Students Live and Learn the Actor's Craft

January 16, 2008

A diverse group of University of New England students enrolled in an intensive Theatre Studies residential school are finding the rewards are just as great as the challenges.

Many of the students, including working actors, film makers and drama teachers, say they don't have the time to attend specialised drama schools, and so find the 11-day program, which runs during the holiday period (from 7-17 January this year), ideal for their lifestyles.

Beth Champion, who lives in the Blue Mountains and has 17 years of experience acting in film and television, said while she was initially daunted by the intensive nature of the school, she found it was well worth the effort.

"I grew up in TV so I didn't really get the formalised drama school training that I wanted," she said. "I just leapt into doing film and TV, but I didn't do anything for the stage. This is a kind of very condensed version of going to drama school, and while it's terrifying being thrown in the deep end like this, that's what's exciting."

Ridwan Hassim, is a filmmaker from Sydney who wanted to glean some first-hand experience into what it is like to work on the other side of the camera.

"I'm a director as well as an actor and producer," he said. "From my directing perspective, whilst I've worked with professional crews, I wanted to get the insight of the actor's craft, and by understanding it I will be able to better direct my films."

The Actor's Craft residential school surveys some of the most significant and influential approaches to actor training, with classes examining and exercising actor's skills in not just acting, but also in generating and interpreting texts for performance. Particular attention is paid to voice, movement, textual interpretation, improvisation and theatre "wrighting".

What makes this residential school unique amongst others offered by UNE is that students live and learn at historic Smith House (a former residence for teachers in training) in the town of Armidale, which is only a short walk away from food shopping and entertainment facilities.

Mr Hassim said that his teacher, UNE lecturer Sue Fell, is incredibly inspirational.

"You recall that movie Dead Poets Society?" he said. "The Robin Williams character is Sue".

These sentiments are echoed by Ms Champion.

"I want to put her in my pocket. She is just so energetic and so fearless. That's why I love doing classes with her, because I want to become as fearless a performer as she is, and she instils that," she said.

Pictured: Beth Champion, Ridwan Hassim, Sarah Mills and Josh Hamilton.

Posted by Alex Dunn at January 16, 2008 04:47 PM