Official newsletter of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University (Issue 47) March 2017

RED POWER RANGER Hollywood blockbuster stars WAAPA graduate Page 2

Suzie Mathers wins prestigious award page 3

Ethan Darnell rocks Tired Lion page 4

Plus Awards, scholarships & new collaborations

Inside WAAPA Issue 47 Page 1 POWERING UP

DACRE MONTGOMERY STARS IN HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER On March 24, the new American Chris Peckover’s 2016 horror comedy confident, edgy character whose superhero blockbuster Power Rangers Safe Neighbourhood, starring Olivia apparent charisma conceals a violent and opens in cinemas around the world. DeJonge, Levi Miller and Ed Oxenbould, unpredictable nature. Leading the cast is Dacre Montgomery, and appears in this year’s March release Showing the acting ability to just a year out of WAAPA’s Acting A Few Less Men, the comedy sequel to convincingly go from hero-leader Jason course and already with a string of A Few Best Men. to bad boy Billy all within a year is bound screen credits to his name. Dacre credits his WAAPA training with to wow the Hollywood pundits. Dacre stars alongside Bryan Cranston providing him with a strong work ethic “It was a goal of mine to play and Elizabeth Banks as Jason Lee Scott, that is proving invaluable when working contrasting characters in my career. the Red Ranger and the leader of the on film sets. “I learned how to take I never expected I would get polar Power Rangers. direction, as well as navigate the long opposites like Jason and Billy.” hours on set, the work load required, “It was an incredible experience “One interesting thing was finding and working with other cast mates, working on such a major production,” their similarities – whether it be that directors and crew members.” emails Dacre (pronounced ‘Dayker’) from elements of Jason are lurking deep his new base in Atlanta. He also believes that being under the thick hide that Billy creates for “There are so many different elements surrounded by like-minded and himself, or certain dark qualities of Jason in putting a film together, and much like passionate individuals at WAAPA gave are lying just beneath his surface – then that process, I think an actor needs to him the freedom to experiment “without tying the two together and learning know how to piece elements of their being confined by a fear of messing up”. what aspects of my own life I bring to character’s journey together whilst using Rolling from one big break to another, both of them. I gain a lot of insight about their time most effectively. I learned how Dacre followed up his Power Rangers myself through this process too.” to successfully juggle it all - whether it performance with a major role on the While Dacre doesn’t know what the be learning lines, training, learning fight second season of the hit Netflix sci-fi future holds for him, it seems the rising choreography or making sure that you drama series, Stranger Things, which star is looking forward to whatever don’t lose track of how lucky you are to began filming last November and Hollywood has to offer. be in the position you are in.” continues through to the end of April. “It’s been a wild ride so far and I’m Since graduating from WAAPA in In contrast to his Red Ranger looking forward to what’s next!” 2015, Dacre has also had roles in character, Dacre plays Billy, a hyer-

Photos by Kimberley French by Kimberley Photos Far right: Dacre Montgomery as Jason in Power Rangers and production stills from the upcoming film. Page 2 Inside WAAPA Issue 47 BROADWAY DEBUT ANNA BAMFORD STARS ON BROADWAY IN AN ALL-AUSTRALIAN PLAY run in Sydney in 2015 before the “Maybe it took a bit for them to 13-strong Australian ensemble cast get around the whole Aussies playing moved the show to America in December Russians in 1993 with Australian accents last year. It will run until mid-March. in New York City but I think they both Adapted by Andrew Upton from Anton love it and find it funny and disturbing Chekhov’s first play and directed by John and confronting and heartbreaking in the Crowley (Brooklyn), The Present is set same places. post-Perestroika in the mid-1990s at an “One of the themes in the play is about old country house where friends gather a coming of age and politically looking to celebrate the birthday of the widow at where the country was and where it’s

Photo by Sally Flegg Photo Anna Petrovna, played by Cate Blanchett. going and where it could potentially go. I ust four years after graduating from Anna describes performing on the think where the United States was when WAAPA, actress Anna Bamford has Great White Way as a mix of ‘exhilaration, we opened the play over here was a really made it to Broadway. terror and joy’. She feels that having a interesting time and a lot of the lines rang J true to America’s political situation so I Best known for her role as Miranda year between productions has enriched the performances, with the connections think they related to it and it resonated Beaumont on the hit Channel Ten with them on that level a lot.” television show Wonderland, Anna and back-stories between the characters is performing in the Sydney Theatre being deeper and more detailed in the When The Present closes, Anna plans Company’s production of The Present at New York season. to base herself in Los Angeles for a while. the Barrymore Theatre in New York. While the show has received mixed “I’m open to working in Australia but also reviews on Broadway, Anna believes the the States so I’ll go back and forth as Starring Cate Blanchett and Richard much as possible this year!” Roxburgh, The Present had a successful audiences are appreciative.

AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS FOR SUZIE SUZIE MATHERS WINS PRESTIGIOUS AUSTRALIA DAY AWARD In January, musical theatre star Suzie Mathers was named Young Australian Achiever of the Year in the UK by the Australia Day Foundation. Suzie is best known for her role as Glinda the Good Witch in the Australian, Asian and London productions of Wicked, as well as playing the lead role in the ABBA mega musical, Mamma Mia!

Mathers has had a dream run since by Annabel Moeller Photo completing a Bachelor of Arts in Music Suzie Mathers with fellow Australia Day Honours’ winners Michael Lynagh and Sir Michael Parkinson CBE. Theatre at WAAPA in 2007. the Brisbane leg of the tour, she reached accomplished great things in her short Shortly after graduating she joined the her milestone 500th performance as career. To win a starring role in a mega original cast of Wicked. The following year Glinda the Good Witch. musical in London’s West End is an she scored her first lead role when she Last year Suzie made her West End outstanding achievement. We are was cast as Sophie Sheridan in the 10th debut, reprising the role of Glinda for delighted to recognise her success by Anniversary Australian tour of Mamma the London production of Wicked at awarding her the 2017 Young Australian Mia! Her standout performance earned the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Mathers was Achiever of the Year in the UK.” her a nomination for Best Newcomer at also given the honour of leading the Suzie was presented with her award by the 2009 Sydney Theatre Awards. award-winning show through its 10th the Australian High Commissioner the Mathers returned to the cast of Wicked anniversary performance. Honourable Alexander Downer AC at to perform the lead role of Glinda in Australia Day Foundation Director, Australia House. Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand and Dick Porter said: “Suzie is an outstanding, Fellow WAAPA graduate Tim Minchin Manila before touring to sell-out shows in talented young Australian who has has been a previous winner of this award. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During Inside WAAPA Issue 47 Page 3 TIRED LION ROARS or a band whose break-out Ethan: I wish I could put a label or vibe elements and having a huge network of hits include I Don’t Think on it but it’s a tough one! We have really lecturers there to help you is something FYou Like Me and Not My challenged ourselves and also learnt a lot you will never experience unless you Friends, Tired Lion are doing pretty well about each other and the band dynamic are in that environment. Ric Eastman on the popularity front. in the process. I guess people can expect was a mentor who really helped me and Made up of front-woman Sophie Hope, to hear honesty. I know lyrically Sophie I cannot thank the guy enough, he was guitarist Matt Tanner, bassist Nick Vasey has put a lot out there for the world to also so inspiring to be around and it made and drummer Ethan Darnell, a WAAPA see and musically we have a real band vibe studying all the better. Contemporary Music graduate, the Perth in terms of arrangements, so it’s all kind of IW: How has your WAAPA training grunge band are fast becoming one of just come together naturally. It’s a mould helped you to get to where you are Australia’s most promising rock acts. of all our influences. today? Tired Lion’s highly-anticipated debut IW: What does Luke Boerdam bring Ethan: WAAPA helped prepare me for album – ranked as one of Rolling Stone’s to the band as producer and how did situations that I faced early in my musical 50 most anticipated albums of 2017 – you manage to get him on board for career. I was shown the tools and how is set to be released later this year. This this project? to use them so when I was faced with a comes off the back of a big 2016 that Ethan: Luke is great! I guess it all started situation it was much easier to deal with. saw the band claim the 2016 WAM with a passing comment that was made by In a broad sense, WAAPA ultimately kept Award for Best Rock Act, sign to Island someone at our label to Luke. Then sent me inspired and maybe without it. I might Records UK and tour Australia and him our demos of the album and he was have lost interest in my instrument. Europe, including festival performances at keen. We spent a week with him a couple IW: Any words of advice to all the Splendour in the Grass (Byron Bay, NSW), of months back, and we all just sat in the young musicians out there? Hurricane (Germany), and 2000trees, room and played the songs, and he told Ethan: I guess it’s hard to give advice Latitude and Glastonbury (UK). us things to change or try with a different when you’re still figuring it all out for vibe. The amount of comfort in the studio All this just a year after the band took yourself, but something I try to do is not is something I have never experienced. out the triple j 2015 Unearthed Artist compare my abilities with others. It’s really We also have Dave Parkin engineering of the Year Award, when they were easy to fall into that trap especially when who is another incredibly talented human described as: “Recalling the reckless studying but you must tell yourself that with great ideas. I just feel like it’s one big abandon of Soho, the band capture the your abilities are different to everyone pool of creativity. brutal frustration of young adulthood in else’s and as long as you’re doing the best a humbucked whitewash of guitars and IW: Last year was a massive year for you can, that’s all that matters. You should drums and through singer Sophie Hope’s the band. What was the highlight? also put the