Press Coverage
PRESS HIGHLIGHTS
Sally has been interviewed numerous times in various national and international publications, radio shows, podcasts and other forums about her work as an actor, writer and director.
Previous interviews and press coverage of her work have appeared in places such as BBC Radio 3, The Guardian Newspaper, FilmInk, IF Magazine, The Age Newspaper, ABC 774 Radio, ABC Radio National and 3RRR, as well as several international podcasts.
Where the article is no longer available online, the link will go to the archived version on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine or simply state that the item is no longer live online.
Here is a selection of press articles about Sally and her work to date.
PHOTO: Billy Smedley, Tim McCormick, Michala Banas, Sally McLean, Shaun Herbertson and Thanassi Panagiotaras at the St Kilda Film Festival Opening Night, representing their short film Speaking Daggers. Photo by Sam Tabone.
SALLY MCLEAN! The ultimate celebrated Female Filmmaker, PUSH – November 2025
Episode of documentary series “Push”, hosted by Caris Vujcec, featuring Sally discussing filmmaking, her career to date and more.
WATCH EPISODE
Dark Arcadia and the wider Shakespeare Republic universe – April 2025
Article by Sally about the behind the scenes of working on Dark Arcadia, written for the British Shakespeare Association
READ ARTICLE
8 Questions with Ep 544 … actress-director Sally McLean (Dark Arcadia) – February 2025
Interview with Sally about working in film and TV in Australia and her latest project, Dark Arcadia.
WATCH INTERVIEW
Bilbao Seriesland 2024 – Part 2: Communities – November 2024
Review of Sally’s limited series as Creator/Director and lead actor, Dark Arcadia, which was selected for the line up for Bilbao Seriesland (in Spanish)
READ REVIEW
“a fish is a terrible friend” review – March 2024
Dark Stories review of Incognita Enterprises’ second play reading of 2024 – “a fish is a terrible friend” by Phoebe Anne Taylor, read by Sarah Hallam, Paul Rochford and Sally McLean as part of the Incognita @ Montsalvat Performing Arts Program (archived via Wayback Machine)
READ REVIEW
Incognita Enterprises featured in Broadway World – January 2024
Article about the Incognita@Montsalvat Performing Arts Program launch and the play reading of Sally’s WW2 play, ‘Til The Boys Come Home.
READ ARTICLE
Article about the upcoming launch for the Incognita@Montsalvat Performing Arts Program headed by Sally as Artistic Director.
READ ARTICLE
Celebrating Shakespeare with Sally McLean – April 2023
Sally chats all things Shakespeare during his birthday week with My88FM Breakfast presenter Wayne Tunks
HEAR INTERVIEW
Review of Walking Shadows Vol. 1 for British Shakespeare Association (UK) – July 2022
A lovely review of Sally’s new series Walking Shadows Vol. 1 for the British Shakespeare Association by Benjamin Broadribb (The Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham)
READ REVIEW
Sally talks all things Shakespeare Republic and web series on the ViewFinder Podcast (USA) – December 2021
In-depth interview with Sally about her work as creator, director and ensemble member of Shakespeare Republic on the industry podcast The Viewfinder Podcast with Chris Hadley
HEAR INTERVIEW
Review of Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (USA) – August 2021
An unexpected and lovely review of Shakespeare Republic Season Three in Starry Mag (USA) as part of their Web Series Wednesday feature series
READ ARTICLE
Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles) (review) – July 2021
In-depth review of Shakespeare Republic Season Three – #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles) for the Shakespeare Bulletin (USA)
READ REVIEW
Sally talks all things Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage on the No Rest For The Weekend Podcast (USA) – May 2021
In-depth interview with Sally about her work as creator, director and ensemble member of Shakespeare Republic on the industry podcast No Rest For The Weekend in NYC
WATCH INTERVIEW
Sally talks all things Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage with the Director of the Unrestricted View Film Festival (UK) – April 2021
In-depth interview with Sally about her work as a director and actor, as well as her work with Shakespeare Republic with James Wren, UVFF Festival Director. Sally was nominated for Best Actress and Best Director at the festival, going on to win the Best Actress Award.
