Lauren Jimmieson and Anthony Craig

In 2012 Lauren Jimmieson walked into rehearsals at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University and was ‘graced by the presence of a very tall, very funny young man', Anthony Craig.

Both larrikins with a love for musical theatre, Lauren and Anthony had just cemented a spot in the new Bachelor of Music course at Griffith. They formed a fast friendship which sparked into a romance just a few weeks into their studies.

‘We spent one entire year staring at each other from across the room in class, pretending it was necessary to always hang out after Uni for "piano practice" and sometimes holding hands but insisting we were only friends,’ Lauren reflects.

The pair were inseparable from the very beginning and supported each other through their degrees. Even with many wonderful theatre credits under their belts, their proudest achievement to date has been the one they’ve created together—Story Surprise.

During Covid, like so many others they had to pivot their careers.

‘What started as simple videos reading stories to entertain our nephews during lockdown quickly became Story Surprise; a series of quality, educational and endearingly quirky kids content.’

While the world was locked down Lauren and Anthony began expanding Story Surprise by collaborating with some of Australia’s most renowned children’s authors to bring their stories to life.

They put their own twist on favourite songs, stories, poems, and rhymes using music, comedy, arts and crafts, and imaginative play with a touch of goofy style to bring Story Surprise to life.

Before they knew it, Story Surprise also had its own podcast and interactive Zoom classes for children across the globe. Lauren and Anthony even started working with fellow Griffith alumni and established musical director Dominic Woodhead to write, record and release music for children.

‘Everything we create is done through a lens of inclusivity with a mission to ensure that no child ever feels left out or left behind.’

As lockdown lifted, Story Surprise was turned into a self-devised live show for families, which Lauren and Anthony have performed all around Victoria.

‘It was completely and utterly our work. Our music. Our script. Our costumes. Our set. We did it! We spend our careers working hard to fulfil other people’s vision, but this was completely and totally our own.’