INVESTING IN NEW TALENT A partnership with the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

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1 Western Australian INVESTING IN NEW TALENT A partnership with the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts Hugh Jackman, Nicola Forrest and Andrew Forrest at the launch of their philanthropic investment in WAAPA. Photo credit: Alana Bloomfield. In May 2014 the Minderoo Foundation made a $1 million commitment over four years to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). The purpose of the investment was to enhance and enrich the learning experience for WAAPA students through additional opportunities such as visiting international artists and masterclasses. WAAPA is recognised nationally and internationally for the quality of its graduates. Operating at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia, WAAPA provides the most comprehensive range of performing arts training in Australia. WAAPA graduates include Hugh Jackman, Frances O Connor, Marcus Graham, William McInnes, Lisa McCune, Lucy Durack, Rachelle Durkin, Emma Matthews, Jamie Oehlers, Eddie Perfect and Tim Minchin. Minderoo s support for the arts is focused on nurturing new talent so that Australia continues to build its creative reputation. During 2015, in collaboration with the Jackman Furness Foundation for the Performing Arts, Minderoo s support enabled 12 unique enrichment opportunities for WAAPA students. This included opportunities across the acting, music, Aboriginal theatre, production, and dance streams. Funded projects involved visiting artists, internships and an overseas exhibition. Minderoo and WAAPA are excited to continue their partnership in 2016 with a focus on the Acting Department to continue enabling new opportunities to enrich the student experience and promote WAAPA in new networks.

2 Acting Studying Acting at WAAPA is an inspiring and all-consuming experience. The Acting course provides graduates with the skills and experience required to engage in professional theatre practice and contemporary screen work. Through Minderoo s funding, WAAPA invited acclaimed director and movement teacher Lorna Marshall, Irish theatre director Patrick Sutton, and Los Angeles-based acting teacher Stephanie Feury to work across the Acting. Lorna, Patrick and Stephanie led projects that provided an insight into creating content, working in unfamiliar public spaces, the opportunity to mount classic international works, and intensive masterclasses to hone skills and dissect self-identity. Both student and staff feedback was overwhelming with each of the opportunities providing new and challenging insights to their individual training. Opportunities for internships were also identified and each of the visiting artists recognised the calibre, commitment and drive of WAAPA students. Students rehearsing Hidden Traces directed by Lorna Marshall. Photo credit: WAAPA. In the few hours we had with Feury, which felt more like minutes, she managed to impart successful warm up / drop in and script analysis techniques. I found the experience one of very high value. WAAPA student. Students performing A Playboy of the Western World directed by Patrick Sutton. Photo credit: Jon Green.

3 Music With comprehensive programs in classical music, jazz, composition and music technology, musicology, contemporary music, theory and music education, WAAPA is a dynamic and stimulating environment in which to study music. Minderoo provided matched funding to enable WAAPA to hold the second annual International Art Song Academy in June and July Master teachers included pianist Graham Johnson and voice teacher Mary King who ran a weeklong series of master classes. The Academy is the only event of its kind in Australia and brings together world class singers and pianists. Nine WAAPA singers, one pianist and eight staff participated in the event and 285 people viewed the masterclasses. The week culminated in a Showcase and Gala Concert with mentoring by both Johnson and King. Matt Styles, WAAPA Music Lecturer, was able to invite Rob Buckland, Deputy Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion and Director of Saxophone Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, to travel to Perth in August of 2015 to participate as a visiting artist. The centrepiece of his residency was the Massed Saxophone project (the 3rd at WAAPA) which brought together over 80 saxophonists from across Western Australia and South Australia. A performance was also held for Minderoo and JFFPA supporters providing students with the opportunity to perform in a different capacity. Buckland used his time to share his experiences as one of the world s leading saxophone performers as well as a recording producer, entrepreneur, orchestral soloist, composer and arranger. This included students across the WAAPA music stream such as jazz, contemporary and classical. Further exchanges between WAAPA and the RNCM are anticipated. From the first hour the saxophone students spent working with Rob, we began to think differently. He motivated and challenged us and by the last day it was impossible to not have a new perspective on our lives as musicians. Rob Buckland was the perfect choice as visiting artist for a group of students at the very beginning of their musical careers. Rob s visit functioned not as a means to move WAAPA saxophone students out of their isolated city, but as an invitation to establish ourselves as a renowned musical community, unique in our own right. If these international collaborations and relationships are continued, WAAPA can continue to establish itself as an internationally renowned institution. WAAPA student. Rob Buckland and WAAPA lecturer Matt Styles performing with WAAPA music students. Photo Credit: WAAPA. Thanks to your wonderful organisation, International Art Song Academy had a spirit of warmth and positivity that contributed grealy to the experience. I cannot thank you enough for bringing these world-class teachers to Australia and providing us with such an inspirational opportunity. Participant pianist.

