Industry placements and field trips

BFA (Design for Performance) student Lucy McCullough on a work placement with film production designer Annie Atkins, in 2019

A major highlight of a NIDA course is field trips, secondments and work placements with leading industry organisations. We provide opportunities for students to put their training into practice in dynamic working environments.

With an extensive network, built over 60 years with TV, film and theatre professionals, you can secure outstanding opportunities on major international productions shooting domestically, alongside a diverse suite of placement possibilities, many of which lead to employment and future projects. A few highlights include: → Theatre companies – Melbourne Theatre Company, National Theatre (UK), Sydney Theatre Company → Design studios – Annie Aktins Studio (UK), Christopher Oram (UK) Alexander Dodge Design (USA) → Film production companies – Bazmark Inc (Elvis), Kennedy Miller Mitchell (Three Thousand Years of Longing) → TV and digital content creators – ABC, Seven Network (Dancing with the Stars), Netflix, Stan,

Disney Australia → Opera and ballet companies – Australian Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet (UK), English National

Opera (UK), Opera Australia, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney Dance Company → Staging and event companies – Geordie Productions (Canada), Stagekings Australia → Costume production companies – Hawthorn Tailoring (UK), Jane Law (UK), Sydney Costume

Workshop (Hamilton) → Festivals and events – Adelaide Festival, Edinburgh Festival (UK), Summerworks, Festival Toronto (Canada), Theatertreffen Festival Berlin (Germany), Sydney Festival → Performing arts institutes – Cambodia Living Arts (Phnom Penh, Cambodia), Contemporary Arts

Centre (Glasgow, UK), Centre for Dance and Performance Studies South Africa, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (UK)

Ori Hiser BFA Costume, 2021

Ori completed a placement on the production of the feature film Three Thousand Years of Longing, written and directed by George Miller. The production design is by Roger Ford, and the costume design is by awardwinning NIDA alumna Kym Barrett, also costume designer for Matrix and Aquaman.

‘I learnt a lot about the difference between theatre and film. I learnt that there is so much more attention to detail on a film, for example the stitch length had to be exactly the same for consistency as it was highly visible – a three on some sections and a four on others – and the amount of rows had to be the same. I met a lot of good people and made a lot of great connections.’

Leia Loisa BFA Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2021

Leia completed a three-week placement with Sydney Dance Company’s first season of 2021 Impermanence under their Stage Manager Simon Turner, mainly observing how the company operates during bump in, plotting, technical rehearsals and performances. Leia also helped setting-up the dressing rooms.

‘One of my highlights would be given the opportunity to do preshow calls to the company by the Stage Manager. I gave their hour calls, half hour calls, fifteen-minute calls, five-minute calls and beginners calls. I have been aiming and dreaming to work with the Sydney Dance Company since I was in first year, it felt surreal to be able to observe and experience how the company works from up close when back then you were an audience.’

Tess Healy BFA Costume, 2020

Tess completed her placement as costumier with the Australian Ballet as part of the production room team.

‘For my placement I worked under the cutters to create women and men’s dancewear pieces, including tutus and leotards. The biggest impact on me has been learning about collaboration. There is no one way of doing things.’