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Home , Alexander Lewis (actor), Graeme Bell, Hugh Jackman, Mark Howett, Neil Armfield, Richard Burton

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS, (ISSUE 36) June 2014

Hugh Jackman launches Foundation Page 2

Allira Wilson wins Bell Award Page 3

Inaugural Woss Family Scholarship winners announced Page 7

Plus Visiting artists, awards and much more!

Inside WAAPA Issue 36 Page 1 JACKMAN LAUNCHES FOUNDATION AT WAAPA Twenty years after graduating, Hollywood star returns to his almA mater in to launch a foundation to raise money for the arts n May 17, international film and stage Money will be used to provide As was to be expected, the Foundation star Hugh Jackman was welcomed scholarships, support visiting artists and launch also showcased the talents of Oback to the performing arts institution artists-in-residence, fund productions WAAPA’s current students and recent that trained him. and to provide specialised training for graduates. Design graduate India Hicks In front of a packed audience in WAAPA’s indigenous students. and Lighting graduate Trent Suidgeest were Roundhouse Theatre, which included “The foundation of this place is its charged with creating the ‘look’ for the launch Governor Malcolm McCusker and Premier teachers,” Jackman said. “That is what we and 3rd Year Acting student Jonny Hawkins Colin Barnett, Jackman officially launched are here to support.” had the honour of being MC. Students from the Jackman Furness Foundation for the Aboriginal Theatre, Music Theatre, At the launch Jackman announced that Performing Arts. and courses provided the mining magnate Andrew Forrest and his entertainment. The Music Theatre students Jackman and his wife, actor, producer wife Nicola had pledged $1 million from their also joined Jackman, who last visited Perth and director Deborra-lee Furness have Minderoo charitable trust to kick-start the in 2006 as star of the musical The established the Foundation to support foundation. Jackman immediately matched Boy From Oz, in performing Allen’s hugely WAAPA and other institutions that train this with a $1 million donation from himself popular song, I Still Call Australia Home. Australia’s aspiring performing artists. and his wife Deborra-lee Furness. After the launch, Jackman took a tour of He was joined at the launch by Australian In his speech, Jackman spoke of his the Academy with WAAPA Director, Professor screen legend Jack Thompson, who is the desire to “send the elevator back down” to Julie Warn AM, stopping along the way to Foundation’s patron. help other aspiring performers. chat with delighted students. Perth businessman Geoff Michael has “I can tell you with absolute certainty, Jackman flew into Perth for the launch been appointed trustee of the Foundation there is no way my career would be what it from as part of a whirlwind tour and its advisory council includes former is, or that I would be standing in this capacity of South-East Asia and Australia to promote governor Ken Michael and Nicola Forrest. on this stage if it wasn’t for this institution his latest filmX-Men: Days of The Foundation intends to raise at least of WAAPA,” the X-Men and Les Miserables Future Past, which opened in late May. $10 million over the next four years towards star said. a revenue-generating endowment that will “It is unique, there is nowhere like it in the Above right: Hugh Jackman next to his 1994 WAAPA headshot and the costume he wore in his WAAPA 3rd Year production support the Academy and other areas of the world and everyone in our business knows Photo by Alana Blowfield performing arts. about WAAPA and I want it to be treasured Below left: Jackman and Jack Thompson at the Foundation launch Q&A WAAPA will be the initial and ongoing here, in this state, as much as it is around Photo by Alana Blowfield beneficiary of the Foundation’s fundraising the world.” Below right. Aboriginal Theatre students perform at the Foundation launch activities. Photo by Kathy Wheatley

Luke Arnold in Black Sails © 2014 Starz LLC Page 2 Inside WAAPA Issue 36 A BELL RINGS FOR ALLIRA After winning a 2014 Jazz Bell Award for her debut album, Allira Wilson is emerging as one of Australia’s hot young jazz talents

On May 1, the cream of Australia’s jazz She found jazz opened up exciting community gathered in Melbourne at the ways to collaborate and improvise Plaza Ballroom to recognise outstanding with musicians from different year achievements by musicians at levels and even outside of school. the annual Australian Jazz Bell Awards. That sense of collaboration was The Jazz Bell Awards, which were established strengthened during her three years at in 2003 and named in honour of the late great WAAPA. “Most of jazz pioneer Graeme Bell AO MBE, recognise the people I and encourage excellence in the performance, collaborate recording and presentation of jazz in Australia. and work Taking out the Bell Award for Best Australian with now are largely people I met directly at jazz scene. Over the next few months, she will Jazz Vocal Album for her debut CD Rise and Fall WAAPA or are very closely affiliated with WAAPA,” be performing gigs with her band (Joe O’Connor was 2010 WAAPA graduate Allira Wilson. Wilson says. “There’s a sense of unbreakable on piano, Marty Holoubek on bass and Jacob companionship that [comes] after three years Evans on drums) at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club Just a few weeks later Wilson performed of hard study... it really feels like family. Of and Paris Cat Jazz Club. She has joined the vocal at the 2014 Perth International Jazz Festival, course the knowledge gained from the teachers group Invenio, lead by Gian Slater, and is part of where reviewer Vanessa Perica described her as and the course work have been invaluable, as a project to record with pianist Barney McAll. She “a flawless interpreter, she pays due respect to well as the wealth of information brought in by is also planning an east coast tour at the end of the tradition within her explorations”. visiting artists and the opportunity to see world the year to promote Rise and Fall. Wilson started singing when she was four class musicians play.” “My longer-term goals are to collaborate and years old. “I remember singing for adorable little Once she graduated, Wilson found herself contribute to jazz music here in Australia as well put-on events at Sunday School where we were performing gigs around Perth in venues such as as overseas,” Wilson says. “The most rewarding encouraged to sing,” she says. “My mother and the Ellington Jazz Club with many of her former aspects of making music are the friendships father both love music so the house was always WAAPA lecturers, including Senior Lecturer and and I am looking forward to having more people full of the Everly Brothers, and award-winning jazz saxophonist Jamie Oehlers. to share music making with, the challenges and my father’s country music collection.” At the end of last year, she recorded Rise and the enjoyment from that is what spurs me on Wilson discovered jazz through her high Fall with Oehlers, Ben Vanderwal, Sam Anning, and ultimately what would make my career a school music teacher, jazz pianist Scott Tal Cohen and Christopher Sealey. happy one.” Loveday, who introduced her to singers like Ella Now based in Melbourne, the 24-year-old is Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, looking to establish herself in the Melbourne and encouraged her to experiment with scatting.

