Russell Smith

Title: Head of Drama

Specialty: Acting

Russell is a proud and recognized descendent of the Ngarrindjeri people of South Australia. His interest in performing arts started in high school, he took drama because he thought it would be an easy “A”, little did he know that the next 17 years of his life would be dedicated to acting.

Russell started his formal training in the craft at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Art (WAAPA) completing a certificate in Indigenous theatre in 1999. He was then accepted into the National Institute in Dramatic Art where he completed a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (acting) in 2002. Since then Russell has worked across all spectrums of the industry.

Russell’s first love is theatre, some of his theatre credits include:

• Shanghai lady killer (Stalker theatre company)
• Macquarie (Buzo company)
• Wild Boys (Australian Theatre of the Deaf)
• The Story of the miracles at cookies table (Griffin theatre company) and many, many more.

Television credits include;

• The Strip
• Home and Away
• Comedy Inc along with countless television commercials.

Along with being a successful actor he has also has a strong background in teaching acting at such schools as

• NIDA
• The Actors Centre
• Sydney Theatre Company
• Monkey Bar theatre for young people

Most recently Russell was hand picked by Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton to help devise a school drama program that taught literacy through drama. Russell is also in his final semester of finishing a Masters degree in Teaching at the University of Western Sydney.