Some graduates wait for their big break. Others decide to create one.

For JMC acting graduates Izzy Azzopardi and Jess Garnett, that meant forming their own company, Jezebel Productions, and launching headfirst onto the stage with their original production Traffic Light Party. This debut, written by Izzy, won Best of the Festival at the Sydney Fringe Festival and nominated for the prestigious Katie Lees Fellowship (an award that empowers and celebrates the talents and creativity of young women in theatre!).

It was a bold, ambitious move that proves what’s possible when you take the leap from classroom to industry with both feet planted firmly in creative resilience. Here’s the story so far…

Izzy and Jess graduated from JMC in 2023, stepping into an industry that was still finding its feet after lockdown delays. Instead of waiting around for opportunities, they made their own, embodying the skills learned during their studies. Entrepreneurship is a core element of JMC's acting degrees, taught through dedicated units and real-world projects. Students learn how to back themselves, build opportunities, and graduate with the skills and mindsets to make a mark.

“We felt empowered to create opportunities for ourselves. Auditions don’t always go your way, and there’s so much you can’t control in this industry. But Jezebel meant we could take back some of that control and just do it,” says Izzy.

Jezebel Productions started as a whisper between friends… a “what if” that quickly turned into a mission. Their aim? To tell provocative stories that spark conversations, centering female voices and experiences.

Both grads credit their studies for instilling the mindset and aptitude to push forward.

Jess explains “a lot of what we learnt at JMC was about getting your face out there and making yourself known. If no one else is doing it for you, you do it yourself. That stayed with us: Give it a red-hot go.” 

Whilst their training was focused on acting, stepping into producing meant learning on the fly. From funding applications and marketing to navigating rehearsal schedules across time zones whilst Jess was abroad in New York. “It felt like a full-time job,” they admit, “but one we loved every minute of.”

The process of founding a production company and putting on a debut show wasn’t without its challenges. Jess juggled rehearsals while studying at Stella Adler in New York, and Izzy shouldered much of the day-to-day production load. But rather than hold them back, these hurdles became fuel. 

“Creative resilience is about keeping the momentum going, even in small ways” says Jess. “Whether it’s designing Canva posts or organising late-night calls across time zones, those little bits add up. They keep the fire alive.”

And the fire is spreading. The cast of Traffic Light Party included several JMC alumni, showing the strength of a creative community that extends beyond graduation.

Reflecting on their journey, Izzy and Jess are clear on what they’d tell current students preparing to step into industry life:

• Go all in.“If you’re going to do it, do it with your full chest. Half measures won’t cut through.”

• Take initiative.“Opportunities won’t always land in your lap. Put yourself out there, be seen, and be persistent.”

• Stay curious. “Keep learning, keep watching theatre, keep living life. Your experiences will feed your art.”

For Izzy and Jess, Traffic Light Party is just the beginning of their creative journey. Their future projects will continue to push boundaries, amplify women’s stories, and ignite conversations that extend beyond the theatre doors. As Izzy puts it, “we don’t just want people to watch a show and move on. We want to provoke, to resonate socially, and to keep people talking long after the curtain falls.”

“We want people to talk before, during, and after” adds Jess. “That’s when you know a story has done its job.”