When first embarking on a project such as a theatre company one has to weigh up the pros and cons carefully. My biggest concerns were... Is theatre a dying art? ...Are there too many independent theatre groups already, struggling for an audience in Sydney? And what do I know about starting up a business anyway?

My answer to these questions respectively were... "maybe", "probably", and "lets have a go anyway!"

Like all good actors I was on the dole and depressed at the time, when I heard about the NEIS scheme (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme). Keen to keep working in my chosen profession I applied, and was awarded a small business course.

With a theatre company that produces original, accessible theatre as my proposed ‘New Enterprise’ I was supported by the scheme and indeed by my fellow actors and friends and Urban Tales set sail at the beginning of 2000.

Five years on, 10 shows, 2 fundraisers, a short film and quite a few corporate training gigs under our belts we are definitely older and more wrinkly (mostly from laughing too much) but still together and lovin' it!