NIDA and Carriageworks build the future

Young thespians have a new avenue to success after two of Sydney’s biggest artistic institutions have joined forces.
The National Institute for Dramatic Arts (NIDA) and Carriageworks, a contemporary art institution, have entered into a contemporary performance partnership to nurture upcoming young creatives.
The young actors coming through the program will be thrust into a wide range of contemporary plays on the Carriageworks stage by both local and internationally recognised artists.
“Together, the two organisations are hoping to attract and build local participation and audiences for the performing arts,” said Lynne Williams, Director and CEO of NIDA.
“We are delighted to be reaching out and making a contribution to the communities which surround us”.
“Carriageworks is excited to be working with the National Institute of Dramatic Art. We look forward to working together to build new audiences for contemporary performance practice,” said Lisa Havilah, Director of Carriageworks.
NIDA students will have access to Carriageworks’ performance, production and exhibition spaces at their venue in Redfern.
Along with the new facilities, the promise of new productions has encouraged the prospect of jobs for talented actors and practitioners.
“This partnership will do so much good for young actors who really deserve a chance to showcase their talent,” said former Ensemble studios actor Bronwyn Joan.
“When I was starting out in acting, it was the 1970’s and work was much easier to obtain.
It wasn’t nearly as difficult as it is now, which is why, unfortunately, so much of our prime talent is moving overseas,” she said.
“Any partnership that will promote and foster the young actors of today is something that is so badly needed in the acting community.”
Along with the new plays, NIDA will host Carriageworks’ artists as panellists at public and industry forums and events.
The first NIDA work to be presented at Carriageworks will be ‘Idiot’, a contemporary take on Dostoyevsky’s 1868 novel.
The production will feature NIDA’s second year students and is written and directed by Seaborn, Broughton and Walford Foundation artist-in-residence Max Lyandvert.
Idiot opens at Bay 20 at Carriageworks on October 22, 2011.
By Georgia Fullerton