AIM is proud to be associated with this year’s Sydney Fringe, and has several graduates involved. The Australian Institute of Music, incorporating the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art (AADA), is a proud sponsor of The Sydney Fringe. Several AADA graduates are involved with the event this year, including Jessica Wallace, Daniel Hunter, Danielle Maas and Tom Christophersen.

Jessica Wallace		Daniel Hunter		Danielle Maas		Tom Christophersen		Jenna Hutton		Sophie Haylen

Jessica Wallace is the Artist and Venue Liaison Manager for The Sydney Fringe. She is also a creator, producer and performer, graduating in December 2010 with a Bachelor of Performance. “I can attribute so many of my successes this year to my time at AADA,” says Jessica. “The most important thing I took away from AADA was confidence; the confidence to try something different and take on something new. I was provided with a broad skill set so that I now feel I can tackle anything. Whatever needs to be done, I can either do it myself, or I know who to contact to do it.”

Jessica also attributes the teachers at AADA as having made a massive contribution to her success. “Not only did they provide me with a wide range of resources, skills and support during my time there, they continue to be my mentors today. Their ongoing support has made this difficult time of entering into the industry a smooth and enjoyable transition. So many of the people I am collaborating with I met during my time at AADA. I forged these really strong friendships and working relationships.”

Jessica worked with Kris Stewart (Director) on The Trocadero Dance Palace as part of the Sydney Festival 2011. “He was, at that time, the Festival Director of The Sydney Fringe and asked me to join the team. They were looking for an Artist and Venue Liaison Manager, and it sounded like the perfect job for me.”

Jessica is working on two shows for The Sydney Fringe – Product by Mark Ravenhill and Country Matters with fellow AADA graduate Danielle Maas. “Country Matters is a self-devised piece which has been created by me and Danielle. The seed for the show was planted back in 2009 with our first show at AADA, Life Story Performance”.

When Jessica and Danielle pitched the show to The Sydney Fringe and New Theatre, they didn’t even have a script yet. Danielle has since come up with a script. “I have been handling the production and marketing side of the show,” says Jessica. “It has been quite a difficult process for us as we set out to write, direct, design and publicise the show entirely by ourselves. There are times when we are so focused on the business of the show that we forget we actually have to perform at some point. Ultimately, however, I believe this will make for a much more complete performance and a more fulfilling experience for us and our audience.”

Danielle, who graduated from AADA in 2011 as part of the first cohort of students to complete the Bachelor of Performance, believes The Sydney Fringe is a great vehicle for emerging theatre makers to not only introduce themselves to the arts scene, but to also showcase work that is not particularly mainstream.” The Fringe and our venue, the New Theatre, have been very supportive of Country Matters, and it is a privilege to be working as part of this festival for our debut,” says Danielle.

“Country Matters is an autobiographical piece that reflects the journey of Jessica and I growing up and shaping our sexual identities. In creating this piece, it became apparent that our experiences are not unique - but that they are not being discussed by our community. This is a production that explores the grey areas of sex, sexuality, assault, sexual dysfunction, body image, feminism, post-feminism and female friendship, and aims to present a complex representation of the female experience,” explains Danielle.

That said, Danielle believes Country Matters is more a reflection of the human spirit than anything else. “And being that Jessica and I are theatre makers, it's also a love letter to our art form.”

Like Jessica, Danielle also credits AADA to contributing to her success. “AADA shaped two parts of me. The first is my artistic technique and aesthetic. My time in the course helped me to explore many types of theatrical forms and styles and shaped my vision for my co-created theatre company, Cupboard Love. Apart from continuing to develop my craft as an actor, I also learnt how to write, which was something I was always too afraid to try - and now I've written a play!”

“The other part of me that AADA shaped was my temperament - and I believe that element of the artist is an underrated one. The arts of patience, humility, tact, grace and effective communication can take a lifetime to perfect and I feel very lucky to have begun shaping these elements of myself at the beginning of my career. And of course, I wouldn't have met my collaborator had I not gone to AADA - Jessica and I have a very special partnership, and we complement one another in countless ways.”

Product by Mark Ravenhill is the first show Jessica has ever produced. “Daniel Hunter (the Director) asked me to come on board as a Producer. I was so excited at this new opportunity, but I was also very nervous. I have since found it to be a wonderful learning experience. There have been some aspects I have had quite a lot of experience with, but there have been other things I have had to learn from scratch and this has been very rewarding.”

