Nadia Townsend is a screen dramaturg, director and writer who began her career as a professional actor. With over 25 years’ experience working with actors and ensembles across film, television and theatre, Nadia specialises in rehearsal methodology and in developing practical, collaborative approaches to working with actors, from first-time and young actors through to established international talent.
Nadia has worked across major productions including My Brilliant Career, Ghosts, Top End Bub, Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa, Thor: Love and Thunder, Mortal Kombat II, Boy Swallows Universe, Black Snow and Killings at Parish Station. Her work has included preparing lead actors, training large ensembles and designing rehearsal processes for complex and emotionally demanding material.
A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, with further training at the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York and Roy Hart in France, Nadia brings together her experience as an actor, director and dramaturg to explore the relationship between performance, script and direction.
Nadia is a lecturer at AFTRS, where she specialises in rehearsal methodology.
AFTRS selects and contracts top industry professionals to instruct our short courses. These experts are values-aligned leaders in their fields, capable of applying the School’s decades-honed curriculum and pedagogical expertise to deliver the industry-relevant training AFTRS is renowned for.