From 19 – 23 January, NIDA hosted 11 brilliant young creatives from across Australia as part of NIDA’s Pathways Program, run through NIDA Open. The behind the scenes intensive was designed to connect First Nations peoples and people of colour aged 18 – 25 who are curious about careers in the screen and performing arts industries facilitated through NIDA community.
Over five immersive days the cohort explored the engine rooms of the dramatic arts with specialty classes in Make-up, Technical Theatre & Stage Management, Props & Effects, Costume and Design.
Monday: Make-up for Stage and Screen
The week kicked off with a masterclass in make-up led by industry expert Chrissy Zemura (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Nine Perfect Strangers). Tailoring the session to the group’s specific interests, Chrissy guided the students through the basics of undertone correcting and colour matching for a spectrum of skin tones. In the afternoon, they were shown some special effects products and techniques and then created realistic looking wounds.
Tuesday: Technical Theatre and Stage Management
Tuesday commenced with a guided tour of NIDA’s Parade Theatre, introducing participants to foundational staging and theatre systems. Throughout the morning, participants engaged in hands-on demonstrations of sound and lighting control systems and gained practical insight into technical workflows and operational protocols. These activities were delivered under the guidance of Head of Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services Steph Kamasz (Technical Production,1998), Head of Stage Management Minka Stevens (Technical Production, 2002) and Course Leader Nicole Robinson (Technical Production, 2001).
The day was made even more memorable by a visit from award-winning creative, actress and Larrakia woman Miranda Tapsell (Acting, 2008) who shared stories from her own work, answered questions, gave tips and encouragement, and discussed what it’s like to work in the entertainment industry.
Wednesday: Props and Effects
On Wednesday the focus shifted to the world of Props and Effects with a puppet workshop led by Gaia Stein (Properties and Objects, 2023). Participants undertook a structured design process, developing original creature concepts before selecting appropriate materials and fabrication techniques to realise their designs. Throughout the workshop, the cohort was encouraged to consider principles of characterisation alongside practical problem-solving, integrating artistic intent with structural engineering considerations.
Thursday: Costume
Costume was front and centre on Thursday and participants learned from Head of Costume Corinne Heskett (Production Crafts, 2006), Senior Lecturer Isabella Cannavo (Costume, 2017), and Bethany Hewitt (Costume, 2021). After learning the fundamentals of draping, they spent the afternoon making their very own tailored aprons.
In the evening, alum Theo Clarke (Acting, 2024) escorted the group to Belvoir St Theatre to attend the production Dear Son. This was an excellent opportunity to see the sort of work participants of the Pathways Program can strive towards.
Friday: Design
The week culminated in a Design Intensive led by Design for Performance Course Leader Bob Cousins and Designer for The Masked Singer, Luke D’Alessandro (Properties and Objects, 2018 & Master of Design for Performance, 2020). Following a detailed presentation of professional-scale models and a discussion on set design methodologies, participants were challenged to conceptualise, design and construct costume pieces using cardboard, paper and other readily available materials. As the final project of the week, this intensive provided participants with the opportunity to synthesise and apply their learning across the program, working under the guidance of two industry experts.
While the ‘Behind the Scenes Intensive’ concluded 23 January, the Pathways Program offers ongoing career advice from NIDA’s First Nations & Outreach team, ensuring that these first steps taken this January can lead to a longer journey with NIDA and the arts industry. NIDA looks forward to hosting another cohort later this year when we run the inaugural Pathways Program performance intensive.
The NIDA Pathways Program is made possible by the support of our philanthropic donors. Through them, we were able to offer this experience to the participants free-of-charge, and to support their travel to Sydney from around Australia. NIDA is keen to partner with other foundations and donors to grow this important program. Click here for more information.
Coming in July 2026: Performance Intensive
A one-week program focused on acting, movement, voice, and screen performance for First Nations and POC creative.