Jaya
Actor
Jaya (they/them) has over seven years of experience in the performing arts industry across Southeast Queensland, Melbourne, and internationally. Jaya brings a unique blend of cheeky irreverence, improvisation, storytelling, audience engagement and a strong work ethic to their craft, acknowledging the queer community for a lot of that influence.
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Creator/Performer Jaya (they/them) is a Brisbane-based artist with over seven years of experience in the dance, arts, and events industries across Southeast Queensland, Melbourne, and internationally. Jaya brings a unique blend of cheeky irreverence and a strong work ethic to their craft, acknowledging the queer community for a lot of that influence. Holding both a Bachelor’s in Creative Industries from QUT (Majoring in Dance Studies & Drama) and Masters of Arts & Cultural Management from the University of Melbourne, they excel in improvisation and audience engagement, with a particular passion for character creation and storytelling. Jaya has had the privilege of travelling the globe as a performer with Norwegian Cruise Lines and Cunard Cruises, creating immersive experiences for audiences around the ship, and performing on the main stages.
Jaya found the passion for their career studying the techniques and philosophies of postmodern dance pioneers - Piña Bausch (Tanztheater) and Lloyd Newson (DV8), who inspired them to combine dance and performing skills with pedestrian concepts to involve and engage with audiences on a more active level. Jaya premiered their first solo work, an immersive postmodern dance piece entitled 'Lamps Are Hot' with Anywhere Theatre Festival this year. As well as coming off the bat of a Matilda Award Nomination in 2024 for ‘A Night With the Villains’ by Mira Ball Productions for their portrayal of 'Captain Hook', Jaya is thrilled to be part of Into The Woods with Ad Astra and excited to be playing both a masculine and feminine role.
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Jaya Fisher-Smith brings a fabulous energy to Rapunzel’s Prince, matching Elliot Baker in swagger and absurdity. Their performance of Agony is a show highlight, which they somehow manage to top in Act Two with the song’s reprise. Look out for Fisher-Smith in another role in the show, which I’ll leave as a fun surprise.
Sarah Skubala - The Scoop | Read Full Review
‘A true triple threat, they embodied Peter's spirit with boundless energy, cheeky humour, and a magnetic connection with the audience. From the opening number 'Not the Boy Next Door', Jaya was unstoppable—diving into the role with charisma that brought to mind the legendary Hugh Jackman (and I can attest to this, having had the incredible experience of performing with Hugh during the 2006 Brisbane tour of The Boy From Oz). Jaya never faltered. They were constantly in motion, likely only offstage to change costumes and gulp down some water before reappearing full-throttle. Their improv skills were razor-sharp, effortlessly charming the audience with witty remarks.”
Samantha Hancock - Stage Buzz Brisbane | Read Review Here
“This is, however, Fisher Smith’s show. Barely off stage, the multi-talented performer is charismatic in delivery of the quippy commentary used to journey the audience through Peter’s early years as a young artist creating music and flare, to the Peter Allen we know of international fame, full of campy innuendo. Fisher Smith is a consummate professional throughout in deal with opening night technical lapses like a missing spotlight, a wardrobe malfunction and audience distractions, with equal aplomb.”
Meredith Walker – Blue Curtains | Read Review Here
“Jaya Fisher-Smith’s Captain Hook is hilarious, vivacious, brave, and injects a lot of sex appeal into their role, particularly when dancing.”
Kitty Goodall – Stage Whispers | Read Review Here
“Captain Hook (Jaya Fisher-Smith) mesmerised the crowd with a lively performance of the 'Hook’s Waltz', capturing both the pirate's allure and wickedness. I couldn't stop laughing and clapping - their portrayal stood out as my top choice of the night! Thanks to their humour, vocal skill, accent, and the fact that they had to hold that hook the entire time. Bravo, Hook!”
Samantha Hancock - Stage Buzz Brisbane | Read Review Here
“Jaya is equally brilliant: goofy, flamboyant, and utterly over the top. I’m personally obsessed with … their voices, plus the excellent comedic acting, superb blocking, and slapstick humour are perfection.”
