National Institute of Dramatic Art ANNUAL REPORT 2011 National Institute of Dramatic Art EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND ACCESS IN ARTS EDUCATION THEATRE | FILM | TELEVISION The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is a not-for-profit company accorded its national status as an education and training institution by the Australian Government. We continue our historical association with the University of New South Wales and maintain strong links with national and international arts training organisations, particularly through membership of the Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence and through industry partners which include theatre, dance and opera companies, cultural festivals and film and television producers. NIDA delivers education and training that is characterised by quality, diversity, innovation and equity of access. The Institute’s focus on practice-based teaching and learning is designed to provide the strongest foundations for graduate employment across a broad range of employment opportunities and contexts. Entry into NIDA’s higher education courses is highly competitive, with more than 2,000 applicants from across the country competing for an annual offering of approximately 60 places across all undergraduate and postgraduate disciplines. In 2011 the student body for these courses totalled 169. Through NIDA Open, the Institute offers its educational expertise more widely. NIDA Corporate Performance offers presentation and public speaking skills to professionals from across many business sectors, while more general NIDA Open courses are provided for participants in almost every age group, in capital cities and regional centres and modes that meet a diversity of economic and cultural needs. Around 15,000 people each year participate in these public courses. The cultural industry continues to be supported by the activities of NIDA Parade Theatres, which houses programs of creative support and serves as a venue partner to emerging and established producers. NIDA is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport, with the specific purpose of delivering performing arts education and training at an elite level. NIDA has a highly active program of community engagement which assists in fundraising through private philanthropy and corporate sponsorship. Registered Office CRICOS Provider Code 215 Anzac Parade 00756M Kensington NSW Australia 2033 National Institute of Dramatic Art is supported by the Australian Government Postal Address NIDA UNSW Sydney NSW Australia 2052 Tel +61 2 9697 7600 Fax +61 2 9662 7415 Email [email protected] Web www.nida.edu.au Australian Company Number 000 257 741 Australian Business Number 99 000 257 741 PRINCIPAL PARTNER 2 CONTENTS 04. FROM THE CHAIRMAN 05. FROM THE DIRECTOR/CEO 08. UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM 10. POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM 13. VISITING STAFF 14. NIDA PRODUCTIONS 2011 20. GRADUATES 2011 22. nida OPEN 25. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGy 26. DEVELOPMENT 28. GOVERNANCE 29. FINANCIAL REPORT 55. STAFF Idiot (Photo: Lisa Maree Williams) Cover image; The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Photo: Lisa Maree Williams) 3 FROM THE CHAIRMAN NIDA had a successful year in 2011, The NIDA play production program and I also acknowledge the passing of strongly motivated by our mission this year’s actors’ showreel demonstrated Professor Malcolm Chaikin AO OBE, to provide world-class performance the talents of our students across our who joined the NIDA Board of Directors education and training. The principle courses. We are particularly grateful to in 1973 and was Chairman from 1975 to of ‘learning by doing’ in a collaborative the wide range of practitioners from the 1988 - a significant period in the history environment, combined with mentoring industry who joined with NIDA staff to of NIDA. He was also a member of the by the very best teachers, remains central provide an exciting range of opportunities NIDA Foundation Trust. We remain to our support for students on their to the students. Many practitioners, grateful to Malcolm for his valuable personal journeys to become innovative including NIDA graduates, teach with support of NIDA over many years. creative artists and practitioners. NIDA’s Open program, with more than The NIDA Board appreciates the We are actively planning for NIDA’s 15,000 people having a NIDA experience dedication and enthusiasm of Lynne future, including developing courses through this program in 2011. Williams and the NIDA staff in enabling to reflect the changing educational We greatly appreciate the continuing NIDA, through our students and environment, particularly to take support of the Australian Government, graduates, to strive for excellence of the advantage of digital technology and the University of New South Wales, the highest order and for seeking to ensure the expanding online space. While Seaborn, Broughton and Walford (SBW) that NIDA is positioned to accommodate maintaining emphasis on traditional and Foundation and our corporate sponsors the exciting developments occurring in core skills and the theatrical canon, we and private donors. We could not continue the arts and entertainment industry in are also positioning our students for to maintain our high standards without Australia and internationally. careers in an arts and entertainment their support. industry where new kinds of performance I also thank the members of the NIDA using an array of new technologies are Board of Directors, Board of Studies and rapidly evolving. NIDA Foundation Trust, as well as others NIDA has welcomed the opportunity who have generously contributed time to contribute to the development of and professional skills during the year. It Malcolm Long the Australian Government’s National is with sadness that I mention the passing Chairman Cultural Policy, which is also dealing in February 2012 of Leslie Walford AM, with the issue of change in the arts who was the SBW nominee on the NIDA and working towards a specific goal of Board of Directors from mid 2008, having encouraging new ideas and enabling been alternate director for the late increased access, participation and Dr Rodney Seaborn AO OBE prior to training pathways in arts and culture. that. Leslie cared deeply about NIDA and NIDA’s submission is available at made a major contribution through both www.culture.arts.gov.au/submissions. the Board and as Chairman of the SBW Foundation. 4 FROM THE dIRECTOR/CEO Creative transformation is at the heart of We plan to offer this Cultural we have begun to explore how our Open everything we do at NIDA – not just within Leadership course within our proposed program could utilise the online space the student experience but within the Centre for Contemporary Performance to increase access for our regional institution itself. Practice, alongside a range of new students to NIDA Open courses. With NIDA has an enviable reputation as initiatives which will provide more the development in 2011 of a new NIDA Australia’s leading education and training opportunities for industry professionals to Online Learning Framework we are now institute for the dramatic arts, but we come to NIDA to upskill in areas of new poised for more in-depth dialogue with cannot rest on our laurels. It is not enough technology, more courses at postgraduate the national and global arts education and to provide well trained graduates in level to research and contribute to training community and for our students response to industry demands. NIDA needs contemporary performance practice, and teaching staff to be networked even to continue to transform as an institution more teaching qualifications to enable more thoroughly within the international and strive to become a centre for dynamic graduates to contribute to specialist arts and entertainment industry. thought-leadership and a catalyst for arts education within schools, more We continued to bring cutting edge change within the industry. opportunities for emerging artists work into NIDA through visiting industry In 2011 we began the development of a to test and showcase ideas and more professionals and Max Lyandvert - the new course entitled Cultural Leadership opportunities for international 2011 Artist-in-Residence supported by which reflects our determination to collaborations to develop new cross the Seaborn, Broughton and Walford discover and nurture those who will be platform work. We believe there is an Foundation - made a magnificent the new agents of change – the movers urgent need for this Centre to address contribution to our understanding of and shakers who will help to create an career pathways within the performing the role of sound in contemporary Australia that understands and values arts especially as this is a priority of the performance through a number of culture. new National Cultural Policy. During presentations and productions. We We highlighted this new course within 2011 we continued to speak with the are looking forward to Nick Schlieper the development of a ten year plan which Federal Government to further explore joining us in 2012 as Artist-in-Residence, has identified future education and possibilities for this next stage in the when he will curate a program of work training needs and opportunities for our realisation of NIDA’s vision for the future. exploring lighting and projection within rapidly changing arts and entertainment 2011 saw us continue to build strong contemporary performance. industry and sets out the changes NIDA foundations to underpin this NIDA’s production