RECENT THEATRE EXPERIENCE

At the end of 2016, I graduated from Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art with a Diploma in Musical Theater and an Advanced Diploma of Performance. During this time, highlights for me included 'See Rock City And Other Destinations', 'The Good Doctor' and playing Feste the Jester in 'Twelfth Night'. In April 2017, I was part of the ensemble for Free Rain’s ‘Les Miserables’. I’m excited to apply my training to another Shakespearean work:

‘Much Ado about Nothing’.

 

ON SHAKESPEARE

For a long time I had a strong distaste for Shakespeare. I never understood the language and when forced to read it at school, I hated it even more. However, when I took part in a production of ‘Twelfth Night’, I quickly discovered it was much easier to learn lines if I knew what I was saying. After delving deeper into the meaning behind the words I found myself enjoying the wittiness and cleverness of the text. During that production, Shakespeare quickly went from painful to actually enjoyable as I began to understand it better. While I wouldn't call myself a lover of Shakespeare, I am certainly beginning to appreciate his works a lot more. I am a strong believer that Shakespeare was not written to be read in a classroom sitting at a desk, It was made to entertain, to be performed and be played with.

 

WHAT SHAKESPEARE BY THE LAKES MEANS FOR CANBERRA

Viewing theatre in Canberra is often seen as a luxury but Shakespeare by the Lakes gives the unique opportunity for anyone to experience theatre. Shakespeare's work is arguably written just as much, if not more, for the common folk than it was for the upper-classes. In this production, there is a sense of returning to the roots of how Shakespeare produced his works, making them accessible to everyone. The drive and excitement of the creatives behind it makes me very eager to see where it goes.

 

HOW I FEEL ABOUT CLAUDIO & THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM SHAKESPEARE

After meeting the creative team at the auditions, I really felt their excitement for the project. When they offered me the part of Claudio I was really ecstatic... Then I became terrified. This is a Shakespeare play, and now I have lots of confusing lines to learn! But I am eager to challenge myself and grow as a performer. And while this production will no-doubt stretch me, I’m excited to perform outdoors and to bring Shakespeare to the people as he would have liked it.