NICE THINGS FOR COSGRIFF

Photo by Alana Blowfield 2010 graduate Gillian Cosgriff wins a Green Room Award at Melbourne’s annual arts awards Her latest cabaret show might be called Why We with a magnetic stage presence” by Arts Hub and as Can’t Have Nice Things, but singer, songwriter and “a gem” by The Herald Sun: “An impressive, incisive pianist Gillian Cosgriff lyricist and songwriter, and highly capable pianist, is making a habit of not singer and comedic performer. The performance gods taking her own advice. have been kind to her.” The 2010 WAAPA In addition to her cabaret performances at graduate has won the Julie festivals around the country, Cosgriff also performs Michael Award for Musical regularly with improvised musical company Cabaret, the Hal Leonard Award and Spontaneous Broadway. Her television appearances her one-woman debut show, Waitressing... include Offspring and House Husbands and she was and Other Things I Do Well, took out the a backing vocalist for Kate Miller-Heidke’s most recent Cabaret Showcase Award. In 2013 she was album, Nightflight. awarded Best Cabaret at the Melbourne Fringe Other WAAPA graduates nominated in this year’s Festival for Why We Can’t Have Nice Things. included Eddie Perfect for Most recently, in April of this year, Nice Things Musical Direction of his show Perfect Tripod; Michael won a Green Room Award at Melbourne’s annual arts Griffiths for Musical Direction ofSweet Dreams: Songs awards in the Cabaret category of Best Original Songs. by Annie Lennox; and Ian Meadows for Best Male

Photo by Lachlan Woods Lachlan by Photo It seems nice things keep coming Cosgriff’s way. Actor for his role as Trip Wyeth in Other Desert Cities She has been described as “...a gifted comedienne for the Melbourne Theatre Company. InsideInside WAAPAWAAPA IssueIssue 3636 PagePage 33 ‘WONDERFUL ENERGIES’ OF DANCE Dance students from top Chinese university visit WAAPA as part of ongoing program of collaboration

