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2 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
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Contents Subscription form ............................................... 4 Acting .................................................................. 10 Arts Management ............................................. 36 Circus ................................................................... 40 Costumes/Props/Sets Design and Making.... 42 Dance ................................................................... 50 Directing ............................................................. 62 Drama/Education/High Schools ...................... 64 Make-Up .............................................................. 70 Music ................................................................... 72 Musical Theatre ................................................. 90 Sound & Light .................................................. 106 Stage Management ........................................ 115 Voice .................................................................. 120 Writing For Theatre ........................................ 124 Cover image: Griffith University’s 2020 production of Elegies. Photo: Nick Morrissey. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 5
Courses Adapt In Horror Year
They’ve had dancing lessons from teachers zoomed in from New York, reinvented classic radio plays, created a digital drama festival, chatted to interstate playwrights during rehearsal and even helped remote band members play in sync. David Spicer spoke to leading academics across Australia about the disappointments and triumphs of 2020. Liz Hughes CEO of NIDA “Our full-time performing arts students are being taught online and we now deliver our creative short courses for the public Australia-wide via Zoom. “The silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic - in terms of events, our June season of student productions has been reimagined as a Digital Festival for presentation in August. Six inspirational artists will lead neverseen-before online storytelling projects. “Another significant online initiative is the hosting of In Conversation talks with industry leaders such as Joel Edgerton, Kate Mulvany, Shannon Murphy and Peter Sellars. Recordings of the talks are available at nida.edu.au/productions/ in-conversation. “The downside of the pandemic for NIDA as a not-for-profit has been financial. NIDA generates a large amount of its own revenue - in 2020, we expected to self-generate 67% of our operating budget. From midMarch, much of our revenue from the delivery of our face-to-face short courses and our venue hire halted.”
Professor Paul Sabey Griffith University “We made our acting students (perform) in-house and cancelled our main show in August. Fortunately, third musical theatre students commenced in January and we got a full season of the Elegies Song Cycle on in March. “The hardest thing for final year students is graduating into a business that they don’t see. We know it will recover stronger. “Going online is challenging but rewarding. Students say how much they have grown in their own time at home. I miss the ability to work with someone in the rehearsal room where students can show their personality off - some of that can disappear on-line. (Stage) actors also require applause. “Instead of students flying down to Sydney or Melbourne, we have brought the industry to them. People like Lucy Durack and Michael Cassell have spoken to them. Many have said that students are in the best place, still training. They are not sitting at home waiting for the world to recover.”
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Tyran Parke Head of Music Theatre, Victorian College of the Arts “We have encouraged students to approach this period as the artists they want to be in their lives. Artists always have ‘one foot in the unknown’ so we are using it as a time to exercise the muscle that is ‘courage’. “The biggest changes have been in breaking down our borders to national and international practitioners. I figure, if I can teach the students from home, then so can the best practitioners in the world! “We capitalised on our international connections to engage an entire staff of teachers, all people of colour, all working on Broadway or the West End. Weekly classes have included Argentinian Tango, Rap, Hip Hop, Gospel, Mambo etc. It has been a remarkable addition to our program. “In addition, our wonderful donors started an ‘American Songbook in Isolation’ competition that connected our graduates and students, and which was ultimately judged and presented by the remarkable, Michael Feinstein. None of this would have been done, if it were not for COVID19.”
Travis Jenkins Jazz Music Institute “The lockdown inhibited our ability to engage musically with one another with a full connectedness to 'the moment'. “Just as one loses the luxury of body language when speaking over the phone, or vocal inflection when by text, without being able to be play music in the same room, or at the same time, the conversation becomes like a letter, or an email, and the interplay loses its immediacy. “After searching even the sketchiest nether-realms of the internet for capable software that does more than just claim to be able to minimalize internet lag, the depressing reality is that even if these programs, occasionally, perform as well as they claim, we are still doomed by the calamity that is the NBN. “When performance classes were postponed, I managed to convert much of the learning outcomes to having more of a 'studio performance' focus and practiced repertoire by using a browser called ‘Bandlab’. “Each musician workshops the arrangement of their chosen repertoire in Bandlab before confirming their full, unedited live takes and recording to be mixed by myself. They each then received a backing track with their part muted, to be performed as their final "Ensemble" recital. “Since restrictions have eased, most things have been able to happen on campus. Having been thrust into a more technologically involved experience, I have realised that a lot of content can be delivered quite quickly and effectively online. This was enlightening for future course design/ curriculum.
applicants it is a huge effort of organisation. “(The pandemic) forced us to develop a greater understanding of technology and its possible uses for teaching. I have been excited to see the amount of creative work happening because of people’s isolation, and to be reminded, if we needed to be, of the astonishing amount of talent Australia has. The response of the ‘Scomo’ government to the arts community has been deeply insulting, but not exactly surprising.” Associate Professor Kim Durban Program Coordinator, Bachelor of Performing Arts, Federation University Arts Academy “I am rehearsing an Australian play about bushfire called Embers by Campion Decent. The live component of rehearsal has moved online. We experienced some problems with technology, but overall it has been amazing. I focussed on similar activities to those I always do at the commencement of a play, especially text analysis and character work. This has worked well, with the set designer adding visual images for us to feed from. The actors are also developing and refining their skills. “The capacity to collaborate across distance (has meant) the playwright was able to visit rehearsals with a key stroke, even though he lives in Sydney. The capacity to speak and work online and get simultaneous chat streams going has deepened our skill to reflect and capture everyone's ideas.”
Dean Carey Actors Centre Australia “We had to cancel all our public courses and taught students on-line in the first trimester. 4th year students David King have had their course extended until Head of Music Theatre at WAAPA December. Staff and students have “We’ve had to cancel productions been extremely productive and and move as much teaching as achieved so much whilst online. Their possible online. It’s disappointing for creativity and flexibility is of the the students but, on the whole, highest order. they’ve given it a good go. Their “(However) I, like so many, am understanding of technology has been extremely concerned about the a great help. industry and about its members. “The audition process will (also) Social distancing will remain until a largely happen online. With 400 plus vaccine is found. How will smaller
theatres survive with drastically reduced capacities? Griffin? Belvoir? Old Fitz? Hayes? Eternity? Full houses may well be a thing of the past for a long, long time to come. Online will never replace LIVE. Artists have adapted and taken to the online platform but how long can that last and how long will audiences remain viewing online?” Kim MacKenzie Central Queensland University “Term 1 was converted to fully online delivery, with students engaging through Zoom tutorials in all their practical and theoretical classes. This included dance, singing, acting and technical theatre studies. Students and lecturers alike embraced new and innovative ways to further the performing arts training of students. Term 2 will see a return to face to face teaching. “One of the big positives to come out of this has been that students have had more time to devote to their studies and have been more creative in devising work that suits the medium of online performance. “The Term 1 main stage production was shifted totally online. Under the direction of independent filmmaker Akos Armont, the Bachelor of Theatre students live-streamed an online, immersive production over three consecutive evenings in June “After grappling with Orson Welles’ famous radio play The War of the Worlds, the team has created an original, innovative work, War in our World, in response to COVID-19. It was live-streamed on the CQCM Facebook page and can be watched at https://bit.ly/2BrKcT7 Associate Professor Rick Chew Director, Federation University Arts Academy “Our production courses have been postponed until we are able to transition back to on-campus study. Other students are developing in terms of self-directed study and resilience. In moving online, we’ve also created a wonderful library of music theatre backing tracks, which will be an invaluable teaching tool for years to come.”
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NIDA’s First Virtual Open Day
NIDA 2nd year student production of Twelfth Night, or What You Will(2019). Photo: Lisa Tomasetti.
Online extras!
Watch an extract from Twelfth Night or What You Will. Scan or visit https://youtu.be/tfiAsE3IsMM
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NIDA held its first Virtual Open Day in June, enticing nearly 1500 registrations from people across Australia and internationally, keen to get a taste of what it could be like to be a student in 2021.
Highlights are also available of the annual Festival of Emerging Artists that features fully staged productions led by student creative teams. If you missed a session of interest, students who have graduated and are There’s also 10-episode web series all the videos, alumni talks and now in the workforce. called How I Got Into NIDA, featuring student projects are available for Under the videos tab on each students and alumni discussing their catch-up viewing. course page is an Open Day Zoom top tips for auditions, portfolio tips, The information is available at presentation, as well as videos about and how to focus on and prepare nida.edu.au/productions/Open-Day Masterworks and tours of the your application. Recommended for a first look is a workshops in Kensington. If you’re interested in applying, digital ebook - the NIDA Course Under Student Life, click on the click on the application guide for Guide 2021. This details all the Master SCON campus walkthrough and see 2021. of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts and more of the facilities at the Kensington Campus. Diploma courses on offer. Applications to study at NIDA in Next, dig deeper and select a Click on the student productions 2021 open on July 6 and close course video. Course leaders and tab and enjoy an extract from NIDA’s 2019 production of Twelfth Night, or students explain what each course on September 30. Visit contains and the experience of What You Will, directed by Jim apply.nida.edu.au Sharman.
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Acting
TAFE Queensland Gold Coast’s Mother Courage And Her Children.
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Drama At The National Theatre School
Photo: Sarah Walker.
The National Theatre Drama School is one of Melbourne’s oldest training institutions and has produced a number of prolific actors including Kat Stewart (Offspring, Mr & Mrs Murder, City Homicide), Esther Hannaford (Beautiful, King Kong), Bella Heathcote (Dark Shadows, Pride Prejudice and Zombies) and Lawrence Mooney (The Cup, Winners and Losers, Dirty Laundry Live) just to name a few. The National Theatre Drama School boasts purposebuilt studios and its own heritage 800 seat theatre, and focuses on training emerging actors in stage and screen, preparing them for professional careers in the industry. One of the school’s most recent successes, Harvey Zielinski, shares his experiences as a transgender actor in the industry: “Three days after my graduating showcase, I was lucky enough to be cast in Taylor Mac's Hir at Red Stitch Actors' Theatre, directed by Daniel Clarke. A month later I was made the Red Stitch Actors' Theatre graduate ensemble member for 2018, so I spent my whole first year out of drama school working in shows at Red Stitch.” He now will now be starring in the new Hollywood series Don’t Look Deeper, directed by Catherine Harwick. His advice to emerging actors is to “be prepared to work really hard but also maintain balance. Don't forget the other things you love. Don't forget why you love acting either, when the industry/business side of it takes over at times. Have fun in your work, always. Remember to be your version of the role, not other people’s.” Current student Monica Reid notes that The National Theatre Drama School is unique in its approach to each individual student, “it is not a one size fits all, ‘cookie cutter’ kind of course! I was drawn to the course for the small cohort size, the emphasis on devised theatre and the significant amount of film and television units in second and third year.” Roz Hammond (Muriel’s Wedding, The Librarians, The Heights) has been teaching Screen Acting at The National Theatre and loves sharing key skills when it comes to working the camera. “I think many young actors do not realise the discipline involved in screen acting. There are many technical requirements - hitting marks, continuity, lots of line learning in a short amount of time, and a lot of repetition.” Third year student Konstantina Samartzis notes how the course has challenged her ability to be vulnerable. “For me it is something that I’ve really needed to encourage and nurture. The course has allowed me to examine the guards that I had put up as an actor and has
For course, audition and enrolment details, visit nationaltheatre.org.au/drama or call (03) 9534 0223 given me many tools and techniques to shift them. The great thing about the course is that not only has it equipped me with the relevant skills to do so, it has given me the opportunity to meet other like-minded artists, many of whom I hope to create work with once we graduate.” Trent Baker, Director of Drama at the school, said that what makes the school unique is its focus on creating real life on the stage and for the screen, not an approximation of life. “Actors need the freedom to inhabit every moment they are performing, to respond to their fellow performers, their environment and themselves truthfully. To truly live and breathe a part.” This was aided by teachers who are working professionally in the industry and are also highly sought after teachers in their respective fields. The National Theatre Drama School offers a number of courses ranging from introductory short courses such as the Foundation in Acting, which runs for 6 months part time, all the way through to the 3 year full time professional training course - the Advanced Diploma in Acting. Auditions are now open for 2020 and 2021 with VET Fee Help available for eligible students.
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Academy in 2006, Josh performed in the UK’s touring production of Hairspray and won the Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor in Cats. “Every time I have the opportunity to step on stage it is very special but shows like West Side Story and Beautiful The Carole King Musical hold unique places in my heart. As does singing ‘Nessun Dorma’ last year at the Sydney Opera House for Australia Day Live,” Josh said Arts Academy Director Dr Rick Chew, who is based at the Camp Street Campus which is home to Performing Arts students, said Federation University was extremely proud to count Josh amongst its alumni. “Josh is an exceptional talent. He is extremely versatile, as is evidenced by his ability to cross into operatic territory and be equally at home in the mainstream and cutting edge of music theatre,” Dr Chew said. “I think Josh made the most of the training he received at the Arts Academy. As he says himself, “It’s pretty simple. If it wasn’t for my time at the Arts Academy, the detail of the teaching methods and the work ethic it instilled in me, I wouldn’t be enjoying the career I’ve had over the past 12 years.” Josh’s other stage credits include West Side Story, Blood Brothers, An Officer and a Gentleman, Grease 2 and Kismet. In 2018, Josh released his debut album which went number #1 on both the Aria and iTunes charts in Australia. The Bachelor of Performing Arts degree at Federation University’s Arts Academy has proved popular among contemporary performers, providing a strong foundation for a career on the stage or screen. The course provides students with the opportunity to work alongside leading industry professionals: theatre directors, music theatre performers, screen actors, Josh Piterman has become composers, musical directors, designers and renowned for his musical choreographers. talents on the world stage since A popular recent event for current students was a graduating from Federation University. zoom session with Josh. The Arts Academy has adapted well to the changing Last year, Josh landed the title role in The Phantom of environment we live in today and continues to link the Opera, making his West End debut, his greatest career students to leading industry professionals and other achievement so far. opportunities online. “This has been my dream role since I can remember. It is like nothing else. It is so rich, so full of depth and such a thrill to sing. Add to that the fact that I was performing on the same stage, in the same theatre, with the same set that Michael Crawford used when the show opened back in 1986, it is very special. I’m constantly pinching myself,” Josh said. “The audition process for the role of The Phantom was very rigorous and nerve racking, just as you would expect for a big audition. The creative team was very clear in what they wanted. I had to take on their direction as best as I could in the heat of the moment and remember everything they had said, bringing the character to life more and more in each call back.” For more information visit After graduating from Federation University’s Arts Josh Piterman and Kelly Mathieson in The West End production of The Phantom Of The Opera (2019). Photo: Manuel Harlan.
federation.edu.au/arts-academy
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CQUniversity Triple Threat Zooms Ahead His colourful career has already taken him to Hollywood and New York City, and Australian performer Sean Miguel Perez is proof that skills can pay the bills in showbiz. The CQUniversity Bachelor of Music graduate has spent a busy decade in Australia’s entertainment industry, following a three-year degree that honed his talents for acting, singing and dance. Mr Perez said the diverse course, based at CQUni’s Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) and available face-to-face and online, meant he graduated ready for the competitive entertainment world. “One unit I loved was screen acting, and every week we’d focus on a different kind of acting - monologues, commercials, kids tv, drama, everything!” Mr Perez explained. “That helped me a lot, because each week was like an audition scenario, and once I was going to real auditions, I always felt comfortable and prepared.” Formerly a competitive Latin and ballroom dancer, Mr Perez said he began his degree with a dance focus, before realising the importance of developing diverse skills. “My dream was to be on Broadway, and the course really helped me to broaden that out to a triple-threat sort of deal - dance, and singing, and acting!” he explained. “The course was structured around putting on stage shows. Every show we had to audition in front of our lecturers with a guest director, and bring in a resume and headshots, and basically have the full nervous experience!” Since graduating, Mr Perez has had a wide range of stage roles, as well as TV appearances on ABC’s The Unlisted and SBS’s Deep Water, and with Network Ten’s 2012 reality TV drag queen talent show I Will Survive. The Sydney-based actor has also made it on the big screen in award-winning Australian films What If It Works alongside Brooke Satchwell, and musical film On Hold. Last year, Mr Perez was proud to celebrate his Filipino heritage on stage in Sydney, in the world premiere of the Filipino musical Noli Me Tangere. Mr Perez is also focused on the other side of entertainment, working in a talent agency to support other artists. The move has inspired his creative work - in 2018 he directed, produced, cast and co-edited web series Busy
CQUniversity Bachelor of Music graduate Sean Miguel Perez.
For more information about theatre, music and arts courses at CQUniversity, including audition dates for courses commencing Term 1, 2021, visit cqu.edu.au/auditions As Usual, while starring as the central character, a talent agent. In February this year the series screened at the Winter Film Awards International Film Festival in New York City, after winning the “under $1000” category at the 2018 Web Series Festival. Mr Perez travelled to the US for the event, and he’s also made multiple trips to Los Angeles for successful auditions. While COVID-19 restrictions have effectively shut down the global entertainment industry for now, Mr Perez is staying busy, using Zoom to develop new projects with his clients, and to support the next generation of Australian performers. “We all know it’s ‘show business’, but when you’re starting out so many people forget about the business side of things,” he explained. “So I regularly do Zoom lectures with CQUni’s music and theatre students, and with performing arts schools around Australia, to help them take a business approach to the industry, as well as perfecting their craft.” www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 15
Applications to audition for NASDA’s 2021 intake close on August 30.
Advertising Feature
To learn more visit ara.ac.nz
If you’re a keen theatre goer, or you love locally produced film and TV, chances are you’ve been wowed many times over by talented graduates of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA). Across New Zealand and around the world, NASDA-trained performers can be found singing, dancing, acting and producing to great acclaim. NASDA’s reputation for producing exceptional graduates means the demand among aspiring performers for places on its Bachelor of Performing Arts is strong, year after year. The threeyear programme at Ara Institute of Canterbury not only hones students’ performance skills but also equips them with the ability to sustain a career in this highly competitive field. One of the main attractions of the degree is the amount of realworld performance experience students gain. NASDA puts on several plays, musicals and revues a
Court Theatre is the largest performing arts company in Christchurch. For our students to engage with a full-time working theatre company through such a year. Recently, Ara signed a threecomprehensive partnership is an year partnership with The Court opportunity that we believe sets Theatre in Christchurch, creating NASDA apart from any other even more opportunities for NASDA performing arts programme in students to broaden their Aotearoa.” experience and gain exposure at a The calibre of NASDA’s teaching professional level. staff is another reason why NASDA NASDA’s manager Andrew Snell at Ara is considered one of the top says the new, formal partnership places to train for a career in the with The Court Theatre bridges the performing arts. Staff not only gap between the educational bring a depth and breadth of environment and the real world of experience and expertise, but a the arts industry. passion for ensuring students “Ara prides itself on its succeed in their careers. connections to industry and The
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Online extras!
Discover the amazing facilities, tutors and training opportunities on a student-led virtual tour of NASDA https://youtu.be/sKf--LyJhMs
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TAFE Queensland: A Community Of Practice TAFE Queensland has proudly partnered with the University of Canberra to add a new drama and production major to its Bachelor of Acting and Performance (304JA.2) degree. With the addition of the new major, TAFE Queensland now offers acting and performance students two comprehensive streams of study, both on stage and behind stage, over a three year performing arts program. While the existing advanced acting major trains actors and performers of the future, the new drama and production stream will prepare the next generation of theatre practitioners, all under the guide of TAFE Queensland’s team of unique and expert staff. They also offer a Diploma of Screen and Media - Performance (CUA51015), and a Certificate III in Community Dance, Theatre and Events - Acting (CUA30213), offered as part of TAFE in Schools.
This initiative will deepen the connection between TAFE Queensland’s training, drama teachers and students in the community, helping high school students to understand and engage with acting and the 21st century theatre experience. Taught by award-winning industry professionals, TAFE Queensland’s performing arts program elevates artists’ creative practice through fundamental skills training and specialist knowledge. Graduates of TAFE Queensland’s performing arts program have gone on to work as actors, performers, theatre makers and arts facilitators, within the creative industries. Central to the success of TAFE Queensland Acting is the
Photo: Aidan Rowlingson.
relationship the program maintains with graduates. Staff and alumni come together to collaborate, utilise rehearsal space, access staff mentorship and use the campus theatre to develop and perform selfdevised work. The combination of broad and focused training and education, in conjunction with their ongoing graduate student support, creates a deep and passionate community of practice that is unique to TAFE Queensland Acting. Students are not simply enrolling into an arts program, they’re enrolling into an extended support network to help them get to where they want to go well into the future.
Photo: Warrick Fraser.
To kick-start your career in acting and performance, visit tafeqld.edu.au or call 1300 308 233.
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Photo: Stephen Weir.
Class Of 2020 Year 12 students Charlie Dakin, Prudence Dallen and Adam Watt describe what they enjoy about attending the Australian Performing Arts Grammar School in Sydney.
2021 enrolments are now open. Visit apgs.nsw.edu.au Charlie: I love the networking having industry professionals come in and learning from their experience helps us figure out what should be the next step for us going forward and the best way to tackle a performing arts career. Prudie: I found - talking to people from other schools - people didn’t take subjects like Drama seriously. I wanted to be surrounded by other students who really wanted to learn and shared my passion for the subject. Adam: I enjoy being around likeminded people who have similar aspirations and being able to collaborate with people who have different ideas; being at a performing arts high school I have the opportunity to do that all the time. What are the advantages of studying at a performing arts school for your final years of high school? Charlie: There is definitely an advantage for creative subjects and that has been a big help for developing my Drama major work. The art course here is also really intensive. I’ve had the opportunity to do film making as a PA elective and I’m now making a film for my Visual Arts major work.
Prudie: APGS brings in professionals to run the performing arts classes. Our academic teachers are passionate about the arts and they know how to help you achieve the marks you want in the HSC. Adam: Our teachers for our arts based academic courses have experience in the industry - it helps us to understand how all the things we are learning about will be put in to practice. For example, we have a self-devised choreography PA class - we learn the choreographic process and come up with movement banks that are useful for choreographing our dance major works. What area of the arts are you most passionate about? Charlie: Acting has always been my passion in life. Recently, upon meeting people here who are talented musicians, I’ve dabbled in that and tried my hand at a few other things. Prudie: When I first came to APGS Drama was the only performing arts subject that I did but I have been really enjoying Visual Arts lately. I just picked it up because I needed another subject but then I ended up finding it really fun. Adam: I do a bit of everything: Dance, Drama, Music and I am
passionate about all of them in different ways. For example, for Drama I’m passionate about directing, in Dance it’s choreography, and in Music I love bringing people together and working with an ensemble. What are your plans for next year and for the future? Charlie: I want to spend a year working and building up some money and be ready for uni when I do go. So next year I’ll do some auditioning and working, and I’ll apply to various universities for admission in 2022. I’m keen on doing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, possibly at QUT. Prudie: I’m looking at uni’s like WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts) and also looking at scholarships in America to study Drama over there. Adam: I definitely want to continue performing. I think I’d love to start putting together my own thing, a dance or drama performance. I’ve already made some great connections at APGS. Our performing arts tutors are all active in the industry, so they have really helped nurture the idea of breaking out on my own and creating my own thing.
