This week marks the debut professional performance by Flinders University’s 2023 acting graduands on the Adelaide Festival Centre stage for an audacious offering of new works they created which will be running until November 17 as part of the Flinders Festival of Creative Arts.
Be/ginning – a showcase of new works in progress is being performed in a pop-up theatre built specially for the troupe, who have curated their own program of original solo and duo multi-media performances drawn from their own experiences, research and creative practice.
“Flinders Drama Centre takes the unique approach of not only training actors interpret stage and screen scripts but to create such works themselves,” says Flinders University’s Drama Centre head Dr Christopher Hurrell.
“Through their independent performance research through the year, these talented graduates have now found their own unique voices, transforming their own stories into dynamic works of theatre.”
This performance comes in tandem with the launch of a New Bachelor of Performance at Flinders which starts in 2024, underlining the University’s strength in developing and presenting student talent through a recognised and respected industry and professional training program.
Be/ginning has been created through mentorship opportunities with some of South Australia’s leading established and emerging theatre artists, the Award-winning playwright Emily Steel (Euphoria, State Theatre Company of South Australia) renowned theatre-maker Emma Beech (Photobox, 2022 Adelaide Festival), and director Anthony Nicola (Antigone, State Theatre Company of South Australia).
“These dazzlingly talented actors are utterly fearless in bringing their own struggles and stories to life on stage, in a way that is funny, moving and genuinely thought-provoking,” says Anthony Nicola, the recent Resident Director of the State Theatre Company of South Australia. “They are determined to blow open established norms of identity and representation on our stages, and put new, previously marginalised perspectives front and centre.”
This new approach is launching the careers of young actors in South Australia and reflects the continued growth of Flinders University’s professional drama training.
“Reflecting the changing needs of the arts industry in the 21st Century, we are offering a new kind of performance that places the students’ unique creativity and identity at the heart of the performance.”
The 2023 Flinders Drama Centre graduating actors are Connor Pullinger, Em Ritson, Franca Lafosse, Isabella Vassallo-Wakefield, Lauren Jones, Luke Furlan, Luke Wiltshire, Tayla Cecere, Tom Spiby and Shant Becker.
After the final performance on Friday, November 17, the students will join industry guests and members of the public at Adelaide Festival Centre for a welcome reception and Robyn Archer Oration.
Be/ginning – the 2023 Drama Centre Actors Showcase
Drama Centre Rehearsal Room – Adelaide Festival Centre (enter via Space theatre foyer)
Friday November 17 – 1:00pm and 4:15pm
Banqueting Room – Adelaide Festival Centre
Friday November 17 – 6:00pm