WATCH INTERVIEW
Review of Shakespeare Republic – February 2021
In-depth review and academic analysis of Sally’s work as creator/director of Shakespeare Republic in the academic journal Borrowers and Lenders: The Journal of Shakespeare and Appropriation
READ ARTICLE
Online theatre emerges from the wings – January 2021
Interview with Sally Sally McLean in The Age about filming Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles), alongside fellow interviewees Nicola Tyndale-Biscoe (writer/director) and Professor Stacy Holman Jones of Monash Centre for Theatre and Performance in this article about the new age of online theatre
READ ARTICLE
Sally McLean Talks All Things Shakespeare And Republic On The Bard Brunch Podcast Out Of NYC – January 2021
Interview with Sally on the Bard Brunch podcast with Genny Yosco about filming Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles)
WATCH INTERVIEW
Sally McLean talks Shakespeare Republic on ABC Melbourne Radio – December 2020
Interview with Sally on ABC Radio program, Saturday Afternoon with Shelley Ware about filming Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles) and the series’ win for Best Web Series of All Genres at the 2020 Asia Web Awards.
HEAR INTERVIEW
Aussie Shakespeare series wins big internationally – December 2020
Article & interview with Sally in FilmInk about the new season of her web series – Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles) winning Best International Series and her winning Best Director at the 2020 New York City Web Fest.
READ ARTICLE
2020 NYC Web Fest Announces Line-Up & Award Nominees Ahead of Virtual Festival – October 2020
Article in Celebmix.com about the 2020 New York City Web Fest and announcement of award nominees, including mentions of Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles) nominations for Best Original Concept, Best International Web Series and Sally’s nomination for Best Director
READ ARTICLE
Creating, directing and adapting a series over Zoom – September 2020
Interview with Sally in Mornington Peninsula Magazine about making the new season of her web series – Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles)
READ ARTICLE
Sally McLean on Shakespeare in a pandemic – August 2020
In-depth interview with Sally in Limelight Magazine about the making of her new series – Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles)
READ INTERVIEW
Melbourne Shakespeare Digital Series Filmed On Three Continents And In Lockdown – August 2020
Article & short interview with Sally on Theatre People about the new season of her web series – Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles) (archived on the Wayback Machine)
READ ARTICLE
Award-winning Shakespeare Series Premieres Season Filmed On Three Continents Entirely In Lockdown – August 2020
Article & short interview with Sally on BroadwayWorld.com about the new season of her web series – Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles)
READ ARTICLE
Award-winning director Sally McLean premieres new digital series filmed on three continents in lockdown – August 2020
Article & short interview with Sally on AussieTheatre.com about the new season of her web series – Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles)
READ ARTICLE
Article on Filmink about the new season – Shakespeare Republic: #AllTheWebsAStage (The Lockdown Chronicles)
READ INTERVIEW
Meet Sally McLean, the award-winning actress, screenwriter, director and playwright with a passion for Shakespeare | Melbourne WebFest Advisory Board – June 2020
Announcement about Sally joining the MWF Advisory Board with an interview with Sally about her take on web series (archived on the Wayback Machine).
READ ARTICLE
BIG WONDER PODCAST – Episode #18 Sally McLean – February 2020
In-depth interview with Sally about organising Shorts Relief: Flicks For The Fires film festival fundraiser at The Capitol Theatre, Melbourne, as well as her career as an actor, writer and director in Australia & the UK.
HEAR INTERVIEW
Shorts film festival for bushfire relief announced at Capitol Theatre – FilmInk – February 2020
Announcement of Shorts Relief: Flicks For The Fires film festival fundraiser organised by Sally at The Capitol Theatre, Melbourne.