“Product is a biting satire about our post-9/11 world. The play asks many questions, but they are all hidden under the surface of a riot-filled 50 minutes of surreal hijinks,” says Jessica.

Daniel, who is directing Product, has always had a pile of plays waiting to get off the ground, and when The Sydney Fringe came about, he saw it as the perfect opportunity to get his play, Product, out there. Alongside Daniel is fellow AADA Graduate Jenna Hutton, performing the role of Assistant Director.

Daniel graduated with an Advanced Diploma (Acting) from AADA in 2009 and also credits AADA for the opportunities afforded him. “The unique approach to theatre making meant I could more easily see the process as a whole and make more informed decisions not only from a creative point of view, but also from a productive point of view. There seems to be a lot of harmony in our ensemble because we all understand each other’s role in this process.”

Product is about a film Producer who is pitching his new script to an actress. “Beyond that, it is a layer social commentary that focuses on our values as a society, the manipulation of the media and how it profits from our fears, and the point where 'art' becomes 'spectacle' (maybe). The thing is dense, but it's also a very funny satire,” says Daniel. “I love independent theatre and it's great to have the opportunity to contribute with a strong ensemble and razor-sharp show.”

Tom Christophersen forms part of the cast of Product along with Sophie Hayen. Graduating from AADA in 2010 with a Bachelor of Performance, Tom's experience with fringe festivals dates back to when he was much younger. “Being raised in Adelaide, performing in fringe festivals as a very young person was my first real exposure to theatre. After graduating and wanting to mount work under my theatre company, “The New What Next”, The Sydney Fringe seemed a natural forum to showcase and debut the stunning work of the collective.”

Like the others, Tom has nothing but praise for AADA. “AADA definitely prepared me for working on a show like Product and in a situation like The Sydney Fringe. The wide range of courses that I studied during my time at AADA allowed me to learn the skill of being able to wear many hats, at many different times and sometimes even at the same time. Without this exposure to the variation of courses offered through the Bachelor of Performance - everything from Promotion to Costume Design - the task of mounting a show 'by ourselves' would have been incredibly daunting,” says Tom.

“Product was written by Mark Ravenhill and is definitely one of the best stories I have ever read in my life,” says Tom. “Ravenhill's use of black comedy, popular culture references as symbols and most importantly, language, is second to none. The show is like the best parts of every slightly offensive, morally bankrupt BBC comedy show (with a twist) you've ever seen. But better, and in your backyard.”

Product has been named as one of AussieTheatre.com's top picks for The Sydney Fringe. “Being involved in a festival of any description is exciting but this year's Sydney Fringe looks to be full of really amazing, dangerous and different theatre. I can't wait to start performing our show and to see what else is on offer,” says Tom.

Jessica is returning to AADA as a member of staff and will assume the role of Production Manager on the two second year productions, and the Production Mentor on the graduating production directed by Iain Sinclair.

“Next year, I have a number of productions lined up for my theatre companies, Left of Centre and Cupboard Love. We can't release any details about these shows yet, but watch this space!”

Danielle is currently planning future productions but eventually wants to do more directing and writing. “Who knows, maybe one day I'll be living the dream - which is of course, to be a resident of Paris, a clown by day and a writer by night, and occasionally have tea with Robert Lepage.”

As for Daniel, he would love to see more projects with his name attached to them. “I would also really love the opportunity to travel and work in another theatrical environment (Europe or Asia) so that I can bring new skills and perspective back to Sydney in the future.”

In addition to The Sydney Fringe, Tom also has a series of photographs on show in a group exhibition at Monstrosity Gallery in Woolloomooloo called Fur. After The Sydney Fringe, Tom will be travelling to Bourke and Broken Hill to teach as a guest artist as part of Shopfront Contemporary Arts' rural community arts project, 'Map of Me'. “Next year I'd love to work and possibly study overseas, so I'm also up to my neck in grant applications and FAQ sheets. It's an exciting time!”

The Sydney Fringe runs from September 9 to October 2. For more information and to book tickets visit: www.thesydneyfringe.com.au

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Article by Natalie Raad
Perfect Words
perfectwords@bigpond.com