s part of an ongoing collaboration ICDS, where they participated in Abetween WAAPA and Beijing workshops and performed The Normal University (BNU), twelve Rite of Spring with their Chinese Chinese dance students and three counterparts. lecturers/choreographers travelled This year, it was the turn of the to Perth in May for a week of Chinese dancers to visit WAAPA. workshops and performances. Xu Yao, a graduate student at While at WAAPA, the BNU dancers BNU and the interpreter for the participated in contemporary and tour, gave Inside WAAPA her improvisation dance classes and impressions of the Perth trip: gave lessons to their Australian “The BNU students really counterparts in Chinese folk dance. enjoyed staying in Perth, Their Perth visit culminated in the everything is so different from performance of two works as part Beijing. Less people and cleaner of LINK Dance Company’s season, air made a great first impression, Groundswell, which ran from May BNU Dance students with ECU staff on the final day of their visit. Photo courtesy of Randall Trautmann and the hospitality of WAAPA 21-24 in the Geoff Gibbs Theatre. between the two universities, a Memorandum teachers and students made us love being here The BNU dancers performed two remounted of Understanding was signed by Vice Dean even more. pieces in the Groundswell program, The Xiang-Rong and ECU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor The classes with the WAAPA dancers were the Enlightenment of the Monkey King by Chang Kerry Cox. most exciting thing to do, it was so interesting Xiao-Ni and Dark Eyes by Xiao Xiang Rong. This visit is the latest in a series of to experience different styles of classes, from The LINK dancers performed new works collaborative undertakings between WAAPA and contemporary technique, choreography to choreographed on them, LAB S by Natalie Allen BNU, initiated in 2012 when Nanette Hassall improvisation classes, and we have worked and Profusion by Tamas Moricz. was invited to attend the inaugural International with all of the dance department staff. They On the final day of their visit, staff and Creative Dance Seminar (ICDS), hosted by the really encourage students to accomplish for students of the dance departments from Beijing Dance Department of the School of Art and themselves, instead of forcing the students to and Perth, led by BNU’s Vice Dean Xiao Xiang- Communication at BNU. achieve certain goals. Rong and WAAPA Head of Dance Nanette Hassall, “Beijing Normal University is ranked as one The performances went well too, we got gathered to share ideas about dance education, of the top ten universities in China,” said Hassall. to work with an amazing stage management choreography and culture. “Unlike many other Chinese university dance crew. We were amazed how professional and Tang Yi, BNU Lecturer of Chinese Classical programs which focus entirely on traditional responsible they were, even though most of and Folk Dance, provided demonstrations forms of dance, BNU is committed to building an them are only 19 years old. Working with LINK of the range of traditions in Chinese culture. outstanding contemporary dance program. To Dance Company was exciting too... how friendly Performance processes and superstitions have an ongoing collaboration with them opens they are! We enjoyed performing with them as were exchanged, with one young BNU student up exciting possibilities for future ventures.” well, eastern and western bodies running into entertaining the group with his sniffing of the Last year choreographer Xiao-Xiong Zhang each other create wonderful energies! stage as a preparatory act of dancing. The travelled to Perth to rehearse 34 WAAPA dance We would like to dedicate our special thanks gathering concluded with discussions about the students in the second half of The Rite of Spring. to Nanette Hassall, who brought us here in the possibility of future exchanges. In September, these dancers then travelled to first place, and took care of all of us.” In formal recognition of the goodwill China to spend eight days at BNU for the 2013 GRAND PRIX FOR DANCER Advanced Diploma student competes in the Youth American Grand Prix in New York In April, first year Advanced Diploma in Dance of the competition. After the finals she was offered student Valentina Markovinovich travelled to New places by several companies to attend their summer York to compete in the Youth American Grand Prix schools and has elected to enrol in the Brussels (YAGP), the world’s largest student ballet competition. International Ballet School Summer Program, to be The Grand Prix is open to students of all nationalities held in August this year. aged 9-19 years and is attended by representatives of “I had an amazing time in New York,” said some of the world’s most prestigious ballet schools Markovinovich on her return to WAAPA. “It was great and companies. seeing competitors from around the world and Performing a classical variation from Raymonda dancing in front of the directors of so many schools.” as well as a contemporary solo entitled The Doll, Markovinovich is planning to return to New York to Markovinovich was selected as one of eight compete in the 2015 YAGP. competitors to dance the pas de deux in the défilé Photo courtesy of Winkipop Media for the Sydney Page 4 Inside WAAPA Issue 36 SPOTLIGHT ON LIGHTING In the lead up to WAAPA’s mid-year musical, lighting students were privileged to work with one of Australia’s top lighting designers is an award-winning lighting designer, director and designer who has worked in theatre, film and around the world. From 1996 to 2000, he was Coordinator of Lighting at WAAPA; this year a grant from the Ian Potter Foundation brought him back to the Academy to take masterclasses and to mentor

WAAPA’s production students while creating the Green Jon by Photo lighting design for WAAPA’s mid-year musical, Mark Howett and Lecturer in Lighting Jon Davey (second and third from left) with WAAPA lighting students at the Regal Theatre for West Side Story West Side Story. Commission and the . On the of Rites, which was simulcast nationally on the Howett’s career began in 1979 when he international front he has worked with the ABC before touring to New York’s City Centre and started working at the National Theatre Perth as Auckland Opera, , The the Paris Opera House. a lighting technician. Over 30 years later, Howett Royal Opera at Covent Garden and lit numerous Next up for Howett after his time at WAAPA has two Helpmann and two Green Room Awards productions on ’s West End. is a collaboration with internationally acclaimed to his credit that span the genres of opera, Howett’s lighting designs have graced many choreographer Arlene Phillips on A Man Called theatre, dance and production. of the world’s most famous stages. Cloudstreet, Lee, an original musical based on the life of the Howett’s resume reads like a ‘who’s who’ of which won Howett the 2002 martial arts legend Bruce Lee. Howett is also Australian theatre. He has collaborated with Award for Lighting Design, toured nationally slated to direct an upcoming stage production acclaimed directors , , throughout Australia before transferring to the based on Saroo Brierley’s book, A Long , and George Ogilvy, Kennedy Centre in Washington, New York’s Way Home. and worked for many of Australia’s major arts Brooklyn Academy of Music and the National After living in Berlin for the past eight years, companies, including , The Theatre in London. Mark designed the lighting for which he describes as having been the perfect Australian Ballet, , Neil Armfield’s 2004 production ofSweeney Todd base for his work in Europe and Britain, Howett Company B at , Bangarra at , Convent Garden and for the plans to move back to Perth early next year. Dance Theatre, Broadcasting Australian Ballet and Bangarra’s co-production A CASTLE RETREAT FOR HOPE Along with 45 other writers, composers and visual artists, musician Cat Hope has been invited to a six-week residency in Italy

he late great benefactor Ursula Corning vocalist and experimental bassist. believed that artists require “unfettered She is the director of Decibel Ttime and space to engage in their work and new music ensemble which the world”. In 1968 she began a summer ritual of tours and performs her work and inviting an eclectic mix of international guests to commissions others. She has