READ ARTICLE
Shorts film festival for bushfire relief announced at Capitol Theatre – Toorak Times – February 2020
Announcement of Shorts Relief: Flicks For The Fires film festival fundraiser organised by Sally at The Capitol Theatre, Melbourne.
READ ARTICLE
How Do You Do You? Sally McLean – November 2018
In depth interview on podcast “How Do You Do You?” with Sally with a focus on her creative processes as actor/director
HEAR INTERVIEW
Sally McLean: All The World’s A Stage – October 2018
Feature interview on FilmInk with Sally focusing on her career to date as actor, writer & director
READ ARTICLE
OffBeat Interview with Sally McLean – September 2018
Interview on “Offbeat” TV talk show with Sally about her work with Shakespeare Republic.
“Speaking Daggers”, showcases crème of Aussie talent, screens at NIFF – July 2018
Article in IndieActivity.com about Speaking Daggers’ selection at the 2018 Noosa International Film Festival and updates on Shakespeare Republic (Archived)
READ ARTICLE
Talking Shakespeare with Sally McLean – April 2018
Interview with Sally by Catherine Hallam at Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia, discussing Shakespeare and Sally’s return to teaching Shakespeare at the studio
READ ARTICLE
Interview with Shakespeare Republic creator/director, Sally McLean – April 2018
In-depth interview with Sally about her life, career and work with Shakespeare on screen with the fabulous Vaishnavi Sundar at Women Making Films
READ ARTICLE
Or So the Web Series Go(es): Women in Web Series Shout-Out #1 (Sally McLean) – December 2017
Article in Stareable (USA) about Shakespeare Republic and creator/director, Sally McLean as the first featured female content creator in this new series of articles about the web series world (Archived)
READ ARTICLE
The Act Of Storytelling: Ch02.Podcast05 Sally McLean – November 2017
Nick and Lauren discuss ‘holding the line’, creating space and being present before turning their attention to a great conversation, and a lot of laughter, with actress, producer, writer, Shakespeare Republic creator and Melbourne WebFest General Manager, Sally McLean.
HEAR INTERVIEW
SYN FM Interview – Sally McLean & Christopher Kirby – September 2017
Interview with Sally and Chris on ArtSmitten about Shakespeare, the Republic and working together in web series
HEAR INTERVIEW
3RRR FM Radio Interview – A Room With A View – September 2017
Interview with Sally on A Room With A View about Shakespeare, independent filmmaking and webseries.
HEAR INTERVIEW
Australian Shakespeare web series wins top screen award in USA – September 2017
Article with interview with Sally McLean about Shakespeare Republic’s CINE Golden Eagle Award win in the USA
READ ARTICLE
“Don’t Be Afraid Of It” — Sally McLean, Shakespeare Republic – August 2017
Interview with Sally McLean on podcast ShakenBake in the USA (no longer available online)
Shakespeare Republic – August 2017
Article in the Melbourne Observer by Cheryl Threadgold about Shakespeare Republic’s recent win at the CINE Golden Eagle Awards in the USA (Page 39)
READ ARTICLE
Sally McLean talks to DWF about Shakespeare Republic! – August 2017
Interview with Republic Creator/Director about what Shakespeare Republic has been up to since our official selection and nomination for Best Actress (Comedy) for Michala Banas for Season One at Dublin Web Fest (archived on Wayback Machine)
READ INTERVIEW
From The Katering Show to Fighting Isis: eight of the best Australian web series – July 2017
The Guardian’s list of the Top 8 Australian web series worth the watch with reviews, with Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard (Season Two) at Number 3 (although TV & Film critic, Luke Buckmaster, who compiled the list did go to pains to point out that the series’ were listed in no particular order).
