THE GRADUATES: MAKING THEATRE NEW AGAIN
The Graduates of 2022
The graduates joining Red Stitch’s ensemble in 2022 are a broad collection of actors, theatre makers and artists. What drives a young person to choose this most ephemeral and elusive art form? What is it about making theatre that inspires such devotion? We asked our newest ensemble members for their insights.
What’s interesting about Red Stitch turning 21 this year is the fact that many of the theatre makers interviewed for the company’s Graduate Programme have grown up watching Red Stitch productions.
21 year old graduate actor, Hayley Edwards, recalls ‘some of the most exciting works’ she’s ever seen at Red Stitch.
“Through Random Acts of Theatre I saw ‘The Feather in The Web’, which was really revolutionary, and ‘Dance Nation’ which shook how I perceived femininity and growing up.”
Hayley began performing in the Victorian Opera Youth Chorus ensemble in 2013. She graduated in acting from the VCA last year and successfully applied for the Graduate Programme at Red Stitch. She says she has always dreamed of a lifelong career in the theatre, and cannot think of a better place to begin.
Professional Opportunities
Akhilesh Jain also wants to pursue full time acting. He heard about Red Stitch through his acting teacher, Daniela Farinacci. Daniela was teaching at Brave Studios in Melbourne whilst performing in Red Stitch’s production of Oil by Ella Hickson (2019).
Anyone who’s never had the desire to be an actor or theatre maker may not understand the feeling. But Akhilesh says he’s had the ‘calling’ in his heart since he was 8 years old.
Even though he humbly describes himself as ‘exceptionally talented at bad singing’, he believes acting has had a ‘magical’ hold on him for as long as he can remember. The power to move an audience is especially important. Now, at Red Stitch, Akhilesh feels years of hard work have finally given him a professional opportunity.
New Pathways
This year, the graduates in Red Stitch’s Programme also include a resident designer, director and dramaturge.
İbrahim Halaçoğlu hails from Istanbul, Turkey, where he was very active in an ‘alternative theatre movement’. The group was initiated by young performers who wanted to bring new and fresh stories to the theatre scene in Istanbul. Sound familiar?
‘Ibo’s’ training began in performance, undertaking extensive work with the Meisner, Eric Morris and Suzuki methods. Recently, he has completed a masters degree in directing at the VCA. He was excited to hear about the work of Red Stitch from Artistic Director, Ella Caldwell, on a visit to the school.
Ibo believes that the ‘thrill’ of performing is connected to being observed in one’s ‘purely curious’ state. This, he says, is one of the highest states of being. Personally, getting to work on a piece, obsessing over it, and finally presenting it for people to look at, is his greatest source of joy.
“So, theatre was an obvious choice for me because it was a fit for my restless brain. I love theatre and cannot imagine my life without it. But, honestly, the opposite is also true: in the end it is simply one of the things that I do in life. I try not to glorify or make calculated moves around it.”
Fresh Faces
The Graduate Programme has been in place for nearly 16 years. It has seen many talented young actors and theatre makers get a start in the industry after a one year tenure at Red Stitch.
The idea was to provide a pathway for new artists to gain experience and make connections in the difficult transition from institution to the industry.
The graduates join as full ensemble members and participate in artistic and organisational decisions at all company meetings. The programme also guarantees work that will showcase their talents.
In turn, the young actors and theatre makers bring in fresh approaches and ideas which help to keep the theatre company agile and relevant.
A Unique Craft
Dramaturge, Kevin Hojerslev, is another relatively new arrival to Melbourne. He first heard about the Graduate Program in 2018 whilst studying at the VCA.
For Kevin, the unique way that theatre can transport an audience separates it from other forms of art. The power of story and make-believe excites him. Learning more about how scripts develop and evolve is a powerful motivation.
“The immediacy of expression that is possible in theatre is really special and it is never not exciting to be a part of that unfolding, either as a performer, maker or audience member…With the great number of new Australian works that Red Stitch produces every year, I see this program as a fantastic opportunity.”
Kevin believes script development often requires collaborators to be able to play multiple roles. If so, his background in writing, performing and directing makes him uniquely suited to his craft.
Designing the graduates
Sam Diamond is 2022’s theatre design graduate. He feels that as long as he’s enjoying what he’s doing, ‘meeting new people, feeling challenged, and trying new things’ then he’s on the right path. ‘The learning’, he says, ‘never stops’.
Because working in the theatre, or any art form, is a personal journey. It demands that the artist be open to experiences. It might sound vague or irresponsible, but how else do you pursue a career that draws so deeply on inspiration?
Sam wants to refine his artistic practice and make strong professional connections in his time at Red Stitch, but also take in as much of the experience as possible.
Originally from Western Australia, Sam had pursued different career paths over the years. But he could never let go of the fact that theatre was the thing that he wanted to do most.
He says he cannot overstate the value of working on new international and Australian work ‘that is both challenging and innovative’, joining a company with such a strong focus on the ‘artists and creatives at its centre’.
Find out more about Red Stitch and the Graduate Programme at redstitch.net/graduate-program.