Actress, director, and playwright, Emma Skalicky recently had her work staged in Sydney, published an anthology, and is currently directing Picnic at Hanging Rock for Bad Company Theatre.

What do you love about the suburb you live in?

I live in Sandy Bay. I like the cute houses and the proximity to university. And there are great cafes nearby.

What’s the best thing about Hobart?

The community! Particularly the tight-knittedness of the arts community. I also just really love how beautiful Hobart is – we are surrounded by this valley of bushland, we’ve got the river, the heritage architecture and kunanyi is right there!

And the worst?

Look, the infrastructure might need a slight boost. Parking is a bit of nightmare sometimes and peak hour traffic is a real adventure!

Tell us a little about your work?

I’m very passionate about working with young people and providing them with groundwork and opportunities for entering into the arts – setting a precedent for respect and boundaries. I love scripts where I can elevate the voices of women and gender diverse people, like taking on a classic story with an unexpected angle. I’ve definitely found this for Faustus and Eurydice, plus I’m doing Picnic at Hanging Rock, writing a play about Medusa, and planning productions of Salome and Medea. Definitely a pattern!

Where’s your favourite eatery?

Probably Bury Me Standing. They’re super friendly, they’ve got amazing bagels, and great wall art.

Drink of choice and where do you head for it?

Coffee, Latte, Villino. Or a Fast Eddie from Yellow Bernard.

Guilty pleasure?

Colour coordinating my make-up to my outfits. And I have to pat every dog I see on the streets. Or cat for that matter.

What do you never leave home without?

A tote bag filled with writer’s notebooks. I have so many writer’s notebooks – for theatre, for university, for playwriting, for art…

When there’s nothing to do, I…

Watch vines on youtube (ha-ha), walk along the Hobart Rivulet, have coffee in town. I’m trying to read as many Stephen King novels as I can. Also I don’t have spare time.

Favourite Hobart secret?

It’s Cracked and Spineless. I love a good independent bookstore.

What do you love doing outside work?

Seeing shows. Brainstorming with my friends about future projects. No rest for the wicked, you know.

Quote to live by?

“May I write words more naked than flesh, stronger than bone, more resilient than sinew, sensitive than nerve.” Sappho, the bae. ■