majority of your energy into poisonous lyrics.” Ethan: Oh geeezzz, that’s a hard one. things you actually want to do. Joining them in the studio as producers When I look back at everything on After I left uni, I thought it was all about on the debut album are Violent Soho paper, it’s so crazy and bizarre to me, being a session musician and that’s how frontman Luke Boerdam and multi-WAM but I guess when you’re actually doing I should earn a living. I convinced myself award-winning Perth producer and it, I feel as though it’s a different part of that’s what I wanted. I started getting engineer Dave Parkin. your brain that processes the situation. I really burnt out on it, so I took some Boerdam and the band formed a bond think Glastonbury was a huge one that time off and realised I didn’t want that at last year when Tired Lion supported was a surreal feeling and then coming all. What I really enjoyed and loved was Violent Soho on their national Australian back home to Australia and playing at being a part of a band that writes songs tour, alongside The Bronx and Luca Brasi. Splendour in the Grass to a packed tent together and hangs out. I put all my just felt incredible. Here Ethan Darnell talks to IW energy into that and started doing other about the upcoming album, great band IW: What did you enjoy most about things for money, and I found that to be moments and life lessons: being at WAAPA? the best thing for me. IW: What can your fans expect from Ethan: For me, I’d say being in an So I guess my advice is just do the your debut album? environment where music is number things you love, don’t do it for any one. I was exposed to so many different other reason. Page 4 Inside WAAPA Issue 47 SYDNEY AWARD WINNERS wo Acting graduates were in Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, among the award winners at the Brisbane and Perth. T2016 Sydney Theatre Awards, Jonny Hawkins, who graduated two held on January 23 at Sydney’s years ago, won Best Newcomer for Seymour Centre. his role in the Ensemble Theatre’s 2008 graduate Brent Hill won the production of Relatively Speaking, award for Best Performance by a starring alongside Tracy Mann and Photo by Jamie Williams Male Actor in a Musical for his role David Whitney. as Seymour in the Hayes Theatre Jason Blake in the Sydney Morning Company’s Little Shop of Horrors, Herald wrote: “Hawkins, in his first ABORIGINAL GRADS opposite Esther Hannaford as Audrey. mainstage production, is deftly AT FIRST PEOPLES “Hill is perfect as the orphan looking hilarious as Greg, whom he plays with for love… he’s warm, charming and you a winning blend of guilelessness and FESTIVAL Eight WAAPA graduates were invited root for him instantly. His clean, light dogged curiosity.” to participate in the recent Yellamundie baritone is perfect for Seymour,” wrote WAAPA has a connection with National First Peoples’ Playwriting Festival Clive Paget in Limelight Magazine. another Sydney Theatre Awards win: held at Carriageworks in Sydney from This recent accolade follows Brent’s Monkey Baa Theatre Company, which 27-29 January. 2011 Green Room Award for Best won Best Production for Children This biennial festival provides a platform Leading Actor for his role as Lonny in for The Peasant Prince, was formed for emerging and established Aboriginal the Australian premiere production of in 1997 by co-creative directors and Torres Strait Islander playwrights, with Rock of Ages. Sandra Eldridge (1991 graduate), Tim Indigenous writers, dramaturges, directors McGarry (1987 graduate) and Eva Di Fellow graduate Dean Bryant, who and actors participating in two weeks of script Cesare. directed Little Shop of Horrors, picked development, followed by public play readings. up an award for Best Direction of a Monkey Baa is one of Australia’s Since its inception in 2013, the festival has Musical. premier touring theatre companies developed 12 new scripts from beginner and producing quality work for young Little Shop of Horrors premiered at established playwrights from regional, remote people. Hayes Theatre in Sydney in February and urban areas across Australia. Sixteen 2016 and was followed by seasons scripts in total have had public readings, with seven scripts selected for further creative From top: Brent Hill as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors; Jonny Hawkins and Emma Palmer in Relatively Speaking. development and three new works produced professionally. The 2017 Yellamundie Festival was expanded to include international exchange and script readings with First Peoples from Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Turtle Island (Canada), with four new national and two international plays given readings. One of the national plays chosen for the festival was written by WAAPA graduate Megan Wilding. A Little Bit of Ash tells the story of a young Aboriginal woman who comes to terms with the loss of her mother by receiving helpful and not so helpful advice from her friends. Megan’s play was dramatuged Photo by Jeff Busby Photo by fellow WAAPA graduate Eva Mullaley, who also dramaturged another festival play, The Weekend by Henrietta Baird. Of the 20 actors invited to the festival, seven were WAAPA graduates. 1999 graduate Kyle J. Morrison, Artistic Director of WA’s Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, brought his skills as actor, director and dramaturge to the festival. He was joined by fellow graduate actors Megan Wilding, Phoebe Lea Grainer, Ian Michael, Abbie Lewis, Shari Sebbens and Bethany Cooper. WAAPA Production & Design graduate Damien Oliver was the stage manager for the entire event. Photo by Clare Hawley by Clare Photo

