NIDA graduate Cat Studley (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2015) is having a busy spring as the new Production Manager at Bangarra Dance Theatre.
Above: Bangarra on tour with Spirit 2018. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
NIDA graduate Cat Studley (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2015) is having a busy spring as the new Production Manager at Bangarra Dance Theatre. She recently returned from her first international tour with the company taking Spirit 2018 to India and Japan for three weeks. The new position comes after Cat’s experience at Carriageworks as Venue Production Manager and Production Manager at Darlinghurst Theatre Company.
‘I started at Bangarra just two weeks before we went on tour,’ said Cat. In addition to the challenges of taking a major company on tour, Cat said it was fascinating to see how the productions came together in different countries.
‘Spirit 2018, was a showcase of the best of the company’s 29-year repertoire in a powerful celebration of culture. Our first venue in Bangalore was an outdoor space, with a custom-built stage. In India, they built everything for us, essentially by hand – no power tools in sight,’ she said.
Two weeks later, the company was performing in a state-of-the-art theatre in Japan. ‘Japan was very efficient,’ she said. ‘Everything was very well thought-out, very well planned.’
Above: Bangarra production crew on stage in India.
Cat is now back in Sydney and working hard on the next production – Dubboo: Life of a Songman at Carriageworks. The show celebrates David Page, described as the musical heartbeat of Bangarra. Page, who passed away in 2016, was also the brother of Bangarra’s long-time artistic director, Stephen Page.
‘I congratulate Cat on her new appointment,’ said Graham Henstock, Director Centre for Technology, Production and Management at NIDA.’While her success demonstrates the industry-readiness of NIDA’s Technical Theatre and Stage Management graduates, it is first and foremost a testament to the commitment, talent and professionalism that Cat brings to everything she does. She was an excellent student and is now an excellent practitioner.’
Thanks in part to the bonding experience of a three-week tour, Cat says she feels very at home with in her new role. ‘It’s a really nice company to work for. It feels very welcoming – it’s a family.’
Tickets to Dubboo here.
Applications for 2020 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Theatre and Stage Management) course at NIDA will open in July 2019. To stay up to date and register your interest visitwww.nida.edu.au
