CGS Alumnus Joey Minogue Takes The Stage At The Mill Theatre

Ahead of his performance in Thom Pain (based on nothing) by Will Eno at The Mill Theatre, Canberra Grammar School asked alumnus Joey Minogue (CGS 2025) to reflect on his time at our School, his journey, and his upcoming show.

I was always aware that acting was a deep passion of mine from a very young age; however, it was through the many plays I performed in at the Tim Murray Theatre that I became certain this was the path I wished to pursue after school. I will always be forever grateful for the many theatrical opportunities I was given at CGS, which provided me with exposure in front of live audiences and the chance to work on nuanced and complex works such as Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, and even Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (where I played Norman Bates for my HSC final performance). My role as School Vice Captain also helped me develop confidence and vocal clarity when addressing the entire school in assemblies, placing me regularly in front of large crowds as well.

It can be very easy, as a young aspiring actor still in school, to rule out acting as an “unreasonable” or “unrealistic” profession. Moreover, this tendency to shy away from such an unconventional path is often heightened when seeing many of your peers directly translate their schooling into more academic pursuits, such as university. However, I can proudly say the opposite was true for me at CGS. The staff of the Performing Arts Department, as well as my other mentors at school, reinforced the validity of pursuing acting and allowed me to leave CGS not with fear, but with excitement and eagerness to continue. I was also encouraged to maintain a strong focus on my academic studies, where achieving an ATAR I was proud of did not directly determine my future path, but the skills I developed in discipline, study, and focus continue to support me greatly in my acting work today.

And I did just that. The moment I left my final HSC exam last year (which was, funnily enough, Drama), I was off to the races in chasing this dream I have always had and continue to have. Since leaving school, I have been actively seeking out every learning opportunity possible, including courses at NIDA and The Mill Theatre, while also building my portfolio and acting in short films in Canberra and Sydney. However, I found myself becoming somewhat stagnant and not getting as much acting practice as I would have liked, so I made the decision to create my own opportunities rather than wait for them to arrive.

I reached out to every theatre in Canberra, asking if I could put on a one-man show. At that point, I didn’t even have a show in mind, as I assumed I wouldn’t receive a single yes, given my limited experience and short resume. However, after many rejections, The Mill Theatre at Dairy Road responded with a yes. I then landed on the critically acclaimed one-man existential monologue, Thom Pain (based on nothing) by Will Eno.

I am currently being mentored and directed by the incredible Maddie Lee and Mark Lee, who have trained extensively in London and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. I am deeply grateful to be both producing and performing in this profound piece, which has taught me countless lessons about both the business side of theatre and the layers and complexities involved in crafting an emotionally rich performance. Importantly, I see this moment not as an endpoint in any sense, but as one small stepping stone in a much longer journey toward becoming an established actor. It has been incredibly meaningful to begin this work on home turf in Canberra, before hopefully relocating to Sydney later this year to access further opportunities and continue developing professionally.

The show runs for six nights and one matinee from 16–25 April at The Mill Theatre. I would love to reconnect with as many of the CGS community as possible and hope to see you there to experience this emotionally challenging and unique piece of theatre.

Joey Minogue (CGS 2025)