Inside WAAPA Issue 47 Page 5 AN ABILITY TO CONNECT

Photo by Vincent Soyez BASS PLAYER LINDA OH CONTINUES TOURING THE WORLD WITH RENOWNED GUITARIST PAT METHENY At the start of this year, 20 time she began playing piano, bassoon and which was recorded live at WKCR studios Grammy-winning guitarist Pat Metheny at fifteen played electric bass in a high in New York. announced that his year-long world tour, school jazz band. By 2005, she had A prolific composer, Linda has written which began at the start of 2016, was graduated from WAAPA with first- for large and small ensembles as well as being extended until the end of October class honours. for short films. this year. Moving to New York in 2006 on a full “No matter how demanding or tricky The quartet that Metheny assembled scholarship to study at the Manhattan a bassline, ostinato, or passage might be, for this tour includes his long-time School of Music, Linda completed her she is able to play it with extreme fluidity, associate, Mexican-born drummer Masters two years later, studying with meaning I never hear any ‘stress’ or Antonio Sánchez, who composed the Jay Anderson, John Riley, Phil Markowitz, ‘stiffness’ when she plays,” said drummer percussion-driven score for 2015’s Dave Liebman and Rodney Jones. and bandleader E.J. Strickland in a recent Academy Award-winning filmBirdman . For the next decade her name interview. “And whether she is playing The other two are both considered featured heavily on the jazz world’s rising the role of an accompanist or soloist, standout musicians on the international star lists, picking up the ASCAP Young she seems like she’s able to execute music scene: multi-award winning Jazz Composer’s award in 2008 and whatever comes to her mind perfectly. British pianist Gwilym Simcock and the the 2010 Bell Award for Young A lot of musicians have great ideas in Malaysian-born, Australian-raised and Australian Artist of the Year, among their head but aren’t necessarily able to WAAPA-trained bassist Linda Oh. many other honours. execute those ideas on their instrument Methany describes how he came to Linda is extremely active on the New because they don’t have the technique choose Linda as his new bass player: “I York scene, leading her own band and to do so. Not with her, though.” love to follow who the new players are playing with many of the major musicians Still in his early 20s, jazz pianist Jamie around town and I go out often to check in the community, including heavyweights Francies is one of the young guns of the out what everyone is doing. like Lee Konitz, Dave Douglas, Joe US jazz world. Two years ago he invited “The first time I heard Linda, she Lovano, Kenny Barron, John Scofield and Oh to play in his eponymous trio at the immediately went to the top of my list of Steve Coleman among others. Brooklyn Museum. candidates. She has everything I’m always She now teaches the precollege “In my mind, she is the epitome of the looking for; great time, great notes and a division at the Manhattan School perfect bass player,” he has said. “She can lot of imagination. of Music and is involved in jazz read anything, amazing composer, the “But the most important thing I am videoconference masterclasses for high nicest person, great soloist, and has great always searching for in any musician is schools around America. She was also instincts. She can play a piece of music an elusive and hard to describe quality involved in creating a series of lessons for the first time and sound like she wrote it.” that embodies a certain communicative the BassGuru app for iPad and iPhone. As part of the world tour with the ability to connect - not just to the other She has released three albums as a legendary Pat Metheny, Linda has played musicians, but to the audience as well. leader: her 2009 self-released debut at some of the world’s top jazz venues, Linda has that. When we got together, trio album, Entry was followed in 2012 including gigs at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz she was so easy to play with.” by the quartet album Initial Here, and Club, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival Born in Malaysia to parents of Chinese in 2013 she released Sun Pictures – in Denmark and the Kongsberg Jazz descent, Linda was raised in Perth where named after the oldest outdoor picture Festival in Norway. gardens in operation in Broome in WA –