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Actors Centre Australia (02) 9310 4077 info@actorscentreaustralia.com.au www.actorscentreaustralia.com.au Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts (Acting) (10560NAT) - 2.5 years Course content: Acting, Character, Voice, Movement, Mask, Emotional Instrument, Language Power, Performance History, Improvisation, Life Mastery, Animal, Shakespeare, Camera, Script Analysis, Singing, Screen Acting, Screen-testing, Audition Technique, Performance Lab, Accents and Showreel. Productions: Australian Scene Work, Devised Theatre Project, Voice and Physical Theatre Performance, Realism Theatre Project, Shakespeare Theatre Project, Verbatim Theatre Performance, American Theatre & Industry Showcase. Structure: First year is foundational, the second year develops performance skills and the third year focuses on industry readiness. Positions for first year intake are offered through auditions only. Auditions are held in Sydney in May 2019. ACA accepts 24 students annually. Next Step Program - 5 months full-time Your best next step into drama school or your industry preparation program. Online auditions. 10 Week Programs Stage / Screen / Casting / Corporate. All classes run once a week from 07:30 PM - 10:00 PM. Each 10-week term can be joined at any intake and each course has its own focus. The Actor’s Pulse (02) 9690 2216 | 0414 475 515 admin@theactorspulse.com www.theactorspulse.com.au Full Time Acting Course - 3 years full-time The Actors Pulse facilities coupled with industry professional teachers are designed to give students creative and open environments to develop and grow as confident actors. Students graduate as smart, marketable and strongly prepared actors who are able to confidently take their career into their own hands. Subject Areas: Meisner Technique (acting technique, scene study, character, stage performance) Screen acting (scene study, character - film and TV, audition technique, screen performance technique) Movement (body language, expression) Voice and dialect (foundations, phonetics, accents) Prerequisites: Audition and interview. No minimum ATAR required. enrol.theactorspulse.com.au/full-time-acting-course Meisner Technique Acting Course - 10-week terms (ongoing) The unique approach of the acting classes combines the techniques used for stage acting with the special considerations needed for film and television work. With a strong and basic foundation, an actor can confidently approach any material. Classes are ongoing and students progress through the levels according to their individual abilities. Great facilities, world-class industry professional teachers, flexible courses for focused and dedicated individuals. The Meisner Technique acting course can be taken in conjunction with the Screen Acting course. Prerequisites: Interview. No minimum ATAR required. theactorspulse.com.au/acting-courses/meisner-technique-acting-classes Screen Acting Course - 10-week terms (ongoing) The Actors Pulse Screen Acting course is specifically designed to give actors the skills required to do the job consistently at an international level of acting. At the core of this course are the underlying principles of the Meisner Technique as well as classic structure of story and character breakdown. The course is broken up into three levels that build upon each other, allowing students to understand and develop one step at a time. The course is ongoing and students progress according to individual abilities. Subjects to be covered over the three levels: Story Shape Character Style 22 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
Text Relationship Techniques for cold reading, screen tests, monologue, auditions and commercials Screen Acting course can be taken in conjunction with the Meisner Technique acting course. Prerequisites: Interview. No minimum ATAR required. theactorspulse.com.au/acting-courses/screen-acting-camera-course Australian Institute of Music (02) 9219 5444 enquiries@aim.edu.au www.aim.edu.au/programs Bachelor of Performance (Dramatic Arts) - 3 years full-time This course offers students the opportunity to create, produce and perform your own work for public audiences. Explore all aspects of live performance-making, from writing, acting, designing and directing to marketing, production and stage management. Experience an industry placement with one of Sydney’s leading performing arts companies as well as learn trade secrets from weekly industry masterclasses. Entry by direct application to AIM. www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/bachelor-of-performance Perform Australia (RTO 40859) 1300 908 905 hello@perform.edu.au www.perform.edu.au Certificate IV in Acting For Stage And Screen (10197NAT) - 6 months full-time or 1-2 years part-time This course is a foundational course in professional acting skills. It covers vocal development, movement skills, acting technique for screen, acting technique for stage, auditions, industry skills, and history of film, theatre and television. It's designed for those seeking to explore their potential as professional actors and make their first steps into the industry. Prerequisites: Completion of Year 10, minimum age 16 years. www.perform.edu.au/acting-certificate.html Advanced Diploma of Performance (10295NAT) - 2 years full-time To build a career as a professional actor, you need not only talent, but also technique and business nous. This program nurtures your existing talent and dramatic instinct, and helps you develop the processes and disciplines you need to take your career where you want it to go. You are also guided through need-to-know industry information and how to launch your own performance projects. The ultimate aim of this course is to transform you into a versatile actor, able to embrace performance opportunities across a wide range of media. You'll study screen acting, perform in a range of theatrical genres and productions, and develop essential skills to launch your career. Prerequisites: 10197NAT Certificate IV in Acting for Stage and Screen or equivalent www.perform.edu.au/advanced-diploma-acting.html National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) (02) 9697 7600 info@nida.edu.au www.nida.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) - 3 years full-time NIDA is Australia’s pre-eminent conservatoire for actor training and the actor is at the heart of what they do. Rooted in Stanislavski method, NIDA’s world-famous actor training draws on different classical and contemporary techniques to equip students with a comprehensive toolkit and a multitude of ways to approach any performance or artistic decision. The first year of the course develops the actor’s self-awareness: who you are, what you are, how you think, your body energy, how you use your apparatus, how you can use your apparatus and how you can draw on all these resources to do creative work. The second year is about moving from the Self to the Other. Actors learn to explore what a character or role is asking of them, and train in dealing with heightened language. Performance opportunities include a Shakespeare project, a Chekhov workshop-production, a comedy project, and a fully supported production as part of NIDA’s large-scale production season. The third year is the professional year, with a focus on forming professional relationships, performance opportunities, agent showcases and honing industry skills such as self-taking, screen auditions, microphone technique. Actors will perform in original short films and two large-scale productions with professional directors. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 23
Within the course, students have the option to specialise in musical theatre by auditioning for The Singing Actor stream. Students in The Singing Actor stream separate from the main cohort at several points each week to train more deeply in the singing, vocal and movement qualities required to attain the highest level of excellence in musical theatre, or storytelling through song. Graduating actors will be strong collaborators capable of generating their own creative opportunities, and can confidently pursue life-long careers in today’s arts and entertainment industries, from main stage productions and independent theatre through to film, television and emerging media platforms. Acting alumni include many of the most lauded and recognised actors around the world, including two-time Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett, two-time Academy Award® winner Mel Gibson, Hugo Weaving, Sam Worthington, Judy Davis, Colin Friels, Miranda Otto, Richard Roxburgh, Miranda Tapsell, Ryan Corr, Jessica Marais, Remy Hii, Rob Collins and director Baz Luhrmann. nida.edu.au/acting Vocational Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance (10196NAT) - 1 year full-time This year-long intensive and practical course gives students the skills to perform live and on screen. During the course students learn how to collaborate with others to develop and create original works for stage and screen. Classes in acting techniques explore performance styles and production practices such as acrobatics, voice training, emotional screen training and theatrical production. Students learn about the multiplicity of roles, technologies and methodologies that exist within the theatre, film, television and the digital industries. The course is taught by NIDA staff and leading tutors from the entertainment arts industry. At the end of the course, students present a live and filmed Showcase of their work in a NIDA Theatre attended by entertainment industry practitioners, producers and agents. Sydney Theatre Company - Muriel’s Wedding the Musical, GWB Entertainment - School of Rock, Universal Studios Japan, Disney Cruise Ships, Australian Shakespeare Company, Seymour Centre, Amazon Studios - The Wilds, Depot Theatre and Well Well Well productions. nida.edu.au/stage-and-screen Sydney Theatre School 1300 551 432 info@sydneytheatreschool.com www.sydneytheatreschool.com Diploma of Theatre and Screen (Acting) & Advanced Diploma of Theatre and Screen (Acting) - One or two years. There are many different ways to start a career in acting, and one of the best is to gain a Diploma or an Advanced Diploma of Theatre and Screen (Acting) from the Sydney Theatre School. These are industry-recognised courses in Acting, with exclusive training in both stage and screen disciplines that are highly sought-after in the industry. Each course is delivered separately over one year. Candidates will normally complete the one year Diploma program first, and then have the option to continue on to a second year of training to complete their Advanced Diploma. The intensive program gives you the opportunity to learn directly from some of Australia’s finest performing arts teachers, with a course that’s designed to bring out the best in you. You’ll be taught essential industry skills in: Acting for stage and screen; Voice; Movement; Production and Professional Practice. Right from the start of your course, you’ll be involved in performances and productions for the paying public (as well as industry professionals) so you’ll have every chance to shine on stage. Prerequisites: Audition and interview. University of New England (02) 6773 3755 akiernan@une.edu.au www.une.edu.au/about-une/academic-schools/school-of-arts/study-areas/theatre-studies Bachelor of Theatre Studies Bachelor of Arts (Major in theatre studies) Master of Applied Theatre Studies Master of Arts with Honours Doctor of Philosophy
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University of Newcastle Faculty of Educations and Arts, School of Creative Arts (02) 4921 8902 creativearts@newcastle.edu.au www.newcastle.edu.au/degrees/bachelor-of-arts/what-you-will-study/majors/creative-and-performing-arts Bachelor of Arts (Creative & Performing Arts) Doctor of Philosophy Drama and Performance If you are a creative type looking to sharpen your skills and explore new and intriguing areas of self-expression, this confidence-boosting and character-building major is for you. You can choose from a diverse range of visual art, drama and performance-making courses offered at the Callaghan and Central Coast campuses. Explore what it means to think creatively and how it can help you navigate an increasingly complex world. Visual artist, musician, writer and Creative Arts Lecturer Sean Lowry says this major attracts a wide range of academic abilities and that the most exciting element of the courses is unlocking every student's potential. Graduating with this major, you will be valued in the workplace for your: artistic and creative ability communication skills critical thinking project management skills technical knowledge understanding of group dynamics. Job opportunities exist in government and private sectors, as well as in other creative industries such as advertising, journalism, public relations and marketing. www.newcastle.edu.au/degrees/bachelor/majors/arts/creative-and-performing-arts.htm Screenwise Film And TV School For Actors (RTO 91699) (02) 9281 4484 info@screenwise.com.au www.screenwise.com.au Screenwise offers intensive full-time and part-time creative and technical screen acting programs that are accredited and up to date with Australian and International film industry standards. Screenwise made history when it became the first Registered Training Organisation* to offer a Two-Year Diploma of Screen Acting*. The One-Year Part-Time Showreel Course has equally made it’s mark on the industry by combining first-class acting training with a state of the art Showreel on completion. Screenwise also continues to offer a range of Short Screen Acting courses for Beginner, Intermediate and Advance levels whilst catering to a range of other industry needs - including training in American Accent, Presenting to Camera and Improvisation. Courses range from two-years full time, one-year part time and eight week classes. Diploma of Screen Acting The Showreel Course Short Screen Acting Courses University of Wollongong School of the Arts, English and Media (02) 4221 3456 | 1300 367 869 lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au or futurestudents@uow.edu.au uow.to/arts Bachelor of Performance and Theatre (Acting) (UAC 754820) - 3 years full-time or part time equivalent Bachelor of Performance and Theatre (Theatre) (UAC 754825) - 3 years full time or part time equivalent The Bachelor of Performance and Theatre at UOW is a highly practical course that will prepare you for a career in the performing arts and broader creative industries. You will learn the techniques, strategies and processes of contemporary theatre-making and performance in a range of contexts. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 25
Complementing the practical aspects of your degree, you will undertake core subjects in the history and theory of theatre, as well as core subjects including professional practice. You will also have the opportunity to undertake electives or a minor study in associated areas such as stage management and sound and lighting design, as well as creative writing, audio production or media arts among others. All students participate in producing and performing in their own productions throughout their degree, thereby gaining industry-relevant experience. The Bachelor of Performance and Theatre degree allows you to specialise in either Acting or Theatre Making. In addition to a major in Acting or Theatre Making, you can add a minor in another study area that will bring a multidisciplinary aspect to your degree. Options include music, photography, creative writing, graphic design, media arts and visual arts. Acting Major Undertaking the Acting major will see you develop as a self-reliant and highly skilled performing artist through UOW’s practice-based program. You will learn to apply acting skills and theoretical knowledge to contemporary performance and theatre. Subjects will cover traditional interpretive actor training, crafting your skills in acting, voice, singing and movement, with a focus on contemporary playwriting and devised works for theatre and performance. You will be involved in the development, rehearsal and performance of theatre productions, allowing you to mature as an actor as you work with a range of methodologies and theatre genres. Prerequisites: Entry into the Acting Major is based on a combination of both academic results and audition scores. You will be required to audition to demonstrate your talent and potential to benefit from the course. Audition dates and information, including the registration form, are available from www.uow.edu.au/law-humanities-the-arts/schools-entities/taem/courses-study-options/auditions Theatre Making Major Studying the Theatre major will help you explore the many possibilities of creating theatre for diverse audiences in both regional and urban settings. It considers all the elements of theatre-making (stage-craft, dramaturgy, stage management and performance-making) in order to communicate content, atmosphere and impact. You will also receive an introduction to lighting and sound design, and discover how theory and history will shape your development as an informed, professional and self-reliant practitioner. Prerequisites: Entry into the Theatre Making Major is based on an ATAR score of 70. Recommended studies in English and Drama go.uow.edu.au/bca-thea Excelsia College (02) 9819 8888 info@excelsia.edu.au excelsia.edu.au Bachelor of Dramatic Art The Bachelor of Dramatic Art is a specialist degree with a holistic approach to theatre training. Excelsia College seeks to integrate higher education with professional development and spiritual formation in a supportive and caring environment. It provides an extensive introduction to all the major aspects of theatre. The course is offered with three strands of specialisation, allowing you to take classes unique to your chosen career path: Performance: This course prepares actors to compete in the highly rigorous theatre industry. Acting, voice and movement skills are developed, with students exploring both theoretical and practical perspectives. Production: This course provides an intellectual and artistic foundation for professional careers in the areas of theatre production and direction. Theatre Practice: This course offers a mixture of performance and production units in one program, enabling the development of well-rounded theatrical skills useful for work in small theatre companies. Paired with the Graduate Diploma of Education, it also satisfies the requirements for secondary Drama teaching. The Screen Actors Space (02) 0660 5725 info@thescreenactorsspace.com.au www.thescreenactorsspace.com.au One’s Year's Training with a Showreel - Ten months Comprehensive all year acting training for the screen, voice training, and physical training all year long. Plus accent training (USA, Britain), ADR training, voice over training, presentation training, audition training, use of iPhone for self auditions, introduction to agents training, showreels. Prerequisites: Preferably resident in NSW, preferably 18 or over. No experience necessary. 26 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
The Actors Workshop Australia (07) 3891 1411 admin@theactorsworkshop.com.au www.theactorsworkshop.com.au Certificate IV in Film and Television Introduction to Acting Technique, Improvisation, Voice Training, Screen Acting for Camera, Monologues, Short Films, Role Plays, Work Experience. Prerequisites: Preferred Year 12 completion. Diploma of Film and Television Acting - 2 years Advanced Acting Technique, Character, Movement, Improvisation, Voice Studies, Screen Acting for Camera, Stage Combat, Host Presenting, Auditioning, Monologues, Critical Film Analysis, Short Films, Role Plays, Work Experience. Prerequisites: Preferred Year 12 completion Advanced Diploma of Film, Television and Theatre Acting 2 years training. Advanced Acting Technique, Character, Movement, Improvisation, Voice Studies, Screen Acting for Camera, Stage Combat, Host Presenting, Auditioning, Monologues, Critical Film Analysis, Short Films, Role Plays, Work Experience, 2 year Theatre Program. Prerequisites: Preferred Year 12 completion. Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University 1800 677 728 griffith.edu.au/study/music Bachelor of Acting - 3 years full-time Griffith University’s Bachelor of Acting, offered by Queensland Conservatorium’s Performing Arts Department, is a highly practical and skill-intensive degree that will prepare you for a lifelong career across stage and screen. The degree focuses on developing both the individual and the actor through ensemble building, collaborative laboratories, industry-led workshops and public performances. This bespoke degree is offered to a small number of high-quality performers. It is designed around four key pillars: core craft, context, repertoire, and industry engagement. Under the direction and guidance of internationally renowned teachers and performers, you will undertake intensive training in acting, voice and speech, singing, movement and dance to unlock your imagination, encourage curiosity and build resilience. www.griffith.edu.au/study/music/acting Queensland University of Technology Creative Industries Faculty (07) 3138 2000 askqut@qut.edu.au www.qut.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) - 3 years full-time The QUT acting course is the only undergraduate degree in acting in Queensland and is designed for those who want to become professional actors. This conservatoire-style acting course will educate, train and nurture your creative potential from a novice to a professional. It offers a rich program of study that fosters the development of bold, truthful, and passionate actors. You will develop your skill, craft, artistry and your humanity. QUT’s staff are committed to offering you a learning environment that challenges and inspires you to be an innovative and imaginative actor. QUT actors work with professional film production companies and perform on stage in professional venues in a season of public productions. Your screen work will include both studio and on-location shoots. You will graduate as an employable stage and screen actor with an understanding of the profession, ready to identify your niche within it and join the many successful graduates within the industry. www.qut.edu.au/study/courses/bachelor-of-fine-arts/bachelor-of-fine-arts-acting Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama) - 3 years full-time The QUT drama course is for students interested in exploring practical careers in directing, designing, teaching, devising, creative producing and administration, or performing in a range of experimental theatre forms. It offers flexibility and breadth, combining creative experiences in performance making with highly relevant theoretical studies that will connect you with contemporary performance both nationally and globally. You will find yourself collaborating with talented industry professionals and students and the creative relationships you develop will establish the professional networks you will be drawing on throughout your career. A range of elective units are on offer to build skills in complementary areas choosing from other disciplines in the Creative Industries Faculty which may include film, TV and new media, creative www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 27
writing, visual arts, or music, to name a few. Some of the most recent graduates are at the heart of the exciting growth in the independent theatre sector in Australia. Graduates work as event coordinators, festival organisers and administrators. Some establish companies with other graduates to create work for the independent theatre sector. Others have established successful careers as playwrights, artistic directors, directors and designers or performers working across a variety of genres including physical theatre or music. www.qut.edu.au/study/courses/bachelor-of-fine-arts/bachelor-of-fine-arts-drama University of Queensland (07) 3365 1111 www.uq.edu.au Drama Single Major Seeing and critiquing professional performance, reading plays from around the world and throughout the past 2000 years, honing your performance skills: these are all part of the Drama major. You will learn how to interpret theatre through time and space, but you will also be challenged to think about what constitutes performance, not only on the stage, but on the page and in everyday life. You will develop an understanding of the theatrical and literary aspects of drama, from ancient Greek classics to Medieval theatre to the most recent Australian and European plays. You do not have to audition but there are practical performance options at advanced level. www.uq.edu.au/study/plan.html?acad_plan=DRAMAX2320 University of Southern Queensland School of Arts and Communication 1800 269 500 study@usq.edu.au Bachelor of Creative Arts (Theatre) This program provides a uniquely cohesive co-penetration of theatrical theory, dramatic literature and practise of Acting and Theatre-Making. The BCA Theatre Major is 24 courses in theatre-training and professional practice. First Year offers a common set of skills-development, play-building, performance, and history/literature to create a solid foundation of knowledge and analysis that can be applied a wide variety of career choices and pathways in Theatre and Media production. Critical thinking, problem-solving and ensemble-practice is central to the Acting Major and Theatre-Making Majors that can be auditioned for at the end of First Year. Second Year specifically extends upon professional practice to connect students to a variety of industry networks in order to further develop skills in vocal training, creative play-building, textual analysis, screen and stage acting/performance as well as community projects, administration and project management. Third Year is dedicated to increasing student engagement with their own independent projects designed to further immerse them into communities and networks of theatrical practice and preparation for the entertainment industry. International exchange opportunities are available, as well as secondments. www.usq.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-creative-arts Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) This elegant one-year full time program offers an intense choice of practice and/or theoretical exploration. Students who wish to extend upon their undergraduate training and develop new creative works can participate in 4 x 2 unit courses where they will work alongside a mentor/supervisor to create a significant performance outcome. This is accompanied by a 5,000 - 8,000w exegesis. www.usq.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-creative-arts-honours/theatre TAFE Queensland in partnership with the University of Canberra 1300 308 233 tafeqld.edu.au/acting Bachelor of Acting and Performance (Major in Advanced Acting) (304JA.2) - 3 years or part-time equivalent The Bachelor of Acting and Performance (Major in Advanced Acting) offers a structured course of learning and training in the craft of acting and performance. The program is presented in an innovative partnership between TAFE Queensland and the University of Canberra. The course prepares graduates with the skills, knowledge, and outlook to build a sustainable career in the performing arts industry. The course offers: lively, detailed and focused training in an acting, voice and body skills; regular performance opportunities to play to live audiences; intense development of the acting student’s creative voice as an independent performance maker. Plays, readings, online resources and academic materials are designed to inspire, challenge and motivate the training actor. Students are expected to develop as actors and performers who think for themselves, respect 28 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
their own ideas and ideals, and use theatre and film as a means to share those ideas and ideals. Students are encouraged to understand and explore their place of performance in a contemporary world. COURSE CODE: 304JA.2 | QTAC CODE: 556019 | CRICOS CODE: 03020E | RTO: 0275 | TESQA: PRV13003 tafeqld.edu.au/courses/17885/bachelor-of-acting-and-performance Bachelor of Acting and Performance (Major in Drama and Production) (304JA.2) - 3 years or part-time equivalent The Bachelor of Acting and Performance (Major in Drama and Production) provides its graduates with the learning and experience to initiate and build creative performances, projects and events. The program is presented in an innovative partnership between TAFE Queensland and the University of Canberra. Graduates will be able to engage as arts facilitators, educators, producers and project managers in creating, leading and facilitating projects that are designed to have social, economic and cultural impacts on individuals, organisations and communities. Graduates will be able to work across a variety of media and collaborate with performance makers, educational institutions and community organisations. They will learn to operate in varied organisational contexts, engaging in both non-profit and commercial activities. A range of elective units are on offer to expand the student’s skills base and knowledge including study in Music, Visual Arts, Gaming, Fashion and Digital Design. They can find ways for theatrical skills and processes to be utilised across the community and industry. COURSE CODE: 304JA.2 | QTAC CODE: 556019 | CRICOS CODE: 03020E | RTO: 0275 | TESQA: PRV13003 tafeqld.edu.au/courses/17885/bachelor-of-acting-and-performance Flinders Drama Centre Flinders University (08) 8201 2578 drama@flinders.edu.au flinders.edu.au/drama Acting (BCA) - 4 years The Flinders Drama Centre acting course is unique in Australia because it integrates the skillbased teaching of a drama school with the conceptual and analytical skills of a university. At Flinders there is no artificial separation between the body and mind, emotion and intellect. The degree programs prepare graduates to be creative, articulate and adaptable artists in whatever area they work. Unlike many other acting courses in Australia, the Drama Centre places equal emphasis on screen and theatre acting. And for more than twenty-five years, former Flinders Drama students have made impressive contributions to Australian film, theatre and television. Among graduates are winners of Australian Film Institute Best Actor and Actress awards, the New York Best Newcomer Award, Green Room Awards, South Australian Critics’ Circle Awards, the Jill Blewitt Playwright prize, and an Academy Award nominee. Flinders graduates can be found throughout the performing and media arts in Australia, working successfully as writers, performers, directors, administrators and commentators. flinders.edu.au/ehl/drama/undergraduate-courses/acting/acting_home.cfm Drama Honours (BA) The Honours year in the BA is an opportunity to pursue an advanced program of study in Drama and to develop research skills by writing a thesis. The Honours program is available to all students with a major in Drama at Distinction level or better in their third year. An Honours degree is the usual requirement for admission to postgraduate study. It also offers valuable specialisation for students intending to teach Drama flinders.edu.au/ehl/drama/undergraduate-courses/drama-honours-ba.cfm Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) - 3 years The aim of the course is to prepare students for a professional life by: equipping students with basic professional skills in the areas of major employment in the entertainment industry: realistic acting techniques, acting for screen, directing for theatre and screen, and music theatre introducing students to areas of development and increasing importance in the Australian industry: post-modern performance techniques, intercultural performance, and the interface between live performance and multimedia encouraging all students to work as conceptual artists through courses specialising in techniques of group devising, auto-performance and scriptwriting developing in students, through a comprehensive history and theory stream, an awareness of the relevance of these discourses to professional practice. www.flinders.edu.au/courses/rules/undergrad/bca/bca-drama.cfm##courseaims
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University of South Australia 1300 UNINOW study@unisa.edu.au Bachelor of Media Arts (Drama Major) my.unisa.edu.au/public/pcms/program.aspx?pageid=446&sid=1621&y=2013 Adelaide College of the Arts TAFE SA (08) 8463 5000 arts.adl@tafesa.edu.au acarts.edu.au Advanced Diploma of Arts (Acting) (10260NAT) If you are born to perform then take to the stage with the Advanced Diploma of Arts (Acting) (10230NAT) at Adelaide College of the Arts. You’ll learn to take centre stage in mainstream theatre, film and television and follow scores of graduates in creating their own successful and innovative theatre as well as pursuing your interests in teaching, directing, producing and writing theatre. The rigorous actor-training program incorporates the core disciplines of acting, voice and movement. Through projects in theatre-making, your third year will culminate in a main stage production. You’ll explore the specialised demands of acting on screen, with classes from first year onward culminating in exercises in television multi-camera in second year, and short films and professional showreel shoots in third year. Audition dates: Wednesday 9 November (early bird), Monday 28 November to Thursday 1 December. From 9am each day. University of Tasmania School Of Creative Arts And Media (03) 6324 4400 CAM.Inveresk@utas.edu.au utas.edu.au/theatre Bachelor of Arts (Theatre and Performance) - 3 years full time Performance Skills: What foundational skills does a performer need? Leading theatre performers make the craft seem effortless. These two units build on one another, offering a practical exploration of foundational performance skills, including movement, voice and space, in diverse performance contexts. The Theatre Machine: The theatre machine is a device to make sense of the world, generating meaningful experiences for audiences. It is a complex system balancing diverse artistic forms, media and technologies. Explore the theatre machine from the perspective of design and technology required to achieve a production design. Playing Text: This unit explores the ways that dramatic texts ‘speak’ as documents for performance. By exploring a number of texts, both classical and contemporary, you will encounter the range of interpretive practices that move the text from page to stage, while developing your own interpretive performances. Experimental Productions: The Experimental Production units are dedicated to the development, rehearsal and performance of a complete theatre production. Classes are conducted as rehearsals of a performance text selected and directed by your lecturer who will lead the ensemble in the creation of an innovative performance. Global Media and Cybertheatres: What does it mean to act in a global media landscape? In this unit, you will examine the evolving relationship between theatre and technology, exploring how performance can offer new ways to understand, critique, and engage with global media networks as well as generate new paradigms of performance. Scenography and Design: How do theatre design and scenography create performance environments that both convey meaning and generate performance? From costume, lighting and sound design, to the integration of visual and aural elements, explore how technical elements are painted on the performance space and performer. Prerequisites: Pre-tertiary drama is recommended but not compulsory. Deakin University 1300 DEGREE (1300 334 733) enquire@deakin.edu.au www.deakin.edu.au Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) - 3 years Deakin’s Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) offers you systematic exposure to collaborative possibilities between various art forms, the experience of bringing art forms together in major projects and training in creative arts enterprise and management. You will also receive grounding in the academic 30 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
knowledge necessary to understand the arts and to create new forms of art. The program draws upon the expertise of its staff - who are active practitioners in their fields, and industry - through visiting, special guest and casual academic staff. The drama program will develop your skills in contemporary drama practices and perspectives. It is a dynamic combination of acting theory and practice, performance styles and processes, theatre history, text studies, community theatre and technical studies. Final year students are able to participate in performing arts (drama) internships. Deakin drama graduates have a well-deserved reputation for high levels of skill, flexibility and initiative. The course equips you with the skills to establish independent drama production companies and projects. www.deakin.edu.au/future-students/courses/course.php?course=A357&stutype=local La Trobe University 1300 135 045 www.latrobe.edu.au Bachelor of Creative Arts - 3 years This course provides a diverse range of subjects to help students shape and develop creative abilities - allowing them to explore creative practices while also preparing for professional roles in creative writing, performance and media arts. The curriculum combines practical work, critical thinking, research, and theoretical studies. It allows students to focus on specific areas of writing, performance, and media arts, and to combine subjects from these areas. Graduates have entered a wide range of exciting careers in the arts, from screen-writing to acting, filmmaking and theatre production. www.latrobe.edu.au/courses/theatre-and-drama Monash University Monash University Academy of Performing Arts (03) 9902 6000 www.monash.edu.au Bachelor of Performing Arts - 3 years What do Academy Award-winning film producer Eva Orner, comedian Charlie Pickering, and playwright David Williamson have in common? They're all performing arts heavyweights who got their start with Monash. Walk in their footsteps with the most comprehensive theatre and performance program offered by any university in Australia. Monash believes in learning by doing. As part of your degree you'll take part in cooperative productions which stretch your creative limits by combining two or more performing art forms - like musical theatre, dance-drama productions or sound sculpture exhibitions. Benefit from fantastic facilities - the Performing Arts Centre contains a recital hall, drama theatre, music technology studios, an Early Music Room, an Asian Orchestras Room and a suite of practice studios. To polish your skills you can take part in the Monash Uni Student Theatre, and various productions with the Monash University Academy of Performing Arts. artsonline.monash.edu.au/theatre-performance Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Performing Arts - 4 years Can't get enough of the arts? Then this is the double degree for you. Mix music and theatre, and benefit from some of the best facilities in the world. The School of Music - Conservatorium is consistently ranked among the best music schools in Australia. The school attracts individuals like Paul Grabowsky, the esteemed Australian pianist, jazz musician, conductor and composer, who has taken up a Vice-Chancellor's Professorial Fellowship in the School of Music from 2012. You will receive one-on-one instrumental teaching to develop your solo and ensemble performance skills. You'll have a number of opportunities to study overseas. For example, jazz and popular studies students travel to Italy and New York in alternate years to study and perform with world-renowned musicians such as James Morrison, Claire Bowditch, Don Burrows, Vince Jones, George Garzoni and Aaron Goldberg. The Performing Arts Degree is the largest comprehensive theatre and performance program offered by an Australian university. Be inspired by staff members like Dr Jane Montgomery Griffiths, who has been invited to participate in PlayWriting Australia's 2012 National Script Workshop - a prestigious invitation giving her the chance to disseminate her research at a national level with industry professionals. Benefit from fantastic facilities - the Performing Arts Centre contains a recital hall, drama theatre, music technology studios, an Early Music Room, an Asian Orchestras Room and a suite of practice studios (with quality pianos). www.monash.edu.au/study/coursefinder/course/3054 Diploma of Arts Certificate in Theatre www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 31
16th Street Actors Studio (03) 9533 0216 admin@16thstreet.com.au www.16thstreet.com.au Masterclasses, Workshops, Full Time Program, Part Time Program, Technique Classes and Private Coaching 16th Street Actors Studio provides an environment for actors to develop technique, a work ethic and a respect for acting. The studio is supported by local and international industry professionals and teachers who teach specific acting techniques developed by world renowned master teachers. 16th Street Actors Studio have crafted intensive professional training programs for actors on a Full Time and Part Time basis, as well as offering on-going training through their Technique Classes and Private Coaching. To sustain a dynamic career, artists must continue to grow and be challenged. As such, professional development programs are provided for experienced actors through Masterclasses and Workshops with international master teachers. Federation University Arts Academy 1800 FED UNI (1800 333 864) info@federation.edu.au www.federation.edu.au/performingarts Bachelor of Performance Arts - 3 years Immerse yourself in stage and screen acting workshops and voice tutorials, dance and singing classes, performance masterclasses and lectures. From Shakespeare to Sondheim, classic repertoire to newly devised works, join the hothouse of creativity to launch your performance career. You will become a multi-skilled practitioner, able to work in diverse settings including television, theatre, music theatre, opera, film, cabaret, comedy and multi-media performance. Prerequisites: Successful completion of VCE (or equivalent) units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any English, or interstate/overseas equivalent. Applicants are selected by audition and interview (the audition process is managed separately to the application process). The National Theatre Drama School (03) 9534 0223 drama@nationaltheatre.org.au drama.nationaltheatre.org.au Diploma of Acting - 3 years full-time The first year of the course focuses primarily on the physical and vocal development of the actor. Voice classes, moment techniques, the actor's body all form the basis of the initial studies. The concentrated study of text work begins in the second semester of the year. In the second year the techniques of devising original work are added to the on-going text-based practice along with the basic skills and techniques of screen acting, voice and movement classes. Rehearsal techniques for live performance are the focus of the first performance project which takes place in the final term. In the third year the focus is on preparing actors for the industry. Advanced screen acting and audition techniques, refinement of live performance skills and the development of performance creation and presentation techniques are directed towards career development following graduation. Preparatory Course - 6 months part-time The part-time course provides opportunities to experience the range of disciplines and skills needed for a professional career on the stage and screen, before committing to higher level study. Working with respected industry professionals, students undertake classes in movement, voice, improvisation, text study and stage and screen acting. Class sizes are capped so that students receive the maximum attention and encouragement and are given the best chance to fully explore their training potential. Subjects include improvisation, stage acting, text analysis, movement for actors, voice work, industry knowledge and screen acting basics. There are two annual intakes (February and June) and places are allocated by audition in December and May each year. Victorian College of the Arts The University of Melbourne 13 MELB vca.unimelb.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) This course is an intensive conservatoire-style program, focused on the rigorous preparation of actors working across all areas of the profession for stage and screen, including animation and gaming. This dynamic, forward-thinking program 32 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
will nurture a new generation of culturally aware and internationally focused actors for the Asia Pacific region. A studio-based learning environment encourages you to develop holistically as an actor while small class sizes support intensive project-based learning. You will explore current infrastructural, cultural and methodological practices in the profession, and undertake intensive skills training and practice alongside rehearsing for a variety of performance situations. You will be given the opportunity to engage in national and international engagement projects, building on existing expertise and approaches to industry readiness to become an autonomous, ensemble and company actor. As an Acting student you will develop and maintain strong connections with VCA Theatre, Film and Television, and Production students throughout the course. vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-acting/overview Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre) The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre) program trains theatre artists to work across all areas of live performance, including physical theatre, writing, directing, and dramaturgy. This rigorous, conservatoire-style program equips students for a 21st -century career in theatre in the Asia-Pacific. With small class sizes to support intensive project-based learning in theatrical contexts, you will explore current cultural and methodological practices. You will be given the opportunity to engage in national and international engagement projects, building on existing expertise and approaches to industry readiness to become an autonomous, ensemble and company practitioner. Collaborative practice, as an important element of contemporary theatre, is integral to your training. As a Theatre student, you will collaborate throughout the course with VCA students from other disciplines, including Acting, Writing, Directing, Production, and Film and Television. In your first year, you will undertake core subjects in Body and Voice, Acting and Performance, and Contextual Studies along with Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) students. In second year, you will adapt stage and screen material and become familiar with the processes of development, rehearsal, performance, and evaluation, and will develop new work for presentation at a nationally recognised fringe festival. In third year, you will travel overseas as part of the program to develop the work further before presenting in a VCA theatre festival alongside VCA graduate students in Writing and Directing for Performance. Along with BFA (Acting) students you will learn how to develop promotional and technical materials for your own work, and in the final semester pitch to a panel of professional producers at a locally-hosted Performing Arts Market. vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-theatre/overview Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) (Theatre Practice) vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-honours-theatre-practice Master of Fine Arts (Theatre) vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-fine-arts-theatre Doctor of Philosophy (Theatre) vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/doctor-of-philosophy-theatre Act 1 School for Young Actors 0413 877 342 info@act1school.com www.act1school.com Acting Classes for Kids and Teens - 8 week terms Act 1 is the new generation of drama education for kids and teens. With locations in Richmond and Point Cook, on offer is accessible, structured, acting classes for kids and teens. The curriculum is based on years of training, hard work and experience of professional actors. Act 1 teaches the relevant skills needed during rehearsal, on set and in the theatre. A supportive and happy learning environment is provided, where the self-expression of all students is valued and respected, allowing them to build self-esteem and self-confidence. By working with other students as a creative team, problem solving, communication and collaboration skills improve. And best of all, students learn through the exhilarating experience of creative expression.
