How much has changed in the way the craft ofperformance makinghas been taught over 30 years?
Surprisingly not much! ‘The technology has definitely changed, there is so much access to quality tech in the palm of your hand. Despite the massive changes in media platforms since the 1990s – the boom of YouTube, publishing your own stories on social media – the fundamentals of telling a story and the way wecreate engaging performances, hasn’t actually changedthatmuch,’ says NIDA’s Director of Public Programs, Tricia Ryan.
Above: Teaching film and screen acting in the 1990s at NIDA Open.
2020. Time and technology have not changed the importance of play and the craft of storytelling at NIDA Open.
‘Authentic stories and solid training methodologyare still essential elements of creating engaging performance, no matter the platform used to deliver it! Teaching peoplethe craft of performance and how to tell an interesting story: that’s what will make them last as artists,’ added Tricia.
‘Performance craftissomething you have tothoroughly learn and practicebefore you can pass it onas a teacher. That’s why weare alwaysso excited to work withpeople such asSam Worthington and Sonia Todd, who were emerging artistsand NIDA Open teachersin the early 2000s.We are always looking for the new generation of creative artists to teach in our programs.’
Above: Emerging Hollywood star Sam Worthington and TV and theatre actor Sonia Todd take time out from teaching at NIDA Open 15 years ago.
Sam is now a Hollywood actor, famous forAvatar andClash of the Titans, and is just about to star in Sydney Theatre Company’sAppropriate. Sonia is well known to Australian television audiences for her roles in McLeod’s Daughters, Shine, Rescue: The Movieand Rake. She too is back at Sydney Theatre Company inRules for Living.
NIDA Open continues to work with tutors who are practising artist, for example Georgia Blizzard (The Singapore Grip), Andrea Demetriades (Crownies, Seven Types of Ambiguity, Alex & Eve) and Jack Ellis (A Place to Call Home, Hollow Hands).
‘We’re proudtooof all NIDA Open students, and excited that people like Eliza Scanlon, Katherine Langford and Oakley Kwon have started their creative journey with us,’ said Tricia Ryan.
Eliza Scanlon began at NIDA Open’s Youth programs in 2012 and was in 2021 nominated for an AACTA actor for her role inBabyteeth, directed by Shannon Murphy. Katherine Langford undertook a NIDA Advanced Actors residency in 2015 and was awarded a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress � Television Series Drama,13 Reasons Why from 2017 to 2018. Oakley Kwon took part in the NIDA Open Screen Acting Studio in 2017 and wasrecentlynominated for a 2020 AACTA Award forHungry Ghosts, TV series.
‘We’re excited about the next 30 yearsof sharing professional performance knowledge with young and emerging artistand look forward towelcomingstudents tothe 2021Summer holiday program in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane,’ she added.
For more information:open.nida.edu.au
