OUR FACILITATORS
NICK GELL
Founder & Facilitator
Nick is an actor, narrator, musician, drama educator and founder of The Place. A NIDA graduate, Nick has worked continuously as a performer since graduating, across television and stage - most recently as narrator on a natural history series for SBS and Sky Nature UK. He played Konstantin in The Seagull for Queensland Theatre Company and has performed with the Australian Shakespeare Company across Sydney, including many years in Wind of the Willows at the Sydney Botanical Gardens, and with Poetry in Action in schools. He is a musician and MC who regularly hosts events for Inner West Council and various creative arts organisations across the country. Alongside his performance work, Nick has taught drama and related subjects for over a decade - at NIDA Open, SCECGS Redlands and Darlinghurst and Burwood Girls’ High School. He holds a current WWCC.
KALA ELLIS
Founder & Facilitator
Kala is a screenwriter, director, producer and founder of The Place. With over twenty years experience across scripted comedy, drama, factual and children’s television, Kala has written for Australian and international broadcasters including the ABC, BBC, Paramount+ and Channel 4. She is the creator and AWGIE Award-winning writer of Spreadsheet (Channel 4) and has worked with a wide range of directors, producers and broadcasters across genres. She recently collaborated with director Nash Edgerton, writing a short film ‘Party Tricks’ which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in 2026. She currently has a feature and two television series in active development, and works full-time as a Producer in Australian screen. She has guest tutored in Screenwriting at AFTRS.