Sleep? hah!

After a couple of months into the course you start to become accustomed to your new life. The work load increases, the pressure grows and you begin to realise what amazing challenges you have ahead of you. You start watching the 2nd and 3rd year performances and assessments and you wonder whether they had as many challenges in front of them as you do when they first began; either way it doesn’t matter, because the most exciting thing to see is the improvement that can occur after just weeks of being taught by the best. Why was I making singing so much harder than it really had to be? And how much easier is it still going to get?

The first round of performances have already occurred at WAAPA with the 3rd years putting on Cabaret and the 2nd years doing a play of Beauty and the Beast. They were absolutely outstanding. It’s incredible to think how many things they have already learnt and put into practice over their time to make their performances so remarkable. I can’t help but dream into the next two years and wonder what amazing shows I’ll be a part of!

As the end of semester begins to loom, so to does assessment time. Again, the pressure builds to a whole new level I never imagined, and scarily enough I have to really begin to manage your time; a skill that I am yet to master. How can I do everything in one evening after a 9 hour day at uni?! Learn lines to a scene, pick the perfect song to sing for a pre 1960s ballad assessment, learn 8 keyboard songs (figure out how to play keyboard!!), rehearse dances, read a play for dramatic literature, do voice exercises, music skills and aural skills homework, shower, eat and sleep? Well, when I figure it out I’ll let you know. I believe the trick is probably a little bit at a time and not leaving it all to the night before; so really, I guess the best way to look at it is that sleep is overrated and I’ll have plenty of time to do so when I’m dead. Why waste time on sleeping when there are so many amazing plays to read, songs to find, and choreographers to research?

One of the great perks of being over west is that you get really cheap tickets to all of the fantastic performances that go in and out of Perth. Even better than that, the performers come into uni and talk to us about their experiences and lives – it is so inspiring! I know it sounds a little ‘wanky’ but it’s true! To hear that only years ago more than half of them were standing in studio D, being taught the same things that I’m learning now gives me tonnes of motivation, and the fact that now they are actually working in professional theatre - the ultimate dream - is phenomenal. For a non dancer it makes me feel great to hear Jenny (dance master extraordinaire!) tell stories about how many of these professionals couldn’t dance before the course… it gives me a glimmer of hope and a goal to reach for when I’m agonising about the steps I can’t yet get.

It’s so rewarding to really start seeing results within myself. Whether they be postural, vocal, dance or technique, I’m realising just how much the hard work pays off… and I begin to wonder, if I have made this much improvement over 6 weeks, how much is there going to be after 3 years. I know personally, just being able to hit a hit 1 note higher than the week before and get my body that much closer to the floor is enough to make me realise that yes, you really do have to work hard, but in the end (hopefully) it will be worth it.

Aside form the academic aspect of the course, the other best part is having dress up parties every second weekend. It’s so much fun to be able to walk down the street in jungle wear, or 80s outfits in a pack of 60 people and not have anyone bat and eyelid at you. You get to play a different character every weekend; not that many of need an excuse to get our alter egos out and about.

Ok guys, literally off to learn lines.
Update you again soon

Diana