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Talent Company of Australia (TCA) A division of Stage School Australia (03) 8199 8343 agent@talentcompany.com.au www.talentcompany.com.au Screen Acting Short Courses - 8-10 weeks The TCA has recently introduced Screen Acting Short Courses as ongoing programmes of Stage School Australia. The TCA’s new Short Courses are a great way for young people aged from 10-18 to gain intensive, concentrated learning in Screen Acting techniques. With personalised classes in groups of no more than 14, these weekly sessions provide specific instruction in particular areas of acting. These classes are great for both Drama and Musical Theatre students to learn more of what it takes to succeed on the large and small screens! Acting Performance Studio (03) 9078 1454 info@apstudio.com.au www.actingperformancestudio.com.au Acting classes in Screen, Stage and Musical Theatre - Term based - 1 year Private Tutoring, Workshops and School Holiday Programs. Term courses are suitable for students new to acting through to the more advanced working actor wishing to stay primed. Each term students will explore a range of skills including script analysis, character development, acting techniques, skills for screen tests and camera technique, stage performance, movement and singing. Highly experienced tutors support the training with expert advice and tips, whilst encouraging students to be the very best they can be. Throughout the year the students work towards various performances depending on course, these include original short films, competing in Acting Performance Studio’s own Short Film Festival, showcases and full stage performances. Prerequisites: Actors of all stages in their journey - beginners to advanced. All term classes offer a free trial before you sign up. Part Time Program entry via audition only. Stage School Australia (03) 8199 8344 firstyear@stageschool.com.au www.firstyearperformance.com.au First Year Full Time Performance Intensive Course - 1 year full-time For over twenty years Stage School Australia has provided students with intensive opportunities to rehearse and perform full theatrical productions such as Spring Awakening, Wicked, and Les Misérables and participate in national touring shows of Seussical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Once on this Island. The progression in technique, creativity, and energy when actors are working towards onstage performance seasons is dramatic, and far exceeds the progression you will get from exclusively studio-based training. Stage School Australia’s First Year Performance Intensive course is their first year long programme where performers alternate between intensive studio-based ‘bootcamp’ training, masterclass sessions with industry experts, rehearsals for performance seasons, and show seasons in front of live audiences. Throughout the year students will work with a wide range of industry professionals to hone their skills in different styles of Dance, Voice, Acting, Improvisation, Stage Combat and Accents while building fitness and stamina. Students will be challenged to not only play to their strengths, but to move out of their comfort zone and broaden their artistic range across these disciplines. Over the course of the year students will work on a minimum of 6 different shows including an abridged Broadway musical, an abridged Shakespeare play, a naturalistic drama and a non-naturalistic drama. Performers will also experience the thrill of taking a show ‘on the road’ as part of a regional Victorian tour in the September school holidays. Graduates from this course can expect to be an industry-ready Triple Threat performer with show credits already under your belt. Small class sizes guarantee a personal level of tuition.
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Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Edith Cowan University 134 328 futurestudy@ecu.edu.au waapa.ecu.edu.au Bachelor of Acting - 3 years full-time Studying acting at WAAPA is an inspiring and all-consuming experience. The three year, fulltime Bachelor of Arts (Acting) degree is an intensive conservatoire program that produces graduates who are thoroughly prepared for a career in a wide variety of media, including theatre, television, film and radio, both in Australia and internationally. WAAPA provides a studio-based learning environment where students are encouraged to develop holistically as an actor. WAAPA’s aim is for the actor to be technically adept and have an informed, rigorous outlook that will open the mind and ignite the imagination. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/acting Diploma of Acting - 1 year full-time WAAPA’s Diploma of Acting course prepares students with a range of knowledge and skills to enter the performing arts industry as an actor for roles in theatre productions. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/acting Diploma of Screen Performance - 1 year full-time WAAPA’s Diploma of Screen Performance course focusses on acting for the screen in film and television productions. Students train in a range of performance skills including acting techniques, improvisation, movement, voice production, auditioning and self-testing. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/acting Aboriginal Performance - 1 year full-time This intensive course in acting, dance and singing training prepares Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students for entry into theatre, film, television and radio work, or to audition for ongoing, high-level training. Students undergo training in acting and improvisation, dance and stage movement, voice and singing, script analysis and the audition process. On completion of the course graduates will have integrated performance skills and acquired a knowledge of Indigenous culture in the context of contemporary performance. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/aboriginal-performance Bachelor of Performing Arts - 3 years full-time This degree provides students with a broad, coherent knowledge of the performing arts alongside specialist skills units that explore technical knowledge in more depth. The course is underpinned by core units in creative research and project management skills that are necessary to gain professional employment as a contemporary arts practitioner. The course combines theoretical and technical knowledge of performance and seeks to unlock limitations through practical enquiry. It examines the ever-evolving nature of contemporary practice and new approaches to presentation and production. Students develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills through self-directed projects and highly collaborative group work. Students choose from majors in Performance Making, Practice Transition or Production and Design. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/performing-arts Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School +64 4 381 9251 apply@toiwhakaari.ac.nz www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) - 3 years full-time The Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) is a three year intensive degree programme that is designed to train a Responsive Actor. This is an actor who has the courage, skill and flexibility to meet any opportunity as they build a career in the arts. As an actor in training at Toi Whakaari you will work across screen and live performance in class, studio and realised productions. You will work solo, in ensemble and in collaboration with other training artists in Design, Costume, Management and Set & Props Construction.
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Arts Management
NIDA’s student production of Robert Zucco (2019). Photo: Patrck Boland.
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Australian Institute of Music (02) 9219 5444 enquiries@aim.edu.au www.aim.edu.au/programs Bachelor of Entertainment Management - 3 years full-time This course combines excellent business management education with a creative focus. Course content meets the demands of today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving entertainment industry, examining both the artistic and the commercial sides of the business, as well as exploring the dynamic between the two. The degree has a strong focus on the commercial music industry, but also considers the not-for-profit sector. www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/bachelor-of-entertainment-management Bachelor of Music (Arts Management) - 3 years full-time This degree combines music business AND musical instrument studies. The Entertainment Management teaching staff of AIM are active and successful music industry and entertainment management specialists, with extensive national and international experience. They are highly respected individuals who are passionate about developing talented industry professionals. www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/bachelor-of-music-arts-management University of Technology Sydney School of Business Certificate in Executive Management (Short Course) www.business.uts.edu.au/acem/pdfs/ecem_sydney_brochure_for_web_march12.pdf National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) (02) 9697 7600 info@nida.edu.au www.nida.edu.au Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership) - 30 months part time This course challenges students to question and debate the breadth of issues that we all face in our quest to create a sustainable and diverse future in which culture plays a transformative role. The course is designed specifically for those who have active roles and responsibilities in the cultural sector and aspire to facilitate resilient, new leadership models. It also encourages creative exchange in developing transdisciplinary future scenarios. The course is taught by senior and high level cultural leaders working in the arts industry, supported by senior NIDA academics. Their knowledge and expertise is current and future focused, bringing innovative approaches to creative and professional practice in governance, change management, communication, advocacy, cultural transformation, sustainability, and research generated through practice. A one-month placement with an international cultural organisation is one of the highlights of the program. Graduates have been employed by Queensland Music Festival, Underbelly Festival, Sydney Festival, Australia Council for the Arts, CIRCA, Museums and Galleries Commission, The Australian Ballet, Melbourne Theatre Company, BlakDance, Collusion and the National Gallery of Australia. Prerequisites: Undergraduate degree or at least five years of documented professional experience in the arts, cultural, creative or other relevant sector/s, including evidence of sector leadership experience. nida.edu.au/cultural-leadership Queensland University of Technology Creative Industries Faculty (07) 3138 2000 askqut@qut.edu.au www.qut.edu.au Bachelor of Creative Industries - 3 years full-time This unique course provides diverse knowledge, creativity and practical skills across a range of industries and practice to prepare you for a career as a creative professional. Core units provide well-developed communication, project management and digital media skills, an up-to-date insight into the creative economy, and an appreciation of creative collaboration. Your Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units in your final year will prepare you for your creative career as an entrepreneur, consultant, project manager or creative professional, or give you the hunger for higher degree research. In addition to your creative industries major (13 to choose from) you select a second major to develop a significant depth of knowledge and skill in two discipline areas, including options in business or design. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 37
Alternatively, you might prefer to develop a breadth of knowledge across three discipline areas by adding two minors to your chosen creative industries major. Your combination of study options makes your course unique. www.qut.edu.au/study/courses/bachelor-of-creative-industries Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Creative Industries - 4 years full-time This double degree provides additional Business studies to your Bachelor of Creative Industries, giving you even more flexibility in your career options. Graduates have gone on to work in a diverse range of interesting careers, taking on positions such as: entertainment industries producer events manager entertainment marketing professional www.qut.edu.au/study/courses/bachelor-of-businessbachelor-of-creative-industries University of South Australia Business School (08) 8302 0935 kellie.willason@unisa.edu.au Graduate Diploma and Masters in Cultural Management. In the Graduate Diploma, students will cover arts law, marketing, finance, strategic management, people management, grant writing, managing boards, leadership in the arts, introduction to cultural policy, business planning and other contemporary management issues. The Masters program builds on the Graduate Diploma and can be completed by undertaking additional course work. UniSA graduates work in many and varied positions both in Australia and internationally. Management positions in museums, galleries, symphony orchestras, ballet companies, opera companies, theatre companies and arts centres and festivals are just some of the exciting opportunities open to graduates. programs.unisa.edu.au/public/pcms/program.aspx?pageid=98&sid=608 Music SA (08) 8218 8444 daniel@musicsa.com.au Certificate III In Music Business musicsa.com.au/articles/coursesart/2012/bandmanagement.aspx Victoria University (03) 9919 6100 Bachelor of Business (Music) This course will help you gain a comprehensive understanding of the business of music. You will learn to plan and promote music events, arrange and negotiate deals, and gain a full understanding of the nature of music copyrights. With strong connections with current industry participants, the Bachelor of Business Music Industry specialisation is widely recognised for producing graduates with business acumen and entrepreneurial flair. The Bachelor of Business gives you options to tailor your learning to your specific needs. All students study a common first year which is complemented in second and third years by specialisations in either two business disciplines, or a single specialisation and an area of study. www.vu.edu.au/courses/bachelor-of-business-music-industry-bbus-bspmui Australian Institute of Music (03) 8610 4222 enquiries@aim.edu.au www.aim.edu.au/programs Bachelor of Entertainment Management - 3 years full-time This course combines excellent business management education with a creative focus. Course content meets the demands of today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving entertainment industry, examining both the artistic and the commercial sides of the business, as well as exploring the dynamic between the two. The degree has a strong focus on the commercial music industry, but also considers the not-for-profit sector. www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/bachelor-of-entertainment-management 38 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
Collarts 1300 818 777 info@collarts.edu.au www.collarts.edu.au Bachelor of Applied Business (Entertainment Management) The Bachelor of Applied Business (Entertainment Management) develops a student’s understanding of the business and management side of the music and entertainment industries. Students build their theoretical understanding of event management, business processes, media, accounting and legal studies, while developing strong practical skills and a portfolio of work that will demonstrate experience in these fields. The Degree can be completed in six trimesters (two years) of full-time study. Throughout the Degree, you will: Work on industry projects with musicians and audio producers; Manage, promote and produce live events; Develop an in-depth understanding of publicity, marketing and the media; Gain knowledge and experience in artist and tour management; Secure valuable insight into the entertainment industry and access career pathways; Undertake a 60-hour work placement. Diploma of Applied Business (Entertainment Management) The Diploma of Applied Business (Entertainment Management) provides students with a fundamental understanding of the business and management side of the music and entertainment industries. The Diploma can be completed in two trimesters of full-time study and you have the opportunity to progress into the Bachelor Degree (subject to academic performance). Throughout the Diploma, you will: Work with musicians and audio producers; Plan, manage and promote live events; Develop a foundational understanding of publicity, marketing and the media; Gain knowledge and experience in artist and tour management; Secure valuable insight into the music and entertainment industries. Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Edith Cowan University 134 328 futurestudy@ecu.edu.au waapa.ecu.edu.au Bachelor of Arts Management - 3 years full-time This degree produces versatile graduates who are industry-ready for exciting and challenging careers as arts managers in the arts and entertainment industries. The course has strong links with industry, allowing students to undertake internships as a part of their coursework. In their final year, students undertake a 10-week internship in an arts organisation of their choice, either local, national or international. WAAPA Arts Management graduates hold senior management and marketing positions at prestigious arts and entertainment organisations and businesses throughout the world including Opera Australia, AKA Australia, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, Bell Shakespeare, Mullinars Casting, Sydney Opera House and WA Opera. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/arts-management Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School +64 4 381 9251 apply@toiwhakaari.ac.nz www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz Bachelor of Performing Arts (Management) - 3 years Toi’s Bachelor of Performing Arts (Management) programme covers management practice in production areas of events, live performance and screen. It is about active integrated management. Performing arts managers are the leaders of teams and the initiators of process. The three year programme was instituted in 2004 and was the first of its kind in New Zealand. Their graduates are innovators and leaders of performance practice in New Zealand and internationally. They are collaborative practitioners with developed interpersonal skills who can adapt to a variety of contexts and transfer their practice across sectors of the performing arts and creative industries. The learning in the programme covers management contexts including stage and production management, producing, marketing, fundraising and sponsorship, events and technical management. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 39
Circus
Ariel’s Dream (2009). NICA
National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) (03) 9214 6975 info@nica.com.au nica.com.au Bachelor of Circus Arts (BA-CIRCA1) - 3 years full-time The Bachelor of Circus Arts extends the boundaries of circus as an art form and creates work which is innovative and inspiring. The elite, three-year degree produces employable, skilled and creative artists who are respected nationally and internationally in the global circus and physical theatre industry. NICA students have opportunities to perform in a range of public performances directed by leading national and international circus directors. NICA students perform in a range of public performances directed by leading international circus directors. Subject areas: Circus foundation skills including tumbling, handstands, flexibility, manipulation, aerial and partner work Group acts incorporating adagio, aerial, juggling, hoop-diving and teeterboard Circus specialties such as: trapeze, tissu, rope, handstands, tightwire, contortion, Chinese pole, rolla bolla, juggling, hula hoops, and clowning Fitness, strength and conditioning for circus artists Performance skills incorporating improvisation, acting, vocal techniques and approaches to devising innovative performances Movement skills encompassing ballet, contemporary dance, improvisation, contact and composition Circus history and cultural studies Circus business and career management Technical aspects of circus production, equipment and safety in the circus environment Anatomy, physiology, nutrition and sports psychology for circus artists. Prerequisites: The successful completion of Year 12 or equivalent is the minimum required educational qualification. Entry into NICA is by audition, interview and successful completion of a medical assessment. Applicants must apply to audition. Applicants should have a background in areas such as performing arts, physical theatre, youth circus, diving, dance, martial arts, acrobatic sports or gymnastics.
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Certificate IV in Circus Arts (10111NAT) - 1 year full-time The Certificate IV in Circus Arts provides an introductory experience into high performance circus arts training and develops the skills and knowledge required to begin the journey into circus arts as a career. This course is suitable for aspiring circus artists seeking a more structured training program, a qualification or a pathway for further learning. Students will learn the skills required to develop their own specific training program for their area of specialisation, improve the required foundation skills for a range of solo and group specialisations and create and perform in an ensemble circus performance. The course provides an excellent focussed experience to equip students with the knowledge and skills to audition for the Bachelor of Circus Arts. NICA’s Certificate IV course is nationally recognised. Training Organisation Identifier (TOID): 3059. Subject areas: Circus foundation skills including tumbling, handstands, flexibility, manipulation, aerial and partner work Group acts incorporating adagio, aerial, juggling, hoop-diving and teeterboard Circus specialties such as: trapeze, tissu, rope, handstands, tightwire, contortion, Chinese pole, rolla bolla, juggling, hula hoops, and clowning Fitness, strength and conditioning for circus artists Performance skills and movement skills for circus artists Anatomy, physiology, nutrition and sports psychology for circus artists Safety in the circus environment Circus history, traditions and practice. Prerequisites: Entry into the Certificate IV in Circus is by successful completion of application, audition, interview and medical assessment. Participants must have demonstrated competencies in learning, reading, writing, oracy and numeracy to Level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). It is recommended that students have completed Year 12 or equivalent and have a background in areas such as performing arts, physical theatre, youth circus, dance, martial arts, gymnastics or other competitive level sport. Circus WA 0435 374 492 discover@circuswa.com www.circuswa.com Term and School Holiday Classes A fun and social circus experience for all students and participants, allowing those who wish to pursue a career in circus the chance to do so, but enabling those who desire to enjoy circus as a hobby the opportunity to learn skills in a safe environment. Classes for all ages and all abilities from 2+ years to professional performers - and the basis of all classes is about the spirit of community, skill exploration, development and having fun! Circus WA believes in allowing students to flourish at their own pace in a non competitive and nurturing environment. Prerequisites: Please refer to the classes page on their website Circa Training Centre Phone: (07) 3852 3110 hello@circa.org.au circa.org.au/training-centre Circus Courses - 12 weeks Circa Contemporary Circus is one of the world’s leading performance companies - since 2004 they’ve toured around the world performing in more than 40 countries to over a million people. From their home-base in Brisbane, Circa’s Training Centre offers a range of courses for adults, children and young people to train where their world famous acrobats do. Their courses cover circus basics, ground acrobatics, aerials, creative development, and physical fitness as well as opportunities to join Circa’s elite youth ensemble, Circa Zoo. With 10 week courses designed to cater for all ages and skill levels, Circa’s Training Centre is a hub for focusing on progression to improve your circus kills, learn something new and get fit. Prerequisites: Please refer to website for individual course requirements
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Costumes/Props/ Sets Design and Making
Design Department at WAAPA. Photo: Stephen Heath.
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Behind The Scenes At WAAPA Behind every great show, be it live theatre, concerts, events, film or television, there is an army of talented creatives, designing and building the sets, costumes, props, scenery, lighting and sound. WAAPA provides Production & Design students with a greatest diversity of ‘on-the job’ theatrical experiences. Enjoy this photo gallery of students involved in WAAPA’s production of Strictly Ballroom The Musical.
Production photos: Jon Green.
Behind-the-scenes photos: Stephen Heath.
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Venice Inspires Physical Theatre
Online extras!
Check out a trailer for Make A Scene’s Pinocchio. Scan the QR code or visit https://vimeo.com/282116338
44 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
Stage Whispers chats to Rosa Campagnaro, the founder and director of Make A Scene, a theatre arts education company specialising in Commedia dell’Arte performances and training in schools. Stage Whispers: How did Make A Scene start? Rosa Campagnaro: I was inspired to start the company in 2003 while visiting Venice, my father’s hometown. I stumbled across Venezia InScena, a school dedicated to Commedia dell’Arte, and here my passion began. The training continued with Norman Taylor (Jacques Lecoq technique) and Giovanni Fusetti (Bouffon) - teachers who have greatly influenced my approach to theatre training and performance. SW: How are you coping in 2020? RC: It’s actually our 10th year anniversary and despite the challenges we’re facing as a result of COVID-19, we still have lots to celebrate: incursions to hundreds of schools, a company of super talented performers and two published plays through Currency Press. We may be in iso but we’re using the time for inspo getting ready to take off once restrictions lift. In the meantime, we’ve been busily creating teachers’ resources and the word on the street is - they’re pretty fabulous! (see testimonial) SW: Can you explain how incursions support learning? RC: Our shows and workshops tick all the boxes for commedia: exaggerated stylised physical comedy, audience interaction, improvisation and use of mask. Students experience performances with high production values by skilled professional actors - it is accessible, inspiring and encourages students to try it out themselves. SW: Tell us a little about your solo adaptation of Collodi’s Pinocchio. RC: We are proud of this show that features commedia conventions and masks. A fantastic team brought their expertise to develop this magical piece, with original music and a whimsical interactive set. The show works for
Find teachers resources, workshop info, and tour dates at makeascene.com.au info@makeascene.com.au primary and secondary students - with lessons on empathy and resilience, and for older levels - lots to analyse about the creative playmaking process. SW: How do the performances apply across the school curriculum? RC: The skills learned through commedia are transferable to other styles and there are opportunities for cross-curricular learning and groupbased projects: studying and making masks in Art; looking at the style and culture in History; or learning the Italian language through visual storytelling and gesture. In English, students can write commedia playscripts they’ve developed through improvisation, or study the choreography of commedia as a form of Dance. We’re also all about supporting teachers with professional learning sessions, our publications and teachers’ resources.
This image and opposite page: Jasper Foley in Make A Scene’s Pinocchio. Photo: Lisa Businovski.
“I purchased the digital pack for $60 and I can't rave enough. The package has links to professional clips by the actors showing individual physical offers based on the lesson plan. It is well laid out into 14 lessons... that is less than $5 a lesson ready to go, with questions, clips, activities, and deep contextual knowledge. I am supporting my students learning and a small independent theatre company.” - Andrew Benson (Newtown High School for the Performing Arts)
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National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) (02) 9697 7600 info@nida.edu.au www.nida.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Costume) - 3 years full-time This course trains students in every aspect of the techniquesÂ- traditional, digital, research and management- for the creation and construction of costumes. In addition to honing their techniques in the workshop, students apply their learning throughout the course by working in roles of increasing seniority on different productions and projects. Students learn all the techniques and tools of a costume professional, including costume construction, tailoring, pattern making, period cutting, draping, costume management, art finishing, fabric dyeing, millinery, shoe-making, corsetry, stretchwear and leatherwork, as well as budget management and how to supervise a costume department. As the course progresses, students apply their skills in increasingly complex situations through practical workshops, exhibitions, installations, short film, theatre and research projects. From their very first semester, students will play key roles in NIDA’s large-scale productions, collaborating with actors, set and costume designers as costume assistants, dressers, costume makers and art finishers. By third year, students will supervise their own team as costume supervisors. The tutors for this course are some of the most experienced specialists in the industry, and all students spend at least 320 hours on industry placements across theatre, film, television and/or entertainment, providing further opportunity for students to forge creative networks and graduate feeling confident, employable and well-connected. Graduates have been employed by Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, Sydney Theatre Company, Cosprop (London), Bangarra Dance Theatre and on movies such as The Dressmaker, Peter Rabbit and Aqua Man. nida.edu.au/costume Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design for Performance) - 3 years full-time This immersive course provides students with an unparalleled amount of face-to-face contact and support as they develop their costume, set, properties and lighting design skills through practice-based learning, intellectual enquiry and technical methods. Students are equipped with technical skills such as rendering, virtual visualisation techniques, manual drafting, computeraided drafting, drawing and pre-visualisation as they investigate the social, historical and cultural contexts of contemporary design, architecture, performance, fashion and art. Throughout the degree, students take their skills from the studio to the stage, applying their learning as key members of many different creative teams. They frequently work on projects with students from NIDA’s other disciplines, and provide major designs for productions, short films, music video, exhibitions, devised works, installations and industry collaborations. In their final year, each student undertakes an industry placement with a major performing arts organisation or similar, where they are paired with a professional design mentor. NIDA Design graduates have won numerous Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, AACTA Awards, APDG Awards, Green Room and Sydney Theatre Awards. Alumni include Kym Barrett - Costume Designer of Aquaman, The Amazing SpiderMan, The Matrix, Romeo + Juliet; Fiona Crombie - Production Designer of The King, The Favourite, Snowtown; Catherine Martin - Producer and Costume Designer of The Great Gatsby and Moulin Rouge! nida.edu.au/design Bachelor of Fine Arts (Properties and Objects) - 3 years full-time In this course students are stimulated to become a professional artist and maker in the arts and entertainment industries through practice-based learning. Throughout their course, students learn logistical, resource and project management skills as they explore the production of a wide variety of artisanal objects. Students begin learning the foundational processes required to develop an idea or design and go on explore twodimensional and three-dimensional techniques. These include hand drawing, sculpting, metalwork, woodwork, leatherwork, mould-making and casting, pattern-making, scenic art, technical drawing, model making and digital graphics. As they progress, students apply their knowledge of properties and objects in a variety of artistic contexts. This includes costume jewellery, architectural models, electronics, joinery set-dressing, film studies, puppetry, computer-aided design and 3D modelling for visualisation and digital fabrication. In their final busy year, students develop their own masterwork presentation, supervise the properties and objects within a live production at NIDA and complete a student placement with a national or international industry-leading performing arts company. Previous placements include major theatre companies, film production companies, TV channels and festivals in Sydney, Human Dynamo Wellington New Zealand and Cirque du Soleil, Perth. 46 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
Graduates have been employed by Cirque du Soleil, Creature Technology Company, Weta Workshops, Handspring Puppet Company, Aardman, Erth Visual and Physical Inc., Sydney Theatre Company and Opera Australia. nida.edu.au/properties-and-objects Bachelor of Fine Arts (Scenic Construction And Technologies) - 3 years full-time The only set construction and supervision course of its kind offered in Australia, and one of only a few available worldwide, this internationally recognised course is immersive and practice-based. The course equips students with an understanding of all aspects of staging, to create the environments in which performances take place including current staging practice, stage engineering, stage rigging and automation, and risk and project management, as well as a broader theoretical and contextual knowledge of theatre, arts and culture. During their first year, students study timber and metal fabrication, rigging, mechanics, drafting, computer-aided design and stage machinery, among other related areas. In their second year, students design and realise solutions to specified staging challenges, and explore the world of automation and control. In their third year, students act as construction managers or technical managers for NIDA’s full-scale productions, working alongside fellow students to bring scenic concepts to life. Industry placements with a leading production company give students hands on experience, a broader understanding of the live performance industry, and a chance to create contacts and networks for their future professional development. Graduates have been employed by The Commonwealth Games, Opera Australia, Sydney Theatre Company, Stage Kings and TDC Technical Direction Company. nida.edu.au/staging Master of Fine Arts (Design for Performance) - 15 months full time This course forms the capstone of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design for Performance), and expands the practice of design graduates and professionals. Students have comprised professionals and graduates from areas such as architecture, visual arts, fashion, lighting, interiors, technical theatre, or properties and objects. With an unparalleled amount of face-to-face contact, support and a uniquely intense mentorship program, this course is for people seeking to expand their technical and theoretical understanding of performance design. Students specialise in up to two majors from set, costume, lighting and/or video design. The degree centres around three major projects in which students design NIDA’s large-scale productions, collaborating with guest directors, writers, performers and other creative professionals and students. As key members of a creative team, students develop the ability to make meaningful, well-informed design choices, and gain the practical skills to plan, develop and realize them. Students are encouraged to foster their own artistic identity and practice, and the course is designed around each individual’s design practice and goals. In their final trimester, students embark on an international field trip, with professional placements at prestigious arts organisations such as the English National Opera and Music Hall Belgium, or with international designers, including NIDA alumni around the world. NIDA Design graduates have won numerous Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, AACTA Awards, APDG Awards, Green Room and Sydney Theatre Awards. Alumni include Kym Barrett - Costume Designer of Aquaman, The Amazing SpiderMan, The Matrix, Romeo + Juliet; Fiona Crombie - Production Designer of The King, The Favourite, Snowtown; Catherine Martin - Producer and Costume Designer of The Great Gatsby and Moulin Rouge! Prerequisites: Undergraduate degree in design or related discipline or at least five years of documented professional experience in design, preferably within a performance context. nida.edu.au/design-for-performance Victorian College of the Arts The University of Melbourne 13 MELB vca.unimelb.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production) Students major in one of three areas: Performance Technology, Stage Management or Design Realisation, whilst still being exposed to all aspects of performance production - set, costume, lighting, multimedia and sound technology and design, workshop and costume construction, and stage and production management. Intensive delivery of skills and practice takes place through studio based training and direct application of these skills to rehearsals and productions. The course provides students with the opportunity to participate in productions staged within the VCA - in the School of Performing Arts (collaborations with Dance and Theatre) and Music Theatre projects; and beyond the VCA through projects and secondments with professional companies. Graduates of this course have a tradition of high employment success. Graduates demonstrate capacities for artistic imagination, creativity, transformation and interpretation. They work at various levels, both as an individual and as a team member, in a wide variety of visual/performing arts environments including: work on large-scale events; major www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 47
festivals; theatre, dance and music theatre productions. vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-production/overview Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) (Production) vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-honours-production/overview Master of Design for Performance vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-design-for-performance/overview Masters of Fine Arts (Production) vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-fine-arts-production/overview Doctor of Philosophy (Production) vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/doctor-of-philosophy-production Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Edith Cowan University 134 328 futurestudy@ecu.edu.au waapa.ecu.edu.au WAAPA provides Production and Design students with the greatest diversity of ‘on-the-job’ theatrical experiences. Students have access to simulated industry training in the design, construction and management of the Academy’s annual repertoire of 35-plus productions, utilising WAAPA’s diverse performance venues, as well as numerous external performance spaces. WAAPA’s professionally staffed and equipped workshop and wardrobe facilities, along with state-of-the-art lighting and sound studios, give students immediate ‘hands-on’ access to all production development, construction and staging processes associated with the most up-to-date industry expectations and practice. This prepares graduates for a seamless transition into a wide range of careers within the creative and technical industries, both nationally and abroad. WAAPA offers a two year, full-time course with a three-semester articulation to a degree in each of the following disciplines: Costume www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/production-and-design/costume Design www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/production-and-design/design Lighting www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/production-and-design/lighting Props & Scenery www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/production-and-design/props-and-scenery Sound www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/production-and-design/sound Stage Management www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/production-and-design/stage-management Adelaide College of the Arts TAFE SA (08) 8463 5000 arts.adl@tafesa.edu.au acarts.edu.au Adelaide College of the Arts courses in stage management, audio/sound, lighting, staging and vision, set props and scenic art give you a great foundation for a professional career in the entertainment, arts, events and related industries. You will collaborate with performing artists on several acting and dance shows each year, and technicians also work on live music performances. 48 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
Certificate III in Live Production and Services (CUA30413) Backstage careers start with this course which is available in three streams: lighting, sound, staging and vision, set building, props making and scenic art, stage management. Certificate IV in Live Production and Technical Services (CUA40413) This course prepares you for a career in the entertainment, performing arts, concert, film production, festivals and events industries. You can choose one of the following study streams: construction (props, set, scenic art), design (props, set, scenic art, costume, and design), stage management (audio/sound, lighting, staging, props, stage management) and technical (audio/sound, lighting, and staging). Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services (CUA50413) This qualification will prepare you for employment in leadership roles in the entertainment, performing arts, concert, film production, festivals and events industries. Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School +64 4 381 9251 apply@toiwhakaari.ac.nz www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz Diploma in Costume Construction for Theatre, Film and Allied Industries - 2 years The Diploma in Costume Construction is the only tertiary course in New Zealand that specialises in costume construction for stage and screen. The course is taught by some of today’s best industry professionals and aims to provide students with skills in all forms of costume construction and production, leading to employment in film, theatre and allied industries. The Diploma is a full-time, two year, intensive vocational and highly practical course covering all aspects of costume work. The second year involves students undertaking industry secondments with professional performing arts organisations in their particular area of interest. This includes areas like film, commercials and theatre. Bachelor of Design (Stage and Screen) - 3 years The Bachelor of Design is an undergraduate degree programme. It has a focus on creating designers who are independent thinkers and innovative practitioners, equipped to work in New Zealand and internationally. Strong links with industry practitioners keep their projects realistic. Class sizes are small to create a rich learning experience. As a design student, you will learn through practical projects; testing and analysing. You will spend your days in the design studio and on productions for film and live performance. Diploma in Scenic Construction and Properties - 2 years Set & Props is a new two year practical course leading to The New Zealand Diploma in Scenic Construction & Properties. The course sits alongside Toi Whakaari’s other specialist programmes, enabling students to experience the interdisciplinary collaboration required to be a successful maker in the industry. Toi’s close links to industry professionals ensures that the skills taught are relevant and current and that students get a chance to see how professionals approach their work. Graduates will leave with a wide range of construction and finishing skills. They’ll be able to organise and manage a construction process, have strong team working skills and meet deadlines. They’ll be ready to work as independent contractors, flexible in their approach and motivated to achieve to a high standard.
