The Gloria Payten Foundation and Gloria Dawn Foundation are pleased to announce 2023 The Glorias Fellowship recipients � Adolphus Waylee (Actor, NIDA), Nikki Shiels (Actor, Victorian College for the Arts) and Zoë Hollyoak (Director, NIDA).
These annual Fellowships are open to applications from Australian actors and directors nationally and aim to benefit the Australian performing arts industry by offering talented professional actors and directors in theatre, film, and television the chance to explore and develop their artistic pursuits through international travel and study.
Adolphus Waylee – NIDA, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, 2021
Actor Adolphus Waylee, a 2021 NIDA Bachelor of Fine Artsin Acting graduate said: ‘I applied for the Glorias Fellowship because I am deeply committed to refining my craft and addressing the gaps that I’ve identified in our industry. Receiving this grant will mean I can attend Stella Adler’s 10-week Summer Conservatory course for Professional Actors in New York in July 2024. By embracing this opportunity, I aspire to be an advocate for authenticity, diversity, and depth in the portrayal of black and African experiences on stage. Through this journey, I am confident that I can contribute positively to the Australian theatre scene and enhance the narrative landscape for the betterment of our industry and its audiences.’
Nikki Shiels – Victorian College of the Arts, Bachelor of Dramatic Art, 2009
Actor Nikki Shiels, a 2009 VCA Bachelor of Dramatic Art graduate, said: ‘As an actor working in Australia it can be difficult to access or feel inspired by alternative creative practices being so geographically isolated. I applied for the Gloria’s in 2023 to immerse myself in alternative styles of performance training and work being made abroad to inspire me to contribute creatively in new and unexpected ways within my career in Australia. My Fellowship program includes participating in a 10-day intensive performance training workshop in a limited sized group for professional actors and dancers with the Jan Fabre Teaching Group of esteemed Belgium Theatre Company, Jan Fabre / Troubleyn. The fellowship will also support my participation in a theatrical work of scale based on Nosferatu with Vienna based company Burgtheatre to be directed by Adena Jacobs.’
Director and NIDA alumna, Zoe Hollyoak said: ‘The Gloria’s Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from international artistic leaders and return to Australia with a wealth of knowledge to share. I look forward to travelling to New York City to experience a four-week directing attachment with The Wooster Group in 2024. The Wooster Group is a company of artists established in the mid 1970’s that make cutting-edge experimental work for theatre, dance and media, in New York and abroad.’
Zoë Hollyoak – NIDA, Master of Fine Arts in Directing, 2020.
On their return to work in Australia, Fellowship recipients share their new-found skills and knowledge with the broader arts community, providing an ongoing benefit.
Congratulations to this year’s fellows!