GRAND PRIX FOR DANCER her home, Civitella, a 15th century castle in rural written works for the London Grimaldi Orélie by Photo Umbria, Italy. Improvisors Orchestra, the Chicago Ryan, entitled Digital Arts: An Introduction to After Corning’s death in 2002, her legacy Modern Orchestra and a range of ensembles New Media. lives on through the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, and soloists. which annually hosts four six-week residency Last year Hope was the recipient of a Churchill From August 18 to September 21, she will sessions of self-directed studio and work time Fellowship to study digital graphic notation and join her ‘residency community’ of 12-14 artists for international arts practitioners. this year she was awarded the Peggy Glanville at Civitella. This year, along with 45 other writers, Hicks Residency, which entailed moving from “It’s a great honour to be invited,” says composers and visual artists, the Foundation Perth to Sydney. Hope. “During the time my main focus will be to has extended an invitation to WAAPA Post Among other projects and performances this complete the large scale noise opera I am writing Doctoral Research Scholar, Associate Professor year, Hope has so far chaired a panel as part of with a libretto by Jack Sargent; as well as a piece Cat Hope to participate in a residency at Civitella. the Adelaide Festival’s Artist week, presented for a Decibel concert at the ABC in Sydney in November entitled ‘After Julia’ and commissions Associate Professor Hope is a composer, a paper on Digital Graphic Notations at the for various soloists.” sound artist, writer, performer, songwriter, Icelandic Academy of the Arts, performed a live artistic director and music researcher. A bass flute improvisation in Paris, and published “I love making, listening to, thinking about classically trained flautist, Hope is a self-taught a new book co-written with John Charles and performing music, so I’m in my element.” Inside WAAPA Issue 36 Page 5 MANAGING THE ARTS Arts Management graduate Brendan Day has gone from top-level arts management positions in Australia to working for the Tate in London

ven before he began studying was where it all began but my passion Arts Management at WAAPA, and desire to learn more about all EBrendan Day dreamed of one day forms of art has lead to my wide range working in London. of experience. As a young art collector Now, as the Deputy Head of myself, Tate is certainly a dream come Development Events at the Tate – four true and I am very excited about the art galleries in Britain that between future working here. them house the UK’s collection of What has been the highlight of your British art and international modern career so far? art – Day is well and truly living his This is quite a hard question as there dream. When Inside WAAPA contacted are a number of highlights across all him, the 2007 WAAPA graduate had just organisations that I have worked for. To finished overseeing the inauguration of name a few key ones: early on in my an art installation by world-renowned career working for Opera Australia and contemporary video artist Bill Viola at St running the events for the Australian Paul’s Cathedral in London. tour of ; escorting Sydney In addition to his job at the Tate, Dance Company and a number of key Day is a marketing and sponsorship supporters to Berlin and the Venice consultant at the leading music Biennale; delivering a private dinner with promotion company DHP Family and Michael Parkinson with Deutsche Bank a freelance event manager at The and Sydney Dance Company; working Hospital Club, a private members’ club on Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations and creative arts venue in the heart with as Creative Director of London. celebrating her 25 year anniversary; but Before moving to London last year, I suppose to date being promoted to the Day gained experience across a wide position I am currently in and delivering variety of Australian arts organisations the event in St Paul’s Cathedral including Opera Australia, Sydney Dance It is also amazing being so close to Europe, since followed by two events at Tate Modern was Company, Art Est. Art School and Gallery and moving here eight months ago I have been to pretty special. CAPITAL-e Marketing and Events. His last position over 12 cities and six countries, and there are Do you have any future work plans? in Australia before heading overseas was as many more to come. Protocol Project Coordinator in the Office of the For the time being I am going to enjoy the Lord Mayor at City of Sydney. How did the job at the Tate come about? experience and take in as much as I can. There are rough ideas and plans in mind, but in the end Here he tells Inside WAAPA about his life I applied online for a six-month contract at you never really know where you might end up... in London: Tate as the Development Events Manager; after having worked in the position for about three What did you enjoy most about your time Why did you decide to move from Sydney weeks, quite unexpectedly they offered me at WAAPA? to London? a promotion to Deputy Head of Development The well-rounded Arts Management degree Moving to London has been something I have Events. The position works across all four gave me essential skills to be where I am wanted to do since I can remember, even before I Tate sites including Tate Britain, Tate Modern, today. The course is incredibly well regarded started university at WAAPA. In 2013 at 30 years Tate St Ives and Tate Liverpool. I also oversee in Australia and internationally. It is not every old it was the last chance I had to get my Youth the International Events and Touring for day that you are employed at one of Australia’s Mobility Visa, a two-year work visa for the UK. I Tate Development. key arts organisations before you finish your thought that if I didn’t do it now I would never do Since graduating from WAAPA, you have enjoyed Bachelor degree. I also thought WAAPA had an it and I didn’t want to live in regret. So I took the a wide variety of arts management positions amazing sense of community and family. The plunge with no job prospects or a real plan. across the arts, working in opera, dance, music friends I made at WAAPA, both fellow students What do you enjoy most about living in London? and the visual arts. Do you have a particular and teachers, are still very important people in The cultural change has been most enjoyable passion for one or do they interest you equally? my life. The Arts Management graduates of 2007 about London and the vast array of incredible art I suppose I have quite an eclectic passion were a class to be reckoned with and a number of every kind, contemporary or classical there across all art forms. I have always had a keen of us are still very close friends nearly ten is just so much on offer... at times almost too interest in music and all forms of visual and years on. much because you can’t experience everything. performing arts. Being a musician myself, music

