NIDA’s popular student productions are always a feast of classic, contemporary and new work, not least for the incredible sets and costumes envisaged by the final year Design students. We chatted to Head of Design, Michael Scott-Mitchell about what audiences can expect this June.
I am always surprised at the outpouring of creativity that imbues the new group of productions designed by NIDA’s Design students. The upcoming June season of five productions is no exception.
We are thrilled to have a number of theatre luminaries joining us this semester to provoke, inspire and support our Designers and all of the students involved in the productions. Jim Sharman returns to direct The Tempest in a playful production of Shakespeare’s magical tale of liberation and regeneration. Jeremey Allen’s set design for the NIDA Playhouse has gone through a number of evolutions to reach the final form. Coupled with his adventurous costume designs, Jeremy has landed on a design that has enormous theatrical potential.
Artistic Director of Theatre of Image, Kim Carpenter also returns to direct A Dream Play, which Isabel Hudson is designing. Kim has previously directed NIDA’s production of The Ghost Sonata, which Design Lecturer, Sue Field designed. Following a productive workshop which tested the production ideas, Isabel has crystallised a stylistic approach to the work which will both supports the performance and pushes the use of the NIDA Parade Theatre in exciting ways. A Dream Play will be an atmospheric and highly-charged production of this story of a goddess searching for what it means to be human.
Artistic Director of Force Majeure, Kate Champion will culminate her three-year exploration with NIDA’s Acting students with Not Who I Was. This is a devised work, for which Laura Anna Lucas is designing the set and Anthony Spinaze is designing costumes. The early design ideas are both witty and inventive and hold enormous promise for the production, which will be presented in the NIDA Space.
A guest teacher with NIDA for many years, QTC resident director Andrea Moor will join us for the first time in a directorial role taking on The Roaring Girl in the NIDA Atrium. Madeleine Hoy is designing set and costumes and has found a fantastic stylistic blend which references both a Jacobean and a more contemporary aesthetic for this comedy about a thoroughly modern woman causing chaos among everyone around her.
The final work we are presenting is a re-working of Miss Julie by Nicki Bloom entitled Vale which will be directed by our Head of Acting, Jeff Janisheski. This production will be staged at Bangarra’s studios in Walsh Bay � the first time NIDA has presented a production in this unique venue. Jonathan Hindmarsh has designed a terrific contemporary space for this production which will be handsomely and intelligently supported by Stephanie Howe’s clothes.
All in all, a diverse and exciting season ahead, showcasing NIDA’s exceptionally talented students across all the courses.
Michael Scott-Mitchell
Director, Undergraduate Studies/Head, Design for Performance
For more information on each production and to purchase tickets, please visitnida.edu.au/events.
All images have been sketched and photographed by the final year Design students.
