Natalie Belleli

Natalie’s life in the arts kicked off at just three years old when she first laced up her dance shoes. By the time she was eight, she was already a regular in the audience at musicals, starting a collection of theatre programs that she still treasures to this day. This early spark grew into a lifelong journey in the performing arts. As a teenager, Natalie really got stuck into her training at the famous Phillip Street Theatre in Martin Place. It was a bit of a golden era, she spent her time honing her craft alongside familiar Aussie faces like Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, and Julia Zemiro. During these early years, she was a constant face on TV, in films, and in plenty of stage shows, including classic children’s pantomimes. After finishing school, she headed straight into full-time drama school to make it official. Natalie eventually moved from the spotlight to behind the scenes, finding her true calling in leadership. In her early days, she worked as an Assistant Stage Manager on a huge range of shows at the Phillip Street Theatre. Then, in 1986, she founded Stars Talent Schools. For the last 40 years, she has been a mentor to young performers, teaching them the "triple threat" of dancing, singing, and acting. As the founder of South Eastern Musicals (S.E.M.), Natalie has worked incredibly hard to put on shows that go way beyond what people expect from local theatre. By 2019, she had successfully staged 15 productions, including the hit High School Musical 2. She has always believed in the power of an enthusiastic and talented group of performers, and she credits her work with them for expanding her own knowledge of what it means to perform. The year 2026 marks a massive achievement for Natalie: 40 years in the business. To celebrate four decades in the arts, she’s returning to what she loves most with a full-scale production of School of Rock. Natalie’s big dream has always been to produce professional-grade musicals that show off the incredible talent we have here in Australia. For her, nothing beats the joy of giving young performers a go on stage and watching their hard work and passion pay off.