Page 6 Inside WAAPA Issue 36 A FIRST FOR AUSSIE SOPRANO The most selective conservatory in the United States opens its doors to a young West Australian soprano

performing artists at the highest professional in May last year, began her second Masters level. Admission is based solely on artistic at Curtis in September. While the Manhattan merit and each student is awarded a full- School of Music offers rigorous classroom-based tuition scholarship. With enrolment numbers learning in areas such as aural skills, theory limited to a maximum of 170 students – only and diction, Curtis is more aligned to a young the number needed to fill a single orchestra artist program, with the emphasis on coaching and opera company – Curtis is the most and performing. selective institution of higher education in the “At Curtis we are constantly working on roles United States. as we do four a year, as well as opera, Notable Curtis alumni include composers lieder, oratorio and chamber music ,” Samuel Barber, , Gian Carlo explains Perroni. “It’s very much a ‘learn by doing’ Menotti, tenor Juan Diego Florez and soprano approach... which is what really sets Curtis apart

Photo by Lauryn Gerstle Photography Photography Gerstle Lauryn by Photo Anna Moffo. from most schools.” Perroni underwent a rigorous audition To say that Perroni is thrilled to be studying oprano Elena Perroni, who graduated from process to be accepted into Curtis. An initial at such an illustrious conservatory is an WAAPA in 2011, is the first Australian to prescreening process of a recorded audition is understatement. “The faculty members are Sbe accepted into the opera department followed by a live audition, from which a final incredible and we frequently have masterclasses at the renowned and highly competitive Curtis round of 10 singers is selected. From this, only with some of the worlds greatest musicians,” Institute of Music in Philadelphia. two or three singers are offered places. she says. “I pinch myself every day!” The Curtis Institute trains exceptionally The 25-year-old soprano, who completed her gifted young musicians for careers as Masters degree at the Manhattan School of Music

SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT FUTURE JAZZ STARS

The inaugural Woss Family Scholarships give two jazz students a financial head-start on their WAAPA studies

Bachelor of Music students Rhiannon “Thanks to the Johnstone and Tom Walsh have been awarded generosity of the the inaugural Woss Family Jazz Scholarships. Woss Family, two Wheatley Kathy by Photo Ronald and Brigid Woss with scholarship winners Rhiannon Johnstone and Tom Walsh The Woss Family Scholarships have been extremely talented established, thanks to the generosity of Perth students are receiving a vital financial musicians achieve their dreams, despite some businessman Mr Ronald Woss and his family, contribution to their university costs as they personal hardships. Both Rhiannon and Tom are to support meritorious jazz students attending begin their studies at WAAPA,” Professor worthy inaugural winners of the Woss Family WAAPA and to assist those most in need. Warn said. Scholarships in Jazz.” Two scholarships of $6,000 each are “WAAPA is extremely grateful for the Of being awarded the scholarship, Tom available to all first year jazz students in the generosity of the Woss Family.” Walsh said: “The generosity of the Woss family Bachelor of Music course. As the Founding Chairman of the Perth will allow me to keep following my passion for music without worrying about my financial The 2014 recipients were required to undergo International Jazz Festival, Ronald Woss is circumstances.” an audition process and were selected on known for his passion for jazz music and his demonstrated commitment to and excellence in philanthropy in Western Australia. Fellow recipient Rhiannon Johnstone agreed. jazz music. “My wife Brigid has been a WAAPA supporter “It’s an honour and privilege to be one of the inaugural recipients of the Woss Family Jazz WAAPA Director Professor Julie Warn said that for many years,” said Woss. “She loves all Scholarship which has undoubtedly helped to the scholarships would allow the students to performing arts, including acting, dance and alleviate some financial pressure, allowing me focus on their studies, rather than their financial music. I am more of a jazz buff. Together we to focus on my studies at WAAPA,” she said. circumstances. gain great pleasure assisting young jazz

Inside WAAPA Issue 36 Page 7 OPERA STARS IN THE MAKING In November soprano Sky Ingram, who Voice, Susan Waters and renowned soprano graduated from WAAPA in 2008, will make Kathryn Harries. her debut with the Royal Opera at Covent She then continued her vocal training Garden in the Linbury Studio. She will with Susan Waters at London’s National perform the role of Lea in the world premiere Opera Studio and undertook two tours with of Glare by German/Danish composer Søren the UK’s Opera North as principal soprano, Nils Eichberg and librettist Hannah Dübgen. playing Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Ingram moved to London after winning Dream and Musetta in La Boheme. a swag of awards at the 2008 Australian From May to July this year, Ingram is Singing Competition’s prestigious Mathy singing in three John Armitage Memorial Awards, including the Guildhall School of concerts, performing Handel, John McCabe

Photo by Robert Workman Robert by Photo Music & Drama Award, which allowed her and the world premiere of Giles Swayne’s Sky Ingram as Musetta in Opera North UK’s La Boheme, with fellow WAAPA to undertake a year’s postgraduate training The Yonghy Bonghy Bo, based on Edward graduate Duncan Rock as Marcello at Guildhall with Professor in the Faculty of Lear’s famous poem. Photo by Nan Melville Nan by Photo Paull-Anthony Keightley as Papageno and Margaret Newcomb as Pamina in The New York Opera Exchange’s The Magic Flute Paull-Anthony Keightley, now studying for his Masters

