Regional RIPA – NIDA Connect program teaching artists announced

Published on 07 February 2023

Leeton’s budding Roxy Institute of Performing Arts (RIPA), on behalf of Leeton Shire Council, is excited to announce a collaboration with the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), called NIDA CONNECT.

NIDA CONNECT will provide access to world-class creative industry training for local teaching artists and aspiring young people. Its focus will be on regional students aged 15-18 who are looking to train up in acting, writing, design and technical production.

RIPA joins an impressive list of arts companies from across Australia selected by NIDA to represent their state in this exciting regional performing arts program.

Katherine Herrmann, Roxy Redevelopment Director (volunteer) said that this new partnership is an extremely important investment by NIDA CONNECT into the future vision for the redeveloped Roxy Theatre and the Shire.

“Mobilising teaching artists and then having them pass valuable skills and knowledge onto the next generation over the next few months will mean that by the time we launch the refreshed Roxy, a new crop of local and regional performers and technicians will be ready to participate fully in the opening events. It’s really exciting”, she said.

The Roxy is currently undergoing a major redevelopment with the expanded space intended to deliver everything the Roxy did before, plus more.  This includes serving as a regional centre for artistic excellence in the performing arts, with a strong focus on youth.

The brand-new national NIDA CONNECT learning program is specifically designed for and dedicated to outer metropolitan and regional communities across the country only. Delivered by NIDA OPEN, the program is made possible by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative.

RIPA Artistic Director, Jake Speer, said there was an outstanding number of high-quality submissions for the ‘Train the Trainer’ program from a wide range of creative disciplines and NIDA noted the significant presence of highly skilled and passionate performing arts enthusiasts in our region.   

“Making the selection was difficult but in the end, four teaching artists were selected by NIDA and RIPA to deliver the NIDA-developed courses.  They will cover four performing and creative arts disciplines and build fundamental performance and technical skills through practical workshops”, he said.

A clearly delighted Jake Speer added that “RIPA is excited to partner with one of Australia’s leading performing arts institutes and bringing extraordinary opportunities in artistic development to our region”.

Speaking as the Cultural Portfolio lead for Leeton Shire Council, Cr Michael Kidd endorsed Jake Speer’s sentiments.

“NIDA CONNECT represents the start of many great things that will boost what happens at the Roxy over decades to come and as a community we sincerely thank the Commonwealth for their commitment and investment in the arts in regional Australia”. 

The NIDA CONNECT courses are free and are due to be delivered from April 2023 with enrolments now open for 15-18 year olds from Leeton and surrounds.

Secure your place now at open.nida.edu.au/nidaconnect


Meet the Teaching Artists for NIDA CONNECT!

Cassandra Wynan – Acting for Performance

An introduction to a broad range of fundamental acting skills through practical workshop exercises. Explore improvisation, spontaneity, physicality, and the key principles of the Stanislavski system using a variety of texts.

Cassandra is a born and raised Leeton girl. She attended Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga where she studied creative and performing arts. Cassandra now teaches Drama and Visual Arts at Leeton High School, and was involved in The Roxy Theatre's 2021 production of Henry V.

“NIDA CONNECT is such a fantastic opportunity for our community. This program is providing creative young adults in our region to have the same possibilities as those in the city; to hone and mature their performing arts practice,” says Cassandra.

Oumi Karenga-Hewitt – Writing for Performance

Explore fundamental story principles and techniques to develop character and dialogue through the practice of writing scenes and exploring them in performance. Identify and develop essential skills required to write a short script. Create a synopsis for a short stage play or film.

Oumi is a Griffith-based writer, actor and producer who is excited to develop the skills and capacity of aspiring creatives in the Riverina. Oumi has a Bachelor of Arts in English Language & Literature (with Film Studies) from the UK. She moved to Griffith in 2015 where she has had the opportunity to work on a number of projects.

Oumi featured in the Griffith Regional Theatre's productions of Wicked (2017) and Legally Blonde (2019). She was also part of the on and offstage teams in Griffith & Regional Theatre Association's (GRAPA) productions of Twelfth Night (2018) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (2019). In 2022, Oumi wanted to try and reconnect with her creative interests and the arts generally: she became Vice-Chair for Western Riverina Arts; attended the Screenworks Regional to Global Screen Forum in Lennox Head as part of the 'New Kids on the Block' Program; featured in a short film in Uki, NSW; joined the team at Mona Magazine; and starred as Reverend Hale in the GRAPA production of The Crucible. Oumi is used to wearing many hats and over the years has enjoyed acting, writing, directing, producing, and singing among other things. She has completed short courses with Screenworks and NIDA (Creative Factual Storytelling in 2020 and Screen Acting Essentials in 2019) and is currently studying a Bachelor of Teaching in English and Drama.

Cynthia Arel – Design for Performance

An introduction to the principles of creating design concepts for the stage. Learn how to develop original costume and set design ideas and simple construction techniques.

Cynthia Arel is a Leeton-based artist who enjoys working in a wide variety of mediums. She has felt the need to create from childhood and draws inspiration from the natural world and everyday life.

In 2021, Cynthia took the leap into the world of theatre production, working as Set Design Supervisor on the Roxy’s Henry V. She found that
her mix of creative skills, combined with a background in kitchen and bathroom design and love of the performing arts, fit well with working in theatre.

Since then, she has played a small part in the set design and costuming for several other local theatre productions. Cynthia is passionate about continuing to grow performing and visual arts opportunities in the Leeton area.

“I am most looking forward to helping our local young creatives gain skills that will allow them to develop their ideas into designs for stage,” says Cynthia.

Sam Webber – Technical Production

Explore the ‘magic’ of theatre that relies on a team of skilled stage managers, mechanists and lighting and sound operators. Develop your skills in these departments through this practical introduction to the various roles, equipment, and production processes.

Sam Webber is a musician and audio engineer with a diverse entertainment career spanning performance, theatre, corporate events, festivals and studio production. Over the past 10 years, Sam has worked independently and with a number of regional venues supporting live performance as a sound designer, stage manager and theatre technician.

Sam is the current Head of Sound at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre and is passionate about investing in the next generation of regional performing arts practitioners.

“NIDA Connect is an invaluable tool for affording young people in regional areas the opportunities to explore career options in performing arts that they may not otherwise have access to,” says Sam.


MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Katherine Herrmann
Roxy Redevelopment Director (Volunteer)
P: 0427 978 944
E: info@ripa.net.au

Terry Schmidt
Communications Coordinator
P: (02) 6953 0911
E: terrys@leeton.nsw.gov.au