READ ARTICLE
Shakespeare Republic: breaking it down for Melbourne Web Fest – June 2017
Interview with Sally for Scenestr Magazine about Shakespeare Republic and the series official selection and Best Australian Drama nomination for Melbourne Web Fest
READ ARTICLE
2017 Official Selection: Shakespeare Republic: #LoveTheBard (AUS) – June 2017
Interview with Sally about the inspiration behind Shakespeare Republic, the challenges faced when making Season Two and thoughts on web series creation in general (archived on Wayback Machine)
READ ARTICLE
Shakespeare Republic Series (Review) – June 2017
In-depth and very complimentary review of both Seasons of Shakespeare Republic from “Books By The Window” in the UK
READ ARTICLE
Will social TV ever be a success? – February 2017
Interview with Tim Gibbon of Elemental Communications, Paul Telegdy of NBC Entertainment and Sally in her role as Creator/Director of Shakespeare Republic about the success web series are having with disrupting traditional media outlets. (archived via Wayback Machine)
READ ARTICLE
BOOK, STAGE AND SCREEN – February 2017
In-depth interview with Director, Sally McLean and Executive Producer, Billy Smedley about Shakespeare Republic, Season Two
HEAR INTERVIEW
Sally McLean on the impact of video – February 2017
Interview Sally about the importance of a good video pitch when fundraising for creative projects
READ ARTICLE
Article about Shakespeare Republic which mentions Sally and her work as actor/director.
READ ARTICLE
MELBOURNE WEB FEST: 2016 OFFICIAL SELECTION: SHAKESPEARE REPUBLIC (AUS) – June 2016
Interview with Director Sally McLean about Shakespeare Republic Season One and her obsession with Shakespeare (archived via Wayback Machine)
READ ARTICLE
We Are Moving Stories – Champion: To build one, you have to be one – May, 2016
In-depth interview with Director, Sally McLean, about her documentary Champion which tells the life story of Franz Stampfl.
READ ARTICLE
We Are Moving Stories – Shakespeare Republic – April, 2016
In-depth interview with Director, Sally McLean, about Shakespeare Republic Season One and what the future holds for Shakespeare Republic in 2016.
READ ARTICLE
Art Smitten – Radio SYN FM (Australia) – October 2015
Interview with Sally about her new series Shakespeare Republic.
HEAR INTERVIEW
KURIOSITAS.COM – October 25, 2015
A short and sweet review of Ben Steel’s episode of Shakespeare Republic, directed by Sally, on video review site Kuriositas.com in the UK.
READ ARTICLE
Neighbours News – Tenplay – September 4, 2015
A short article and interview with photos from Neighbours about Alan Fletcher’s work in Shakespeare Republic and his friendship with Sally that led to his involvement in her work (archived via the Wayback Machine)
READ ARTICLE
Australia’s Shakespeare – The Shakespeare Blog – September 1, 2015
An article about Shakespeare being alive and well in Australia, with mentions of Bell Shakespeare and Sally’s work with Shakespeare Republic, among others, from the blog of Sylvia Morris, former Librarian at the Shakespeare Centre Library in Stratford-upon-Avon (responsible for the RSC’s Archives).
READ ARTICLE
JOY 94.9FM “Escape Pod” Program (Australia) – February 2015
Interview with Sally about her documentary, Champion, and her filming in Australia, the UK, Ireland and Europe for the film.
HEAR INTERVIEW
ABC Radio774 “Overnights” Program (Australia) – August 2014
Interview with Sally about her documentary, Champion, and story of Franz Stampfl that inspired it.
HEAR INTERVIEW
BBC Radio 3 “Free Thinking” Program (UK) – May 2014
Leading artists, writers, thinkers discuss the ideas shaping our lives & links between past & present and new academic research. Interview with Sally about her documentary, Champion, and story of Franz Stampfl’s work with Roger Bannister to mark the anniversary of the breaking of the Four Minute Mile.
HEAR INTERVIEW
Documentary profiles an unsung hero, IF Magazine – July 2013
An article about Sally writing and directing her documentary about Franz Stampfl, discussing the fundraising and the work done so far.
READ ARTICLE
South Yarra actor to star in controversial play with a fiery theme – February 2015
Interview with Sally about playing “Val” in new Australian drama “Flame Trees”.