Photo by Nan Melville Nan by Photo degree in performance at the Manhattan School of Music, received Alexander Lewis (right) as Vasek in The Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program production of , conducted by Maestro James Levine rave reviews for his role as Papageno in the New York Opera Exchange’s production of The Magic Flute. “If there is a star-turn in the opera, it Tenor Alexander Lewis, who Maestro James Levine; and Borsa in is the Papageno of Paull-Anthony Keightley, an Australian baritone recently completed three years in the MET’s new production of Rigoletto. who knows just how to use his expressive face and flexible body to the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann In January this year the 2004 create an original version of this lovable character.” – vocedimeche. Young Artist Development program in WAAPA graduate performed the role blogspot.com New York, returns to Perth in July to of Flash in the Washington National sing the lead tenor role of Tamino in Opera’s production of Moby-Dick; the WA Opera’s The Magic Flute. after his Perth performances, Lewis Lewis began his professional will sing a series of recitals and career as a lyric baritone in musical concerts throughout Australia and theatre roles; by the time he was play Gerhard in Heinz Karl Gruber’s in his mid-twenties, his resumé Gloria: A Pig Tale for the New York included Anthony Hope in Sweeney Philharmonic. Todd for Opera Australia and Raoul in He will finish the year back in New an Australasian tour of The Phantom York singing the role of Raoul de St of the Opera. Brioche in the Metropolitan Opera’s However, after a number of The Merry Widow, directed by Susan competition wins and a summer in Stroman, the Tony award-winning

the Merola Program in San Francisco, director of The Producers, with Renee Green Jon by Photo Lewis made the complete switch to Fleming in the title role. WAAPA’s 2013 production of A Cup of Tea, An Aspidistra and You! starring Caitlin Cassidy, Isabelle Freeman, Sarah Guilmartin, Chelsea Kluga and Symons opera, successfully auditioning for In 2015 Lewis will travel to the Five WAAPA graduates, all of whom studied with Classical Voice the Met Opera’s Young Artist program. Komische Oper in Berlin to take on Lecturer Patricia Price, have recently been awarded scholarships to Highlights of his three years in the lead role of Hoffmann in The the Mannes College of Music in New York. Isabelle Freeman, Chelsea the program included performing Tales of Hoffmann for the renowned Kluga and Richard Symons have been awarded scholarships to study the role of Ferrando in the MET- Australian theatre and opera director, for a Masters Degree in Performance. Sarah Guilmartin and Caitlin Juilliard production of Cosi fan tutte, . Cassidy, currently Young Artists at the West Australian Opera, have conducted by Alan Gilbert; Vašek in been awarded scholarships to study for a Diploma in Professional the MET-Juilliard production of The Studies at Mannes. In July this year, Guilmartin, Cassidy and Symons Bartered Bride, under the baton of will appear in the WA Opera’s production of The Magic Flute. Page 8 Inside WAAPA Issue 36 UPDATE on POSTGRADUATE studies and RESEARCH

In May, Renée Newman-Storen completed limited to six filmmakers at the Early Career Researcher Grant the Judith Weston Studio for ‘Transformative Articulations: Imaginative Actors and Directors in Los Engagements’ with Creative Researchers in Angeles. While in the US, Foley the Academy which saw her investigate the will also be auditing classes in co-author/co-creator model with five WAAPA the Meisner acting technique staff, developing a methodology for writing at the Playhouse West School about creative research. She is also working and Repertory Theatre. as an investigator, participant and co-curator Soseh Yekanians, who is on the research project ‘In Conversation: cross- currently pursuing her PhD disciplinary/cross-art form collaboration’ which studies in Directing at WAAPA, will include ‘In Conversation’, an exhibition of directed Uncle Jack by Perth interdisciplinary collaborations with up to 60 playwright Ross Lonnie at the Renée Newman-Storen (centre) performing in 2013 production Second Hands artists. Newman-Storen is also investigator Blue Room Theatre in April. The production opens on July 18 at the State Theatre Centre and on ‘Beyond Thesis and Exegesis: capturing was made up of an all-WAAPA team that runs until August 9. creative practice to improve supervision of consisted of musical theatre graduates Ben Lucinda Coleman recently completed a creative arts higher degree candidates’, a FEA Hall and Quintin George, supported by lighting Remnant Dance international performance tour Small Faculty Grant on the need associated with designer Tegan Evans, set designer Patrick with dance film premiere to Yangon, Myanmar capturing process in the creative research/ James Howe, sound designer Carley Gagliardi as part of her postgraduate Masters’ research researcher journey. and lighting operator Max Wilkie. Uncle Jack had exploring connectivity through dance-making PhD candidate Damian Foley is in the thick a sell-out three week season and discussions in a collective. She will be presenting a paper on of post-production editing of his Mike Leigh are currently in progress for Uncle Jack to take this topic at the Liverpool University conference influenced short feature projectBelonging . part in a WA country tour in 2015. ‘Arts, Peace and Conflict’ in theU K on July 2. This Co-written and filmed alongside former WAAPA Masters by Research (Voice) student Luzita will be followed by a paper presentation entitled Head of Acting Chris Edmund, it was also co- Fereday has been invited by Barking Gecko to ‘Conversations on the frontlines of the body’ at devised and features the current 3rd Year Acting work as voice coach on their latest production the World Dance Alliance Summit in France, which students. Foley also recently secured a place to Jasper Jones, based on the bestselling book by runs from July 6-11. participate in an advanced directing workshop award-winning WA author Craig Silvey. The play SALLY BURTON AWARD WINNERS 3rd Year Acting students Felicity McKay and Jonny Hawkins win the 2013 Sally Burton Awards, held in WAAPA’s Roundhouse Theatre on May 26 Sally Burton, widow of the great Welsh actor In addition to Sally Burton, this year’s judging , created the annual WAAPA acting panel included James Hagan and Will O’Mahony. awards – worth $2,000 each – in her name in “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be able to 2007, as part of her passion for nurturing young provide this prize for the last seven years. The artistic talent. With the philanthropic money joy on the winners faces and their gratitude coming mainly from Richard Burton’s film makes it all worthwhile,” Burton said after the royalties, Sally sees it as fitting that funds from announcement of the 2104 award winners. her husband’s estate are being used to support With many of the past recipients of the Sally aspiring actors. Burton Award enjoying great success in the film, “Richard was the semi-literate son of a poor television and theatre industries, Sally believes coalminer when he met school teacher Philip that the annual competition is a good barometer Burton, who informally adopted and educated for WAAPA’s stars of tomorrow. him,” explained Sally Burton. “Richard was “2008 winner James McKay went on to pick so grateful to Philip for helping him that it’s up the prestigious Heath Ledger Scholarship right that the money should go to helping last year; 2011 winner Abby Earl went straight young people.” into the hit TV series A Place To Call Home; Claire The Sally Burton award winners, one male Lovering, Matthew Levett, Lizzie Schebesta and one female, are chosen from WAAPA’s 3rd are all enjoying lots of stage and TV work,” said Year Acting cohort. The students are required Burton. “It’s enormously fulfilling to see these to perform a Shakespearean, Jacobean or graduates go on to realise their dreams.” Elizabethan text monologue or duologue. The WAAPA is extremely grateful for the generosity judging is based on the ability to speak the of Sally Burton in making these awards available verse, connect to the text, interpret the content to honour the work of her late husband.