Page 6 Inside WAAPA Issue 47 PERFORMANCE PARTNERSHIP WAAPA FORMS A THREE-YEAR PERFORMANCE PARTNERSHIP WITH AN INNOVATIVE PERTH ORCHESTRA In December last year, WAAPA students to perform as a soloist with signed a memorandum of the orchestra. understanding with the Perth The MOU, which commenced Courtesy of the Community Newspaper Group Symphony Orchestra (PSO) to on 1 December 2016, is initially become performance partners, for a three-year term. The marking the start of a strategic agreement outlines a commitment partnership that promises to by both organisations to explore ARTS PASSION bring significant benefits to both collaborations across all activities; organisations. offer outstanding current students RECOGNISED Numerous WAAPA alumni have opportunities to perform at a DAVID HOUGH’S been engaged by PSO since its professional level; championing LIFELONG PASSION inception five years ago. The PSO’s each other as leading performance FOR THE ARTS WAS Executive Director, Bourby Webster, organisations in WA; sharing each RECOGNISED IN and Chief Conductor, Jessica Gethin, other’s events and productions; and both currently teach at WAAPA and exploring ways to innovate, create and AUSTRALIA DAY Jessica is also a WAAPA graduate. promote excellence in music. HONOURS “We have a core value of Director of WAAPA, Professor Julie David Hough, who played an integral role in showcasing outstanding WA talent, Warn, welcomes this new partnership. establishing WAAPA, was awarded the Medal and many of our orchestra members “This memorandum of understanding of the Order of Australia (OAM) in this year’s are WAAPA alumni,” says Webster. is very exciting for us, it opens up Australia Day Honours List for his service to the “We engage a range of talent from further performance opportunities performing arts. across all genres and WAAPA has to our music students as well as Hough has enjoyed a long and diverse a track record of producing leading exposing them to some of WA’s best career as an historian, journalist, theatre critic, musicians across classical, jazz and professional players.” performer, teacher, writer and academic. In June contemporary music streams. Closer Late year’s PSO performances 1981, Hough was appointed to WAAPA as a collaboration with WAAPA aligns showcased WAAPA staff and students speech and drama lecturer, where he helped perfectly with our desire to deliver including Head of Contemporary get the first courses up and running. outstanding orchestral concerts Music/keyboard player Mike Eastman, He was also involved in setting up the ECU that are exciting, diverse and draw Senior Lecturer in Jazz/saxophonist Art Collection, which now holds more than on emerging talent as well as WA’s Jamie Oehlers, guitar lecturer Ray 3000 pieces, including paintings, drawings, leading professional musicians.” Walker, composer Rachael Dease, film prints, photographs, sculptures and ceramics. As well as working with both composer Kevin Penkin, soprano Amy WAAPA staff and students get to appreciate WAAPA graduates and current Manford, vocalists Helen Shanahan this important collection on a daily basis, with teaching staff, PSO is keen to offer and Sophie Foster, viola player the works of well-known theatre designers students unique opportunities such Kathyrn McKay, guitarist Rick Webster gracing the Academy’s walls. as performing orchestral works and bass guitarist Josh Dyson. Hough continues his long association with by student composers or inviting WAAPA through an annual prize in his name, WAAPA Contemporary Music graduate, Sophie Foster (centre) performing with PSO the David Hough Award for Outstanding Design. “While it is the Hugh Jackmans and the Lucy Duracks who get the most attention, behind the curtain there are WAAPA graduates who are making their mark in the industry as stage managers, lighting technicians and designers,” he said in a recent interview. Hough has worked as a freelance non-fiction writer since he left school. Hough was shortlisted for a WA Premier’s Book Award in 2004 for his book, A Dream of Passion: The Centennial History of His Majesty’s Theatre. His 2009 book, Boans for Service: The Story of the Department Store 1895-1986, sold 6000 copies.

Richard Jefferson Photography Jefferson Richard

Inside WAAPA Issue 47 Page 7 TRUSTING TO CRAZY POSSIBILITIES OUT OF A FRIENDSHIP FORGED A DECADE AND A HALF AGO AT WAAPA, TWO WOMEN HAVE JOINED FORCES TO SHARE THEIR ARTISTIC PASSIONS