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Dance
Saturday Night Fever.
Brent Street (02) 8323 6666 reception@brentstreet.com.au brentstreet.com.au Certificate IV in Dance (CUA40113) - Brent Street on the Gold Coast Prerequisites: Have a moderate level of physical fitness; have training or experience in either dance, singing or acting. Brent Street Academy (Year 9-12) Brent Street Academy + Cert IV in Dance (CUA40113) (students must be going in to Year 11 in 2020, course is split over Year 11 & 12) Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) - Focusing on Contemporary (CUA50113) Prerequisites: Have a high level of physical fitness; have training or experience in classical ballet or contemporary. Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) - Focusing on Performing Arts (CUA50113) Prerequisites: Have a high level of physical fitness; have training or experience in jazz, ballet or contemporary. National College of Dance (RTO 91281) (02) 4952 9294 vicki@nationalcollegeofdance.com www.nationalcollegeofdance.com Certificate III in Dance (Classical, Contemporary and Commercial streams available) - 1 year Certificate IV in Dance (Classical, Contemporary and Commercial streams available) - 1 year
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Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) (Classical, Contemporary and Commercial streams available) - 1 year Each stream has individualised course content specifically designed to provide students the highest level of training material available which will develop each dancer in their chosen genre. All streams complete units in Classical Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Choreography, Anatomy, Nutrition, Body Conditioning, Career Planning, Performance and Audition Preparation, Partnering, Repertoire and Private Coaching. Units selected in each of the Certificate and Diploma courses are a reflection of NCD’s focus in preparing students for a professional career in dance for their chosen stream. Prerequisites: Requires a classical ballet level of intermediate (RAD) or equivalent to audition. Urban Dance Centre (02) 9571 7099 info@urbandance.com.au www.urbandance.com.au Certificate IV in Performing Arts (69818) Duration: 1 year full time and follows the school calendar terms. The intensive training follows the normal school week from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday - Friday. Some weekends are required throughout the year to prepare for performances, workshops or other events. youtu.be/fngFRUpIfJ4 Subject Areas: Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, JFH, Tap, Acrobatics, Break dance, Kicks Turns Jumps, Pilates, Performance, Acting, Singing, Nutrition, Presentation, Mock Auditions CV/Resume/Audition Preparation, Head Shots and In-house Agency Auditions. UDC training focuses on individual performance and technique, audition preparation and professional live and film performances. Most importantly students have access to cutting edge Australian Industry professionals to international guests and the best Australian Dance Agents. urbandance.com.au/udc/courses/certificate-iv Village Performing Arts Centre 1300 788 440 info@villagepa.com www.villagepa.com Certificate IV in Performing Arts (Dance) (CUA40111) - 1 year The Village Full Time Program is a one-year intensive performing arts training course unique to the Village, covering all genres of Performing Arts. Course includes classes in, but not limited to: Jazz, Singing (Vocal Repertoire), Tap, Classical Ballet, Acting (TV/Film/Stage), Hip Hop/JFH, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acrobatics, Latin/Ballroom, Aerial (Silks, Trapeze). VPAC are currently offering the Certificate IV in Performing Arts (Dance). Qualifications are delivered in partnership with the Australian Teachers of Dancing. (RTO# 31624) All classes are taught by the country’s best choreographers, directors, performers and teachers as well as specialty classes such as modelling, health and nutrition, audition technique and industry lectures. Village Performing Arts Centre boasts Australia’s Leading entertainment industry professionals as its teachers. Australian Performing Arts Network (02) 9209 3067 enquiries@apanacademy.com.au www.apanacademy.com.au APAN academy delivers state of the art, industry current performing arts skills and knowledge. APAN Academy delivers a multi-disciplinary training to produce triple threat performers who are attractively employable within the industry. Dance styles include Hip Hop, Classical, Commercial Dance, Tap, Lyrical, Acting, Vocal, Musical Theatre, Conditioning, Performance, Nutrition, Independent Business studies and much more. The trainers in all genres have a wide range of actual industry performance experience with many having performed on International and National tours. The trainers and teachers know what the industry needs on a professional level and they give students a degree of training that provides them with the greatest chance of success. Certificate II in Dance (CUA20113) - 12 months part time Certificate II in Dance will be delivered through intensive school holiday workshops and training blocks throughout the year. The units of competency from Certificate II attained by students in years 10, 11 or 12 can contribute towards the achievement of a West Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). This offers a great opportunity for students to attain 52 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
the qualification whilst completing their studies at school. The course commences mid-January to be completed midDecember. Commitment to all training blocks, performances and intensives is essential to cover the required hours. Membership to APAN is also a requirement as this will cover the performance requirements of the course. Prerequisites: Group audition/interview, Year 10 completion. Certificate III in Dance (CUA30113) - 12/24 months part time Certificate III in Dance is a part-time course that runs on a school term basis over a period of thirty-eight weeks. Students will have the opportunity to train in current commercial trends and experience a wide field of performance opportunities. Dance subjects include jazz, hip hop, commercial, tap, classical, contemporary and choreographic aspects. This course is aimed at those students wanting to develop their skills and knowledge in preparation for full time training. The units of competency from Certificate III attained by students in years 10, 11 or 12 can contribute towards the achievement of a West Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). This offers a great opportunity for students to attain the qualification whilst completing their studies at school. Prerequisites: Group audition/interview, Year 10 completion, Competency of Certificate II level. Certificate IV in Dance (CUA40113) - 12 months full time Certificate IV in Dance is a full-time course that runs over the course of one year. The units are bundled to provide the student with an all-round knowledge of performing arts specializing in dance. This course includes a strong, all round training with a variety of local and interstate trainers. APAN strives to be WA’s most diverse training facility in current dance trends and commercial focus. Dance Majors will have a strong all round focus paying particular attention to all styles of dancing including jazz, hip hop, commercial, street, tap, acrobatics, classical, lyrical and contemporary styles. They will be trained in areas of acting, voice and musical theatre to increase vocational pathways for the future. Prerequisites: Solo audition, Interview, Group vocal check, Year 11 completion, Competency of Certificate III level. Diploma in Dance (CUA50113) - 12 months full time Diploma in Dance is full time course from February to December. The course is designed to provide the student with an in -depth study in their specialty area; to extend and challenge them in their chosen field and equip them to be artists with the necessary skills to be independent and versatile performers in a competitive industry. Dance Majors will have a strong all round focus into all styles of dancing with an emphasis on strengthening technique and artistry in contemporary, classical and jazz. The course includes exciting aspects of business, choreography, self-development and performance skills. By invitation only, Diploma graduates will have the opportunity to complete an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts (specialising in Commercial Dance) the following year. Prerequisites: Solo auditions, Interview, Group vocal check, Year 11 completion, Competency of Certificate IV level. Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts (Commercial Dance) (52781WA) - 24 months full time Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts (Commercial Dance) is a full time course that runs over two years. The units are delivered to provide a cohesive study of all areas of performance arts specializing in dance. This course includes strong specialised training with a variety of local and interstate trainers. The last term of each year is dedicated to a professional showcase of the student’s work attracting agents and training institutions from all around Australia. Dance Majors will have a strong all round focus paying particular details to commercial jazz and lyrical specialisation. This includes subjects of acting and singing, jazz, classical and tap, hip hop, acrobatics, business, musical theatre and corporate skills. Prerequisites: Solo auditions, Interview, Group vocal check, Year 11 completion, Competency of Certificate IV/Diploma level. Certificate IV in Musical Theatre (CUA40513) - 12 months full-time / 24 months part-time Certificate IV in Musical Theatre units are bundled to provide the student with an all-round knowledge of performing arts with a speciality in their chosen major. Students will have the opportunity to train in current commercial trends and experience a wide field of performance and practical opportunities. Musical Theatre majors will have a strong focus on acting, and vocal techniques along with selected dance genres and artist self development. APAN strives to be the state’s most diverse training facility in current performance trends and focus. Prerequisites: Audition, Interview, Open Dance audition, Year 11 completion, CUAWH5302 or equivalent. Diploma in Musical Theatre (CUA50213) - 12 months full-time Diploma in Musical Theatre is a full time course that runs from Feb- Dec. The course is designed to provide the student with an in-depth study in their specialty area; to extend and challenge them in their chosen field and equip them to be artists with the necessary skills to be independent and versatile performers in a competitive industry. Musical Theatre Majors will have a strong focus on vocal and acting skills, performance practices, partnering and dance along with business aspects, artist self-development and performance skills. By invitation only, Diploma graduates will have the opportunity to complete an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts (specialising in Musical Theatre) the following year. Prerequisites: Audition, Interview, Open Movement audition, Year 11 completion. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 53
Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) (52781WA) - 24 months full-time Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) is a full time course that runs for two years. The units are clustered to provide students with an in depth study in all areas- specializing in a triple threat. This course includes a strong, specialised training with a variety of local and interstate trainers. Students will have the opportunity to train in current commercial trends and experience a wide field of performance and practical opportunities. Musical Theatre Majors will have a strong all round focus paying particular details to musical theatre specialisation. This includes acting and voice, music and aural training, audition technique and repertoire building with extensive training for dance in jazz, classical and tap. Prerequisites: Audition, Interview, Group vocal check, Audition, Year 11 completion, Strong foundation of technique in two dance disciplines at Certificate IV/Diploma level. ED5INTERNATIONAL (02) 9746 0848 fulltime@ed5international.com.au www.ed5international.com.au Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts (10149NAT) - 2 years full-time ED5INTERNATIONAL offer their accredited Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts, celebrating its 20-year milestone in 2020, guided by William A. Forsythe with founders Elena & Mario De Cinque. Graduates perform in Musical Theatre, Television, stage, theme parks, overseas contracts, cruise ships and a multitude of other entertainment arenas. The course is designed for students who aspire to work in the entertainment industry. The course consists of 17 units of competency which include: Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Singing, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acting, Group Harmonies, Repertoire, Performance Coaching, Cabaret, Lyrical, Nutrition, History of Musical Theatre, Music Theory, Anatomy, Image Management, Make-up, Acrobatics, Improvisation, Choreography, Audition Technique, Mock Audition Class, Heels, Strength and Conditioning, Yogo, Cardio, Pilates, Swing Class and more. Prerequisites: Acceptance into the course is by audition only. Applicants must be of school leaving age. Queensland University of Technology Creative Industries Faculty (07) 3138 2000 askqut@qut.edu.au www.qut.edu.au/study/study-areas/study-dance Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) - 3 years full-time The dance program at QUT leads the way in developing the creative passions of future dance professionals who aspire to careers outside of dance performance in fields such as dance teaching, choreography, research and academia, community arts practice, and arts management. Students are taught by an internationally recognised faculty of permanent staff and visiting specialists, and you will benefit from partnerships with organisations such as Expressions Dance Company, the Queensland Ballet and the Royal Academy of Dance (UK). Graduates move into careers as dance teachers in schools (with a graduate-entry teacher education course), private studios, universities, and professional dance company education programs, as well as choreographers, dance researchers and academics, dance journalists, festival and community project directors and producers, independent dance practitioners, arts administrators, and dance health professionals (with further specialised training). www.qut.edu.au/study/courses/bachelor-of-fine-arts/bachelor-of-fine-arts-dance Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance Performance) - 3 years full-time The dance performance program at QUT boasts an enviable reputation. It combines a rigorous fulltime dance training course with academic studies at degree level, and is designed for young aspiring dancers who enjoy being challenged, are passionate about a career as a dancer, and willing to commit their energies to full-time training at university level. This course offers intensive daily training in the core techniques of ballet and contemporary dance supported by weekly duo, pas de deux, pointe, male coaching classes, Pilates, yoga and alternative dance and body conditioning styles - making you internationally competitive. Technology is integrated with choreographic workshops including a broad spectrum of screen studies. You will benefit from partnerships with organisations such as Expressions Dance Company, the Queensland Ballet and the Royal Academy of Dance (UK). Many graduates achieve outstanding recognition as performers and choreographers throughout their careers throughout Australia and internationally in major professional dance companies, dance education organisations, musicals, commercial environments and as independent artists. Pathways exist to postgraduate study and this course can be followed with a graduate-entry teacher education program to allow you to become a qualified teacher. www.qut.edu.au/study/courses/bachelor-of-fine-arts/bachelor-of-fine-arts-dance-performance
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Academy of Dance & Music Theatre (ADMT) (07) 3195 7086 apply@admt.com.au www.admt.com.au Certificate III in Dance (CUA30113) - 12 months full-time or 18 months part-time Certificate IV in Dance (CUA40113) - 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time Certificate IV in Musical Theatre (CUA40513) - 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management (CUA40313) - 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time Diploma of Musical Theatre (CUA50213) - 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time In today’s society, it is not enough to be a master in just one style as performers are frequently asked and expected to be across multiple genres and step out of their comfort zone for many projects. ADMT promises to provide the skills, knowledge and experience you need to accelerate your career journey to professional performing artist. Whether you want to develop your practical skills to move directly into the workforce, transition to university to further your studies or want to supplement your higher years of learning with recognised VET courses. Through studying with ADMT, you will develop focus, dedication and lifelong skills that will serve you in all avenues of your career making you a sought after working professional performer. Prerequisites: Interview & audition process required for all courses. Studies with ADMT are conducted under a partnership with Australian Teachers of Dancing (RTO31624) Deakin University 1300 334 733 enquire@deakin.edu.au www.deakin.edu.au Bachelor of Creative Arts (Dance) - 3 years The Bachelor of Creative Arts (Dance) enables you to develop practical skills in contemporary technique and choreography, with theoretical studies in dance history, analysis and aesthetics. A production and research project in the final year will help develop specific skills and place the work in a public context. www.deakin.edu.au/future-students/courses/course.php?course=A356 Box Hill Institute of TAFE 1300 BOX HILL (1300 269 445) info@boxhill.edu.au Diploma of Dance (Teaching and Management) www.bhtafe.edu.au/courses/local/Pages/DAN50.aspx Victorian College of the Arts The University of Melbourne 13 MELB vca.unimelb.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) - 3 years full-time The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) builds on an international reputation for performance-focused dance training. It attracts highly motivated, disciplined and creative dancers who are interested in shaping the future of Australian dance. Dancers are trained for the technical demands and creative challenges of careers in dance. The course develops technically strong, kinaesthically aware dance artists through specialist training in contemporary dance, classical ballet, dance science and somatic practices, choreography and performance. New works by professional Australian and international choreographers provide invaluable performance experience and interaction with the dance profession. Graduates of the program work as dancers and choreographers in Australian and international contexts. vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-dance/overview Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) (Dance) - 1 year full-time vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-honours-dance/overview Master of Dance - 1.5 years full-time vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-dance/overview Master of Fine Arts (Dance) - 2 years full-time vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-fine-arts-dance/overview www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 55
The Australian Ballet School (03) 9669 2807 ask@australianballetschool.com.au www.australianballetschool.com.au Levels 5 & 6: Diploma of Dance - Elite Performance (CUA50113) Levels 5 & 6 comprise the Diploma of Dance. This is national qualification studied in conjunction with year 10 and year 11 academic studies including allied subjects such as Music, Performance Psychology, Nutrition and Cultural Studies. Level 7: Advanced Diploma of Dance - Elite Performance (CUA60113) Students in Level 7 enrol in the Advanced Diploma of Dance, a national qualification combining comprehensive dance training with a strong onsite academic programme. The course focus is on technical training and artistic development, preparing students for the dance profession. Students also complete their secondary schooling, gaining the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). Level 8: Graduate Diploma of Classical Ballet (10296NAT) Level 8 students enrol in The Australian Ballet School’s accredited Graduate Diploma of Classical Ballet. This qualification prepares students for the dance profession at a virtuoso level by refining their dance technique and developing their professional skills through career development activities and performances, including a secondment with The Australian Ballet’s Regional Tour, The Dancers Company. The Dancers Company Level 8 students, in their graduating year of the School join The Australian Ballet Regional Tour, as The Dancers Company. Level 8 students who meet the artistic and technical standards required by the Company, join with artists of The Australian Ballet for approximately eight weeks per year, taking the highest quality dance productions to audiences and regions outside the major capital cities of Australia. This integral part of The Australian Ballet and The Australian Ballet School’s training programme, provides exceptional professional performing opportunities for talented dancers who are on the threshold of their careers. Graduate Diploma of Elite Dance Instruction (10689NAT) (Teacher’s Course) The course structure includes a strong focus on the methodology of vocational dance training, based on an eight level system derived from the Vaganova method. This eight level system draws upon traditional classical technique, preserving the best that was formed by our predecessors, while being sympathetic to the demands of classical dance technique necessary for today’s professional artists. This is enhanced with the study of pedagogy, music, anatomy, nutrition, body conditioning, psychology and professional development planning. An extensive part of the course structure is a practicum component, providing hands on experience for all course participants. Dance World (03) 9696 2943 info@danceworldstudios.com Dance World Studios, a division of APO Arts Academy, provides industry focused training in the areas of Musical Theatre and Dance. Courses have a strong focus on practical components and are performance based; supported by allied studies and theoretical units. On completion of their training, students will have the option of entering the professional industry or pursuing further training at higher levels. In either case, the training, facilities, staff and resources are provided to assist students in realising their own potential. Advanced Diploma Of Dance (Elite Performance) - 2 years full-time Diploma Of Dance (Elite Performance) - 2 years full-time Diploma Of Dance (Classical Ballet) (Elite Performance) - 2 years full-time Certificate IV In Dance - 1 year full-time Certificate III In Dance - 1 year part-time Certificate II In Dance - 1 year part-time www.danceworldstudios.com/FullTimeDanceCourses.html
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Dance Factory (03) 9429 9492 dancefac@netspace.net.au www.dancefactory.com.au/courses/full-time Dance Factory offers Government funded, fully accredited, Dance, Musical Theatre and Teaching courses, thanks to the Victorian Government’s Skills First training initiative. This funding initiative together with Dance Factory’s proven history of quality training and graduate employment offers a unique opportunity to those wishing to create a career in Dance and Dance teaching, from as little as $1,800 per year. Dance Factory offers the widest range of commercial dance, musical theatre and dance teaching courses in Australia, which means that it can provide dance education that exactly matches a person’s standards and abilities, as well as their goals and ambitions. This combined with its outstanding graduate history, which sees Dance Factory graduates performing across Australia, Asia, the West End, New York, cruise ships, Universal Studios and Disneyland, not to mention teaching, choreographing and producing across Australia and internationally, means that Dance Factory still remains a leader Australian dance education. Certificate II in Dance (CUA20113) - 6 months full-time or 1 year part-time Certificate III in Dance (CUA30113) - 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time Prerequisite: Certificate II in Dance or equivalent or minimum 2 years dance training Certificate III in Assistant Dance Teaching (CUA30313) - 1 year full time or 2 years part time Prerequisite: Certificate II in Dance or equivalent or minimum 2 years dance training Certificate IV in Dance (CUA40113) - 1 year full time or 2 years part time Prerequisite: Certificate III in Dance or equivalent or minimum 4 years Jazz and 2 years Ballet training or equivalent Certificate IV in Dance Teaching & Management (CUA40313) - 1 year full time or 2 years part time Prerequisite: Certificate III in Dance or equivalent or minimum 4 years Jazz training and 2 years Ballet training or equivalent Diploma of Musical Theatre (CUA50213) - 1 year full time or 2 years part time Prerequisite: Certificate IV in Dance (CUA40113) or equivalent Diploma of Dance Teaching & Management (CUA50313) - 1 year full time or 2 years part time Prerequisite: Certificate IV in Dance (CUA40113) and Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management (CUA40313) or equivalent Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) (CUA50113) - 1 year full time or 2 years part time Prerequisite: Certificate IV in Dance (CUA40113) or equivalent Spectrum Dance (03) 9830 6588 | 0499 901 393 ftc@spectrumdance.com.au www.spectrumdance.com.au Spectrum Dance is a professional program which offers immersive courses where performers are prepared for immediate entry into the industry. Spectrum Dance courses draws on the students’ strengths, and nurtures their weaknesses to produce accomplished performers, with technique grounded in knowledge, creativity, and exploration. With resident faculty, and guest lecturers, Spectrum creates an authentic environment, where the students are taught by current industry creatives establishing invaluable contacts before even graduating. The key to students' success is to provide individually tailored training that develops advanced performance techniques in all facets of dance, singing and acting. In addition to these core skills, Spectrum Dance provide opportunities to engage in the entertainment industry, through an Industry Based Learning program with Spectrum Talent Agency, placing students at the forefront of their peers. The directors Trish Squire-Rogers and Katie Rappel work closely with their faculty of highly acclaimed dancers, choreographers and instructors to deliver the most outstanding accredited full-time dance courses within Australia. Spectrum Professional Program - 12 months The Spectrum Professional Program is an exclusive program designed for students who are ready to make an immediate www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 57
entry into the dance and entertainment industry. They provide the individual student with a personally tailored program that develops and advances the students through performance, semi-professional experience, industry connections and business management techniques. Students will graduate well rehearsed, and ready for employment in this demanding and exclusive industry. Certificate III in Dance (CUA30113) - 12 months As an entry level program the Certificate III in Dance provides the foundational skills to aspiring performers. Students are given the opportunity to explore and develop a range of dance genres. Certificate qualifications awarded by Swinburne University of Technology RTO 3059 delivered by Spectrum Dance. Certificate IV in Dance (CUA40113) - 12 months The Certificate IV in Dance provides graduates with the necessary skills and experience so that they may be employed in a variety of dance performance contexts. This qualification reflects the role of individuals working in a wide variety of dance performance contexts. They apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems and analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources. They may provide leadership and guidance to others and have limited responsibility for the output of others. Certificate qualifications awarded by Swinburne University of Technology RTO 3059 delivered by Spectrum Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) (CUA50113) - 12 months The Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) is a technical and performance focused course delivered at an advanced level of training. Subject areas are delivered in a greater depth of study with an emphasis on choreography, improvisational, solo performance and ensemble techniques. Graduates of the Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) are currently working in top venues in Australia on stage and television and on cruise ship contracts all over the world. Diploma qualification is awarded by Australian Teachers of Dancing (ATOD) RTO# 31624 and delivered by Spectrum Dance. Patrick Studios Australia (03) 9681 8856 info@patrickstudiosaustralia.com.au www.patrickstudiosaustralia.com.au Full Time Performing Arts (Certificate II, III, IV in Dance) - 2 years A full time professional development program which caters for dancers seeking a career in the industry; not dancers looking for a career in teaching. It is a 100% practical dance course based on the industry's needs. This course is designed to train and develop dancers in the areas of strength, flexibility, technique and creative expression. Training in all styles of dance including jazz, ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, lyrical, tap and acrobatics is given. Group vocal lessons and compulsory onsite gym/pilates training are also enforced. Entry is highly competitive and is based on auditions. Applications can be made on www.patrickstudiosaustralia.com.au. Limited scholarship offers are available. Certificate II, III & IV in dance and Diploma of Musical Theatre - 2 years A full time professional development program, in liaison with Swinburne University, catering to dancers and performers seeking an exceptional career in the arts industry. It is a 100% practical course based on the industry's needs making it physically and mentally demanding, with entrance being highly competitive. Course covers; Ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre. Vocal development including vocal alchemy classes, acting techniques, repertoire, and musical theatre and audition skills. Prerequisites: Prior dance and vocal training is desirable, but not compulsory. An equivalent of year 10 education or higher. Stage School Australia (03) 8199 8344 firstyear@stageschool.com.au www.firstyearperformance.com.au First Year Full Time Performance Intensive Course - 1 year full-time For over twenty years Stage School Australia has provided students with intensive opportunities to rehearse and perform full theatrical productions such as Spring Awakening, Wicked, and Les MisÊrables and participate in national touring shows of Seussical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Once on this Island. The progression in technique, creativity, and energy when actors are working towards onstage performance seasons is dramatic, and far exceeds the progression you will get from exclusively studio-based training. Stage School Australia’s First Year Performance Intensive course is their first year long programme where performers 58 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
alternate between intensive studio-based ‘bootcamp’ training, masterclass sessions with industry experts, rehearsals for performance seasons, and show seasons in front of live audiences. Throughout the year students will work with a wide range of industry professionals to hone their skills in different styles of Dance, Voice, Acting, Improvisation, Stage Combat and Accents while building fitness and stamina. Students will be challenged to not only play to their strengths, but to move out of their comfort zone and broaden their artistic range across these disciplines. Over the course of the year students will work on a minimum of 6 different shows including an abridged Broadway musical, an abridged Shakespeare play, a naturalistic drama and a non-naturalistic drama. Performers will also experience the thrill of taking a show ‘on the road’ as part of a regional Victorian tour in the September school holidays. Graduates from this course can expect to be an industry-ready Triple Threat performer with show credits already under your belt. Small class sizes guarantee a personal level of tuition. Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Edith Cowan University 134 328 futurestudy@ecu.edu.au waapa.ecu.edu.au WAAPA’s Dance programs train classical and contemporary dance artists by utilising teaching methods designed to develop and refine the skills of each individual. The courses offer a breadth that is unique to WAAPA and prepare students for a seamless transition into a wide range of careers within the profession. WAAPA’s Dance programs are intensive and performance based, with students averaging 35-40 contact hours per week. In addition to daily tuition from professionally credentialed teaching staff, three performance seasons per year give students the opportunity to work with visiting national and international choreographers. Recent guest choreographers include Rafael Bonachela, Jayne Smeulders, Richard Cilli and Nils Christe. Students also regularly participate in national and international tours, further enhancing their skills and enriching their cultural experience.
WAAPA 2nd and 3rd year production of Verge (2018). Photo: Stephen Heath.
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WAAPA offers a mix of vocational dance courses and degree programs. All are full-time and range from two to three years in duration. Graduates of the Advanced Diploma can articulate into the Bachelor of Arts (Dance) program. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/dance Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) Advanced Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) Bachelor of Arts (Dance) Bachelor of Arts (Dance) Honours Master of Arts (Performing Arts) Principal Academy of Dance & Theatre Arts (08) 9228 8600 admin@principalacademy.wa.edu.au www.principalacademy.wa.edu.au Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts - 1 Year Principal Academy encourages a life-long commitment to the performing arts. It provides rigorous, unsurpassed training to career-focused aspiring performers. The Academy provides nationally accredited courses from Certificate II to Advanced Diploma and is approved to offer VET -FEE HELP to assist students with paying their fees. Students have the option to major in dance, musical theatre or acting, choosing a path that builds on existing abilities. Courses are designed to ultimately strengthen all three disciplines to produce true “triple-threat” performers. A comprehensive range of units is available within the structure of each course, creating highly skilled and versatile graduates, armed with a valuable competitive advantage when entering the industry. Thanks to this approach, previous graduates have forged successful careers in musical theatre, touring productions, cruise ships, film and television. Entry to all courses are by audition only which are held December each year. Adelaide College of the Arts TAFE SA (08) 8463 5000 arts.adl@tafesa.edu.au acarts.edu.au Adelaide College of the Arts is a centre of excellence in the performing arts, and has achieved a reputation for success in placing dance graduates with major companies in Australia and overseas. The Bachelor of Creative Arts (Dance) is a degree in elite dance performance and will draw on the strengths and reputation of Adelaide College of the Arts and Flinders University to deliver a premiere degree. Peter Sheedy, Lecturer in Contemporary Dance Studies: ‘Adelaide College of the Arts has very close connections with the industry’s current choreographers. They have collaborated with the Australian Dance Theatre and have been very successful in gaining employment for their dancers. They have dancers in Sydney Dance, DanceNorth and working all around the country in both big and small companies and in the independent scene. Anyone coming into the course can be assured that they will attain those connections and find those networks to be able to access the industry. Flinders University and Adelaide College of the Arts TAFE SA (08) 8463 5000 arts.adl@tafesa.edu.au flinders.edu.au/dance Bachelor of Creative Arts (Dance) (UNIFL0001) Flinders University’s Bachelor of Creative Arts (Dance), offered in collaboration with TAFE SA through Adelaide College of the Arts, will equip you with elite professional dance skills as well as providing you with excellent theoretical knowledge. You will cover areas such as dance technique, devised movement practices, dance project realisation, choreography and stage performance, and emerge with all the makings of a successful professional dancer. This degree is the only one of its kind in South Australia and has an exciting partnership with the Australian Dance Theatre. 60 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
WAAPA 2nd and 3rd year production of Strictly Ballroom (2019). Photo: Kathy Wheatley.
