND (Netflix), HOGES (Channel 7), AUSTRALIA DAY (Netflix), and more.
Kylie is the first Doctor of Peak Screen Acting Performance in the world and has taught Psychology, Drama, and Presenting at Griffith University for 15 years. She has also taught at other performance institutions including TAFTA (AU) and Evolution Management Co (AU). See some her published research here. Kylie has a valid blue card.
“I wanted research evidence that supports how actors reach peak performance”
Our Teachers
Michaela Da Costa
Michaela has 7 years of experience as an actress, voice over artist, model, stunt trainee, and 10 years of experience as a coach.
Unlike many other actors, Michaela came from a background of professional sport and later studied Psychology, and Marine Science at the University of Queensland. After, quite literally, being thrown around the stunt world, winning an International Pageant Title (MISS SCUBA INTERNATIONAL 2019), and scuba diving on set (THE REEF: STALKED), Michaela found Creating Artists. By obsessing over the concepts Michaela fell in love with acting and has now worked on ELVIS (Warner Bros), HARROW (ABC), REEF BREAK (ABC), BLISS OF EVIL (Amazon) and is set to feature on the highly anticipated Skydance Media film TANGO. Michaela has also worked as a casting assistant for Miss Jane Casting so she has experience seeing what works from behind the camera. Michaela has a valid blue card.
“I wanted freedom in my acting… that’s what we give… it’s not up to you.”
Julia Burrell
Julia is a New Zealand actress, voice-over artist, dancer, and acting coach.
She has over 15 years of experience in dance, performing in New Zealand, Australia, and the USA. Julia has 5 years of experience in film and earned her diploma in Screen and Television at NYFA, taking classes at Creating Artists, The Warehouse, and Acting Mastery. Her recent acting roles include BIG SMOKE, THE FALL, IN BLOOM, MY HEART CALLS FOR YOU, and CHASING DAISIES. Julia has always wanted to bring stories to life on camera. She moved to Australia in 2020 to train as an actress. Her passion for acting grew, and she started coaching kids and teens in early 2024. Julia holds a valid blue card.
"I wanted to be pushed to be a great actor; to understand the depth it takes to step into another life, the depth most actors miss... I found that at CA and haven't looked back since.”
Alexandra Whitham
Alexandra is a voice, acting and speech teacher, dialect coach, theatre director, and university lecturer with over 25 years of international experience in the fields of education and the performing arts. She holds an MA in Voice Studies from the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama (UK), and is a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher.
Alexandra is currently a freelance Voice and Dialect coach after concluding a 1-year contract as a Specialist in Voice within the Theatre Department of the Faculty of Fine Arts & Music at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne University. Prior to this appointment, she was the Senior Lecturer in Voice and Discipline Leader of the BA Acting Program within the School of Creative Industries at Unitec/ Te Whare Wananga O Wairaka in Auckland, Aotearoa/ New Zealand, where she was tenured faculty for 12 years.
Her credits as a dialect coach include feature films Pike (31 Films), A Mistake (GFC Films), Joika (Four Knights Films), and 25 April (GFC); TV Shows Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max) and Will (TNT); advertising campaigns for Good Oil/ Cadbury (2021), Xero Accounting Software (2019) and Electric Kiwi (2019-20).
Alexandra teaches regularly for institutions such as the University of Adelaide Elder Conservatorium of Music (AUS), The Actors’ Program (NZ), The Auckland Theatre Company (NZ), Creating Artists (AUS), Actors’ Equity (NZ) and the MEAA (AUS), and has taught at Toi Whakaari (NZ), the Oxford School of Drama, the Academy of Live & Recorded Arts (UK), East 15 Acting School (UK), and the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama (UK).
“Alexandra is delighted to join the teaching team at Creating Artists!”