making dance films when she was at WAAPA – and her love of working with actors. She set up her own production company, WhiteFalk Films and since 2009 has been working with one of Australia’s greatest producers, Jan Chapman. “Being a producer takes a lot of discipline so I feel very fortunate to have had that quality instilled in me from my dance background,” says Alex. “It can be a demanding job and the rewards take a long time but it is also very creative and collaborative. When you find yourself working with like-minded people who are all giving 100 per cent to the project, it is very exciting. I also love telling stories, I was always interested in choreography so producing is an opportunity to tell the world the stories that interest me.” Mirrah Foulkes Alex White In 2014 Mirrah approached Alex to n Australian short film, shown in the Network 7 series All Saints, a role produce her short film,Florence Has Left the Perth International Arts which earned her a 2010 Logie Award the Building. AFestival’s February film program nomination for Best New Female Talent. “Mirrah is an extremely talented director before Kristen Stewart’s new feature She appeared in Jane Campion’s Top of with a very unique voice and clear vision,” Personal Shopper, is the award-winning the Lake, Channel 10’s Secrets and Lies, say Alex. “It’s every producer’s dream to outcome of a collaboration between two SBS’s The Principal and in the films Animal find someone as special as her to WAAPA graduates. Kingdom and Sleeping Beauty, among work with.” many others. For her role in The Turning: Trespass, which won Best Australian The chemistry between the two women Small Mercies, she was nominated for Short Film at the 2016 Melbourne behind the camera was matched by that a 2014 Australian Academy of Cinema International Film Festival, was written and on screen and Florence Has Left the Television Arts Award (AACTA) Award for directed by Mirrah Foulkes and produced Building, starring Jackie Weaver, Eden Falk Best Supporting Actress. by Alex White. and Justin Rosniak, won the 2015 AACTA The jury statement that accompanied She started writing and directing short Award for Best Short Fiction Film. films as a way to keep busy between the award reads: “Mirrah Foulkes has With Trespass also receiving critical acting jobs. made a beautiful and moving film that acclaim, Mirrah and Alex are now setting resonates deeply, one that seamlessly “I really didn’t expect to enjoy it as their sights on their next big venture: their combines moments of levity and darkness much as I did and it felt really nice to have first feature film. with maturity and elegance. Watching creative control over something as a They have teamed up with Jan Trespass is a deceptively emotional whole rather than just my performance,” Chapman and acclaimed filmmaker Jane experience.” Mirrah says. “I actually met my boyfriend Campion, who are set to executive [writer/director David Michôd] on the Mirrah and Alex both graduated from produce their drama-thriller Runaway, first job I did after WAAPA and he really WAAPA in 2003, but from different based on a short story by Canadian writer encouraged me to write and direct so I courses. Mirrah trained as an actor, Alex Alice Munro. The project, which is still guess that was the beginning of it.” was in the dance program. They crossed in the early stages of development, has paths because Alex’s boyfriend-now- In 2013, Mirrah’s short film Dumpy received funding from Screen Australia as husband, Eden Falk, was in Mirrah’s acting Goes to the Big Smoke won the prize part of the Gender Matters program. cohort. Since then, they have remained for Best Director at the Sydney Film “I have worked with Jan for nearly eight close friends and more recently, film Festival and was nominated for two years and Mirrah was directed by Jane collaborators. AACTA Awards. in Top of the Lake,” says Alex of their After graduating, Mirrah pursued Alex in the meantime had undergone long-standing relationship with Chapman her acting career, working in theatre, what she calls the ‘natural transition’ from and Campion. “But that doesn’t take away television and film. She spent two years dancer to film producer, fuelled by her from how incredible it is to have them as playing paramedic Jo Mathieson on strong interest in cinema – she started mentors on our feature.” ➤

Page 8 Inside WAAPA Issue 47 FESTIVAL SPECIALIST “We recently had dinner the four of us and at one point I had an outer body experience thinking how lucky we are to JOINS WAAPA have these amazing women nurturing our work and careers.” In addition to Runaway, Mirrah has a number of other projects on the go: she is developing a feature with Vice Films in America which she describes as “kind of a crazy, fabricated origin story about Punch and Judy” and is also working with Carver Films on a contemporary black comedy television show about aging and death. “I really love writing and directing but I find it hard work, acting is where I feel the most at home, it’s where I find the most joy,” she says of juggling her different skills. “It’s tough though because the really AN ARTS MANAGEMENT great acting jobs can be few and far between and working as an actor on GRADUATE RETURNS TO PERTH TO something your heart is not in can be SHARE HER SKILLS such a punish. A decade after she graduated from “The festival industry in the UK is “I found that great roles, especially for WAAPA’s Arts Management course, wonderful and so creative. Being a part women and more so as I got older, were event management specialist Ali of the live music industry there where rare and I would much rather be making McLean has returned to her alma festival organisers produce amazing my own work than spending my time mater to share her expertise with the music and arts festivals and work acting on jobs I didn’t like. current crop of students. positively work together to create “Now I feel like there’s a lot less Experienced in large-scale event better conditions for the industry was pressure to take jobs that don’t inspire me management and promotion, Ali has a really positive experience. “ because there’s always work to be done been the principal event producer for Prior to her time at DHP, Ali was on my own projects.” a large variety of major events in the part of the Operational Readiness As the only female member of the festival, concert, sport, community team at the London 2012 Olympic Australian film-making collective Blue- and cultural event sector in Australia and Paralympic Games and worked Tongue Films, which includes David and the UK. as a project manager with Ronin Michôd, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Luke In particular, Ali is passionate about Event Services UK. She also has Doolan, Joel Edgerton, Nash Edgerton the festival industry. Her most recent extensive experience in Australia as and Spencer Susser, Mirrah has a strong position as Head of Festivals at award- an event manager. network of support for her film work. winning UK music promotion company Ali has held an Advisory Board Another strong network comes from DHP Family saw her manage a large member position with the Association her WAAPA days, which she sees as portfolio of music and art festivals, of Independent Festivals, the UK’s a formative period in her life that has with a focus on new festival product leading non-profit trade association produced enduring friendships. “I still and commercial development. for independent festivals. She is also feel as though I have this really strong, Under the DHP Family umbrella of a Director on the Australian Board of wonderful WAAPA community around live music festivals – which includes Event Health Management. me even if I don’t see some of those Splendour, Dot to Dot, Gathering Ali moved back to Perth last year people for a long time.” and Everywhere, covering all genres and has since been working as a Asked what advice she would give to from folk and indie to rock, metal, consultant in event management. current WAAPA students, Mirrah offers: hard-core and all types of electronic She is also working on ideas for new “Try not to have any expectations music – she created and developed festivals in WA. about what life will hold for you when you a 10,000 capacity music festival, No She believes that WAAPA’s Arts graduate. I think if you can leave yourself Tomorrow, with headliners Sam Smith Management course gave her the open to all the crazy possibilities of where and London Grammar. No Tomorrow perfect basis on which to build your life might head it will be so much was shortlisted for Best New Festival her career. “The combination of easier and more fun. The training will in the UK Festival Awards 2014 and management and commerce subjects, never be wasted or lost and what you’ve Best Festival in the Live UK Business all targeted towards creative industries, learnt about your classmates and human Awards 2015. provides the ultimate foundation for a beings in general will be the most “DHP Family put on over 1200 successful management level career valuable lesson.” concerts a year so there was always in the creative industries.” These ‘crazy possibilities’ – plus a lot the opportunity to see live music, Now as a sessional lecturer at of hard work – have seen the careers of from tiny gigs with emerging acts to WAAPA, Ali will be teaching others Mirrah Foulkes and Alex White transform Ed Sheeran at Wembley Stadium,” how to forge their own path in the into something unexpected and exciting. says Ali. world of arts management.

