04/03/2016                                    

WAAPA  students  shoot  for  the  stars  with  the  support  of  Minderoo  

The  Western  Australian  Academy  of  Performing  Arts  launches  its  epic  2016  performance  program  with  one  of  The  Bard’s  greatest  plays,  Coriolanus,  being  directed  by  British  Actor/Director,  Michael  Jenn.  Meanwhile  Chekhov’s  classic  The  Three  Sisters  directed  by  Russian  director  Bagryana  Popov,  opens  in  the  Enright  Studio.  The  two  director’s  visit  to  Perth  has  been  facilitated  by  the  generous  support  of  the  Minderoo  Foundation.      Renowned  English  Actor  and  Director,  Michael  Jenn,  has  returned  to  WAAPA  to  direct  Shakespeare's  last  political  tragedy,  Coriolanus,  which  charts  the  rise  and  fall  of  legendary  and  heroic  Roman  general  Caius  Martius.  Jenn  is  very  enthusiastic  in  his  praise  for  WAAPA.  “I  feel  privileged  to  be  working  again  at  this  very  special  place  and  to  be  collaborating  on  this  brilliant  and  rarely  performed  play  with  such  talented  and  industrious  young  actors,  designers,  stage  managers  and  technicians.  I  thank  everyone  here  at  WAAPA  and  Minderoo  for  their  unfailing  support.”    Bagryana  Popov  is  a  theatre  maker  who  works  in  an  interdisciplinary  way.  She  has  collaborated  with  acclaimed  professional  artists  and  with  communities.  Her  physical  theatre  work  Progress  and  Melancholy,  based  on  Chekhov’s  The  Cherry  Orchard,  won  3  Green  Room  Awards,  including  Best  Direction.  Much  of  her  work  investigates  themes  of  displacement  and  identity.  The  2nd  Year  Acting  students  are  thoroughly  enjoying  working  with  Bagryana  on  her  own  adaptation  of  this  Chekhov  classic.      Senior  Lecturer,  Acting,  Glenda  Linscott,  knows  how  important  it  is  to  expose  students  to  industry  professionals  during  their  training.  "Its  tremendously  exciting.  With  Minderoo’s  support  we  are  able  to  attract  world-­‐class  master  trainers  in  Voice,  Movement,  Theatre  and  Film  and  Television.  We  have  such  an  exciting  year  ahead,  starting  with  directors  Michael  Jenn  (RSC,  National  Theatre)  and  Bagryana  Popov,  respected  around  the  world  for  her  work  in  Chekhov  and  Grotowski.  We  are  in  negotiations  with  Andy  Paris  from  Tectonic  Theatre  in  New  York  who  will  be  here  mid-­‐year,  and  acclaimed  international  acting  coach  Leigh  Kilton-­‐Smith  is  heading  over  from  LA.  Leigh  has  worked  with  Sam  Rockwell,  Gerard  Butler  and  Felicity  Huffman  amongst  others”    The  Minderoo  Foundation  was  founded  by  Andrew  and  Nicola  Forrest  in  2001  and  was  originally  known  as  the  Australian  Children’s  Trust.  The  Foundation’s  work  was  based  on  the  mandate  to  give  a  hand  up,  not  a  hand  out  and  that  ethos  remains  today.  Since  establishment  the  Foundation  has  supported  over  230  initiatives  across  Australia  and  internationally  in  pursuit  of  a  range  of  causes  including  education,  ending  slavery,  research,  indigenous  disadvantage,  disaster  response  and  the  arts.    "We're  delighted  to  continue  our  partnership  with  WAAPA  in  2016  and  excited  by  the  possibilities  this  year  will  bring.  Exposure  to  visiting  artists  of  Michael  and  Bagryana's  calibre  is  invaluable  for  students  and  the  broader  Australian  arts  scene.  This  partnership  represents  Minderoo's  passion  for  nurturing  new  Australian  talent  and  the  importance  of  enriching  our  community  through  arts  and  culture."  –  Nicola  Forrest.    Coriolanus  and  Three  Sisters  run  from  11-­‐17  March  at  ECU  Mount  Lawley.    Bookings  can  be  made  via  the  WAAPA  Box  Office  on  (08)  9370  6895  or  online  at  waapa.ecu.edu.au    2016  WAAPA  Performance  Program  Download the brochure