Media releases

Three years of training will culminate in a final showcase of performances this weekend for 36 Bachelor of Performing Arts students at Federation University Australia's Arts Academy.

Graduates are presenting a range of songs, dances and monologues in the two-show live session including song classics Blue Moon and I Can’t Say No, as well as song and dance numbers from contemporary works of music theatre Hadestown and The Wild Party.

Witty monologues will feature the work of Australian playwrights, including a select number written by performers themselves.

These pieces, together with scene work prepared under the direction of esteemed actor Nell Feeney, will be packaged as an online calling card to be sent to agents, casting agents and directors across Australia.

Showcase is an important part of the graduate profile when so many Arts Academy graduates have made their name with original material, including Aunty Donna (Aunty Donna’s Coffee Café), Michelle Brasier (Average Bear) and Kate McLennan (Deadloch), while last year’s graduates are working on stage and screen including Les Miserables, Jersey Boys in London and Home and Away.

The showcase performances of this year’s graduates have been co-directed by Performing Arts Course Co-ordinator Kim Durban and guest director Nick Simpson-Deeks, with choreography by Eden Read and musical direction from Daniel Tusjak.

Showcase 2023 will be held on 28 October at 5pm and 8pm at the Helen Macpherson Smith Theatre. Tickets are available at: https://federation.edu.au/arts-academy/whats-on.

Enrolments for the 2024 Bachelor of Performing Arts course are now open, for more information visit: https://study.federation.edu.au/course/DQP5.

Quote attributable to Federation University’s Bachelor of Performing Arts Program Coordinator, Associate Professor Kim Durban

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with these talented graduates and my classy creative team. I look forward to seeing the impact of Company 23.”

Quote attributable to 2023 graduate Alexander Glenk

“Showcase gives us the opportunity to see each one of us present a wide range of monologues and songs that all stand out on their own. It’s been such a pleasure to watch everyone work in the rehearsal room with our tremendous creative team, each of them providing a wide range of knowledge and wisdom from working in the industry, to learning more about the rehearsal process, working with individual actors and helping us have the confidence to put ourselves out there with the support of our peers.”

Quote attributable to 2023 graduate Anita Mei La Terra

“Showcase has been a whirlwind of excitement and terror - similar to the feelings of being on a rollercoaster. In a way, the experience has been a bit of a rollercoaster; discovering the ‘best way to market yourself’ has been a strange experience, and knowing this is the last step on the way out the door makes it even stranger. As exciting as it has been, it's been amazing to have the support of my peers and the creative team to help me.”