Inside WAAPA Issue 47 Page 9 DANCER SOARS ON EDITH HER GENEE ON THE SUCCESS In December last year, Bachelor of Arts MOVE (Dance) student Evelyn Roberts was one of four WAAPA dancers who traveled to Sydney to compete in the Genée International Ballet competition. The WAAPA students joined 90 other young dancers who were chosen to compete in what is known simply as ‘the Genée’, one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world. This was the first time that WAAPA had been The Edith, WAAPA’s new spiegeltent, represented at the competition. provided a stunning venue for the 2017 Fringe World, thanks to a new Evelyn was selected as one of the top partnership between the Festival, twelve finalists, making the cut of the top Photography by Maneyacts Photo ECU and WAAPA. eight female dancers in the competition. looking forward to being able to learn Boasting 700 or so events held She describes the experience of from the fantastic tutors, see what the across 150 venues, Fringe World is performing as a finalist on the Joan European market is like, what the calibre the state’s largest arts festival and the Sutherland stage at the Sydney Opera of young professionals is and to meet third largest fringe festival in the world House as ‘surreal’. many people that might help me work out after Edinburgh and Adelaide. “It’s very hard to express how much like the style or company I would like to work The historic precinct of Perth’s a dream the whole experience was.” in and be best suited to.” Cathedral Square was transformed by Out of that dream experience has come Three of last year’s graduates who have the Edith Spiegeltent, which played an invitation from the Artistic Director happily found companies they would like host to the award-winning cabaret of the Australian Ballet, David McAllister to work in are Anthony Rinaldi, Tanya show, La Soiree. AM, to spend a week in July on work Brown and Tia Hockey. The Edith is soon to be back on experience with the acclaimed dance Anthony and Tanya, who both campus at ECU Mount Lawley, ready company. graduated with First Class Honours, have for an exciting year of WAAPA Evelyn has also lined up a week’s been offered contacts as Developing performances including: secondment with the Queensland Ballet Artists with Perth contemporary company, • Bebop! This homage to Charlie Company and will attend the two-week Co3. Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonius ART of Ballet Summer Course 2017, held Tia has been invited to join the London- Monk will be performed by WAAPA’s at the Zurich University of the Arts from based Alexander Whitley Dance Company talented Jazz students, 16 March. 7-19 August. for their production of 8 M:inutes, which • Come and Sing With Mary “I can’t wait to travel to Switzerland to will premiere on June 27-28 at Sadler’s King. Amateur singers are invited participate in this summer school!” she Wells. Whitley, a former choreographic to participate live on stage, singing says. “I have never travelled overseas affiliate of The Royal Ballet who has been choruses from the greatest musical before, so that in itself is exciting. commissioned by Rambert, BalletBoyz, theatre shows, 18 March. Birmingham Royal Ballet and Candoco, “Professionally though, I am really • A Dream Play. Caryl Churchill’s adaptation of Strindberg’s 1901 expressionistic drama, 5-11 May. SOPHIA JOINS ‘LOVE CHILD’ • Life is a Cabaret. Join WAAPA’s Classical Vocal students as they travel Before she even finished her final year at WAAPA, recent from the Weiner Republic to the gin Acting graduate Sophia Forrest had secured a three-year joints of prohibition-era New York, deal with Channel 9’s powerhouse drama, Love Child. 1-3 June. Scouts from Channel 9 spotted Sophia on a trip • The Threepenny Opera. Bertolt to WAAPA last year. “We have all the scouts from the Brecht’s classic ‘opera for beggars’, networks and agencies come over to look at our students’ 13-19 October. work,” says Associate Dean of Performance, Andrew Lewis. “Sophia’s talent was noticed by quite a few people.” • Im Spiegel. Immerse yourself in a new dance work choreographed by Sophia had one important event to attend at the start of Sam Chester and performed by LINK the year before she flew east to begin filmingLove Child: her Dance Company, 9-11 November. graduation ceremony. Held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday 5 February, Sophia was given the honour of being the For further information or bookings, Student Speaker at the ECU graduation. go online to waapa.ecu.edu.au Photo by Paul Santlemann Page 10 Inside WAAPA Issue 47 EXPLORING WORLD THEATRE 2017 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for WAAPA Bachelor of Performing Arts student, Alexander Beard. In January, he and four other BPA students began 10 weeks of study at the Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI) in Singapore, as part of a New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility tour. At ITI, Alexander and fellow BPA students Nefeli Perdikouli, Riley Spadaro, Ravenna Bouckaert and Noemie Huttner-Koros undertook an immersive study of the traditional Japanese theatre form, Noh, with classes in acting, movement, Suzuki method, tai chi, yoga From left: Rebecca Jensen, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Chloe Reinikka and Alexander Beard and cultural theory. In July, Alexander will return to ITI, this other NCP scholarship winners from a solo show with guidance from the time on a 2017 NCP Scholarship which ECU, Bachelor of Arts Honours student Director of ITI, Thirunalan Sasitharan. he was awarded in November last year. Rebecca Jensen and Bachelor of Planning “I will perform this solo as part of the student Chloe Reinikka. A Federal Government initiative, the end-of-year BPA 3rd Year show Tilt at NCP Scholarship Program provides the “You’d be hard-pressed to find a school The Blue Room Theatre alongside my opportunity for undergraduate students more diverse than ITI, the students and peers, before returning to ITI to learn from around Australia to undertake study teachers come from many different places from the esteemed researcher, educator and internships for up to a year in the and from all walks of life. So being there and director, Phillip Zarilli,” says Alexander. Indo-Pacific region. will deepen my understanding of the This internship and directing cultures that surround mine in Australia, Worth up to $75,000, the scholarship secondment, which is the second phase of and in the region we live in.” provides institution and language tuition the scholarship, will run from December fees, travel allowances, a monthly stipend, The first phase of Alexander’s 2017 until March 2018, health and travel insurance and a case scholarship year will see him back at ITI By the end of his scholarship year, manager for advice and assistance. for a further semester of performing arts Alexander is hoping to have broadened training, this time with immersive study in Alexander travelled to Canberra to his knowledge of the region’s historical the traditional Javanese theatrical dance receive his award from Foreign Minister and cultural customs and gained a strong performance, Wayang Wong. Alexander Julie Bishop. He was joined by two network of future collaborators. will also learn Mandarin and develop

