Azriel Halge’s father was born in the Kolar Gold Fields near Bangalore. She hasn’t been there yet, but it’s on top of her list. For now, the 21-year-old performer is bridging continents in another way, through art.
As Legally Blonde: The Musical opens for a limited season at St Kilda’s National Theatre on 12 July, Azriel steps into the role of Sundeep. The production, presented by independent company Theatrical Inc., is high-energy, pink-hued and packed with Harvard Law bravado.
But behind the glamour is a quieter moment worth noticing: an emerging Indian-Australian artist bringing her full self to the stage.
Azriel grew up in Gippsland and has just completed her Bachelor of Performing Arts at Federation University. Her role as Sundeep, described by the director as regal and confident, has been shaped through posture, presence and precision.
“You kind of walk like your nose is turned up at the world,” she tells The Indian Sun. “Chin up, shoulders back. That physicality helps me anchor the character.”
Theatre, for Azriel, has always been a place of discovery. “I’ve found a new way to love the person I am,” she says. “It took me a long time to feel comfortable in my own skin. But the theatre gave me that space.”
That space has also helped her reconnect with her heritage. “I’ve always felt a bit disconnected from my culture. But in theatre, you get to explore. I’ve been talking more with my dad about our background. That’s been special.”
Azriel’s journey hasn’t followed a straight line. She’s written songs, performed in local and international productions, and held her own in roles that stretch from CRUSH: The Musical to The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Her turn as Sister Mary Lazarus in Sister Act Jr gave her the clarity she needed. “It was the moment I realised this could be more than a hobby. I loved every minute of it.”
Last year, she performed in New York with support from Class Act Production, a theatre company based in Gippsland. “It honestly felt like a dream. I never thought I’d get that chance. Watching professionals work, being in that environment shifts your perspective.”
But it’s community theatre that continues to shape her. “This rehearsal process has been intense,” she says. “Short, sharp, and full-on. You have to show up ready. But that’s where the growth happens.”
She’s not just showing up, she’s writing, too. “When words aren’t enough, that’s when songs happen. That’s how it works in musicals, and that’s how it works for me in life. I’ve got a lot I want to say, and one day I want to have my own show. That’s the goal.”
On representation, Azriel’ says, “Growing up, I didn’t see many people who looked like me. And when I did, they were often stereotypes. Casting people of the right background means those roles can be played more truthfully, not filtered through someone else’s imagination.”
Her advice for young artists from diverse backgrounds is plainspoken. “Don’t wait. Teach yourself, take classes, audition for anything. You’ll learn so much from just putting yourself out there. And find people who lift you up.”
Legally Blonde: The Musical opens on 12 July at The National Theatre, St Kilda
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