For 2017 intake, NIDA is offering a range of undergraduate, graduate and vocational courses.
A leader in performing arts education, NIDA has a next-to-none reputation for educating some of Australia's finest actors, producers, directors and more.
Their 15-month Master of Fine Arts courses prepare students to become exceptional artists and creative leaders, in both Australia and overseas. These include Cultural Leadership, Design for Performance, Writing for Performance, Directing and Voice. The three-year Bachelor of Fine Arts courses prepare students to gain skills in collaboration for careers in the arts. Acting, Costume, Design for Performance, Properties and Objects, Staging and Technical Theatre and Stage Management all fall under the Bachelor umbrella.
Last but not least, NIDA's Vocational Diploma varies in length, and covers Live Production and Technical Services, Musical Theatre, Screen and Media, and Stage and Screen. Yvonne Sewankambo answered some questions about NIDA, and what budding performing arts lovers can expect if lucky enough to be part of their community.
Can you categorise what you see as being any points of difference related to NIDA as compared to comparable institutions in Australia?
NIDA has the enviable reputation as Australia’s leading institution for dramatic arts education and training. For more than 50 years, we have been a hub for Australia’s performing arts sector, bringing leading artists and industry professionals together to develop the next generation of creative leaders. Our teaching staff brings a wealth of professional experience and expertise, providing students with access to the skills and knowledge required to build a career in their chosen field.
Can you provide examples of some of the teaching staff on hand and their backgrounds?
Michael Scott-Mitchell is one of Australia’s leading set designers and a prolific artist working across theatre, opera, dance, film, television, events and exhibition design within Australia and internationally. His contribution to the Australian performing arts has been recognised with Helpmann awards, Australian Production Design Guild (APDG) awards and Green Room awards, to name a few. Cheryl Stock has had an extraordinary career, bridging all sectors of Australia’s professional dance scene and many in the Asia-Pacific region. She has been a performer, choreographer, artistic director, funding body chair, head of a tertiary dance course, teacher, mentor, collaborator, writer, researcher and an internationally-recognised scholar and now heads up NIDA’s Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership) course. Stephen Sewell is one of Australia’s most celebrated and experienced writers. He has won great popular and critical acclaim as a playwright, screenwriter and novelist, as well as directing for both theatre and film over a career that has spanned 30 years. Stephen chaired the Australian National Playwrights Centre for a number of years, is the recipient of numerous awards and his work has been performed in most major Australian theatres and in New Zealand, the US, the UK and Europe. He is best known for his film and theatre work, including his AFI Award winning screen adaptation of 'The Boys' and his role as script editor on the feature film 'Chopper'.
Di Drew is one of Australia’s most respected award-winning drama directors. She is the recipient of the Australian Director’s Guild prestigious annual award in recognition of consistent excellence in the art of screen direction in feature film and television direction’. Di is a directing graduate of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). She began her career in theatre and has directed for Belvoir Street Theatre, Northside Theatre Company and Theatre Nepean. Her production of 'Knuckledusters – The Jewels of Edith Sitwell' at Belvoir won the Green Room Award for her lead actor Kerry Walker. Nicholas Day has extensive experience across theatre, film and live events in Australia and internationally in a range of areas, including production, design and construction. He commenced his theatre career at the Sydney Opera House as a mechanist/machine desk operator and went on to work in set decoration and stand-by props for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Reg Grundy Organisation. Nicholas later returned to theatre as touring mechanist, then designer and production manager for Barry Humphries’ national and international tours. Currently the only practicing Lessac Kinesensic Certified teacher in Australia, Katerina Moraitis is one of the world's leading acting, voice and speech professionals, and has been responsible for training many actors and voice practitioners now working in Europe, Australia and the USA. Prior to NIDA, Katerina was Course Leader of the world renowned MA Voice Studies course at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London and Head of the International Centre for Voice (ICV), a professional international forum established to serve the development of teachers of voice and speech around the globe.
Are there any productions looking at NIDA that can be attended by the public?
NIDA's full-time students showcase their talents in a variety of productions and events throughout the year. NIDA's undergraduate and Master of Fine Arts (Design for Performance) students present their productions twice a year in June and October. Master of Fine Arts students will present performance pieces in October and November 2016.
Can you provide some the career opportunities that can be explored beyond acting by attendees at NIDA?
NIDA courses open up a range of career paths in the arts and entertainment industries, including: technical designers and managers, directors, writers, costume creators, stage managers, lighting and property designers, construction managers, set builders, staging technicians and mechanists, make-up specialists, and makers of properties, models and bespoke objects.
