Akina Edmonds is a Kiwi-born, Music Theatre performer and screen actress. Seen on screen in The Voice, Home and Away and The Newsreader. Seen onstage in Hamilton, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Lion King, Hairspray, Avenue Q, Sister Act and much more. Gracing stages internationally and screens in NZ and Australia.
What is your favourite thing about acting and performing?
My favourite this about acting and performing is connection. Connection to every and any facet of humanity and the human spirit through art and other characters. The bonus is being able to do it through different modes of expression, whether it’s words, no words, body and sound/singing/music. Very lucky indeed.
Who are your biggest inspirations and influences as an actor?
My biggest inspirations and influencers as an actors are Taika Waititi, Cliff Curtis, Angelina Jolie, Whitney Houston, Tilda Swinton, Viola Davis and Audra McDonald and most favourite, my love – Trey Curtis. The list goes on but for the sake of writing space, I’ll leave it here :)
What was the audition process like for Cleopatra & Antony?
The audition process. Ha! You might need to talk to [director] Sonya Suares for more insight into that. All I can tell you is she came to watch a reading I was in and she told me that’s when she knew I’d have to play her Cleo. These moments I never take lightly. She saw it and had that moment of oh yes. So she called and we spoke and did a little Shakespeare, and the rest is well, present and history :).
Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s production of Cleopatra & Antony puts Cleopatra at the centre of Shakespeare’s story. What changes can the audience expect to see in this production compared to a more faithful rendition of Shakespeare’s play?
You can expect to see Shakespeare being honoured and accessible. Incredible U-bends that help shave a three-hour play into a 90-100-minute play. Famous monologues in different places, some even on different voices. You can expect to see an insight into flipping the narrative about Cleo and beautiful inserts that help follow it a very gorgeous way.
What has the process been like bringing the character of Cleopatra to life in Cleopatra & Antony?
It’s been equal parts a personal one and collaborative.
To bring her to life I first had to get past the imposter syndrome of being in a room full of Shakespeare. Had to do that quick. Then once I got the understanding of what she’s saying (and others) in a way I could understand, then it was about going about the given circumstances and making them very real and the relationships very real. Staying out of the intellectual enough for that to happen and jumping back in when things went a little 🤪
Then making sure that this is then playable for me and then actionable with each scene partner/s. Also knowing she was/is a real being, helps with the stakes of what it is to lead an empire, lead as a woman. The disdain/fear towards women leaders is still very real. Knowing that she had to do all this whilst watching over her shoulder every millisecond, is insane. So her survival instincts on top of her leading capacity and her intellect coupled with intuition, was I’m sure a lot to be afraid of. Which also makes her powerful. Which is why the narrative has been or is what it is. My job, was and is to bring that to life as much as I can.
This is your Shakespeare debut. Given you have a strong background in musical theatre, including performing in shows like Hamilton, The Lion King and Hairspray, is there anything from your musical theatre repertoire that you will bring to your performance of Shakespeare?
This is my Shakespeare debut and what a piece to do it in!!! Sheesh! I will be bringing my musicality along with me. This language is so much about the music. My voice, I’ll be bringing. The range that Shakespeare requires is very deceptive so using all parts of my voice to bring you as much truth and life into this character as I possibly can. Giving each night the energy of it being the first night and only night.
What’s on your creative bucket list?
Well now, more Shakespeare! :) Film – to be in film and create film. To write. Anything and everything. Share creativity with those who have less access than I do. Create more access than I currently do, to rooms and spaces that still have invisible gates. All through the heart of art.
What have you been reading/watching/listening and loving lately?
To be honest, not much at the moment. Just rest and all things Cleo. Loving Rosalía’s album Luxe. That’s my Cleo album. I never really did the playlist thing but I got asked my playlist and this came to mind straight away! I’m listening to The Power of Now by Exhart Tolle audiobook while on the tram.
What would you like to see more of in Melbourne theatre?
I think it’s currently happening which is so cool and inspiring. Which is stories of today. People just writing and collaborating to the real stories out there. It’s clear people have had enough of seeing and hearing the same stories and instead of just being mad, that fire – has led them to doing something about it, and that’s hot.
Akina is performing as Cleopatra in Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s production of Cleopatra & Antony at fortyfivedownstairs until 13 September 2026.
You can follow Akina @akina__xx and Melbourne Shakespeare Company @melbourneshakespeare on Instagram.