Acting School Recommendation: National Institute of Dramatic Art
Admission is by application and accepted students are grouped with others at the appropriate career levels. During my term there were three groups a high-school/post-high school group, a college/pre-professional group and an early/mid-career professional group. I was in this last grouping. Course work included speech, movement, improvisation (which is abbreviated impro in Australia), classical and contemporary scene study, and film & television and all our tutors were notable Australian professionals.
Working sesions were intense and classes met daily from 9 to 5. After class sessions there were optional lectures on working in acting and social events to attend, as well as a weekly corroboree, which is something like an informal talent show. Additionally, international students attending the program were offered the opportunity to observe rehearsals of Jim Sharman’s production of Stephen Sewell’s newst play The Three Furies, based on the life of painter Francis Bacon. This alone was a particularly extraordinary opportunity to be exposed to professional theatre in Australia.
During my course at NIDA I worked on scenes from Agnes of God, Macbeth, Closer and Good Will Hunting, was able to practice film and tv audition techniques, directed student scenes and significantly improved my impro work. Because type-casting is less prevalent and different in Australia than in the States, I had an opportunity to work on scenes and material outside of my normal range of experience – something that has subsequently caused me to broaden the types of roles I pursue professionally. The speech class, while a huge challenge to me as a non-Australian (Australian English has more vowel sounds than American English), was hugely beneficial to me, both in my native voice and in gaining a keener understanding of the Australian voice.
The National Institute of Dramatic Art itself has a beautiful facility and has trained some of the greatest creative professionals in the world including actors Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving, director Baz Luhrmann and designer Catherine Martin. As the walls of NIDA are covered with photos of student productions across the decades, one can’t help but be immersed both in the school’s tradition and in the challenge to rise to these levels. Exhibitions of student work are also on hand (their costume program is truly amazing, and as a costuming hobbiest, I intend to return to Australia to take one of their short courses in design), and there is also an exception perfoming arts library on site.
NIDA is mainly a conservatory for full-time three year acting degrees. Its admission is highly competitive (they accept approximately 25 students per year, out of about 8,000 applications), largely because they do not feel the size of the Australian acting profession can accomodate a larger number of graduates. They also offer 1-year graduate level programs, as well as 1- and 2-year part time programs on different focuses within the world of theatre and film. Short, weekend courses are offered throughout the year. NIDA’s administrators and tutors have very strong ideas on how to educate the actor and how to support the actor in his or her task, and the combination of rigor and kindness will probably seem unique to most American students.
Students do attend NIDA from all over the world. There was a full-time student from Los Angeles when I was there, and people in my program hailed from Singapore, Germany, Japan and the States, as well as from all over Australia.
Sydney is a wonderfully vibrant city to live in as a short or long-term student, and there is constant exposure to the arts, including the Opera House, a number of fantastic film festivals, and several great local theatre companies. The work going on there is truly unique and cutting edge, and there is a specifically Australian voice to it.
While some may think going abroad for an acting choice is an odd choice, i would argue that it is ideal. Being away from familiar people and places reduces distractions and makes one less self-conscious. Additionally, the respite of an Australian summer from a New York winter is truly wonderful. Finally, the exchange rate makes the course oddly affordable. Certainly as much training in New York City would cost far more than the US$1200 (A$1600) I paid to attend NIDA.
Getting to NIDA was a huge undertaking for me, emotionally and financially. it also proved to be the best acting training of my life, and improved my work immeasureably. I cried when it was over, and miss it all the time. Having gone there has proved more than a personal achievement as I am constantly asked about its presence on my resume. It gets me auditions and it gets me jobs (you’d be surprised how many Australian casting directors I’ve come across in this town); I have also directed two plays and am working on two film projects as a writer and director since attending NIDA. If you are considering an immersive theatre education experience here or abroad, I strongly urge you to consider Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art.
