Commedia Oz is designed to assist the interpretation and playing of Commedia in an Australian context and is a training manual for teachers, students, actors and directors.

Chapters cover the history and influence of Commedia; suggestions for modern interpretations; activities and exercises; the role of the director and the actor’s journal; training actors; an interview with Jacques Lecoq (the French Commedia actor/trainer); a professional script; and ideas for units of work and assessment. There is also a glossary and a reference section for further reading.

The authors became collaborators after Nicky was cast in Steven’s play, Stardust (the script of which is published in the book), which toured schools in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.