Ellen Hardisty
Assistant Director
Ellen is an emerging director, having spent many years as an actor working and training in Brisbane, in festivals around Australia, and in Europe.
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After working with many incredible Australian and international directors as an actor, Ellen has turned her attention to directing. Her experiences onstage have brought her the confidence and vision to want to craft stories. She trained at QUT (Acting) and at RADA. She was a Core Ensemble Member with the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble for four years. She was the Assistant Director for productions such as The Rover and Australian Open. She recently co-wrote, directed and starred in Act React’s latest production Jaws for Kids.
Acting credits include She Works Hard for No Money, Bin Night, Katie is a Marker Sniffing Lesbian, The Importance of Being Wasted, Speed, the Movie, The Play, MacBeth, Grace, Begotten, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Hamlet, A Winter’s Tale, The Blood Votes and Bogga. While in Europe, she performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merry Wives of Windsor, as well as touring productions through the UK, Spain, Italy and Germany. She was recognised in Penelopiad with a Matilda nomination for best ensemble.
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“This is an excellent,emotionally resonant, character‑focused interpretation that honours the complexity of Murray-Smith’s script.”
Meredith Walker - Blue Curtains | Read More
“Three Little Words pokes at marriage, friendship, identity, compromise, the quiet resentments people swear they are fine about, and Ad Astra lets us sit right in the awkward, wine-soaked middle of it.”
Stage Buzz | Read More
Ad Astra’s hard-working team for Three Little Words have done a brilliant job – including Ellen Hardisty (Assistant Director), Kat Coomber (Stage Manager), Set Design by Greg Scurr (who also designed the minimalist set and co-designed Sound), Peter Eades (Sound Design), Daniel Endicott (Lighting Design), Sarah Speller (Production Assistant), and NJ Price (Fight & Intimacy Co-ordination)..
Described as “a wickedly smart comedy”, Three Little Words by Joanna Murray-Smith in Ad Astra’s intimate Pluto black box theatre provides a lot more than a good laugh.
“Hardisty’s Miss Prism and her controlling Lady Bracknell were memorable characterisations”
Catherine Lawrence – Backstreet Brisbane
“Ellen Hardisty steals the show as Belinda, delivering all the best quips with impeccable comedic timing”
Samantha Hancock – Stage Buzz Brisbane | Read Full Review
Upcoming Ad Astra Productions
Past Ad Astra Productions
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2025 – She Works Hard for No Money (Theatre), Backyard Flamingo, Actor – Goddess
2025 – Bin Night (Theatre), Pip Theatre, Actor – Sophie
2025 – Jaws for Kids (Theatre), Act React, Actor, Co-writer and Co-director
2025 – Katie is a Marker Sniffing Lesbian (Theatre), East and Under, Actor – Florence Nightingale
2025 – Born to be Sceptical (T.V pilot), Griffith University, Actor – News Presenter and Mum
2025 – A Rose to Die For (Live tabletop roleplay), Pip Theatre, Actor – Teddy Turner
2025 – Australian Open (Theatre), 7th Floor Theatre, Assistant Director
2024 – The Importance of Being Wasted (Theatre), Act React, Actor – Cecily Cardew
2024 – Two Super (TV pilot), Griffith University, Actor - Kayden
2023 – Speed the Movie the Play (Immersive Theatre), Act React, Actor – Harry
2023 – Ballooming (short film), Whitfield Productions, Actor – Popcorn Lady
2023 – Penelopiad (Theatre), Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Actor – Naiad
2022 – Greenlit (Web Series), Exit Ghost Productions, Actor – Financier
2022 – The Rover (Theatre), Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Assistant Director
2022 – MacBeth (Theatre), Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Actor – Witch
2021 – Street (Film), Phorse Film, Actor – Gem
2021 – Expats (TV Pilot), Pegasus Film, Actor – Jess
2021 – Titanic the Movie the Play (Immersive Theatre), Act React, Actor – Rose DeWitt
2021 – Shelter (Immersive Theatre), Drawer Productions, Actor – Lauralie Green
2020 – Begotten (Theatre), Minola Theatre, Actor – Hazel
2020 – MacBeth in the Dark (Radio Play), Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Voice – Lady McDuff
2020 – Scarlet (Short Film), SAE Film School, Actor – Cheryl
2019 – Henry IV (Theatre), Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Lady Percy
2019 – Grace (Theatre), Minola Theatre, Sara Hutchinson
2018 – Half Hour Hamlet (Theatre), Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Actor – Hamlet
2018 – Blue Murder (Theatre), 4 Stage Productions, Actor – Leura McKenzie
2018 – Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Theatre), Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Actor – Rosencrantz
2018 – The Blood Votes (Theatre), Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Actor – Ruby Crawley/Cecilia John
2017 – Bogga (Theatre), Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Actor - Prisoner
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2023 – Bachelor of Arts (Acting), QUT
2020 – Advanced Training, Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble
2012 – Shakespeare Summer School, Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts London
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2023 – Matilda Nomination Best Ensemble - Penelopiad, Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble
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