This November is packed with must-see performances and screen debuts, both internationally and at home. From prestigious awards to ground-breaking productions and major television series, NIDA alumni once again demonstrate their remarkable range and influence in the entertainment industry. Whether in the spotlight or behind the scenes, the breadth of talent that stems from NIDA’s world-class training continues to shape the creative world in Australia and abroad.
The 52nd International Emmy Awards will air on 25 November (26 November AEDT) celebrating the best in global television with Australians able to tune into the stream live on ARENA. Competing in the category for Best Comedy is Deadloch, the hilarious series starring NIDA alum Kate Box (Acting, 2003) with Holly Austin (Acting, 2003), Kris McQuade (Acting, 1971), and Nick Simpson-Deeks (Acting, 2001), and behind-the-scenes contributions from Jenny Hitchcock (Design, 1999) in art direction and Kim Scott (Design, 2003) as costume assistant. In the Best Drama Series category, The Newsreader season two is also nominated, featuring an incredible array of NIDA talent, starring Anna Torv (Acting, 2001) with Nick Simpson-Deeks (Acting, 2001), Robert Grubb (Acting, 1987), Paula Arundell (Acting, 1995), Natalia Novikova (Acting, 1994), and Scott Johnson (Acting, 1996). These nominations recognise the exceptional work of these artists and are a testament to the continued global impact of NIDA graduates in the entertainment industry.
For fans of Frank Herbert’s book series and movies, HBO’s Dune: Prophecy will be available on Binge from 17 November, with Yerin Ha (Acting, 2018) portraying Young Kasha. The series is set 10,000 years before the events of the science fiction film Dune, following two sisters as they combat dark forces that threaten the future of humanity and establish the mysterious sisterhood known as the Bene Gesserit.
The wait is over! David Berry (Acting, 2010) will step back into his role as the steadfast Lord John Grey in Outlander season seven, part two. With Outlander’s trademark mix of romance, intrigue, and historical adventure, fans won’t want to miss these episodes airing on Binge and Foxtel from 23 November.
A new musical reimagined from Miles Franklin’s My Brilliant Career is coming to Melbourne Theatre Company from 7 November – 18 December with book by Sheridan Harbridge (Acting, 2006), Assistant Director, Miranda Middleton (Directing, 2020) and the vocal talents of Lincoln Elliott (Diploma of Musical Theatre, 2017). The show follows the spirited character of Sybylla Melvyn as she carves out a future for herself as a female genius in the 1890s. This exciting adaptation blends contemporary music, bush folk, and pub rock into a high-energy performance led by a brilliant creative team.
Sydney Theatre Company presents the Australian premiere of Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Sweat, directed by NIDA alum Zindzi Okenyo (Acting, 2006) showing from 16 November – 15 December. Set in the industrial town of Reading, Pennsylvania, Sweat follows the lives of factory workers as they confront the crumbling American steel industry. This powerful production will feature the talents of several NIDA alumni, with Set Designer, Jeremy Allen (Design, 2015) and Lighting Designer, Verity Hampson (Technical Production, 2005). The play’s narrative, packed with complex relationships and workplace tensions, is brought to life by a stellar ensemble cast, including NIDA graduates, Gabriel Alvarado (Acting, 2021), Paula Arundell (Acting, 1995), and Yure Covich (Acting, 2002).
From 7 – 30 November, the Seymour Centre will stage Matthew López’s play, The Inheritance, a queer, contemporary reimagining of E.M. Forster’s Howards End. This unpredictable story of love, legacy and survival is told against the turbulent backdrop of modern New York City by an exciting cast of characters portrayed by NIDA alumni including, John Adams (Acting, 1989) Ryan Panizza (Acting, 2020), Tom Rodgers (Musical Theatre, 2019), Quinton Rofail Rich (Production and Technical Services, 2018 & Stage and Screen Performance, 2019), Matthew McDonald (Acting, 2019) and Jack Richardson (Playwriting, 2011 & Acting, 2018). The director and movement director for this production is NIDA lecturer and alum Shane Anthony (Directing, 2006) whose vision for this two-part epic is as sexy as it is thought-provoking. Building the world and working behind-the-scenes is Set Designer, Kate Beere (Design, 2018 & Masters of Design, 2020), Lighting Designer, Alex Berlage (Production, 2013 & Masters of Directing, 2017), Sound Designer, Daniel Herten (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2021) and Dialect Coach, Linda Nicholls-Gidley (Voice Studies, 1998).
Have you ever, ever felt like this? Get ready for strange things to happen in the new musical production of Round the Twist. Based on the beloved stories by Australian author Paul Jennings, this quirky adaptation is playing at Brisbane’s QPAQ Theatre from 12 November – 8 December. The fictional town of Port Niranda and its iconic lighthouse will be brought to life by Set Designer, Renée Mulder (Design, 2008), with Lighting Designer, Ben Hughes (Cultural Leadership, 2019) responsible for creating the mysterious and unsettling atmosphere, and David James (Acting, 1990) joining an ensemble cast as the trouble-making realtor, Harold Gribble.
*Header image: From left to right: Madeleine Sami as Eddie Redcliffe and Kate Box (Acting, 2003) as Dulcie Collins in Amazon Prime’s Deadloch Season one. Photo credit: Prime Video & Bradley Patrick.