A new show, healthy relationship and pride in who she is – life is good for Casey Donovan
It’s been 20 years since Casey Donovan burst onto our screens and she’s been through a lot in the decades since. Through it all, she ‘kept swimming’.
Confidential
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Casey Donovan is in her happy place. It’s been 20 years since the aspiring singer hit the spotlight and she’s been through the lowest of lows and highest of highs ever since – but she “kept swimming” – and today she is happier than she’s ever been.
A new show, a healthy relationship, pride in who she is – life is good.
“I’m in a very happy secure place in my life,” she tells Insider.
“I’ve done so much growing over the last 35, almost 36 years, and in the last 20 years growing up in the spotlight and on TV, and in magazines and having my life kind of sprawled across all the media outlets.
“It has taken me to find the love of my life and to kiss a few frogs – and go through a very big part of my life that was challenging – to find confidence and happiness within myself.”
Despite a new-found confidence, she still gets nervous before each show, with acclaimed new Michael Cassel production & Juliet no different. A “nervous wee”, jumping up and down and mentally getting into character are some of the veteran performer’s rituals before taking to the stage.
“Nerves are just part of the gig,” she says. “Over the last year I’ve been working very hard on my mental health and I’ve been seeing a lady named Perri Curtis who does some brain training. But I still get nervous. I settle myself (before going on stage). I’ve got a few little OCD routines that I do. It is just knowing that this is fun, we get to go out and entertain people for two and a half hours. That is the magic and beauty in musical theatre in that you are continuously finding little pockets of joy.”
Those pre-show routines are: “I go to the bathroom at a certain point. The very moment before I go on stage, I jump up and down and I kind of pat my chest and just get my body ready to run on stage – to run into the scene and be fresh. It is after I come back and do my mic check, I go and do my nervous wee and then get dressed because once I am in my outfit, I am not getting off that stage until about 30 minutes into the show.”
July marks 20 years since Australia first fell in love with Donovan as a then shy and awkward 16-year-old living her dream on the reality singing show Australian Idol. This scribe first met her as one of the top 10 contestant on season two, the year after Guy Sebastian was crowned winner over Shannon Noll. An unveiling event was held at Sydney’s King Street Wharf.
Donovan’s hair was dreadlocked and she wore all black clothes – long shorts with deep pockets, a baggy jumper and two different coloured Converse Chuck Taylor shoes (black and red). She carried a toy plastic spider and rat that was given to her as a good-luck charm by a friend. Ricki-Lee Coulter was in that cohort of rising stars as was Anthony Callea, who came second.
“I see someone that didn’t know what was going to happen,” she says, looking back at the whirlwind time. “I think I’ve carried that through life, someone that was vulnerable, who jumped in feet first and learnt to swim on the spot. I think I’ve kept swimming and I love that I’ve kept getting up.
“I was asked recently what my strength was and I have many strengths, the biggest one is getting up and putting one foot in front of the other.”
Donovan has experienced all of the feels over the past 20 years, high highs and low lows. One of the many reasons she has endeared herself to a loyal following is the fact she has never shied away from telling her truth and letting fans into her life, including detailing some of her toughest moments like being catfished by a stranger. She is happier today than ever before – professionally and personally – and is in a long-term relationship with partner Renee Sharples, a lecturer in paramedicine.
“You can’t rely on other people and you have to give that love back to yourself,” she continues. “Someone should only add to the joy and the happiness of your life. You shouldn’t have to wait to find that missing piece.
“And it took me many years – some people never realise that in their lifetime. It has taken me to find someone that brings so much joy and happiness, and adds much to my life and doesn’t hold love against me like it can be taken away. I think that’s the best thing that has made me feel safe and whole in the last few years through my partner Renee and also finding that inner confidence and joy on stage, and working with amazing humans and having great opportunities to be a part of such a show like & Juliet.
“And to know that through all of the challenges that have come before us – that those challenges have made great change in today’s world and has really opened up the playing field for more people to stand up and be proud, and stand there proud and be able to do our jobs.”
& Juliet is a coming-of-age jukebox musical that flips Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet on its head and explores what would have happened had Juliet not ended it over Romeo.
It is told to the music of modern pop songs like Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time, Katy Perry’s Roar, and the Backstreet Boys’ hit Larger Than Life. The production had its star-studded premier at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre on Thursday.
Juliet is played by Lorinda May Merrypor while Donovan is her “fun” aunt, Angelique.
“Angelique has raised Juliet and looked after her while the Capulet’s are gallivanting around the countryside. She’s that shoulder Juliet cried on, that aunt that has given her life lessons and all of the things to move forward. At the end of the day, she’s Juliet’s biggest fangirl but also the one that lets her stumble and fall for her to be able to stand up and learn about life, and learn that we do have to get up and keep going and lead with love and hope.”
Also in the production is Blake Appelqvist as Romeo, Hayden Tee as Lance and Rob Mills as Shakespeare.
& Juliet is anything but conventional Shakespeare. Donovan’s first foray into that space came in 2011, when she starred in the Belvoir Street Theatre production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It alongside Yael Stone, Alison Bell and Ashley Zukerman.
“This is a very modern take on Romeo and Juliet where Juliet plays the protagonist and gets to lead the story to find her love and find her feet. There are beautiful characters within the show that help that storyline – from Shakespeare to Romeo to May and to Frankie and also Lance. All of these side storylines build this beautiful stunning picture until at the end you can’t help but just jump to your feet,” Donovan says.
Donovan was able to sing in As You Like It. Otherwise, she felt very much out of her comfort zone. Taking chances is a recurring theme throughout Donovan’s career. Sometimes, though, she has to protect herself and her mental health, which can be hard considering she is one of the most recognisable names in the Aussie entertainment game.
“It is a blessing and a curse in some ways … you never know what anyone else is going through so if you lead with kindness … by smiling at someone or giving someone a few minutes of your time, that can change their life,” she says. “Although, I do need time and space to myself.
“When you leave the house, you are leaving that safety zone – you are putting on a little bit of armour to go out there and protect your emotions and your capacity.
“But you’re also being kind to people that come up to you and want a photo or just want to chat or just want a passing smile. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind.”
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