Photo by James Killian James by Photo and present the finished work. Sally Burton (centre) with Felicity McKay and Jonny Hawkins Inside WAAPA Issue 36 Page 9 COSTUME DREAMS COME TRUE Winning a prestigious national design scholarship gives costume and set designer Alicia Clements the opportunity to further her work in London licia Clements loves designing watch when she won the 2008 David both costumes and sets for their Hough Award for Design. Adifferent creative challenges. Since then, Clements has undertaken However if pressed, she will admit that an internship in Paris to study the her true passion lies with costume design development of menswear and design and specifically, period costume. has worked with Deckchair Theatre varied,” explains Clements. “Some days As the recipient of the 2014 Kristian Company, STEPS Youth Dance Company I’m making set models or drawing CAD Fredrikson Scholarship for Design in and Onward Productions. She has plans for a set builder in Dubai, and the Performing Arts, announced at designed 11 productions for Perth’s the next day I’ll be running across the Green Room Awards in Melbourne Black Swan State Theatre Company the city buying 50 metres of fake fur in April, Clements can now pursue and was made Resident Designer in and sparkles... I have a lot of fun with her passion. The $10,000 biennial 2012, receiving three Equity Guild Best Isla, the pinnacle being the day I got design award will allow the young Design nominations for her designs. to be the hair and makeup model for designer to attend masterclasses For Barking Gecko Theatre Company Angelina Ballerina!” at London’s School of Historical she designed the Helpmann Award Clements will return to Australia Dress. nominated productions of Duck, Death in June to design a site-specific “The School is run by and the Tulip and Driving into Walls, and production of The Emperor of Atlantis a team of some of the assisted Gypsy Taylor on her Helpmann for the newly established opera world’s best costume Award nominated design for The Red company, Lost and Found. She will historians, designers Tree. In 2013 she joined writer/director also work as designer and producer on and technicians,” says Will O’Mahony in forming The Skeletal a development season of Coma Land, Clements. “In addition, System, a theatre company dedicated a new play by Will O’Mahony. She will I’ll be able to assist to new Australian work. then head back to London to take up her senior designers Clements is currently working scholarship projects. and learn from their in London, where she is costume The Kristian Fredrikson Scholarship processes.” supervisor for a production of Much Ado for Design in the Performing Arts In her final About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe was launched in 2008 to honour one year at WAAPA Theatre. She is also assisting designer of Australia’s most distinguished Clements Isla Shaw on a number of touring performing arts designers, the late marked productions. Kristian Fredrikson who enjoyed a 40- herself as “Isla works on a lot of shows for year design career that spanned the a young young audiences which are touring arts, from ballet, opera, contemporary designer non-stop throughout the UK and the dance, theatre, exhibitions to film to world, and my tasks for her are hugely and television. Photos by Cameron Etchells EXPLORING THE BODY’S CREATIVITY WAAPA students gain invaluable training from visiting RADA lecturer, Lorna Marshall Lorna Marshall, a Physical Performance on the way neuroscience has informed an Lecturer and Honorary Research Fellow at the understanding of how the mind and body prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in work together in performance and performer London, was a guest artist at WAAPA for three training. She teaches students to recognise weeks in April-May. and lose unwanted physical inhibitions that Marshall has worked in theatre for many have been learned in life. She emphasizes years as a teacher, director and performance the importance of clear body language in performance, encouraging actors to fully Killian James by Photo consultant. She trained with Jacques LeCoq Lorna Marshall with WAAPA’s BPA students and Etienne Decroux in Paris, and studied the engage with their audience by using their bodies to their best effect. Japanese theatre forms of Noh, Kabuki and consulted on a new production Dr Barbe is Butoh. In recent years she has worked closely During her visit, Marshall took masterclasses directing, The Grieving Project. with Yoshi Oida (from Peter Brook’s company), with students from WAAPA’s new Bachelor of Lorna Marshall’s visit to WAAPA was made whom she collaborated with on several Performing Arts (BPA) course, Aboriginal Theatre possible by a Faculty Visiting Fellowship grant productions and two books. She published her and 3rd Year Acting. from ECU’s Faculty of Education and the Arts. own book The Body Speaks in 2001. Marshall also worked with BPA Course Marshall teaches performers to access Coordinator Dr Frances Barbe on research their creativity through their bodies, based towards an article on performer training and Page 10 Inside WAAPA Issue 36 COSTUME DREAMS COME TRUE YOUNG DESIGNERS MAKE THEIR MARK recent design graduates take honours in a national portfolio-based awards program