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Directing National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) (02) 9697 7600 info@nida.edu.au www.nida.edu.au Master of Fine Arts (Directing) - 15 months full time This immersive course enables talented, early career practitioners to master the directing process. It places strong emphasis on the collaborative role of a director by focusing on methods of communication with actors, designers, stage managers, playwrights and other creative team members. Students are trained in the theory and practice of directing processes, dramaturgy, devising, scenography, music video direction, performance technology and critical thought. Throughout the course students engage with leading industry tutors and companies, both nationally and internationally. Subjects include Directing Techniques, Directing Practice, Scenography, Dramaturgy, Contextualising Practice, Generating Research through Practice. The course culminates in the direction of a short play, or film, in a season at NIDA. Through multiple live theatre and screen projects, the course challenges students to create and express their own artistic vision and connect with contemporary audiences. Applicants should note that the course may involve some interstate travel and will include an international learning experience with the airfare and a capped contribution to expenses provided by NIDA. Previous field trips and learning experiences include theatre companies, TV channels and festivals in Sydney, Adelaide Festival and Fringe Festival, Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts Brisbane, Russian University of Theatre Arts (GITIS) and Theatertreffen Festival Berlin. Graduates have been employed by Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir St Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Opera Australia, Warner Brothers Entertainment, Bazmark Films. Prerequisites: Undergraduate degree or five years of professional experience in an area relevant to directing. nida.edu.au/directing Flinders Drama Centre Flinders University (08) 8201 2578 drama@flinders.edu.au flinders.edu.au/drama
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Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) - 3 years The aim of the course is to prepare students for a professional life by equipping students with basic professional skills in the areas of major employment in the entertainment industry: realistic acting techniques, acting for screen, directing for theatre and screen, and music theatre introducing students to areas of development and increasing importance in the Australian industry: post-modern performance techniques, intercultural performance, and the interface between live performance and multimedia
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encouraging all students to work as conceptual artists through courses specialising in techniques of group devising, auto-performance and scriptwriting  developing in students, through a comprehensive history and theory stream, an awareness of the relevance of these discourses to professional practice. www.flinders.edu.au/courses/rules/undergrad/bca/bca-drama.cfm##courseaims Victorian College of the Arts The University of Melbourne 13 MELB vca.unimelb.edu.au Master Of Directing For Performance The Master of Directing for Performance is designed to develop your in-depth knowledge and skills of directing, and provide a framework to identify and reflect on your own practice as a director, performance-maker, collaborator and researcher. The program opens up a broad range of individual career pathways into contemporary performance practice through directing and performance making, practice-led research, and applied performance in intercultural and community engagement contexts. The VCA offers a unique environment for you to develop an individual approach to directing live performances and creative leadership in an environment of interdisciplinary and intercultural learning. You will experience a wide range of collaborative opportunities and leadership roles with designers, actors, production teams, writers, dramaturgs and choreographers at the VCA, as well as a range of creative encounters with local, national and international artists, organisations and communities. The program is delivered through lab-based workshops, seminars, lectures, self-directed exercises, tutorials, practical master classes, and national and international internships. It balances theory and practice across four semesters, to allow for progression from the intensively-taught, skills-based first year, to a more autonomous, project-orientated second year which culminates in an independent, practice-led research performance project or written dissertation. The program actively encourages intercultural and international training and research experiences through fieldwork in the second year of the course. vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-directing-for-performance/overview VCA 2018 production of Peter Pan. Photo: Drew Echberg.
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Drama/Education/High Schools
NIDA production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Photo: Lisa Maree Williams.
Many universities offer academic study of Drama/Theatre/Dance. It is most commonly taken as part of a Bachelor of Arts and can be a prerequisite for becoming a drama teacher. More details can be found here. www.adsa.edu.au/membership/current-members Sydney University Department of Theatre and Performance Studies sydney.edu.au/arts/performance Theatre and Performance Studies considers the whole extended field of aesthetic, social and everyday performance across a range of cultural and historical contexts: from theatre, dance, popular music and contemporary performance through to the performative dimensions of rituals, sport, politics and the law. This is an exciting area of interdisciplinary study (drawing, for instance, on anthropology, history, cultural studies, theatre studies, musicology, dance and movement studies) to seek to explain the phenomenon of performance as a complex, collaborative endeavour, involving performers and audiences alike in the production of meaning, feelings, a view of the world as it is and as it might otherwise be. University of New South Wales Theatre and Performance Studies sam.arts.unsw.edu.au/disciplines/theatre-performance/about Theatre and Performance Studies at UNSW examines how the theatrical and performing arts reflect and shape our sense of who we are. They study theatre and performance history and current trends, and deeply explore contemporary theatre and performance culture. Theatre and Performance Studies engages with both theory and practice, and subjects the entire spectrum of human performance to critical examination. The focus includes new, hybrid and technologically advanced modes of performance, combining practical experimentation with intellectual exploration. UNSW scholars have particular expertise in contemporary performance theory and practice, 20th century European drama, theatre and dance theatre, live art and physical theatres, contemporary dance, multimedia performance, live entertainment and popular culture, and the relation of performance to other visual cultures, with close reference to Australian work across a range of genres. UNSW scored 5 out of 5 in the 2012 Excellence in Research for Australia in Performing Arts. Theatre and Performance Studies is offered as a major or minor in the Bachelor of Arts and other combined programs and as a supervision area in the Master of Arts by Research and Doctor of Philosophy programs. The unique combination 64 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
of theory and practice is supported by the Creative Practice Lab, a specialised unit that supports teaching and practice-led research, and carried out in a number of well-equipped teaching, studios and workshop spaces at the university. Macquarie University Bachelor of Arts with a major in Dance and Performance This major assumes a wide definition of dance and performance, and students are encouraged to study broadly. This program considers not just the aesthetic dimension of dance and performance, but also their social, cultural, historical, and metaphorical frameworks. To develop confidence in working independently as artists, you are given opportunities to explore your own dance and performance making, combining theoretical and conceptual understandings with practical production experience. courses.mq.edu.au/undergraduate/degree/bachelor-of-arts/major-in-dance-and-performance Charles Sturt University Performing Arts 1800 275 278 www.csu.edu.au/contacts/enquiry Bachelor of Creative Industries (Acting and Performance Design) - 3 years Studies in acting, voice and movement offers a busy and practical program to learn the skills of a professional performer. These skills are applied to mainstage theatre, studio and screen productions collaborating with design and screen production students. Prerequisites: Audition and/or interviews. futurestudents.csu.edu.au/courses/communication-creative/bachelor-creative-industries-acting-performance Bachelor of Creative Industries (Film, Television, Screen and Media) - 3 years Studies in set, props, costume, lighting and sound design as well as theatre management offer a busy and practical program to learn the skills of the design team in both stage and screen productions. Collaborating with acting and screen production students to learn in real world environments. Prerequisites: None. futurestudents.csu.edu.au/courses/communication-creative/bachelor-creative-industries-screen-media Bachelor of Theatre Media Become an engaging and unique storyteller with CSU's Bachelor of Communication (Theatre Media). When you study theatre media with CSU you will gain the opportunity to create, produce, design, perform and manage original creative projects and events from start to finish, working across live and digital platforms. Prerequisites: Audition and/or interviews. futurestudents.csu.edu.au/courses/communication-creative/bachelor-theatre-media University of New England www.une.edu.au/about-une/academic-schools/school-of-arts/study-areas/theatre-studies The Bachelor of Theatre and Performance, the Bachelor of Arts (Theatre) and the Master of Applied Theatre Studies at UNE are unique courses in both practical and theoretical aspects of theatre. They are offered full-time and part-time, to both on- and off-campus students. The Theatre and Performance program at UNE is relevant to almost everyone, from those students who want to gain some experience in public speaking, oral communication and presentation through to experienced theatre practitioners and teachers who want to enhance and enrich their knowledge and professional skills. The Bachelor of Theatre and Performance examines theatre through a balance of theory and practice, and from many points of view. Different units of study focus on the roles of the actor, playwright, director, dramaturg, critic, theatre historian, scholar, teacher and audience. They look at Australian theatre and world theatre, at popular and classic forms. Australian Performing Arts Grammar School - APGS (02) 9158 5123 admin@apgs.nsw.edu.au apgs.nsw.edu.au Dance, Drama, Music & Visual Arts - High school Years 7-12 Students study specialised Performing Arts subjects across four streams; music, drama, dance and visual arts. They also complete the NSW standard curriculum requirements and achieve their HSC. Academic subjects offered include: Mathematics, English, Geography, History, Biology, PDHPE, Music, Visual Arts, French, Business Studies, Dance, Drama, www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 65
Modern History and Science. Current Performing Arts electives include; Songwriting & Practical Musicianship, Introduction to Musicianship, Songwriting/Arranging, Vocal Ensemble, Contemporary Music Ensemble Skills, Percussion Company, Vocal Techniques and Styles, Contemporary Instrumental Company, Vocal performance Company, contemporary Ballet, Self-Devised Composition and Choreography, Musical Theatre Company, Musical Theatre Technique, Contemporary Dance, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Drama Company, Scene work and Individual performance, Clowning and Movement for Actors, Set Design, Film Making and Body of Artwork. Prerequisites: Application by audition. University of Tasmania School Of Creative Arts And Media (03) 6324 4400 CAM.Inveresk@utas.edu.au utas.edu.au/theatre Bachelor of Arts (Theatre and Performance) - 3 years full-time Performance Skills: What foundational skills does a performer need? Leading theatre performers make the craft seem effortless. These two units build on one another, offering a practical exploration of foundational performance skills, including movement, voice and space, in diverse performance contexts. The Theatre Machine: The theatre machine is a device to make sense of the world, generating meaningful experiences for audiences. It is a complex system balancing diverse artistic forms, media and technologies. Explore the theatre machine from the perspective of design and technology required to achieve a production design. Playing Text: This unit explores the ways that dramatic texts ‘speak’ as documents for performance. By exploring a number of texts, both classical and contemporary, you will encounter the range of interpretive practices that move the text from page to stage, while developing your own interpretive performances. Experimental Productions: The Experimental Production units are dedicated to the development, rehearsal and performance of a complete theatre production. Classes are conducted as rehearsals of a performance text selected and directed by your lecturer who will lead the ensemble in the creation of an innovative performance. Global Media and Cybertheatres: What does it mean to act in a global media landscape? In this unit, you will examine the evolving relationship between theatre and technology, exploring how performance can offer new ways to understand, critique, and engage with global media networks as well as generate new paradigms of performance. Scenography and Design: How do theatre design and scenography create performance environments that both convey meaning and generate performance? From costume, lighting and sound design, to the integration of visual and aural elements, explore how technical elements are painted on the performance space and performer. Prerequisites: Pre-tertiary drama is recommended but not compulsory. Deakin University Faculty of Arts and Education www.deakin.edu.au/study-at-deakin/find-a-course/drama Drama at Deakin specialises in marrying practice and theory. Drama students learn about the history and theory of drama, theatre and performance by making drama, theatre and performance. Monash University Centre for Theatre and Performance. artsonline.monash.edu.au/theatre-performance The degrees offered by CTP explore theatre and performance in theory and practice, balancing performance opportunities with a challenging academic program. There are two strands: one aims to create theatre-makers and the other explores different historical and contemporary performance traditions and practices. In both, focus is on the study of the past, present and future of the performance. SEDA 1300 117 332 info@sedagroup.com.au www.sedagroup.com.au All SEDA students also undertake VET Certificates which contribute to their Senior Secondary Certificate and develop their industry specific credentials, allowing them to transition into work or further study. 66 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
With strong connection to industry, students develop initiative, communication, leadership, resilience and critical thinking skills. This provides SEDA graduates with the opportunity to gain employment across numerous industries. In the final year of the program, students study a Diploma of Screen and Media. Students who successfully complete their Diploma, have the opportunity to gain direct entry into one of a range of courses offered by SEDA’s partner universities. Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) 1300 725 709 office@ameb.edu.au www.ameb.edu.au All instruments, speech and Drama As one of the most respected bodies in this field AMEB's qualifications are recognised as a national benchmark across Australia. AMEB examinations are based on syllabuses designed by leading scholars and performers, regularly updated to ensure that they reflect an appropriate range of performance skills and the latest musicological research. The content of these syllabuses is, wherever practical, published in affordable editions, ensuring that the cost to students of acquiring a full range of the set pieces is as simple and inexpensive as possible. What is offered: A qualification that is widely recognised and respected The only examination body with formal links to major Australian universities and Ministers for Education The most widely-used assessment system for Music, Speech and Drama in Australia Assessment from the preliminary to diploma level Highly-trained examiners who are specialists in their instrument Detailed written reports for practical examinations Fresh and accessible syllabuses developed in consultation with teachers, parents and students A wide range of repertoire available in the manual lists, in addition to AMEB publications Local teacher support and networks Quality publications The University of Queensland www.uq.edu.au/study/plan.html?acad_plan=DRAMAX2052 Part of Bachelor of Arts Honours The Honours program in Drama provides an understanding of the theatrical, and theoretical aspects of drama, from medieval street theatre, to the most recent Australian and European drama. The focus is on combining historical awareness with a framework for practical applications. The study of drama at honours level provides an enhanced context for understanding, analysing, and creating performance. The main aims of the Honours year are: To enable students with an adequate background in Drama to pursue further study in one specialist area in more depth than is possible with a pass degree. To enhance students' capacity for independent research and to acquire research skills appropriate to their area of specialisation. To train to a standard sufficient for enrolment in postgraduate research degrees, and for a specialist career. Achievement of first class or IIA honours allows direct entry to a PhD program. An Honours year in Drama will focus on developing and consolidating the knowledge and skills acquired during undergraduate study, with particular emphasis on utilising those skills in a sustained and purposeful way by conducting independent research. Apart from content knowledge, employers and professionals value both the reliability and capacity for independent work, and the skill at writing substantial reports which are demonstrated by successful completion of Honours. Curtin University Performance Studies courses.curtin.edu.au/course_overview/undergraduate/performance Bachelor of Arts (Humanities) - BA(Curtin) - MJRU-PERFS This major provides you with critical skills, theoretical understanding, practical training and experience in the fields of theatre and performance. You will develop skills in areas of theatre and performance practice, including acting and performance, directing, writing, devising, dramaturgy, critical analysis, stage management and theatre production. You will be able to learn from artists in residence and their professional production experiences. The extensive public production program by the on-campus Hayman Theatre Company presents you with the ideal chance to apply your skills and knowledge. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 67
Students perform six major productions each year ranging from Shakespeare to contemporary Australian or international works in the on-campus theatre, and also at venues around Perth. Each year ends with a Hayman Theatre pantomime. Performance studies is offered as part of the Bachelor of Arts. You can enhance your studies with a secondary major or choose from a range of elective units to support your career goals. Murdoch University www.murdoch.edu.au/Courses/Theatre-and-Drama Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theatre and Drama The Theatre and Drama major will give you the perfect start into a world of drama. You will be taught by professionals who not only teach theatre and drama, but who are actively working and producing in Perth and beyond. They will provide you with the practice-based knowledge and skills to pursue your passion with creative vision and professional discipline. You can focus on specialising in acting, production, lighting, stage management or design. You will learn about the historical foundations of drama and theatre, as well as the most innovative and challenging contemporary work; you will be taught analytical and critical skills with which to develop your own ideas and theories. You will also be given the opportunity to enjoy the great literature of the world, and to write your own work. When you graduate you will be a versatile and informed practitioner; skilled at debating, analysing, arguing and communicating effectively. University of Notre Dame www.nd.edu.au/fremantle/schools/arts_sciences/theatre_studies.shtml Theatre Studies at Notre Dame is an engaging, creative and academically rigorous program which provides students with opportunities for study in acting, directing, theatre crafts, communications and literature. The Theatre Studies program offers a combination of practical and theoretical learning and will be of real use to students in their professional lives. It is especially good in combination with such other discipline areas as English Literature and Communications and Media, and will equip students for graduate work in education, acting and directing. The Theatre Studies program also provides a pathway to further study, including postgraduate opportunities in Arts management, directing and broadcasting. Flinders University www.flinders.edu.au/courses/undergrad/majors/drama.cfm Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) The Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) aims to develop the creative, practical, critical and collaborative skills required to pursue a career in the performing arts in Australia. Throughout the course you will combine practical training with a major sequence in an area of drama theory and electives of your choice. You will develop generic skills such as independent thinking, critical evaluation and the ability to do research that will greatly increase your employment prospects in a very competitive environment. Massey University Expressive Arts www.massey.ac.nz/massey/learning/departments/school-of-humanities/study/programme.cfm? prog_id=93330&major_code=2523 Expressive Arts Expressive Arts is an interdisciplinary programme that comprises three major discipline areas: theatre arts, creative writing and media practice. Expressive arts papers can be taken as a major or minor within the Bachelor of Communications, as part of an English or Media Studies major/minor in the Bachelor of Arts, or as elective subjects. The programme explores the importance of artistic expression and the value of creative communication. There is an interest in some of the fundamental questions that have traditionally underscored studies in the humanities: aesthetics, emotion, beauty, truth, identity and what it means to be human in the 21st century. Expressive arts explores these questions in relation to principles of creative processes, aesthetic dynamics, and notions of cultural citizenship. The programme equally values the roles of creative activity and critical enquiry in offering ‘ways of knowing’ that can help us to better communicate and understand important issues facing our globe, our nation, our home, and ourselves. 68 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
The curriculum offers a balance of artistic practice and scholarly research. Papers are taught by subject lecturers who are practicing artists in their fields who are equipped to help you develop critical thinking, research and interpretation skills, as well as practical proficiencies in creative communication and expression. If you want to develop your artistic literacy or your practical creative skills, if you are an aspiring cultural producer and have a novel, a poem, a play, or a film that you have always wanted to produce, then expressive arts is the programme for you. The University of Auckland 0800 61 62 63 auckland.ac.nz Drama exists as texts which we can study, but is only fully realised when that text becomes live in performance. The study of drama is therefore academic (the analysis of texts) and creative (acting, designing, writing and directing). Drama is an ideal medium for addressing issues of contemporary relevance and debate. Historical and ancient dramatic texts are also often updated to the technology and conventions of modern theatre. An understanding of historical and cultural changes in theatre is therefore necessary to all practical drama. Undergraduate and postgraduate courses are available. arts.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/subjects-and-courses/drama.html Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Graduate Diploma in Arts Master of Arts Postgraduate Diploma in Arts You can make a real difference in your students' learning through being a great teacher and there are a range of programmes to get you there. auckland.ac.nz/en/education/study-with-us/study-options/programmes-by-area-of-interest/teaching-and-education/teacher-education.html Master of Education Master of Professional Studies in Education Master of Arts in Education Bachelor of Education (Teaching) (Honours) Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Education Postgraduate Diploma in Education The University of Waikato Theatre Studies www.waikato.ac.nz/study/subjects/thst.shtml In Theatre Studies you learn about performance, the evolution of theatre and the creation of performance works. In Aotearoa/New Zealand there are examples of many forms of theatrical performance, both established and traditional, and also new and experimental. The live encounter at the centre of a performance makes theatre unique, and it is this uniqueness which shapes the nature of Theatre Studies at Waikato. The Theatre Studies programme uses a theory-through-practice approach to teaching and learning. A major in Theatre Studies is a rich and challenging pathway to an undergraduate Arts degree which can have a wide range of vocational applications. Many papers offer the opportunity for a focused practical study of performance, while others offer analytical approaches to the theories which have informed practice over the centuries. Two papers have public performance seasons as their main outcomes and the study process is closely linked to the process of page-to-stage, or idea-to-stage, which creates the performance. The practical tutorials, seminars and rehearsals take place in the theatre laboratory space, The New Place Theatre/Te Tapere Hou, and/or The Playhouse Theatre at the purpose-built Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, which is also the venue for public performances. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 69
NIDA’s The Roaring Girl. Image courtesy of NIDA. Photo: Lisa Maree Williams.
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Make Up
Sydney College of Makeup Art 0423 428 534 Info@sydneycollegeofmakeupart.com.au www.makeupcourse.com.au Certificate II of Makeup - Part-time Certificate IV of Makeup - Full-time or part-time Diploma of Makeup - Full-time or part-time Various shorts courses in makeup - Full-time or part-time National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) (02) 9697 7600 info@nida.edu.au www.nida.edu.au Vocational Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Make-Up Services) (CUA51015) - 1 year full-time This practical and intensive training provides you with the skills and knowledge to design and apply make-up, style hair, create wigs and design and make special effects and prosthetics. Training is industry-driven with content delivered by practising professionals and guest tutors. The course is supported by Pinchgut Opera and includes site visits to the Opera Centre and City Recital Hall. Throughout the course, you will have opportunities to apply your skills on live performance or film projects, collaborating with students from NIDA’s other creative disciplines in an environment that mirrors the make-up and live performance industries. The course includes placement on student productions which are at the heart of NIDA’s calendar year, and around which all disciplines of the school unite. This gives you the opportunity to work with NIDA tutors and industry guests, and to collaborate with NIDA’s Musical Theatre, Acting, Design for Performance and Directing students. Assessments take place throughout the course, allowing you to build on the skills you develop. Classes are practical, providing you with a hands-on approach to learning The course culminates in a presentation of a live and filmed showcase of your work in one of the NIDA theatres, attended by entertainment industry practitioners, producers and agents. nida.edu.au/make-up Victoria University (03) 9919 4000 www.vu.edu.au Diploma of Specialist Make-Up Services Diploma of Specialist Make-Up Services is a must for those serious about pursuing a career in make-up. Learn how to style wigs and hairpieces apply specialised make-up for bridal, photographic, theatre, period, special effects, television, film and fashion. You will be qualified to work as a make-up/hair stylist/designer, special make-up effects artist/designer, freelance TV, theatre and film make-up artist. www.vu.edu.au/courses/diploma-of-specialist-make-up-services-cuf50407
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Music
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Australian National University music.anu.edu.au Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Science (Psychology) Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Asian Studies Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Asian Studies (Specialist) Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Music The School of Music is a unique place to study. Graduate fields of study include, but are not limited to: Australian indigenous music, including cultural performance Composition, including Australian composition Ethnomusicology, including applied and cultural performance Folk music Jazz composition, Improvisation and performance Music business, policy and administration Music curation, including musical instrument, audio-visual, and digital curation Music pedagogies and cognition Music technologies and media musicology Music theory, analysis, and semiotics Popular music Professional performance, including historically-informed classical performance Australian Institute of Music (02) 9219 5444 enquiries@aim.edu.au www.aim.edu.au/programs Bachelor of Music (Classical) - 3 years full-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/bachelor-of-music-classical Bachelor of Music (Contemporary) - 3 years full-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/bachelor-of-music-contemporary Bachelor of Music (Composition & Music Production) - 3 years full-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/bachelor-of-music-composition-and-music-production Diploma of Music - 2 years full-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/diploma-of-music Master of Music - 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/postgraduate/master-of-music Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) (02) 9310 3111 admissions@ampa.edu.au www.ampa.edu.au Associate Degree of Music (Performance) - 4 trimesters full-time www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 73
All
Lachie Alexander.
Online extras!
Join Lachie and the JMI faculty for a sultry jazz showcase performance. https://youtu.be/m_mxvB6kEMg
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I remember the exact moment I knew that I was going to do jazz for the rest of my life. I was scrolling through Spotify for something to listen to, and then remembered that my teacher recommended ‘Autumn Leaves’ played by Cannonball Adderley on the album Somethin’ Else. The moment I heard Miles and Cannonball playing together with that band - that was it really. I decided in Grade 7 to go to university for music. I was so excited that I could do something like that after high school. I auditioned for other places and studied French at another university but in 2017 I was told about JMI by some friends of mine and decided to audition. My main goal was to just play music at university but JMI introduced me to more than I could’ve imagined. At JMI you can’t help but leave every day with even more passion for it than the day before. There’s nothing like learning from the best in the business. The best part of the course is the principal study sessions, because the musicians teaching at JMI are some of the best jazz players in Australia. I still walk through the halls and get nervous because one of my favourite jazz singers, Kristin Berardi, is just down the hallway teaching at JMI! I feel like I really have the hang of getting the most out of my one on one lessons as well and I’m improving faster than I ever have. What keeps Lachie motivated? I am learning John Coltrane’s solo on
That Jazz Saxophone player Lachie Alexander remembers the exact moment he knew he was going to play jazz for the rest of this life. Now in his third year of a Bachelor of Music course at the Jazz Music Institute (JMI), he explains that his passion for the saxophone has only grown over time. ‘My Shining Hour’ and Johnny Griffin’s on ‘Rhythmn-a-ning’ -two very intense players and for very different reasons - so I’m having a lot of fun broadening my playing by adopting their different techniques. I’m training myself to be able to concentrate for longer so I can get more out of my practice. Last week I went on a “dopamine detox” - that means for an entire week all I let myself do was practice, read, eat and maybe go for a walk. It was really
hard but I’ve improved my focus and willingness to practice. What are his goals for the future? By the end of my degree, my goal is to learn how to effectively teach myself because I won’t have an amazing tutor every week forever, and I really think I’m getting close to being able to do that at a professional standard. What makes studying at JMI so appealing for Lachie? The community is so tight. You can
get so much out of the course and you will join the JMI family. I’ve discovered so much because everyone is constantly finding new things to work and listen to. I really do view it as a family because even when you’ve graduated you are still connected to this tight jazz loving community that is JMI.
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Bachelor of Music (Performance) - 2 years full-time AMPA’s innovative undergraduate music degrees merge high-level performance and practical training with academic rigour and unparalleled industry insight. Students can personalise their degree based around their individual musical interests and aspirations. Focus areas covered are Classical Performance, Contemporary/Jazz Performance, Composition & Creative Music Technology, and Music Theatre. AMPA undergrads may choose to undertake a second instrument or vocal study and focus on two performance areas (such as Singer & Songwriter, Voice & Keyboard, Guitar & Bass, Violin & Viola). The possibilities are endless and are designed to enhance graduate career outcomes. Students may also choose electives across all areas to further tailor their degree. Prerequisites: Audition, interview, theory assessment, NSW HSC or equivalent, Music 1 and/or 2 recommended. Auditions are available throughout the year by appointment with the Admissions Panel. An audition at AMPA entails two parts: Performance audition of two contrasting pieces of music (or portfolio for composition applicants) Interview & theory knowledge test www.ampa.edu.au/index.php/undergraduate-music Northern Rivers Conservatorium of Arts (02) 6621 2266 admin@nrcac.edu.au www.nrcac.edu.au Cert III in Music Diploma in Music Southern Cross University 1800 626 481 Bachelor of Contemporary Music Core studies: During first year, students learn about contemporary music theory and styles, the practice of music, music technology and the internet, songwriting and musicianship. They then select two majors to specialise in their areas of interest. Majors: Performance enables specialisation in the student’s chosen instrument (guitar, bass, keyboards, voice or drums). Practical tuition is provided through individual lessons and group workshops. These classes are supported by ensemble classes which provide industry-relevant training (for example playing in bands). Industry and Audio Production prepares students for working professionally in the music industry and enables students to train for a portfolio career that encompasses composition and music production as well as practical music. Other areas of specialised study include conducting business in the music industry, marketing musical products and managing a career as an independent musician. Music Education provides training for students who are pursuing a career in music teaching. Areas of study include western art music, ensemble direction and arranging, music theory, musicianship and practical music. These units provide vocational skills specifically required for secondary music teaching and also essential for teaching music in other contexts. Please note: Entry to the performance major is by audition during the first year of study, with students commencing the major in the second year. www.scu.edu.au/coursesin2014/?action=matrix&command=matrix_temp_load&spk_no=10144 Sydney Conservatorium of Music University of Sydney 1800 793 864 sydney.edu.au/courses/ask_a_question music.sydney.edu.au/study Bachelor of Music Includes programs in Contemporary Music Practice, Creative Music, Digital Music and Media, and Musicology. sydney.edu.au/courses/Bachelor-of-Music Bachelor of Music (Performance) sydney.edu.au/courses/Bachelor-of-Music-Performance
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Bachelor of Music (Composition) sydney.edu.au/courses/Bachelor-of-Music-Composition Bachelor of Music (Music Education) sydney.edu.au/courses/Bachelor-of-Music-Music-Education Bachelor of Music (Composition)/Bachelor of Advanced Studies sydney.edu.au/courses/courses/uc/bachelor-of-music-and-bachelor-of-advanced-studies-composition.html Bachelor of Music (Performance)/Bachelor of Advanced Studies sydney.edu.au/courses/courses/uc/bachelor-of-music-and-bachelor-of-advanced-studies-performance.html Bachelor of Arts (Music Major) sydney.edu.au/courses/Bachelor-of-Arts Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies sydney.edu.au/courses/bachelor-of-arts-and-bachelor-of-advanced-studies Diploma of Music sydney.edu.au/courses/diploma-of-music Graduate Diploma in Music (Performance) sydney.edu.au/courses/Graduate-Diploma-in-Music-Performance Graduate Diploma in Music (Opera Performance) - 1.5 years The Vocal and Opera Studies Unit reflects the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s strong commitment to singing, an environment in which students have excelled (Dame Joan Sutherland is the most famous example). A successful applicant for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Music (Opera Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music will have gained a relevant undergraduate diploma or degree and will successfully complete an audition and interview. sydney.edu.au/courses/Graduate-Diploma-in-Music-Opera-Performance Master of Music Studies (Performance) sydney.edu.au/courses/Master-of-Music-Studies-Performance Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) - 2 years The Vocal and Opera Studies Unit reflects the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s strong commitment to singing, an environment in which students have excelled (Dame Joan Sutherland is the most famous example). The Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) focuses on text-related matters in various kinds of vocal music with the aim of fostering your skills as an interpreter in all the major operatic languages. sydney.edu.au/courses/Master-of-Music-Studies-Opera-Performance Master of Music (Composition) sydney.edu.au/courses/Master-of-Music-Composition Master of Music (Music Education) sydney.edu.au/courses/Master-of-Music-Music-Education Master of Music (Musicology) sydney.edu.au/courses/Master-of-Music-Musicology Master of Music (Performance) sydney.edu.au/courses/Master-of-Music-Performance Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) sydney.edu.au/courses/doctor-of-philosophy-conservatorium Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) sydney.edu.au/courses/Doctor-of-Musical-Arts sydney.edu.au/music/study-music.html www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 77
TAFE Illawarra 1300 766 123 Diploma in Music Learn how to compose and orchestrate original music, lead music rehearsals and performances, coordinate technical production, test and repair sound equipment, make technical presentations, analyse music videos, or manage the production of sound designs and sound recordings. Gain employment in the music industry as a song writer, soloist and/ or member of a group, or behind the scenes in technical production, music promotion or teaching. Courses are available in: Music; and Sound Production. University of Newcastle Faculty of Education and Arts School of Creative Arts (02) 4921 8902 creativearts@newcastle.edu.au www.newcastle.edu.au/school/creative-arts/areas/music If you’ve been performing or creating music, then studying music at university level is an excellent way to continue your studies and prepare you for a career as a professional musician or in a music-related field. The Bachelor of Music prepares students for a musical career at a professional standard. The degree is conducted over three years of full-time study or part-time equivalent, all of which is undertaken at The Conservatorium, located in the Civic Centre precinct of Newcastle. The degree aims to musically develop skills by providing every opportunity to develop individual creativity while receiving high quality training in music. www.newcastle.edu.au/school/creative-arts Bachelor of Music www.newcastle.edu.au/degrees/bachelor-of-music Bachelor of Music / Bachelor of Arts www.newcastle.edu.au/degrees/bachelor-of-music-arts Bachelor of Music (Honours) www.newcastle.edu.au/degrees/bachelor-of-music-honours University of New South Wales www.arts.unsw.edu.au/future-students/undergraduate/degrees/bachelor-of-music The Bachelor of Music (UNSW BMus) - 4 years You will complete: Core courses in music performance, musicianship and musicology Your choice of specialist music stream (see options below) Extensive training in ensemble skills and professional practices Free elective courses that give you the flexibility to combine your music studies with complementary areas Bachelor of Music / Bachelor of Arts (BMus/BA) Bachelor of Music / Bachelor of Education (BMus/BEd) Bachelor of Music / Bachelor of Science (BMus/BSci) Bachelor of Arts (Music Studies) (BA) Bachelor of Arts (Music Studies Extension) (BA) Bachelor of Arts (Music Studies Extension) / Bachelor of Education (BA/BEd)
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Western Sydney University (02) 9852 5222 study@westernsydney.edu.au westernsydney.edu.au/future Bachelor of Music - 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time The Bachelor of Music at Western Sydney University develops innovative, articulate musicians who contribute to the music community and the culture it serves. It offers high-level training in music, music performance, composition, sound technologies, music theory, musicology, arranging music and music analysis. It does this in well-equipped studios, and in a lecture/workshop/tutorial environment. Skills in music performance, composition and sound technologies are augmented by intellectual, theoretical and contextual studies. An active staff of music-academics supports students to develop their individual goals. Prerequisites: An interview/audition or interview/submission of a recording of original compositions in which personal aptitude, professional experience and educational qualifications are taken into consideration or a written application. Bachelor of Arts (Music Performance) - 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time The Music Performance major within the Bachelor of Arts provides students with the opportunity to develop their professional and creative potential in making and appreciating a range of different kinds of music. Students will gain practical experience in performance as a soloist and in groups, and through improvising and collaborating. Areas of study include songwriting and music theory. Prerequisites: An audition or demonstrated level of attainment in 6th grade AMEB musical performance (instrument or voice) or equivalent and 4th grade AMEB music theory and/ or musicianship or equivalent; or on the successful completion of a TAFE diploma or advanced diploma. University of Wollongong School of the Arts, English and Media (02) 4221 3456 | 1300 367 869 lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au or futurestudents@uow.edu.au www.uow.edu.au/law-humanities-the-arts/schools-entities/taem Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music) (UAC 754603) - 3 years full time or part time equivalent Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music) (Dean’s Scholar) (UAC 754610) - 3 years full time or part time equivalent The study of Music integrates physical, intellectual and emotional aspects, including instrumental or vocal performance, composition, music production, theory and history, in order to gain a deeper understanding of how music works as well as to develop skills as a creative practitioner to prepare for a career in the arts. This is a versatile, hands-on degree that prepares you to become part of the global creative industries by focusing on contemporary music practice. The Music major combines teaching in performance and composition with developments in electronic media, building your skills and expertise across three interrelated areas: music studio, audio production and critical studies in music. go.uow.edu.au/bca-music Doctor of Creative Arts (PhD) The Doctor of Creative Arts (DCA) is for students with a high level of professional experience who wish to extend their practice within a scholarly context. As a Creative Arts candidate you will have opportunities to work and study with artists and media practitioners in a vibrant research culture with significant opportunity for interdisciplinary and cross-art form collaboration. go.uow.edu.au/doctor-ca ANU (02) 6125 5111 domestic.enquiry@anu.edu.au www.anu.edu.au Bachelor of Music The Bachelor of Music is based around three Majors: Music Performance, Creative Musicianship (including Composition and Improvisation) and Musicology (including Ethnomusicology). You are also able to take a Minor in Music Technology. Upon successful completion of the degree, you will have developed the appropriate disciplinary knowledge and acquired the skills to:  create, perform, analyse, and critique music of a variety of styles and genres at a level commensurate with the commonly accepted standards of the music profession www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 79
critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to technical, critical, physiological, and aesthetic issues related to music Identify - including through the interrogation of databases - relevant sources of information about music from across a variety of media (print and digital, written and audio-visual) and judge the importance and reliability of those sources evaluate musical ideas and develop creative solutions to musical problems, including through the independent pursuit of knowledge and by making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods communicate and debate musical ideas both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media understand the ethical implications of the research, creation, performance and reception of music.
