Directors

Richard Laidlaw – Company Director

Richard is a man of many talents, an Australian Silver medallist figure skater, singer, dancer and actor with these skills he toured internationally for his early years performing in a variety of shows from under the big top in a circus to ice shows, musical theatre, cabaret and the big casino shows working for world famous companies such as Disney, Warner Bros, Hollywood On Ice and many more.

Richard saw the need to create a company which specialized in producing and touring shows internationally to some of Asia and the Middle East’s largest showrooms, theatres, amusement parks and shopping malls; thus Essential Talent was born.

The company has gone through many transformations with the purchase of Actors Ink - actors agency and acting school, SA Freelancers – film crewing agency and the development of the Essential Talent Performance Academy an entertainment school teaching all disciplines.  

Richard is also an elite level figure skating coach training a team of skaters with state and national titles who compete at national, international and junior world championships.

Tony Carpenter – Entertainment School Director

Tony a hairdresser by trade and a former Australian Aerobics Champion, Tony excelled in all areas of dance.

Tony has toured Internationally with many shows and companies such as Disney and Warner Bros as a dancer, singer, actor before settling down to a career in production. Tony's first assosiation with Essential Talent was as a performer working a 6 month contract in a casino show in Korea. He continuing to become a valuable member of the production team and finally a director of the company.

Tony continues to perform in a variety of shows as well as teach stars of the future attending ETPAA the entertaiment school, however his real passion is creating and developing new and innovative entertainment for our corporate and international clients.

Roz Laidlaw - Agency Director

A veteran of the entertainment industry, Roz enjoyed a successful modelling and dancing career before moving into the agent business.

Roz has been priciple agent at Essential Talent since1985, during which time her business knowledge and passion for the industry has seen the company grow to become part of Interantional Spectaculars group of companies.  

Roz not only oversees a stable of over 300 talented performers but her expert knowledge gained from a lifetime in the business provides her clients with the confidence their event will come off without a hitch.