Stage Buzz Brisbane | Read full review
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Upcoming Ad Astra Productions
Past Ad Astra Productions
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THEATRE CREDITS
2025 – Lamps Are Hot (Dance), Anywhere Theatre Festival, Creator & Performer
2025 – Thank You For The Music ABBA (Concert), Paterson Productions, Dancer
2025 – Wondered (Theatre), Mira Ball Productions, Tweedledee
2025 – The Boy From Oz (Musical), Beenleigh Theatre, Peter Allen
2024 – A Night with the Villains (Cabaret), Mira Ball Productions, Captain Hook
2024 – Head Over Heels (Musical), THAT Production Company & Mira Ball Productions, Ensemble
2024 – A Wild Party: The Musical (Musical), Brisbane Immersive Ensemble & Cunard Cruise Lines, Jackie
2024 – Cluedo! The Interactive Game (Theatre), Brisbane Immersive Ensemble & Cunard Cruise Lines, Professor Plum
2023 – A Wild Party: The Musical (Musical), Brisbane Immersive Ensemble, Jackie
2019 – Regent Seven Seas Navigator, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Production Cast Dancer
2019 – Wicked: The Musical (Musical), Matthew Ward Entertainment, Featured Dancer
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2016 - QUT, QUT Start, Deconstructing Dance in a History, Rachel Pedro
2017 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Architecture of the Body, Jenny Roche
2017 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), World Dance, Rachel Pedro
2017 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), People & Practices, Dr. Sarah Winter
2017 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Understanding Theatre, Dr. Caroline Heim
2017 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Choreographic Studies, Jenny Roche
2017 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Funk Tap & All That Jazz, Rachel Pedro
2017 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Making Connections, Dr. Sarah Winter
2017 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Performance Innovation, Sandra Gattenhof
2018 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Dance Composition, Dr. Steph Hutchison
2018 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Introduction to Screen Production, Dr. Phoebe Hart
2018 - QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), The Authentic Performer, Sally McKenzie
2018 - QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Socially Engaged Arts Practices, Sandra Gattenhof
2018 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Dance in Contemporary Culture, Dr. Elizabeth Old Gibbs
2018 - QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Screen Dance, Dr. Steph Hutchison
2018 - QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Gaps and Silences in Theatre, Shane Pike
2018 - QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Radical Theatre Forms, Nathan Sibthorpe
2018 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Project Management for Entertainment, Dr. Sarah Winter
2019 - QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Story & Performance, Shane Pike
2019 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), The Responsive Performer, Dr. Kathryn Kelly
2019 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Leadership Dynamics, Shane Pike
2019 – QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries (Double Major: Dance Studies & Drama), Introduction to Screenwriting, Tess Brading
2021 – University of Melbourne, Masters of Arts & Cultural Management, Applied Research Methods, Dr. Christiaan De Beukelaer
2021 – University of Melbourne, Masters of Arts & Cultural Management, Finance & Budgeting
2021 – University of Melbourne, Masters of Arts & Cultural Management, Principles of Arts Management, Dr. Kim Goodwin
2021 – University of Melbourne, Masters of Arts & Cultural Management, States and Governments, Anubha Sakar
2021 – University of Melbourne, Masters of Arts & Cultural Management, Audiences & The Arts, Dr. Louise Box
2021 – University of Melbourne, Masters of Arts & Cultural Management, Australian Theatre & Performance, Denise Varney
2021 – University of Melbourne, Masters of Arts & Cultural Management, Economics of Culture, Dr. Anita Archer
2021 – University of Melbourne, Masters of Arts & Cultural Management, Censorship: Film Art & Media, Alison Hornbury
2022 - University of Melbourne, Masters of Arts & Cultural Management, Marketing in the Arts, Ann Tonks
2022 - University of Melbourne, Masters of Arts & Cultural Management, Stakeholders & Fundraising, Ann Tonks
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Nominated for a Matilda Award 2024 as ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for their portrayal of ‘Captain Hook’ in A Night with the Villains by Mira Ball Productions.
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Freelance