Degree combinations including the Bachelor of Music are available in two groups: Arts, business, social sciences & science group Law group Prerequisites: Applicants must meet the minimum ATAR of 80 (75 with bonus points) and meet audition requirements. Applicants will be expected to have pre-existing musical knowledge such as a competency level equivalent to NSW Music 2 or Music Extension, or AMEB Grade 5 theory, or equivalent qualifications or experience. Career prospects: The ANU Bachelor of Music degree not only enables you to develop your love for music, it also provides a foundation for a career In practical music making; music education; music advocacy; academic research; entrepreneurship; and media and technology. music.anu.edu.au/future-students/undergraduate/bachelor-music Bachelor of Music (Honours) The Bachelor of Music (Honours) is characterised by the concept of music - be it performance, composition, or musicology - as a research-led process that explores questions relevant to our understanding of what it means to be human and of who we are. The core of this program is the sub-thesis, which is focused on the production of a substantial piece of research realised through either performance, composition, or a 20,000-25,000 word written document. A performance or composition will be explained verbally through a 5000-word exegesis that explores the creative act as a research process and explains the contribution to knowledge that the creative act makes. Prerequisites: Entry requires the completion of a Bachelor of Music degree with an average mark of at least a distinction; written permission of the honours convenor; and written agreement of a staff member to supervise the sub-thesis. music.anu.edu.au/future-students/undergraduate/bachelor-music-honours Excelsia College (02) 9819 8888 info@excelsia.edu.au excelsia.edu.au Bachelor of Music The Bachelor of Music provides students with the technical, artistic and analytical training required to become professional musicians. This music degree features private tuition with industry experts for voice and instrument studies and extensive performance and studio experience. Offering multiple performance genres, regular performance opportunities and a strong project emphasis, the Bachelor of Music is an industry-standard degree for aspiring musicians. Classical: This course provides musicians with the high level training in performance, musicianship, ensemble work, musicality and breadth of musical knowledge required for a life in classical music. Students are exposed to a wide range of music across history as well as one-on-one tuition with exceptional tutors on their instrument. Contemporary: This course prepares musicians for a career in the ever-changing world of contemporary music. Artistic, technical, practical and musicianship skills are honed to create a well-rounded musician prepared for the diverse work lives led by industry professionals. Jazz: This course offers multiple experiences in improvisation, ensemble work, arrangement and performance designed to prepare students for the highly skilled world of jazz musicianship. Students are encouraged to partake in multiple performance opportunities and workshops to help them think on their feet and engage with the jazz ethos. Master of Music The Master of Music will equip you to impact your professional environment with high creative, technical and academic standards, as well as diverse approaches to music performance, composition and arts management.The course is offered with three strands of specialisation: Performance: Students work on perfecting the standard repertoire by honing their technical and artistic skills and undertaking comprehensive analysis of all aspects of their repertoire. 80 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
Contemporary Composition: Students select four of six options for their major study, allowing students to concentrate on the traditional 'classical' aspects of composition or more commercial areas such as animation, advertising, radio, television and film scores. (taught in Art Phillips Music Studio, Balmain) Arts Management: Students gain the diverse skills and knowledge essential to running an arts organisation of any size, with units on leadership and management, public relations and sponsorship, business skills, and marketing. (offered both on-campus and online) Within your chosen specialisation you will immerse yourself in a semester-long research initiative according to your interests and career focus. Flexible study options; full-time or part-time; mixed mode learning. Specialised teaching staff. Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (07) 4940 7800 t.mcrae@cqu.edu.au www.cqu.edu.au/cqcm Bachelor of Music - 3 years full time or 6 years part time The Bachelor of Music at CQUniversity is designed to provide specialist training in Jazz and Popular Music or Music Studies. Students may study at CQUniversity’s Mackay Ooralea Campus or via distance, and will benefit from hands-on experience combined with academic study in the interpretation and understanding of music. Completing a Bachelor of Music will enable you to pursue a variety of roles in the music industry such as Professional Musician, Recording or Sound Engineer, Recording Artist, Composer or Private Music Educator. Prerequisites: Audition and interview. Diploma of Music - 1 year full time or 2 years part time The Diploma of Music is available through CQUniversity’s Regional Conservatorium partnerships in Albury and Wagga Wagga. You will be supported throughout your study and undertake one-on-one instrumental tuition with highly qualified regional conservatorium staff in Classical Jazz or Popular Music. Completing a Diploma of Music will enable you to pursue various roles such as Professional Musician or Studio Teacher, or you could choose to articulate into CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Music (Music Studies). Prerequisites: Audition and interview. TAFE Queensland 1300 308 233 www.tafeqld.edu.au Diploma of Music Industry (Performance) (CUA50815) Enrich your career in the music industry with this advanced-level qualification. You will get specialised skills in composition techniques; developing and maintaining stage craft; performing as a part of a group; preparing a program for performance; and providing freelance services. Our highly experienced and passionate teaching team have years of industry experience and will give you one-on-one guidance to prepare you for a career in the music industry. Successful completion of this course will qualify you to work as a music industry professional, performer, or composer. It will also give you the foundation knowledge needed to undertake further training in the field. tafeqld.edu.au/courses/17841/diploma-of-music-industry Diploma of Music Industry (Performance) (CUA50815) / Bachelor of Contemporary Music (3003140) - 1 to 3 years This course will provide access to industry-standard studios and the foundation skills needed to operate equipment and software. You will get specialised skills in composition techniques; developing and maintaining stagecraft; performing as a part of a group; preparing a program for performance; and providing freelance services. The teaching team have years of industry experience and will give you one-on-one guidance to prepare you for a career in the music industry. Successful completion of this course will qualify you to work as a music industry professional, performer, or composer. It will also give you the foundation knowledge needed to undertake further training in the field. Provided in partnership with Southern Cross University. CRICOS CODE: 03020E | RTO: 0275 | TESQA: PRV13003 tafeqld.edu.au/courses/17841/diploma-of-music-industry Diploma of Music Industry (Sound Production) (CUA50815) / Bachelor of Contemporary Music (3003140) - 1 to 3 years This course will give you access to industry-standard studios and the foundation skills needed to operate equipment and software. You'll be trained to develop sound designs; create a final sound balance; set up and operate lighting cues and effects; mix recorded music; edit sounds; and manage audio for outdoor events. The teaching team have years of industry experience and will give you one-on-one guidance to prepare you for a career in the music industry. Successful www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 81
completion of this course will qualify you to work as an assistant sound engineer or composer. It will also give you the foundation knowledge needed to undertake further training in the field. Provided in partnership with Southern Cross University. CRICOS CODE: 03020E | RTO: 0275 | TESQA: PRV13003 tafeqld.edu.au/courses/17849/diploma-of-music-industry Diploma of Music Industry (Sound Production) (CUA50815) - 1 year This course will give you access to industry-standard studios and the foundation skills needed to operate equipment and software. You'll be trained to develop sound designs; create a final sound balance; set up and operate lighting cues and effects; mix recorded music; edit sounds; and manage audio for outdoor events. Our highly experienced and passionate teaching team have years of industry experience and will give you one-on-one guidance to prepare you for a career in the music industry. Successful completion of this course will qualify you to work as an assistant sound engineer or composer. It will also give you the foundation knowledge needed to undertake further training in the field. tafeqld.edu.au/courses/17849/diploma-of-music-industry Bachelor of Contemporary Music (3003140) - 2 years Prepare for a career in the 21st Century music industry with this advanced course. This qualification will allow you to launch your career as a performer, songwriter, producer, sound engineer, educator, session musician, musical director, promoter or venue manager. Provided in partnership with Southern Cross University. CRICOS CODE: 03020E | RTO: 0275 | TESQA: PRV13003 tafeqld.edu.au/courses/18892/bachelor-of-contemporary-music Queensland University of Technology Creative Industries Faculty (07) 3138 2000 askqut@qut.edu.au www.qut.edu.au/study/study-areas/study-music-and-sound Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music) - 3 years full-time QUT's music course prepares aspiring musicians to adapt to the rapidly changing music industry. Music students are encouraged to create works across musical boundaries and strike out in bold new directions. If production is your passion, you will focus on creating new music using song-writing, studio recording, sequencing, digital processing and writing for voices with acoustic and electro-acoustic instruments. If you are interested in performance you can focus on developing your unique performance style, such as creating new work, using digital technology, new interpretations of repertoire, and gain experience performing in a recording studio environment. The emphasis is on creativity and new music, and you will be encouraged to explore new connections and different styles and genres of music. Their industrystandard music recording studios will enable you to hone your skills in a professional setting. You will be inspired to collaborate with like-minded people on various projects while finding new ways to create music. You will be given opportunities to launch your career through public performances in Brisbane’s live music venues. Music students have presented live performances in venues such as The Zoo, The HiFi, the Brisbane Powerhouse, Valley Studios and QPAC, as well as at the Brisbane Festival Spiegeltent. www.qut.edu.au/study/courses/bachelor-of-fine-arts/bachelor-of-fine-arts-music Graduate Certificates and Masters A range of postgraduate study options is available, either to provide further depth to your study and practice in the performing arts, or for those without prior creative industries qualifications. www.qut.edu.au/study/study-areas/study-music-and-sound Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University 1800 677 728 griffith.edu.au/study/music Bachelor of Music - 3 years full-time Studying at Queensland Conservatorium, you will deepen your appreciation and understanding as you learn from and perform alongside leading musicians, composers and performers. As a Bachelor of Music graduate, you will be highly skilled, musically adaptable and equipped to enter professional life as a creative 21st century musician. Each year students present fully-staged productions, work with leading international conductors, hold masterclasses with international and national performers and work with industry partners Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Music Festival, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Opera Australia and more. You will be admitted into a major which may include study in an instrument, music composition, recording studio and 82 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
music production, electronic and experimental music, voice or composition, in either classical, popular, jazz or creative music technology strands. griffith.edu.au/study/music Bachelor of Music with Honours - 1 year full-time degrees.griffith.edu.au/Program/2051 Graduate Certificate in Music Studies - 0.5 years full-time, 1 year part-time degrees.griffith.edu.au/Program/3091 Masters of Music Studies - 1.5 years full-time, Advanced: 1 year full-time degrees.griffith.edu.au/Program/5298 Doctor of Musical Arts - 3 years full-time (4 years maximum) / 6 years part-time (8 years maximum) degrees.griffith.edu.au/Program/6017 University of Queensland (07) 3365 1111 www.uq.edu.au Music Single Major You will approach the study of Western art music in a challenging and engaging way, incorporating critical perspectives and historical knowledge along with written and aural skills. Students contemplating the extended major will have a choice of two streams, a musicological stream which further develops the aspects described above, and a professional stream which combines elements of the above with a specially developed suit of courses designed for students interested to pursue the professional fields of Music Education or Music Therapy through the relevant dual-degree or postgraduate programs. www.uq.edu.au/study/plan.html?acad_plan=MUSICX2320 Diploma of Music Performance The Diploma of Music Performance is offered concurrently with any undergraduate program offered by this University. www.uq.edu.au/study/program.html?acad_prog=1605 Jazz Music Institute (07) 3216 1110 play@jazz.qld.edu.au www.jazz.qld.edu.au Diploma of Music in Jazz Performance - 1 year full-time www.jazz.qld.edu.au/diploma-of-music-in-jazz-performance Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance - 3 years full-time JMI’s Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance is a 3-year full time music course endorsed by some of the biggest international jazz artists. This is a performance-based course where students will spend the majority of their contact hours playing their instrument. Each student receives individual one-on-one lessons on their major instrument (voice, guitar, bass, drums, piano, brass or woodwind) supplemented by a variety of music classes that focus on aural skills, jazz theory, improvisation, jazz history and small group ensemble. Prerequisites: Application by audition only. No ATAR score required. www.jazz.qld.edu.au/courses/bachelor-of-music-in-jazz-performance Multiplay Music Centre 0419 683 618 admin@multiplaymusiccentre.com.au www.multiplaymusiccentre.com.au MMC performance workshops and individual lessons - 1 hour weekend workshops Music and singing school. Singing lessons, Audition preparation, Vocal technique, performance coaching, AMEB Rockschool exams.
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Elder Conservatorium of Music University of Adelaide (08) 8313 5995 / (08) 8313 4423 music@adelaide.edu.au arts.adelaide.edu.au/music Certificate III in Music Certificate IV in Music Diploma in Music Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Music (Honours) Diploma in Instrumental Music The Bachelor of Music program is divided into the eight areas of specialisation: Classical Performance Composition Jazz Performance Musicology Music Education Performance and Pedagogy Popular Music and Creative Technologies Sonic Arts (formerly Music Technology) TAFE SA (08) 8463 5000 tafesa.edu.au If you have musical skill and a flair for entertainment, a career in music may be for you. TAFE SA’s music courses cover arrangement, composition, and music business principles and provides experience in performing at on-the-job venues. Sound production courses teach you to operate audio equipment to record, edit, mix and master and produce sound for CD, DVD, web, TV, radio, film, video productions and live performance. Certificate III in Music (CUS30109) This course provides foundation training for developing musicians for the commercial music industry. You’ll gain experience and expertise by studying under the supervision and guidance of industry professionals in an environment of learning at your own pace with access to industry standard equipment and studios. Certificate IV in Music (CUS40109) This course provides comprehensive training for developing musicians for the commercial music industry. You can select electives such as song writing, mixing live sound and music technology. You’ll gain experience and expertise by studying under the supervision and guidance of industry professionals in an environment of learning at your own pace with access to industry standard equipment and studios. Certificate III in Media - music video production focus (CUF30107) Every ambitious band and music artist needs a high quality audio recording and memorable video clip, and you can make this happen for them with this course. Opportunities exist for audio and video recording and editing professionals to work on a wide variety of sound and vision media productions. Conservatorium of Music University of Tasmania (03) 6226 7308 Heather.Monkhouse@utas.edu.au www.utas.edu.au/conservatorium-of-music Diploma in Music Performance
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Associate Degree in Music Studies Associate Degree in Music (Rock Studies) Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Musical Arts Bachelor of Music with Honours Postgraduate Courses Graduate Certificate in Music Studies (Specialisation) Graduate Diploma in Professional Music Practice Graduate Diploma in Music Studies (Specialisation) Master of Music Master of Music Studies Monash University Academy of Performing Arts Monash University (03) 9902 6000 www.monash.edu.au Bachelor of Music - 3 years To be the best, surround yourself with high-achievers. The School of Music - Conservatorium is consistently ranked among the best music schools in Australia, with handpicked mentors from the best in the business. Tutors and lecturers have studied at leading overseas institutions like the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Manhattan School of Music in New York, and even the new Vice-Chancellor's Professorial Fellow in the School of Music is an industry heavyweight. You'll receive one-on-one instrumental teaching to develop your solo and ensemble performance skills. You'll have a number of opportunities to study overseas. You will also benefit from fantastic facilities. The Performing Arts Centre contains a recital hall, drama theatre, music technology studios, an Early Music Room, an Asian Orchestras Room and a suite of practice studios (with quality pianos). www.monash.edu.au/study/coursefinder/course/0821/?courseview=domestic Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music - 4.5 years Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) 1300 725 709 office@ameb.edu.au www.ameb.edu.au All instruments, speech and Drama As one of the most respected bodies in this field AMEB's qualifications are recognised as a national benchmark across Australia. AMEB examinations are based on syllabuses designed by leading scholars and performers, regularly updated to ensure that they reflect an appropriate range of performance skills and the latest musicological research. The content of these syllabuses is, wherever practical, published in affordable editions, ensuring that the cost to students of acquiring a full range of the set pieces is as simple and inexpensive as possible. What is offered: A qualification that is widely recognised and respected The only examination body with formal links to major Australian universities and Ministers for Education The most widely-used assessment system for Music, Speech and Drama in Australia Assessment from the preliminary to diploma level Highly-trained examiners who are specialists in their instrument Detailed written reports for practical examinations Fresh and accessible syllabuses developed in consultation with teachers, parents and students www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 85
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A wide range of repertoire available in the manual lists, in addition to AMEB publications Local teacher support and networks Quality publications
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music University of Melbourne 13 MELB mcm.unimelb.edu.au Bachelor of Music (Music Performance, Musicology/Ethnomusicology, Composition) The Bachelor of Music (BMus) provides advanced, pre-professional music training in five specialisations: Music Performance, Composition, Musicology/Ethnomusicology, Jazz & Improvisation and Interactive Composition. Students enrolled in a specialisation in Music Performance, Musicology/Ethnomusicology or Composition receive practical tuition through weekly individual instrumental, vocal or composition lessons, instrument classes, extensive solo and ensemble performance opportunities, and regular master classes with distinguished national and international artists and teachers. Bachelor of Music students learn from committed, talented and experienced teachers and play an active part in the musical life of the University and the city of Melbourne. Bachelor of Music students are encouraged to apply for a fourth-year Honours degree. An honours year provides an intensive mode of study allowing you to master your specialisation and create a pathway into advanced graduate study options in music. mcm.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-music/overview Bachelor of Music (Honours) Students interested in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) (Contemporary Music) will from 2016 apply for the Bachelor of Music (Honours), with specialisations in either Jazz & Improvisation or Interactive Composition. The Bachelor of Music (Honours) is an intensive and highly specialised one-year program designed to round off your undergraduate learning in music. The program prepares you for entry into the music profession and creates a direct pathway to graduate coursework and research opportunities in music. Students choose from one of the following specialisations: Music Performance, Composition, Musicology, Ethnomusicology, Jazz & Improvisation and Interactive Composition. You can also apply for a Tailored Program Bachelor of Music (Honours) program. Under the guidance of your supervisor, you engage in independent research to produce a major creative work, or series or works, and a related research paper. You are introduced to practice-led research skills and will develop your capacity for devising, defining and managing a major project mcm.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-music-honours/overview Diploma In Music The Diploma in Music provides the opportunity to further your musical training or explore areas of academic and practical interest in music, while gaining a music qualification alongside your undergraduate studies in another field. The program can be tailored, depending on your interests, and provides access to the full range of MCM curriculum. For students interested in music performance, the diploma allows you to take 45 minute instrumental or vocal lessons, or to choose from any combination of practical, ensemble and elective subjects. For students interested in music history, non-western music, jazz & improvisation, interactive composition or other areas of academic interest in music, the program allows access to the wide range of MCM subjects in these areas. You study the course alongside Bachelor of Music students, allowing you to build valuable friendships and networks in a challenging musical environment. At the conclusion of the course, students taking practical subjects will have acquired advanced practical abilities comparable (at a minimum) with the end of the second year of the Bachelor of Music course. Students taking academic subjects will have completed the equivalent to a major in music studies. You can commence the diploma at the beginning of your degree, or at any time up to the start of your final year. Later entry may require prior completion of music breadth subjects and will extend the duration of your enrolment beyond the three years of your bachelors degree. The Diploma in Music is available to students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts, Biomedicine, Commerce, Design or Science. mcm.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/diploma-in-music/overview
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Box Hill Institute of TAFE 1300 BOX HILL (1300 269 445) info@boxhill.edu.au Bachelor of Applied Music (Composition) Bachelor of Applied Music (Performance) Advanced Diploma of Music Diploma of Music Certificate IV in Music RMIT (03) 9925 2260 Bachelor of Arts (Music Industry) www.rmit.edu.au/programs/bp047 Victorian University (03) 9919 4000 Certificate II in Music Certificate IV in Music Advanced Diploma of Music Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) (03) 9645 7911 info@anam.com.au anam.com.au ANAM Professional Performance Program An intensive 12-month performance program, individually tailored and structured to meet the optimum development requirements of each student. Students participate in solo, chamber, ensemble and orchestral performance based training alongside career and professional development projects such as ANAM’s Health & Wellbeing program, enhancement, community and outreach projects. Students work with a distinguished faculty of artists and pedagogues in addition to renowned national and international guest musicians. Prerequisites: Entry is via direct application to ANAM. Whilst primarily open to applicants who have undertaken tertiary study, applicants who do not have a recognised tertiary award but who demonstrate an equivalent musical ability and maturity at the audition and interview may be considered for admission to this program. anam.com.au/study/ppp ANAM/Griffith University Master of Music (Research) The ANAM/Griffith University Master of Music (Research) is a fully accredited post-graduate degree offered through the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, open to musicians who successfully meet both ANAM and Griffith University’s entry requirements. This 18-month program is delivered at ANAM in South Melbourne, in partnership with Griffith University, and provides an intensive instrumental training program, focusing on solo, chamber and ensemble/ orchestral training and performance, underpinned by research/reflective study. Prerequisites: Students wishing to undertake the ANAM/Griffith University Master of Music (Research) must first satisfy the ANAM course entry requirements. Once accepted into the ANAM Professional Performance Program, applicants must then apply to Griffith University to be considered for the Master of Music (Research). anam.com.au/study/griffith
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Collarts School of Entertainment 1300 818 777 info@collarts.edu.au www.collarts.edu.au Bachelor of Arts (Music) The Bachelor of Arts (Music) balances creative, technical and industry-related skills, with a focus on contemporary music performance and songwriting. The Degree can be completed in six trimesters (two years) of full-time study. Throughout the Degree, you will: Craft and produce original songs; Understand and develop performance at a professional level; Work on industry projects alongside other musicians, music producers, and entertainment managers; Record your own music in Collarts’ own studio and produce music videos; Gain exposure to the Australian and international music industries; Develop analytical skills in relation to music, music performance, and critique; Undertake a 60-hour work placement. Diploma of Arts (Music) The Diploma of Arts (Music) balances fundamental creative, technical and industry-related skills, with a focus on contemporary music performance and songwriting. The diploma can be completed in two trimesters of full-time study and you have the opportunity to progress into the Bachelor Degree (subject to academic performance). Throughout the Diploma, you will: Craft and produce original songs; Understand and develop their performance skills; Collaborate with other musicians, music producers and entertainment managers; Record your own music in Collarts’ own studios; Gain exposure to the Australian and international music industries; Develop fundamental skills in relation to music, music performance and critique. The University of Western Australia (08) 6488 2051 music@uwa.edu.au www.music.uwa.edu.au The study of music can now be undertaken as part of the new undergraduate degrees in: Bachelor of Arts [BA] Bachelor of Commerce [BCom] Bachelor of Design [BDes] Bachelor of Science [BSc] Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) [BPhil(Hons)] www.music.uwa.edu.au/courses/undergraduate Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Edith Cowan University 134 328 futurestudy@ecu.edu.au waapa.ecu.edu.au WAAPA provides an inspirational environment of exceptional teaching, networking possibilities and an unmatched range of performance opportunities - it is where students learn how to turn their love of music into a professional career. WAAPA music students follow a specialised performance-based curriculum in their chosen area, in addition to studying a common core of history and theoretical studies. With over 100 evening concerts per year and three busy lunchtime concert series, as well as special events, tours, masterclasses, visiting guest artists, and the opportunity to perform for various musicals and opera seasons, WAAPA is a vibrant place of learning. WAAPA offers a range of vocational and higher education qualifications in the following music disciplines: 88 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
Classical Performance - Instrumental www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music/classical-performance-instrumental Classical Performance - Vocal www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music/classical-performance-vocal Composition and Music Technology www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music/composition-and-music-technology Contemporary Music - Performance www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music/contemporary-music Contemporary Music - Music Artist www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music/music-artist Jazz Performance www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music/jazz-performance Music Education www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music/music-education Ara Institute of Canterbury Music Arts +64 3 9400 8000 info@ara.ac.nz www.ara.ac.nz Music Arts at Ara has a long and proud history of producing highly successful graduates. When you study with us you join a collaborative community of musicians who will feed your creativity and help you hone your musical skills. Every day you’ll be exposed to a range of musical styles, instruments, skills and experiences that will help you identify your strengths and passions, and the direction you want your career to take. You’ll learn from passionate, inspirational mentors in purpose-built facilities and you’ll graduate equipped and ready for a career full of creative opportunities. Bachelor of Music Arts - 3 years Our highly regarded degree programme offers a choice of pathways in jazz or contemporary music (instrumental, percussion, electronic music or vocal) and integrates skills in performance, composition, production, song writing, music technology, marketing and music industry studies. Auditions take place in September and December for the following year’s intake. Prerequisites: See website for details. ara.ac.nz/study-options/qualifications-and-courses/programmes/Bachelor-of-Music-Arts.xml New Zealand Certificate in Music (Level 4) - 1 year Focusing mainly on the study and performance of contemporary rock and pop, this programme is designed to assist you to perform with confidence and find your place in the New Zealand music landscape. Covers music fundamentals, playing in a band, writing and recording. Available both full-time and part-time. Prerequisites: See website for details. ara.ac.nz/study-options/qualifications-and-courses/programmes/New-Zealand-Certificate-in-Music-Level-4.xml
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Musical Theatre
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WAAPA’s 2018 production of In The Heights. Photo: Jon Green.