teaching career. The lecturers taught by DANCE IN THE OUTBACK example and gave me great insight into what being a great teacher and mentor is all about.” Today, Branches Performing Arts studio runs 14 ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance classes a week for 40 students. “I’ve gained a wide following of students from rural and remote far North Queensland,” says the 23-year- old dancer. “The school is based in Julia Creek, however through funding from Arts Queensland I have engaged in a number of projects teaching dance to

Photo by Joanne Thieme Photo students in neighbouring towns.” It’s not easy growing up on a cattle Three years later, she returned to “The thing I love most about teaching station in the remote northwest of her hometown of Julia Creek, 1642km is passing on the knowledge that has Queensland when you want to be a northwest of Brisbane, and opened her been given to me and inspiring creativity dancer. Amy Tinning knows just how own dance school to cater for children in young minds. Since I was six, I have tough it can be, driving for hours in the living in remote areas. gathered the experience that I now use car with her mum to get to dance lessons “Being at WAAPA was an intensive and to inspire children who are just like I was, and competitions. physically demanding experience, however coming from a rural background.” Yet that commitment paid off in 2011 extremely rewarding,” says Amy. In addition to running her dance school, when Amy was accepted into WAAPA’s “The depth of knowledge I gained Amy has a full-time job as an executive Bachelor of Arts (Dance) course. through the course has been asset in my assistant to the local shire council mayor.

Inside WAAPA Issue 47 Page 11 Opera! The Opera Memory Bones

IN THE SPOTLIGHT A GLIMPSE OF WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ON STAGE AT WAAPA Poetry, Prose and Songs from the South Rent

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THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS Starstruck Albert Herring The Beat Generation

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Cover Credits Front Cover Red Ranger, Dacre Montgomery Photo by Kimberley French Back Cover All photos by Jon Green Photographer except Starstruck photo by James Kilian

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Page 12 Inside WAAPA Issue 47