4 Production WAAPA s Production and Design programs prepare students in a range of interpretive and technical theatre disciplines through teaching methods designed to recognise and refine the skills and potential of each individual. Minderoo supported three unique opportunities to enrich the WAAPA production course which included visiting artist Mark Howett, participation in an overseas exhibition and scholarships for internships at the American Repertory Theatre (ART), Harvard University. Mark Howett worked with 40 students undertaking the WAAPA lighting course along with those in Design, Costume and Stage Management. Mark designed the lighting for A Midsummer Night s Dream and Flourish and his input has enhanced planning for the ongoing inclusion of visual media in live productions. The Prague Quadrennial Tribes Project was the 13th edition of the event dedicated to performance design and space. Eighteen WAAPA Design and Costume students exhibited five design concepts within the 74 tribes exhibited by students from 56 other countries. The experience was pivotal for the students and two even gained secondments to follow the Exhibition to the UK and work with the Tower Theatre Company in London. Three students were involved in the ART internships and had the opportunity to work on box office breaking production Finding Neverland in various capacities Our international affairs continued onto London, England, where we completed our secondment. Our host was the Tower Theatre Company and their production of Time and the Conway s, held at the Gatehouse Theatre in Highgate. Working together with members of the Company, a smooth and efficient bump in was followed by a successful week of Performances. Our backstage experience enhances our understanding and knowledge of the production and design elements of the show. It also offered an insight into how small theatre companies operate differently to WAAPA. Our involvement with this Company has led to acquiring international contacts for future endeavors. WAAPA student Design and costume students exhibiting their design in Prague. Photo credit: WAAPA. This [ART internship] has quite confidently been the most important step in my professional career as a sound engineer and hopeful designer, because I not only learnt what it took to be a part of the top of the industry, but also that it s achievable. WAAPA student. Mark has taught us things that you couldn t find in a book and that are endlessly useful. Working with Mark is very educational as you experience things hands on that can t be taught in a classroom. Like how to talk with and collaborate with other designers, and how to converse with a director. Mark has taught us more about design in a single year than we could learn in three in the industry. WAAPA student.

5 Dance WAAPA s Dance department prepares classical and contemporary artists of international standing through teaching methods designed to develop and refine the skills of each individual. Minderoo s funding brought Dutch choreographer Nils Christine and his wife Annegein Sneep to WAAPA to work with dance students. Nils work SYNC was remounted by the students with classes also taught on production, set design, lighting and costume design. Two staff members assisted closely in the rehearsal process, providing an enriching professional development opportunity. Nils choreography had not been performed in WA and the set design presented new challenges for the students in terms of design and construction. Working with Nils and Annegien was the most rewarding and beneficial experience I have had as a dance student. The professionalism they displayed in the process opened my eyes to what company life may potentially be like. The opportunity to perform such a challenging repertoire under the guidance of the choreographer and the ballet master has helped us all improve and grow. WAAPA student.

6 Aboriginal Theatre This course assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to gain admission into mainstream theatre training programs in Australia, and to enhance the ability to audition for and perform roles in theatre, musical theatre, television and film. Rodeo Moon was the best fun to make, I never thought I could sing in front of a big audience and my character was exactly what I wanted to create. WAAPA student. To strengthen the Aboriginal Theatre program, Minderoo funds were used to commission a playwright to produce an indigenous-specific piece for graduating students. David Milroy was engaged and devised a Jack and Jillaroo musical set in 1969 in the northwest of Western Australia. It was the first musical performed by WAAPA Aboriginal Theatre students and all shows sold out. The production is expected to be remounted and demonstrated the importance of student access to Aboriginal practitioners. Aboriginal Theatre students perform Rodeo Moon. Photo credit: C. Sims. The students of WAAPA s Aboriginal Theatre Course are lucky to have a brand spanking new musical from the award-winning David Milroy to cut their teeth on. Milroy is also fortunate to have such a fearless, enthusiastic case to take his Rodeo Moon for a test drive. It s not Oklahoma or Priscilla Queen of the Desert yet (although there are times both come to mind), but, on the evidence of this boisterous, fun-focused first outing nicely fashioned by director Eva Grace Mullaley it s got plenty of gas in its tank for the journey. So do the cast, who show the benefit of their studies in some tight, exuberant ensemble work and a couple of scene-stealing turns that would do a much more seasoned performance proud. Review by David Zampatti.