Australian Institute of Music (02) 9219 5444 enquiries@aim.edu.au www.aim.edu.au/programs Bachelor of Music (Musical Theatre) - 3 years full-time This course provides students with the unique opportunity to learn and develop vocal, acting and dancing abilities, as well as amplifying your skills through individual and group lessons. Be mentored by experienced high-calibre professionals in the industry and start forming your creative network as you collaborate with other students in a creatively stimulating and supportive environment. Entry by direct application to AIM. www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/bachelor-of-music-music-theatre Diploma of Music - 2 years full-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/diploma-of-music Master of Music - 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/postgraduate/master-of-music Brent Street (02) 8323 6666 reception@brentstreet.com.au www.brentstreet.com.au Diploma of Musical Theatre (CUA50213) - 1 year Brent Street is a leading training ground for those seeking a career in the performing arts industry and have been approved as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO ID: 91488) to deliver nationally recognised qualifications. They provide the ultimate training programs through their Full-time Courses and the Brent Street Academy. Their alumni can be found on stage in Australia, multiple international tours and productions, West End and Broadway. Prerequisites: have a moderate level of physical fitness have training or experience in either dance, singing or acting be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen audition to secure a position in the course. Refer to specific course ‘Audition Requirements’ have competencies equivalent to completion of compulsory schooling in Australia (Year 10) or at the Managing and Creative Director’s discretion be able to read, write and communicate in English to at least an Academic Year 10 standard commit to undertaking both the theory and practical session of the program disclose any existing medical issues or pre-existing injuries that may impact your suitability for the course supply their Unique Student Identifier (USI) number. Brent Street will discuss this with students prior to enrolling. NIDA (02) 9697 7600 info@nida.edu.au www.nida.edu.au Vocational Diploma of Musical Theatre (CUA50213) - 1 year full-time This course is an intensive year of practical study that elevates you to become a ‘triple threat’: singer, dancer and actor. Providing the rigour and skill required to get a foothold in musical theatre, the course is industry driven, delivered by practicing professionals and leading tutors from the entertainment arts industry. You will be trained to respond creatively to scripts and songs, collaborate effectively with others and make informed decisions about character interpretation. Training is practical, with an even distribution of classes in each of the disciplines of singing, dancing and acting. You will train in ensemble and solo singing in a range of musical theatre repertoire, acting technique for both spoken and sung dialogue, and in ensemble and individual dance in a variety of styles. The course culminates in a live Showcase of your work a NIDA Theatre attended by entertainment industry practitioners, producers and agents. Graduates have gone on to work for Sydney Theatre Company - Muriel’s Wedding the Musical, GWB Entertainment School of Rock, Universal Studios Japan, Disney Cruise Ships, Australian Shakespeare Company, Seymour Centre, Amazon (Continued on page 98) www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 91
Spring Awakening.
Adelaide’s Musical Milestone
Take your Music Theatre career to the next level. Register at bit.ly/UOA_MT Audition Dates Adelaide - September 24 & 25 Sydney - October 17 Perth - October 23 Brisbane - November 1 Melbourne - November 8 Adelaide - November 26 & 27
preparing for The Addams Family - a glitzy-gloomy musical in which the quick and the dead are equally full of character. The University of Adelaide’s collaboration with the iconic Adelaide Festival Centre and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival continues, with The Cabaret Project to be performed during the 2021 season. As well as performances in the festival, this partnership allows all University of Adelaide Music Theatre students access to performances throughout the festival. This will be followed by the spectacular Graduating Showcase in November, productions of songs and scenes by first year students, and a musical presented by second year students. It’s a busy and exhilarating ride for students with a passion for performance. George Torbay explains: “This unique degree provides students with the complete music theatre experience. The intensive skills -development program is industryOnline extras! focused and designed not just to See how Music Theatre students equip students with the three continued studying during lockdown. principal disciplines of singing, acting https://youtu.be/dukjcLvUUko and dancing, but also in creating theatre. At Adelaide, we are interested in the complete, unique Head of Music Theatre at the University of Adelaide, George and passionate performer who is at Torbay, is gearing up for the first group of Music Theatre home on the main-stage, students to graduate in 2021. commanding in the marvellous cabaret world and ready to tackle While 2020 has seen the versatile students back on campus for a return myriad of theatre-related tasks open students adapt to an online learning to face-to-face teaching. to the talented and committed environment, their second major Six major productions are in the professional.” dance space on campus is nearing works for 2021, including jukebox George is always on the look-out completion. The new state-of-the-art musical romantic comedy Mamma for talent. If you have the drive and studio will complement the existing Mia! performed in the University’s the giddy-up to train in voice, dance dance space in the University of own Scott Theatre, as the jewel in the and theatre, register for an audition in Adelaide Union Building. George is your nearest Australian capital city crown graduation production. Third looking forward to welcoming year students will also be busy now.
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The Importance Of Versatility Lyn Pelgrave, the Principal of the Academy of Dance and Musical Theatre in Brisbane, explains why performers need to be masters of a variety of performance styles.
made available by the Creative Arts & Cultural Training package. There are many RTO’s (Registered Training Organisations) equipped to deliver Versality, by definition, is the on your feet, act fast and courses available under this package. ability to adapt or be adaptable. For troubleshoot on the fly. For example, the Academy of musical theatre performers this means The ability to harness your existing Dance and Musical Theatre Brisbane possessing and developing skills in a skills and talents, which in turn help and Australian Teachers of Dancing range of techniques. It is not enough you as a performer grow and develop ATOD (31624) are training students in to be a master in just one style of into a professional working artist, can dance and musical theatre courses dance or singing, as performers are be achieved with performance-based towards a variety of vocational frequently asked and expected to be learning. Having industry professional qualifications. These courses are across multiple genres and step out of teachers and guest artists offering remarkable for young students who their comfort zone. holistic training methods helps you wish to enhance their employability The necessity of musicality, grow the wide range of skills and skills in these areas or are looking to rhythm, choreographic and dance talents you need to become industry change their career path and add to versatility and the ability to develop ready. The moment you place their professional skill set. characters all stems and grows from limitations on yourself and minimise CUA30113 Certificate III in Dance solid foundation training over a your styles, you close off a whole is a fantastic starting position, variety of genres. As a musical theatre range of opportunities. however if prior training has been performer, it is important to develop So where can you go to get the completed recognition can be given this wide range of skills and training you need? For most musical for senior students to enter a knowledge to be an adaptable, theatre performers, their dance and CUA40113 Certificate IV in Dance or versatile and confident performer. singing training begins at an early CUA40513 Certificate IV in Musical From auditions to the final curtain, age. By the time they reach upper Theatre with results and qualifications anything can happen in live theatre secondary school, students can achieved crediting points towards and it is important to be able to think commence more focused studies your ATAR score. One of the most attractive features of studying through the vocational education system is its flexible learning options. Complete over 12 months fulltime during a gap year to extend your training and work towards advancing your skill set to gain university entry requirements. Study over 18 - 24 months alongside schooling or work. Self-paced completed over a period of up to 2 years. Completing formal training contributes to the versatility in handling a range of different styles / genres. This will make a student more employable and marketable as a musical theatre professional. Through studying with ADMT or a similar institution, a student will develop focus, dedication and lifelong skills that will serve in all avenues of a future career in the performing arts.
Heathers. Photo: Paul Stone.
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For course and enrolment information, visit admt.com.au or call (07) 3195 7086.
Music Theatre ‘Star-Maker’ Queenie van de Zandt began her career 32 years ago. Her success in musical theatre has ranged from lead roles in blockbuster musicals - including King Kong - to creating hilarious cabaret characters such as Jan van de Stool. Alongside her performance career, she has also been teaching for 20 years and in 2015 she created the Australian Musical Theatre Academy (AMTA). The school’s focus is on marrying acting and singing techniques, creating authentic and unique musical performance, teaching Queenie’s unique audition practice, and developing the careers of creative artists. “We do this through courses, workshops and masterclasses where students are coached, taught and mentored by the leading creative artists who are shaping live theatre today,” says Queenie. “What sets AMTA apart is not only the quality of our industry professional teachers and mentors, but also the success rate of our alumni.” AMTA’s former students have played lead roles in shows such as Shrek, Ragtime, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Come from Away, Book of Mormon, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Pricilla: Queen of the Desert, The Rocky Horror Show, The Sound of Music, Grease, Matilda, Singin’ in the Rain and Les Misérables. It is the success of AMTA’s students that has seen Queenie hailed in the press as a ‘musical theatre star-maker’. Another unique aspect of AMTA is that their workshops, courses and masterclasses run out of a variety of venues across Australia and internationally. So when COVID-19 hit, they were well placed to move their courses online. Moving forward, AMTA is re-
Queenie van de Zandt.
Online extras!
Find out all that AMTA has to offer. Scan the QR code or visit https://youtu.be/CEAcUggRbGk modelling its classes in musical theatre performance, career development, audition technique and creating cabaret, to work online as well as face to face. “Although this COVID-19 period is hugely challenging for us all in the arts, being creative artists, we actually have great skills in innovation, imagination and going where no one has gone before,” says Queenie. “At AMTA we are already finding new ways to help our students combine their talent and tenacity with our training. We look forward to continuing to help them find their path to living creative, passionate and fulfilling lives.”
Get info on AMTA’s online courses at amta.net.au or email queenie@amta.net.au
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If At First You Don’t Succeed Beth Keehn reports on the journeys of three alumni of the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University in Brisbane who, despite missing out at their initial auditions, have gone on to professional success. Georgina Hopson. Photo: Andrew Raszevski.
Georgina Hopson
The journey so far: Georgina comes from a family of doctors, but fell in love with MGM musicals. Since graduating in 2014, her appearances have included Ragtime (The Production Company) and My Fair Lady (Opera Australia and John Frost). Georgina was due to star in The Secret Garden in 2020. On study: “Before I found out about The Con [Queensland Conservatorium], I was studying Business. But, after a twoweek a summer school in musical theatre, I decided to audition for the Con and Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) - I didn’t get in. But it was a blessing in disguise - in the interim year I worked hard on my acting, singing and dancing, and I was lucky to receive an offer the following year. “I’m grateful to have played piano violin and cello growing up - the discipline and theory skills are so valuable. Even the business study was helpful: as a performer, you’ve got to market yourself. “We had a rich education from a range of great teachers who continue to be mentors today. In the final year there were opportunities to perform at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). Plus, I made friends for life!” Career high points so far: “Meeting Dame Julie Andrews, and hearing Anthony Warlow sing at the media launch for The Secret Garden. Magic!” Words of wisdom: “Be disciplined, be humble, be passionate and be true to yourself, everyone’s journey is unique.” Fave stage musical? “Once on This Island - I cried from start to finish.”
Shubshri Kandiah
Shubshri Kandiah as Princess Jasmine in the 2019 Singapore production of Disney’s Aladdin. Photo: James Green.
The journey so far: Shubshri made her professional debut straight out of university in 2017, playing the lead in Disney’s Aladdin - The Musical. She was due to start in Everybody’s Talking about Jamie, when the show’s tour was cancelled (hopefully postponed) during the lockdown. On study: “I got so much out of the course and I learnt a lot about myself, moving away from home. I had such wonderful teachers, who could get the best out of me.” Career high points so far: “Making my professional debut in Aladdin. Also, Griffith’s close connection with QPAC gave me the opportunity to perform with Liz Callaway - one of my biggest singing idols.” Words of wisdom: “If you find something you are passionate about keep trying. Also, it’s easy to work on things you are good at, but pushing yourself in areas that need improvement will make you a better performer.” Fave stage musical? “Once on This Island - it was such a cool mash together of lots of things I love.”
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Vidya Makan The journey so far: Vidya always wanted to be a football player. At 15 she completed a training program with Manchester United in the UK. To celebrate, her Dad took her out to see Wicked - and that was it. Since graduating in 2015, Vidya’s performances have included Green Day’s American Idiot (Shake and Stir) and Merrily we Roll Along (Watch This). She finished the Sydney run of Six in March 2020. On study: “I always loved music, but my dream was to play soccer and perhaps be in the orchestra pit! But, after seeing Wicked, I decided to audition at Griffith. I didn’t get in - but it was probably the best thing that happened. I went to an acting school for a year and auditioned at Griffith again, and got in. The course gave me discipline, craft and technique, and the knowledge that you have to love what you do - not just performing on stage or the curtain call - the rehearsal process too.” Career high points so far: “Writing and composing my own material made me realise what I wanted to say - that changed the energy I brought into the audition room. “I was lucky to book my first pro show - Hairspray - when I was in third year. But the smaller independent shows led to my role in Six - which is seriously an electric experience.” Words of wisdom: “Be yourself - that confidence is important. And don’t forget it’s a team job - those support networks will get you through.” Fave stage musical? “Barbara and the Campdogs - I laughed and cried the whole way through!”
Vidya Makan. Photo: Andrew Raszevski
Find your place on the world stage at Griffith University. Visit griffith.edu.au/music
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Studios - The Wilds, Depot Theatre and Well Well Well productions. nida.edu.au/musical-theatre Urban Dance www.urbandance.com.au Diploma of Musical Theatre TAFE Western Sydney 131 870 Diploma in Musical Theatre entertainment.wsi.tafensw.edu.au/courses/performing-arts entertainment.wsi.tafensw.edu.au/courses/live-sound-and-lighting Perform Australia (RTO 40859) 1300 908 905 hello@perform.edu.au www.perform.edu.au Certificate IV in Musical Theatre (CUA40513) This course is a foundational course in professional musical theatre skills. You develop your singing skills through both private training and ensemble classes, and upskill as a dancer. The acting curriculum explores the transition from scene into song, acting technique for stage and acting technique for screen. You have several performance opportunities, including cabaret and concert nights and a full-scale musical. Prerequisites: A single prerequisite unit, CUAWHS302 Apply Work Health And Safety Practices, is taught in the first week of classes. Entry is by audition. This course is available in 6 months full-time through Perform Australia in Canberra and over one-year with their partner Palm Theatre Company on the Central Coast of NSW. www.perform.edu.au/musical-theatre-certificate.html Diploma of Musical Theatre (CUA50213) The Diploma of Musical Theatre extends your learning developed in the Certificate IV in Musical Theatre. You increase your capacity as a singer, dancer and actor, as well as developing auxiliary skills like directing and marketing yourself and your work. You also learn some business skills as a freelance performer so that you can prepare to launch your career. Prerequisites: The CUA40513 Certificate IV in Musical Theatre or equivalent skills and training. Entry is by audition. This course is available over one-year with their partner Palm Theatre Company on the Central Coast of NSW. It is offered in Canberra when there is sufficient demand. www.perform.edu.au/musical-theatre-diploma.html ED5INTERNATIONAL (02) 9746 0848 fulltime@ed5international.com.au www.ed5international.com.au Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts (10149NAT) - 2 years full-time ED5INTERNATIONAL is proud to offer their unique accredited Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts, exclusive to ED5INTERNATIONAL. Guided by William A. Forsythe with founders Elena & Mario De Cinque it boasts Australia’s leading faculty. Graduates perform in Musical Theatre, television, stage, theme parks, overseas contracts, cruise ships and a multitude of other entertainment arenas. The course is designed for students who aspire to work in the entertainment industry. The course consists of 17 units of competency which includes: Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Singing, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acting, Group Harmonies, Repertoire, Performance Coaching, Cabaret, Lyrical, Nutrition, History of Musical Theatre, Music Theory, Anatomy, Image Management, Make-up, Acrobatics, Improvisation, Choreography, Audition Technique, Mock Audition Class, Heels, Strength and Conditioning, Yoga, Cardio, Pilates, Swing Class and more. Prerequisites: Acceptance into the course is by audition only. Applicants must be of school leaving age.
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The McDonald College Performing Arts & Academic School (02) 9752 0500 registrar@mcdonald.nsw.edu.au www.mcdonald.nsw.edu.au Acting, Ballet, Dance, Music, Musical Theatre, Pre-School The McDonald College fully understand that a passion for performance means that children are creative and think laterally. The McDonald College firmly believes that the Performing Arts raises both academic achievement and fosters the development of students and people. They have the facilities and exceptional staff necessary to help creative young people reach both their Academic and Performing Arts potential. Prerequisites: Entry is by audition for Year 5-12. The audition process allows student to prepare a piece across one of the performance streams, as well as participating in an academic test. Students entering in Years 3 and 4 are not required to audition, however, together with their parent/guardian they will be required to attend an interview with the Director of the Junior School. Applause Musical Theatre Academy Phone: 0405 495 099 enquiries@applausemta.com.au www.applausemta.com.au Musical Theatre Classes and Workshops Applause Musical Theatre Academy specialises in weekly Musical Theatre classes and holiday workshops for school students (K-12), people with special needs and adults. Students learn to sing, dance and act scenes and songs from popular musicals. Vital drama skills are also taught through fun acting exercises. Regular training with the academy assists students to perform better at auditions. There are two qualified industry experienced teachers per class and live piano accompaniment. The classes/workshops provide students with an avenue to express themselves creatively and build confidence across many areas, not just in performing! Mid-year, the academy holds an Informal Showcase and at the end of year puts on a Soiree (with costumes) where all performers get at least one singing and acting solo! Prerequisites: None. No audition required except for the Triple Threat Troupe. Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University 1800 677 728 griffith.edu.au/study/music Bachelor of Musical Theatre - 3 years full-time You’ll need to be versatile, talented and well-trained to be cast in shows once you’re out in the real world. Studying at Griffith, you’ll learn to integrate the varied skills of an actor, a dancer and a musician into your roles. You’ll be able to deliver performances that bring to life the combined vision of the directors, musical directors and choreographers you’ll work with. This program is delivered by working industry practitioners who provide professional, relevant, innovative and supportive instruction. To ensure you become proficient in singing, acting and dancing, you’ll undertake intensive practical training covering acting and improvisation, voice and speech, singing, dance and movement, audition technique and performance. www.griffith.edu.au/study/music/musical-theatre Harvest Rain Theatre One Year Music Theatre Internship www.harvestrain.com.au/#/internships/4568004180 Brisbane Academy of Musical Theatre (07) 3103 7438 info@bamt.com.au www.bamt.com.au Certificate IV and Diploma in Musical Theatre - 1 year full-time www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 99
BAMT's Full Time Courses are an intensive one-year of musical theatre training and networking with some of the best and most prominent people in the business. The course provides students with a year of fantastic theatre experiences that broadens all knowledge and understanding of the entertainment industry and provides industry standard training to prepare for further study or employment. BAMT is the only training program in Australia housed within a major performing arts venue, which is also the home of Harvest Rain, Australia's largest not-for-profit youth arts organisation and producer of musical theatre. Students are afforded the opportunity to train in the same venue where some of Australia's biggest musical theatre stars are rehearsing and performing. Prerequisites: Entry is processed by direct application on the BAMT webpage and applicants will be required to demonstrate, through audition or other form of evidence, competence in vocal, dance and acting skills. Victorian College of the Arts University of Melbourne 13 MELB vca.unimelb.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) - 3 years full-time VCA Music Theatre is designed as an intensive skills-building program that produces industryready, professional performers with a strong sense of individual expression. The program offers extensive practical training in music theatre’s three principal disciplines - singing, acting and dancing - both as individual crafts and in combination. Public performance is an integral part of the program beginning in second year, with fully staged performances in third year and culminating in an industry showcase for agents, directors and producers. Music Theatre has a strong focus on, and connection to, Melbourne's thriving music theatre profession and students participate in daily studio-based training with working artists and industry master classes with international guest teachers. The program also encourages the development and performance of new music theatre works vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-music-theatre/overview Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) (Music Theatre) - 1 year full-time vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-honours-music-theatre/overview Master of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) The MFA (Music Theatre) offers practice-led research into music theatre - a term widely interpreted as forms of theatre in which music is an essential element in the making or the performance of the work, and also as musical theatre, in its various incarnations from its early formations in the nineteenth century to current commercial productions, not-for-profit developments and experimental shows. Creative research projects may investigate areas of practice, performance, writing, composition or training, with the imperative to develop scholarly engagement which leads to the dissemination and contribution of new knowledge and understanding in the field. Most projects may develop research by means of the candidate’s own artistic practice, which will be accompanied by a critical dissertation. Other forms of research, however, may strictly focus on historical or current forms of music theatre practices and debates, including performance reception, and result in a conventional fully written dissertation. Practice-led research projects outcomes might include the development of a book or score for a new work, training methods, a performance work, or other creative artefacts. The onus will be on candidates to ensure that their artistic work can provide the framework and process for the investigation of a meaningful research inquiry. The use of on-site facilities and venues may be facilitated on a case-by-case basis, and negotiated at the time of application. A creative submission is deemed as research only so far as it exemplifies, embodies or demonstrates the specific problematic that permeates the candidate’s inquiry. In other words, the practice ought to serve as a formal and necessary process towards answering or investigating a research inquiry. A successful practice-led MFA must be able to articulate and disseminate their research enquiry and its outcomes in a rigorous and meaningful way, both in its practical mode and also its dissertational form. vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-fine-arts-music-theatre/overview Patrick Studios Australia Performing Arts and Musical Theatre (03) 9681 8856 info@patrickstudiosaustralia.com.au www.patrickstudiosaustralia.com.au Certificate II, III & IV in Dance and Diploma of Musical Theatre - 2 years A full time professional development program, in liaison with Swinburne University, catering to dancers and performers seeking an exceptional career in the arts industry. It is a 100% practical course based on the industry's needs making it 100 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
physically and mentally demanding, with entrance being highly competitive. Course covers; Ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre. Vocal development including vocal alchemy classes, acting techniques, repertoire, and musical theatre and audition skills. Prerequisites: Prior dance and vocal training is desirable, but not compulsory. Minimum year 10 education (or equivalent). Spectrum Dance (03) 9830 6588 | 0499 901 393 ftc@spectrumdance.com.au www.spectrumdance.com.au Spectrum Dance is a professional program which offers immersive courses where performers are prepared for immediate entry into the industry. Spectrum Dance courses draws on a student’s strengths, and nurtures their weaknesses to produce accomplished performers, with technique grounded in knowledge, creativity, and exploration. With resident faculty, and guest lecturers, Spectrum Dance creates an authentic environment, where the students are taught by current industry creatives establishing invaluable contacts before even graduating. Spectrum Dance believe the key to student success is to provide individually tailored training that develops advanced performance techniques in all facets of dance, singing and acting. In addition to these core skills, Spectrum Dance provide opportunities to engage in the entertainment industry, through an Industry Based Learning program with Spectrum Talent Agency, placing students at the forefront of their peers. The directors Trish Squire-Rogers and Katie Rappel work closely with their faculty of highly acclaimed dancers, choreographers and instructors to deliver the most outstanding accredited full-time dance courses within Australia. Diploma of Musical Theatre (CUA50213) - 12 Months The Diploma in Musical Theatre develops skills in all areas of musical theatre performance. Throughout this course the student’s talents will be advanced whilst encouraging confidence and creativity. This qualification reflects the role of performers working or aspiring to work in musical theatre and cabaret productions. At this level individuals are expected to apply theory and creative skills in a range of situations and to display initiative and judgment in planning activities. They have autonomy in performing complex technical operations and can be responsible for planning, coordinating and evaluating the work of others within broad but generally well-defined parameters. Diploma qualification awarded by Swinburne University of Technology RTO 3059 delivered by Spectrum Dance. www.spectrumdance.com.au/full-time-course Federation University Arts Academy 1800 FED UNI (1800 333 864) info@federation.edu.au www.federation.edu.au/performingarts Bachelor of Performance Arts - 3 years Immerse yourself in stage and screen acting workshops and voice tutorials, dance and singing classes, performance masterclasses and lectures. From Shakespeare to Sondheim, classic repertoire to newly devised works, join the hothouse of creativity to launch your performance career. You will become a multi-skilled practitioner, able to work in diverse settings including television, theatre, music theatre, opera, film, cabaret, comedy and multi-media performance. Prerequisites: Successful completion of VCE (or equivalent) units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any English, or interstate/overseas equivalent. Applicants are selected by audition and interview (the audition process is managed separately to the application process). study.federation.edu.au/#/course/DQP5 Showfit (03) 9380 8480 (ext 1) info@showfit.com.au www.showfit.com.au Full Time Music Theatre Course - 1 year (2nd Year Optional) Showfit has fast become one of Australia’s most sought after Musical Theatre courses. Led by a team of industry professionals, Showfit provides graduates with a strong skill base across all disciplines of musical theatre. The course is well renowned for its close connection to the industry, which allows students to be trained by a wide range of Australia’s most successful musical theatre performers and teachers. Prerequisites: Must be 18 Years of age or over. Some dance, singing, acting training. Auditions will be held late 2016.
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Michelle Slater Performing Arts Studio Diploma of Musical Theatre - Full-time and part-time Dance Factory (03) 9429 9492 dancefac@netspace.net.au www.dancefactory.com.au/courses/full-time Pay as little as $1,800 for Dance Factory's fully accredited, Dance, Musical Theatre and Teaching courses, thanks to the Victorian Government’s Skills First training initiative funding. This funding initiative together with Dance Factory’s proven history of quality training and graduate employment offers a unique opportunity to those wishing to create a career in Dance and Dance teaching. Dance Factory offers the widest range of commercial dance, musical theatre and dance teaching courses in Australia, which means it can provide dance education that exactly matches a person’s standards and abilities, as well as their goals and ambitions. This combined with its outstanding graduate history, which sees Dance Factory graduates performing across Australia, Asia, the West End, New York, cruise ships, Universal Studios and Disneyland, not to mention teaching, choreographing and producing across Australia and internationally, means that Dance Factory still remains an Australian dance education leader. Diploma of Musical Theatre (CUA50213) - 1 year full time or 2 years part time Prerequisite: Certificate IV in Dance (CUA40113) or equivalent Australian Institute of Music (03) 8610 4222 enquiries@aim.edu.au www.aim.edu.au/programs Bachelor of Music (Musical Theatre) - 3 years full-time This course provides students with the unique opportunity to learn and develop vocal, acting and dancing abilities, as well as amplifying your skills through individual and group lessons. Be mentored by experienced high-calibre professionals in the industry and start forming your creative network as you collaborate with other students in a creatively stimulating and supportive environment. Entry by direct application to AIM. www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/bachelor-of-music-music-theatre Diploma of Music - 2 years full-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/diploma-of-music Master of Music - 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/postgraduate/master-of-music Acting Performance Studio (03) 9078 1454 info@apstudio.com.au www.apstudio.com.au Music Theatre Classes (Adults, Kids & Teens - all skill levels) - Ongoing (Term-by-term commitment) The Musical Theatre classes focus primarily on stage work and incorporate acting, singing and dancing. The classes work towards a full production in the second semester, as well as a Music Theatre Soiree/Showcase at the end of the year. These classes are only available at the Moorabbin Studio. Free trial classes available.
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Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Edith Cowan University 134 328 futurestudy@ecu.edu.au waapa.ecu.edu.au WAAPA’s acclaimed Music Theatre course provides graduates with the skills and experience required to engage in professional theatre practice. Music Theatre students work closely with WAAPA’s world class teaching staff and specialist tutors who share the knowledge and skills they have gained through professional performance careers. Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) - 3 years full time This degree course provides intensive technical training in singing, dancing and acting to develop the professionally acknowledged ‘triple threat’ performer. In addition to these core skills, students are instructed in film, television and radio techniques to train them for a wide range of roles in the performing arts. There is also a strong focus on preparing students for professional audition. Practical training is complemented by the study of dramatic literature, the history of music theatre and arts management. Students integrate their class studies with performance training throughout the course in classroom presentations, workshops, chamber music theatre and full-scale musical productions. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music-theatre Diploma of Music Theatre - 1 year full time The one year, full-time Diploma of Music Theatre course trains students in the areas of song, dance and acting. It focuses on audition techniques and develops the student’s ability and knowledge in the area of music theatre. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music-theatre Elder Conservatorium of Music University of Adelaide (08) 8313 5995 / (08) 8313 4423 music@adelaide.edu.au arts.adelaide.edu.au/music Bachelor of Music Theatre - 3 years full-time The Bachelor of Music Theatre welcomes you into a vibrant community, enthusiastic about music theatre. You will receive intensive, individualised training in singing and song coaching, as well as classes in dance, acting and music. Specific courses include: Music Theatre Performance, Music Theatre Production, Music Theatre Musicianship, Music Research, Contemporary Musicianship. Intensives include: Ensemble Singing, Music Theatre History, Script Analysis, Dance Intensive, Song and Dance, Hip Hop, Stage Combat, Accents & Dialects. A fully staged Play or Musical is part of the program as is Song Repertoire and Songs & Scenes. You’ll also gain valuable experience through University partnerships with Adelaide Festival, South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Adelaide Fringe. Prerequisites: Audition and SACE Stage 2 (or equivalent). All Bachelor of Music Theatre students applying to the Elder Conservatorium of Music are required to attend an audition. The audition will be divided into three parts and will assess each applicant’s current skill level and potential for future studies. After auditioning you may be asked to return later in the day or the next day to join a group audition in dance and further singing and action work. Offers will be made on the basis of the audition, the Musicianship test and academic achievement. The Musicianship test aims to assess the applicant’s general level of musicianship, which involves the ability to identify and recognise musical concepts within aural, written and theoretical contexts. To apply for an audition and for details regarding audition rounds, Musicianship test and the application process, please visit arts.adelaide.edu.au/music/study/auditions. arts.adelaide.edu.au/study-with-us/undergraduate/music-theatre
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Ara Institute of Canterbury National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (NASDA) +64 3 9400 8000 info@ara.ac.nz www.ara.ac.nz To be a successful performer in today’s industry you need to be versatile and dynamic. Ara is proud to offer high quality performance training at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA). Taught by a team of experienced performers and teachers who are dedicated to helping you make the most of your career, these highly regarded programmes will equip you with the skills needed to succeed in a number of branches of the performing arts. Bachelor of Performing Arts (with optional specialisation in Music Theatre) - 3 years You'll gain practical experience in performance and production work in key theatre disciplines such as acting, singing and dance, as well as studies in spoken voice, music theory, theatre history, technical theatre skills and research methods. After gaining a solid foundation in these skills, you’ll refine your programme of study in your second and third years to suit your strengths and interests. This allows you to focus on any number of genres that require strong actors, or to specialise in music theatre. Performance and work-integrated learning is a big part of the degree, especially in the third year. This involves researching, planning and preparing for performances (such as plays, revues, applied theatre, musicals, concerts and cabaret) in the same manner as a self-employed performing artist. Auditions take place in September, and can be by video submission. Prerequisites: See website for details. ara.ac.nz/study-options/qualifications-and-courses/programmes/Bachelor-of-Performing-Arts-with-optional-specialisation-in-Music-Theatre.xml NZ Certificate in Performing Arts (Level 4) - in development - 1 year This new programme, currently in development will be New Zealand’s first Level 4 Performing Arts qualification. Conceived as a foundation course in Singing, Dancing and Acting to prepare students for entry-level roles in Performing Arts companies or entry to further study. Auditions take place in September, and can be by video submission. Prerequisites: See website for details. ara.ac.nz/study-options/qualifications-and-courses/programmes/New-Zealand-Certificate-in-Performing-Arts-Level-4-Currently-in-Development-for-2021.xml
NASDA’s 2nd year student production of 42nd Street (2019). Photo: Triebels_Photography.