Sally Phipps and Cherish Marrington, Swell Party and The Critic. Marrington took out who graduated from WAAPA’s Design for Live the fashion design category by impressing the Production, Film and Events course last year, judges with her costume designs. have both won WA Graduate of the Year Awards The young designers each receive a one-year from the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), complimentary graduate membership to DIA and putting them through to the Australasian section $500 cash as their prize. of the Awards. Entries for the Australasian GOTYA Phipps credits a chance meeting in 2010 with Cherish Marrington and Sally Phipps with their AGOTYA awards program were exhibited and judged at designEX the costume designer on the musical from 28-30 May at the Sydney Exhibition Centre. “I learnt so much during my time at WAAPA... as the moment when she began to seriously I really loved how hands-on the course was. The DIA’s Australasian Graduate of the Year consider theatre design as a career option. It was the best way to learn how a production Awards, known by the acronym AGOTYA, is a Up until then, she had been pursuing fashion works and really sets you up with all the skills portfolio-based awards program for final year design but was not convinced that the fashion needed to pursue a career at an industry level. design students and recent design graduates in industry was for her. Also the support you get from talented staff and Australia and New Zealand. “I initially enrolled at WAAPA thinking that I industry professionals was fantastic.” Phipps, who was also the 2013 recipient of would only be interested in costume design,” Last year, 2012 WAAPA graduate and David the David Hough award for Outstanding Design says Phipps. “However, after 3 years of Hough Award recipient Lauren Ross won the WA graduate, won in the interior decorating category studying at WAAPA I am happy to say I am just section of the 2013 DIA awards and received a with the presentation boards of her set designs as passionate about set design as I am about high commendation in the Australasian section for the WAAPA productions Little Women, The costume design!” of the competition.

Cherish Marrington’s and Sally Phipps’ award-winning design boards

Cherish Marrington’s design for WAAPA’s 2013 production of Easy Virtue Sally Phipps’ design for WAAPA’s 2013 production of The Swell Party Cherish Marrington’s design for WAAPA’s 2012 production of Once on this Island WAAPA’s RADical Dancers The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in The Lynley Wilson Scholarship was EXPLORING THE BODY’S CREATIVITY Western Australia held its annual Festival awarded to 1st Year student Valentina of Dance from May 29 to June 1, at the John Markovinovich, who recently returned from Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle. The New York where she competed in the finals of festival saw 340 dancers from 21 ballet the Youth American Grand Prix. The prize for schools across Perth compete for three the Best Senior Female Dancer was awarded scholarships as well as awards across to fellow 1st Year student Saskia Harman. various categories. Both students will travel to Sydney in June to Adjudicators included Rachel Rawlins compete in the McDonald Sydney Eisteddfod. (recently retired principal with the Australian 2nd Year Advanced Diploma student Carina Ballet), Aurelien Scannella (artistic director of Roberts won the Pre-Professional Award, which West Australian Ballet), Justin Rutzou (WAAPA includes a cash prize as well as a secondment senior lecturer) and Alessandra D’Arbe (dancer to an Australian ballet or dance company of with West Australian Ballet). her choice. Sixteen WAAPA students were entered into On the final night of the festival a gala two scholarship sections of the competition: performance showcased all three students the Lynley Wilson scholarship, for students as well as WA Ballet Young Artist and 2013 between the ages of 16-18, and the Pre WAAPA graduate Liam Green, who performed Professional Award for students aged 18 solos from WAB’s recent production of Giselle. years and above, who are looking to enter the WAAPA was also represented by 2nd Year profession after graduation. Advanced Diploma students, who danced Kim

Photo by Kathy Wheatley Kathy by Photo McCarthy’s Till the End. Left to right: Carina Roberts, Saskia Harman and Valentina Markovinovich InsideInside WAAPAWAAPA IssueIssue 3636 PagePage 1111 Beach Groundswell in the spotlight A glimpse of what’s been happening Realism on stage at WAAPA

West Side Story

Thank you to our partners

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

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Punk Rock Kora

Cover Credits Front Cover Hugh Jackman, photo by Kathy Wheatley

Back Cover Production photos by Jon Green Photographer

CRICOS IPC 00279B Page 12 Inside WAAPA Issue 36