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Sound And Light
Lighting Design at WAAPA. Photo: Stephen Heath. 106 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
Spotlight On NIDA
Wun Zee was lighting designer of pool (no water), written by Mark Ravenhill and directed by Ben Schostackowski, in the NIDA Playhouse Theatre as part of the 2019 June NIDA production season. She explains the lighting design in the pictured scene.
lights on stage as part of the props has really allowed for the characters to be separated in their own world that was created with the use of a floating set. The use of the dedos on stage also provided a more flexible use of lighting that could be easily manipulated by the cast members on stage to create the shots. That not only lends itself to their characters as artists but also to be able to light small details that would otherwise have been very difficult with traditional theatre lighting.
SW: What is happening in the scene? WZ: The characters have just found out that their friend who had been in a terrible accident had recovered and they're feeling a mix of guilt and disappointment that SW: Do you think it was successful? she is better. They are considering what it means for them WZ: I think that all the different elements of this individually and the work they have done photographing production including (but not limited to) the set, sound, her recovery, while she had been unconscious. video, props and lighting melded together successfully to create and maintain the world that these characters exist SW: What was your artistic aim in lighting this scene? in. In terms of lighting, I think the use of practical film WZ: The aim in this scene was to create a stark lights on stage was really successful in lighting the atmosphere, as they had just arrived here from a place of characters, especially in intimate moments, and really excitement, and the feeling of having a rug being pulled helped capture the emotions that these characters were out from under them. It was also important to express feeling. how they were now back in reality after having experienced an almost dreamlike situation. And of course SW: How important is lighting in setting the mood of having to light each of the characters to make them a production? clear and distinct in the live recordings. WZ: I think that lighting definitely helps in creating the mood of a production, but in this particular production SW: How was it achieved? lighting was only part of it. The use of sound and video WZ: The use of cool white light on the set had helped was also very important and the combination of the three bring starkness, almost as if they were in a hospital allowed this production to be told in an engaging way. waiting room. Along with sidelights, the use of the film
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Browse Our Catalogue
Missed one of our past editions or want to re-visit a favourite feature? With more time on our hands, it’s the perfect opportunity to catch up on our extensive back catalogue by clicking on the covers below.
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Lighting designer Aron Murray, a NIDA student in the MFA Design for Performance degree, explains the lighting design for Roberto Zucco, an upcoming production. Guest Director Robert Schuster, from the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Art in Berlin, will stage French playwright Bernard Marie Koltes’ last play, which focuses on the life and crimes of the notorious 1980s Italian serial killer, Roberto Zucco. Asking where does evil come from, the play explores excess, social violence and alienation, with Zucco the image of a depressive world searching for meaning. Challenging the actors to abandon their own moral determination and inhibition, the piece exposes Zucco as an angel of death that everyone seeks, yet no one understands. The design is a three-story structure that sits on a revolving stage in the NIDA Parade Theatre. The scenes take place within that structure, at different heights or rooms. The lighting is projections and light sources that emanate out from it and within it. “What we are interested in with Roberto Zucco is exploring how
lighting and video can be brought together to create a more dynamic, living space than is traditionally possible with lighting or video alone,” says Aron. “In the work we are making use of projection technologies to cast textures onto the set that simulate reflections and light wash from the world beyond the play. In this way, we are trying to add detail back to the image onstage that is usually lost through lighting’s process of approximation. “The set is a multifaceted, multi-storey building that sits on a ten metre wide revolve. As the set rotates it reveals different rooms and scenes to the
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audience. There are a number of practical lights within the revolve to light the scenes locally and give the feeling of living, and in some cases lived-in, space. In some instances these practicals are directly interacted with by the actors on stage and in others instances their operation is cued from the lighting console. The lighting rig is still being developed but consists mainly of conventional fixtures with a complementary assortment of moving lights, all controlled from a front-of-house console. “There are obvious challenges with lighting and projecting onto a revolving set, especially with the degree of localisation and accuracy that the work requires. We are looking to explore different approaches for tracking the revolve’s position and ways that this data could then be used to aid or augment the lighting and video systems.”
National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) (02) 9697 7600 info@nida.edu.au www.nida.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Theatre And Stage Management) - 3 years full-time This immersive, practice-based course produces successful and adept technical theatre and stage management artists and practitioners. Students learn innovative and effective ways to manage and integrate technical fields within theatres, concerts and events. A key feature is the broad range of experience and knowledge students receive to prepare them for leadership roles in the industry. Classes cover the theory and practice of stage management, production management, lighting, audio, technical drawing and video for live performance. Students also receive practical experience as stage managers, technical managers and technical designers and crew in live productions at NIDA Theatres. In their final year, students spend a minimum of 10 weeks in industry placements, where they gain real-world experience that is essential to employability and a sustainable career in the arts. Previous placements include major theatre companies, film production companies, TV channels and festivals in Sydney, Melbourne Theatre Company, Adelaide Festival and Fringe Festival, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Radio Television Hong Kong, Geordie Productions, Canada and Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Edinburgh Scotland. Graduates have been employed by Sydney Theatre Company, Bangarra Dance Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, The Australian Ballet, Cirque du Soleil, Abbey Theatre (Dublin) Sydney Festival, Commonwealth Games, Brolly Productions (London), WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff Asia Pacific and PRG Scenic Technology (USA). nida.edu.au/technical-theatre Vocational Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services (CUA50415) - 1 year full-time This course equips you with the skills and knowledge to implement lighting, sound and vision designs, operate equipment and plan and conduct the bump-in and bump-out of productions. Training is industry-driven with content delivered by practising professionals and guest tutors from the entertainment arts industry. The course is supported by Opera Australia and Foundation Theatres, and includes site visits to a range of Sydney venues including the Sydney Theatre Company, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Lyric Theatre. Throughout the course, you will have opportunities to apply your skills on live performance and film projects, collaborating with students from NIDA’s other creative disciplines in an environment that mirrors the live performance industry. The course includes placement on student productions which are at the heart of NIDA’s calendar year, and around which all disciplines of the school unite. This gives you the opportunity to work with NIDA tutors and industry guests, and to collaborate with NIDA’s Directing, Design for Performance, Acting, and Technical Theatre and Stage Management students. nida.edu.au/live-production TAFE Western Sydney entertainment.wsi.tafensw.edu.au/courses/live-sound-and-lighting Live Production Certificates and Diplomas Australian Institute of Music (02) 9219 5444 www.aim.edu.au/programs Bachelor of Music (Audio) - 3 years full-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/bachelor-of-music-audio Diploma of Music (Audio) - 2 years full-time www.aim.edu.au/programs/undergraduate/diploma-of-music Master of Music www.aim.edu.au/programs/postgraduate/master-of-music
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Western Sydney University (02) 9852 5222 study@westernsydney.edu.au westernsydney.edu.au/future Bachelor of Screen Media (Arts and Production) - 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time. You will undertake a major in Media Arts Production covering a variety of digital platform production practices including short film, documentary, experimental, transmedia and TV. Prerequisites HSC. TAFE Queensland Gold Coast 1300 308 233 gold.coast@tafe.qld.edu.au www.tafeqld.edu.au Diploma of Screen and Media (Interactive Media) (CUA51015) Activate your career in screen and media with this diploma qualification. This course is ideal for creative people seeking employment in interactive media. tafeqld.edu.au/courses/18179/diploma-of-screen-and-media?Region=%22Gold%20Coast%22 Diploma of Screen and Media / Bachelor of Games and Interactive Design (CUA51015 / 307JA.1) Get ahead of the game with this advanced dual qualification, delivered in partnership with the University of Canberra. Become a games designer, software engineer, or animator. tafeqld.edu.au/courses/18181/diploma-of-screen-and-media-bachelor-of-games-and-interactive-design?Region=% 22Gold%20Coast%22 Queensland University of Technology Creative Industries Faculty (07) 3138 2000 askqut@qut.edu.au www.qut.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Production) - 3 years full-time This course provides you with fundamental skills in stage management, lighting, sound, multimedia production, costume, props, stage mechanics, scenery construction and theatre design. You’ll also have the opportunity to specialise in a particular area of live production and access to industry- based learning and placements. Graduates work for companies and shows all over the world as stage managers, production managers, lighting, sound and scenic designers, technical programmers and operators, tour managers, technical directors and in the areas of props, costumes and stage mechanics, theatrical flying and automation. They work across all types of live production and performance including classical and contemporary music, theatre, dance, circus, ballet, festivals, opera, corporate theatre, sports production including opening and closing ceremonies, and large public performance events. www.qut.edu.au/study/international-courses/bachelor-of-fine-arts/bachelor-of-fine-arts-technical-production Box Hill Institute of TAFE 1300 BOX HILL (1300 269 445) info@boxhill.edu.au Advanced Diploma of Sound Production You will develop a high level of skills and practise within the recording industry, including skills of the studio engineer and record producer. This course incorporates advanced studies in industry standards of software and hardware, including ProTools, as well as advanced microphone techniques and session management skills. www.bhtafe.edu.au/courses/local/Pages/MUSP6.aspx Certificate III in Sound Production
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Victorian College of the Arts University of Melbourne 13 MELB vca.unimelb.edu.au Postgraduate Diploma in Performance Creation (Design, Lighting Design, Sound Design) The Postgraduate Diploma in Performance Creation brings together choreographers, directors, designers, and animateurs in a program which enables distinct discipline specialisations as well as collaborative and interdisciplinary projects through common subject areas. The course is focused on nurturing and developing arts practitioners who will contribute through leadership, research and performance development to Australian culture in the arts. This is an intensive practicebased graduate coursework degree, taking one year of full-time study with streams available in Animateuring, Choreography, Directing, Design (Set and Costume), Lighting Design, and Sound Design. vca.unimelb.edu.au/pgdipp Victoria University (03) 9919 3204 music@vu.edu.au Advanced Diploma of Sound Production A variety of music technology and related fields will be open to you, including the studio, live sound, MIDI, digital audio editing, collaboration and management. www.vu.edu.au/courses/advanced-diploma-of-sound-production-cus60209 Collarts School of Entertainment 1300 818 777 info@collarts.edu.au www.collarts.edu.au Bachelor of Arts (Audio Production) The Bachelor of Arts (Audio Production) will provide students with fundamentals of audio production across live sound, recording, producing and post-production and develops this knowledge to build strong practical skills and a portfolio of work for a career in the audio industry. Throughout the Degree, you will: Learn and perfect recording studio techniques; Create professional-quality recordings; Manage live audio production to a professional standard; Work on industry projects alongside musicians and entertainment managers; Develop specialist recording and post-production skills; Explore new music and audio technologies. Diploma of Arts (Audio Production) The Diploma of Arts (Audio Production) will teach students the fundamentals of audio production across live sound, recording, producing and post-production. The diploma can be completed in two trimesters of full-time study and you have the opportunity to progress into the Bachelor Degree (subject to academic performance). Throughout the Diploma, you will: Learn recording studio techniques; Create quality mixes; Manage live audio production; Collaborate with musicians and entertainment managers; Understand the recording and post-production process; Explore new music and audio technologies. Bachelor of Arts (Music Production) The Bachelor of Arts (Music Production) develops your understanding of the business and management side of the music and entertainment industries. You will build your practical mastery and theoretical understanding of music production techniques, including studio recording, mix engineering, song arrangement, sound design, synthesis and songwriting, while developing a strong portfolio of work that will demonstrate experience in these fields. The Degree can be completed in six trimesters (two years) of full-time study. Throughout the degree, you will: Gain comprehensive knowledge about music production; Learn practical skills in software applications; Ableton Live, Logic X and Protools; www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 113
Collaborate and perform live with technology; Explore new and emerging music production techniques and technologies; Master studio recording techniques; Enhance songwriting, recording and performance skills; Create a portfolio of music with artistic direction; Work with experienced industry experts; Learn business and entrepreneurial skills for the music industry; Undertake a 60-hour work placement.
Diploma of Arts (Music Production) The Diploma of Arts (Music Production) provides you with a fundamental understanding of music production, as well as an overview of the music industry and how to thrive within it. The Diploma can be completed in two trimesters of fulltime study and you have the opportunity to progress into the Bachelor Degree (subject to academic performance). Throughout the Diploma, you will: Develop skills in studio recording, mix engineering, synthesis, sound design, arrangement and songwriting; Create professional quality music; Work with technology to enhance songwriting, recording and performance; Collaborate with musicians, audio professionals and entertainment managers; Develop specialist recording and post-production skills; Explore new and emerging music and audio technologies. Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Edith Cowan University 134 328 futurestudy@ecu.edu.au waapa.ecu.edu.au WAAPA’s Lighting program provides training in lighting design and lighting technology for theatre, film, television, concerts and trade presentations. Students develop skills and knowledge in theatre, film and television lighting, lighting design, and lighting operation. The course is structured to provide students with the skills and experience consistent with the growing needs of the entertainment industry. Students work on a range of productions mounted by WAAPA and are expected to provide service at a professional level of competence. Areas of study include electronics, optics, cinematography, documentation and drafting, budgeting, crew management, script analysis and control board operation. Courses offered in this discipline: Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services Advanced Diploma of Live Production and Management Services Graduates of the Advanced Diploma can now articulate into a Bachelor of Performing Arts over three semesters. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/production-and-design/lighting WAAPA’s Sound program covers a broad spectrum of disciplines in sound production and operation. Students develop skills and experience in the areas of theatre, concerts, music recording, film, television and radio through both classwork and their involvement in a range of WAAPA performances. WAAPA Sound graduates may find themselves mixing musical acts, creating sound designs for theatre, recording in sound studios, producing radio shows and adverts, recording dialogue on film sets and setting up sound installations for museums, amongst many more opportunities. Courses offered in this discipline: Diploma of Music Industry Advanced Diploma of Music Industry Graduates of the Advanced Diploma can now articulate into a Bachelor of Performing Arts over three semesters. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/production-and-design/sound
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Stage Management
Stage Management at WAAPA. Photo: Jon Green.
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Bethany Fellows.
From Peanut Butter To Stage Design highlights during your studies at VCA? “The very first collaboration I did in the Master of Design for Performance degree was the most ridiculous thing, but it was also an absolute highlight. It was just three hands in a “Human ingenuity - people coming box trying independently to make a together to make something happen. peanut butter and jelly sandwich - but My brain is so lateral, I find inspiration I knew then that I had made the right in the strangest places, like rubbish decision to go into stage design. It discarded on the street, a cookbook, was a reassuring signpost in life. or the tilt of a tree. I try to keep my “One of my favourite projects in mind open and take in everything the course has been making 1:25 scale around me. You never know where models - I cannot describe how much your next idea might come from.” joy it brings me to make tiny furniture You say your biggest challenge for tiny actors.” during the course has been figuring And the path to a career in stage out your work/life balance. design? “It can be exhausting but it’s also “There are so many important immensely rewarding. And working things to do to begin. Go to shows. with so many people can be difficult, Look at art. Learn to draw. Observe because everyone always has an the world. The VCA has also really opinion! But I love meeting new given me a leg-up that I otherwise people. I’ve met some wonderful wouldn’t have had. The industry collaborators who I’ll keep working experience, contacts and practicable with past my time here at VCA.” outcomes that our course offers are Have there been particular considerable.”
Bethany Fellows knew she wanted to study at the Victorian College of the Arts, but she never knew she’d end up studying stage design in the Master of Design for Performance. In the course she made everything from peanut butter sandwiches to tiny furniture. The path to studying at the VCA was circuitous for you, wasn’t it? “I majored in printmaking and art theory during my undergraduate degree and shifted to focus on live art during my honours year. I’ve done lots of different things - graphic design, sock-selling, bike store management, event management - and I was at a crossroads in life. I realised stage design was a good nexus of my skills, because I’m creative yet practical - and I really wanted to collaborate with other people.” There is no “typical day” at the VCA is there? It’s a rollercoaster of activities. “There’ll be some meetings, some classes, some searching for sustenance and caffeine. If I’m working on a show I might be locked in a shed cutting wood for a week or running around the city looking for a very particular but seemingly innocuous T-shirt for a character.” What inspires you?
To discover more about study options for Performing Arts at the VCA visit finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au
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NIDA (02) 9697 7600 info@nida.edu.au www.nida.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Theatre and Stage Management) - 3 years NIDA’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Theatre and Stage Management) is an immersive, practice-based course which equips students with the specialised skills they require for a successful career in this field. The course focuses on innovative and effective ways to manage and integrate technical fields within live performance and event environments. Students gain a broad range of experience and knowledge to prepare them for roles that require creative, technical and managerial expertise across multiple disciplines. Topics covered include stage management, lighting, audio, technical drawing and video for live performance. All students receive practical experience as stage managers, technical managers, technical designers and crew. In their final year, students undertake at least 10 weeks of industry placements, where they gain essential real-world experience and have the opportunity to create contacts and networks in the performing arts industry. This course produces graduates who are industry-ready and highly employable. www.nida.edu.au/technical-theatre University of Southern Queensland 1800 269 500 study@usq.edu.au Bachelor of Creative Arts (Stage Management Major)
Queensland University of Technology (07) 3138 2000 askqut@qut.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Production) - 3 years full-time This course provides you with fundamental skills in stage management, lighting, sound, multimedia production, costume, props, stage mechanics, scenery construction and theatre design. You’ll also have the opportunity to specialise in a particular area of live production and access to industry- based learning and placements. Graduates work for companies and shows all over the world as stage managers, production managers, lighting, sound and scenic designers, technical programmers and operators, tour managers, technical directors and in the areas of props, costumes and stage mechanics, theatrical flying and automation. They work across all types of live production and performance including classical and contemporary music, theatre, dance, circus, ballet, festivals, opera, corporate theatre, sports production including opening and closing ceremonies, and large public performance events. www.qut.edu.au/study/international-courses/bachelor-of-fine-arts/bachelor-of-fine-arts-technical-production Tasmanian Polytechnic (03) 6220 3133 enquiries@academy.tas.edu.au Diploma Of Live Production, Theatre And Events (Technical Production) The course aims to provide graduates with the broad-based knowledge and practical skills required to gain and sustain professional employment in the arts and entertainment industry; as a member of the technical crew on a show/event as an employee of a theatre based or independent production company as a member or leader in events at a variety of venues.
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Victorian College of the Arts University of Melbourne 13 MELB vca.unimelb.edu.au Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production) - 3 years full-time The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production) trains you to design, create, operate and manage in your chosen area of production. The program offers you three majors to choose from: Performance Technology, Stage Management and Design Realisation. Performance Technology teaches you about lighting, audio and vision, electrics and software in theatre. It also trains you in the practical usage of the technology as well as developing your design skills. In the Stage Management major, you gain skills in stage, company and production management and are introduced to performance technology. Design Realisation trains you in costume, props and visual communication. You learn the skills required to create and realise a design. vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-production/overview Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) (Production) - 1 year full-time vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/bachelor-of-fine-arts-honours-production/overview Master of Fine Arts (Production) - 2 years full-time vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-fine-arts-production/overview SEDA 1300 11 7332 sedagroup.com.au All SEDA students also undertake VET Certificates which contribute to their Senior Secondary Certificate and develop their industry specific credentials, allowing them to transition into work or further study. With strong connection to industry, students develop initiative, communication, leadership, resilience and critical thinking skills. This provides SEDA graduates with the opportunity to gain employment across numerous industries. In the final year of the program students study a Diploma of Screen and Media. Students who successfully complete their Diploma have the opportunity to gain direct entry into one of a range of courses offered by SEDA’s partner universities. www.segagroup.com.au/arts Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Edith Cowan University 134 328 futurestudy@ecu.edu.au waapa.ecu.edu.au WAAPA’s Stage Management course provides training in the organisational and management skills needed for managing rehearsals and performance. These include the development and use of the prompt copy, production documentation, score reading, movement and voice instruction, safety in the theatre, communication and people/time management skills, production and company management. A range of technical production skills and techniques, as well as an understanding of the staging and performance requirements for drama, dance, music, music theatre and opera will be developed. Courses offered in this discipline: Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services Advanced Diploma of Live Production and Management Services Graduates of the Advanced Diploma can now articulate into a Bachelor of Performing Arts over three semesters. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/production-and-design/stage-management
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Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School +64 4 381 9251 apply@toiwhakaari.ac.nz www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz Bachelor of Performing Arts (Management) - 3 years In the performing arts every production has a different working model; this requires managers to be adaptable, flexible and skilled at leading teams through a creative process. Understanding all aspects of the craft and being able to empower people to work to their strengths is key.
Stage Management at WAAPA. Photo: Jon Green.
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Voice
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Abi Tucker in Bell Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Photo: Rush.
Sydney Conservatorium of Music University of Sydney (02) 9036 6530 Graduate Diploma in Music (Opera Performance) sydney.edu.au/courses/programs/master-of-music-studies-opera-performance/GraduateDiploma-in-Music-Opera-Performance Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) sydney.edu.au/courses/programs/master-of-music-studies-opera-performance/Master-of-Music-Studies-OperaPerformance
music.sydney.edu.au/study/our-degrees National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) (02) 9697 7600 info@nida.edu.au www.nida.edu.au Master of Fine Arts (Voice) - 15 months full time NIDA’s Master of Fine Arts (Voice) produces exceptional voice users through physical and conceptual training. The course provides a solid pedagogical foundation so that graduates, if they choose, can go on to train others to become exceptional voice users, too. The relationship between voice and speech, text and language, is examined in depth. The fundamentals of physiology and technique are coupled with the study of imaginative intention, text analysis and other aspects of vocal expression. Using methods developed by leading international specialists such as Barbara Houseman, Kristin Linklater and Frankie Armstrong, this course is particularly suitable for actors, theatre directors, teachers of speech and drama, speech therapists or those wishing to develop a voice practice as a vocation. Students attend practice-based workshops, or work towards certification with renowned international and national voice practitioners. Students are empowered to develop their own artistic vision, as well as their capacity for leadership within the cultural, performance and academic communities. A core part of the program is the international placement students undertake at prestigious institutions around the globe, such as Yale University, Carnegie Mellon University, Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the University of California. These placements give students the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in teaching practice, forge industry connections and solidify future pathways. Graduates have been employed as Lecturer in Acting at Charles Sturt University, Head of Voice at Sydney Theatre School, Course Manager of NIDA Corporate, Voice Tutors at NIDA. Prerequisites: Undergraduate degree in performance/teaching practice with voice foundations, or at least five years of experience in a related discipline. nida.edu.au/voice Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium of Music 1800 677 728 Bachelor of Music www.griffith.edu.au/study/music Graduate Certificate in Music Studies degrees.griffith.edu.au/Program/3091 Bachelor of Music with Honours degrees.griffith.edu.au/Program/2051 Masters of Music Studies degrees.griffith.edu.au/Program/5298
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Victorian College of the Arts The University of Melbourne 13 MELB vca.unimelb.edu.au Postgraduate Certificate In Voice Studies - 1 year part-time This course is designed to provide study and practice in voice for individuals who wish to follow a career in voice teaching. It is particularly likely to appeal to professionals who already have a knowledge and interest in the voice e.g. actors, directors, drama teachers and trained singers. The program develops your skills in the practice of using voice, language and text including diagnostic tools for enhancing voice practice and your own approach for working with the relationship between voice, speech and text. As the development of voice skills is a physical training, to gain full benefit from the course it is expected that you develop your own daily practice. vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/postgraduate-certificate-in-voice-studies/overview Postgraduate Diploma in Voice Studies vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/graduate-diploma-in-voice-studies/overview Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) 1300 725 709 office@ameb.edu.au www.ameb.edu.au All instruments, speech and Drama As one of the most respected bodies in this field AMEB's qualifications are recognised as a national benchmark across Australia. AMEB examinations are based on syllabuses designed by leading scholars and performers, regularly updated to ensure that they reflect an appropriate range of performance skills and the latest musicological research. The content of these syllabuses is, wherever practical, published in affordable editions, ensuring that the cost to students of acquiring a full range of the set pieces is as simple and inexpensive as possible. What is offered: A qualification that is widely recognised and respected The only examination body with formal links to major Australian universities and Ministers for Education The most widely-used assessment system for Music, Speech and Drama in Australia Assessment from the preliminary to diploma level Highly-trained examiners who are specialists in their instrument Detailed written reports for practical examinations Fresh and accessible syllabuses developed in consultation with teachers, parents and students A wide range of repertoire available in the manual lists, in addition to AMEB publications Local teacher support and networks Quality publications Stage School Australia (03) 8199 8344 firstyear@stageschool.com.au www.firstyearperformance.com.au First Year Full Time Performance Intensive Course - 1 year full-time For over twenty years Stage School Australia has provided students with intensive opportunities to rehearse and perform full theatrical productions such as Spring Awakening, Wicked, and Les Misérables and participate in national touring shows of Seussical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Once on this Island. The progression in technique, creativity, and energy when actors are working towards onstage performance seasons is dramatic, and far exceeds the progression you will get from exclusively studio-based training. Stage School Australia’s First Year Performance Intensive course is their first year-long programme where performers alternate between intensive studio-based ‘bootcamp’ training, masterclass sessions with industry experts, rehearsals for performance seasons, and show seasons in front of live audiences. Throughout the year students will work with a wide range of industry professionals to hone their skills in different styles of Dance, Voice, Acting, Improvisation, Stage Combat and Accents while building fitness and stamina. Students will be challenged to not only play to their strengths, but to move out of their comfort zone and broaden their 122 Stage Whispers Directory of Performing Arts Courses 2021
NIDA Master Of Fine Arts (Voice) student.
artistic range across these disciplines. Over the course of the year students will work on a minimum of 6 different shows including an abridged Broadway musical, an abridged Shakespeare play, a naturalistic drama and a non-naturalistic drama. Performers will also experience the thrill of taking a show ‘on the road’ as part of a regional Victorian tour in the September school holidays. Graduates from this course can expect to be an industry-ready Triple Threat performer with show credits already under your belt. Small class sizes guarantee a personal level of tuition. Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Edith Cowan University 134 328 futurestudy@ecu.edu.au waapa.ecu.edu.au Classical Performance - Vocal WAAPA’s Classical Vocal students receive individual lessons, attend specialist performance classes and participate in a large range of ensembles, fully-staged operas and cutting-edge new music. Vocal students also have specialist classes to study acting, languages and
movement skills. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music/classical-performance-vocal Courses offered in this discipline: Diploma of Music Industry Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance - Vocal) Bachelor of Music Honours Graduate Diploma of Music
Contemporary Music - Performance WAAPA’s intensive, performance-based major centres on ensemble studies, where students develop advanced performance skills as a contemporary vocalist through receiving individual lessons, attending masterclasses and participating in repertoire-intensive performing ensembles. Other classes include arranging, history, theory, rhythm, aural and improvisation. Performances are undertaken regularly throughout the course and the final year culminates in a professional recital. www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music/contemporary-music Courses offered in this discipline: Diploma of Music Industry Advanced Diploma of Music Industry Bachelor of Music (Contemporary) Bachelor of Music Honours Graduate Diploma of Music
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Writing For Theatre
Ravenswood School for Girls’ BrontÍ.
National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) (02) 9697 7600 info@nida.edu.au www.nida.edu.au Master of Fine Arts (Writing for Performance) - 15 months full time This is a course for people who have already decided to call themselves writers and who see this as their primary calling. While craft skills are important, more significant is the challenge of writing itself and the necessity of having something to say. It is the focus of these two major areas of writing, as well as the nurturing of creativity, that makes this course unique in Australia, and one of the few such courses in the world. Students will have the opportunity to work in fields as diverse as film, gaming and digital media while writing their major work. Excerpts of this work will be presented at the end of the year, with the writers themselves directing actors in a rehearsed reading for a public audience. In October, the MFA (Writing for Performance) students direct and present a collection of 30 minute readings by actors excerpted from their major work. Previous field trips and learning experiences include theatre companies, TV channels and festivals in Sydney, Adelaide Festival and Fringe Festival, the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts Brisbane, Perth International Arts Festival, London performing arts industry experiences and the Edinburgh Festival. Graduates of the course may be employed as playwrights and as writers for other performance genres, including film, television, radio and digital media. As writing for performance is normally a freelance occupation, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to access and navigate a rapidly changing landscape of contemporary textual practices. Prerequisites: Undergraduate degree and a demonstrated commitment to original writing. nida.edu.au/writing
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Victorian College of the Arts University of Melbourne 13 MELB vca.unimelb.edu.au Master of Writing for Performance - 1 year full-time The Master of Writing for Performance focuses on developing the skills and emerging aesthetic of the individual and collaborative writer for diverse forms of contemporary live performance. It is unique in Australian theatre culture, focusing on the diversity of voices and cultures present in contemporary writing in Australia and overseas. Through a combination of writing workshops, critical seminars and discussions you develop skills in writing for diverse contexts and live performance while gaining an understanding of the relationship between the playwright and the cultural contexts in which they write. The program focuses on the development of a full length play, as well as four other smaller performance writing projects including: writing from improvisation with acting and directing students; writing for digital mediums; adaptation of existing texts; and writing for live art projects. The projects are supported by an analysis of dramaturgical principles and play structures based in character, dramatic action, conflict, dialogue, action and causal logic, as well as more experimental, non-linear writing based on post-dramatic concepts. At the end of the year, each writer presents a rehearsed presentation of a full-length play to industry and public. The program welcomes applications from: writers, actors, directors, animateurs, theatre makers, designers and dramaturges, with moderate to extensive experience in performance writing. vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-writing-for-performance/overview Master of Fine Arts (Theatre) - 2 years full-time Research by means of creative practice is central to the graduate programs of Performing Arts, where we seek to nurture creative excellence hand in hand with intellectual rigour and excitement. The Theatre specialisation of the MFA invites students to engage in research projects focused, in a broad range of different ways, on theatrical practice or issues related to theatre, or that illuminates or expands on the medium in some way. The majority of projects will involve research by means of the candidate’s own theatrical practice - the term ‘theatre’ in this context may be quite broadly interpreted - alongside a written dissertation, but some projects will focus on the practice of others and consist of a dissertation only. While the School insists that MFA practice-based projects fulfil the rigorous requirements of all academic research, the nature of the practice may vary considerably from project to project (e.g. the re-direction of a pre-existing script, the creation of a devised performance, a new approach to training, and so on). The onus on the candidate is to ensure that their practice constitutes research, and that the research focus can be consciously articulated in written form. vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-fine-arts-theatre/overview Master of Dramaturgy - 1 year full-time vca.unimelb.edu.au/study/degrees/master-of-dramaturgy/overview
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