Sarah Snook Headlines an Extraordinary Gathering of Alumni and and Patrons at NIDA’s Raise the Curtain, 2026
As the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) enters its 68th year, Australia’s pre-eminent arts educator brought together an extraordinary constellation of alumni and patrons for its annual fundraising celebration, Raise the Curtain. Raise the Curtain affirmed NIDA’s position as the country’s creative powerhouse, producing world-class talent that defines our screen and stage culture while expanding into emerging entertainment platforms.
NIDA alumna Sarah Snook, fresh from her Tony award-winning Broadway season of The Picture of Dorian Gray, was the evening’s special guest, joined by an acclaimed cohort of fellow NIDA graduates, including Miranda Tapsell, Thomas Cocquerel Suzie Miller, Nicholas Burton, Sheridan Harbridge, Jack Patten, Theo Clarke, Zahara Jithoo, Madeline Flood, Catherine Laga’aia and Georgia Laga’aia, and NIDA Board Director Sigrid Thornton AO.
Since its founding in 1958, NIDA has been the training ground for an extraordinary roster of talent that has shaped global entertainment. Cate Blanchett AC, Sam Worthington, Hugo Weaving AO, Essie Davis, Miranda Otto, Murray Bartlett, David Berry; directors Baz Luhrmann AC and Justin Kurzel; designers Catherine Martin AC, Deb Riley, Fiona Crombie and Michael Wilkinson; Olivier Award-winning writer Suzie Miller and rising stars Yerin Ha, Sophie Wilde and Jack Patten all honed their craft within NIDA’s walls.
At NIDA’s recent Class of 2025 Graduation, Sarah Snook was awarded an Honorary Master of Fine Arts and industry icon Sigrid Thornton was celebrated with an Honorary Fellowship. The recognition highlights both artists’ significant global impact on screen and stage, as well as their enduring influence on Australia’s cultural landscape.
Now in its fifth year, Raise the Curtain has become one of the Australian arts calendar’s most anticipated evenings. This year, thanks to the generosity of sponsors and patrons, NIDA more than doubled the funds raised on the night, ensuring vital, ongoing support for student scholarships and the institution’s landmark student productions.
“There has never been a more important moment for innovative storytellers in this country,” says NIDA CEO Liz Hughes. “Raise the Curtain is our opportunity to ensure that financial circumstance is never a barrier to extraordinary talent finding its way to NIDA.”
Held on the stage of the Parade Theatre, NIDA’s storied performance space in Kensington, the evening unfolded as a full theatrical production. With NIDA alumna Marney McQueen as MC, current students delivered spectacular performances, and an on-stage conversation with Sarah Snook offered a rare, candid glimpse into one of Australia’s most celebrated careers.[VH1]
“Nights like this remind us of what NIDA is really about, and the extraordinary things that happen when talent meets opportunity,” said NIDA Chair Catherine West. “The generosity in the room allows us to expand NIDA’s impact and opens doors for young Australians who might never have imagined a place like NIDA was within their reach.”
Fundraising was woven throughout the performance, with a live auction, curated silent auction and a raffle, drawn by Sigrid Thornton, featuring a bespoke Olivia Bond necklace. Proceeds support the NIDA Scholarship Program, which removes financial, personal and geographic barriers to study, as well as student productions and the refurbishment of the historic Parade Theatre stage.
The evening was created under the direction of award-winning NIDA alumnus Alexander Berlage, with design by Hailley Hunt and menu by Harry John Wilson The Caterer, paired with Nepenthe Wines. NIDA wishes to thank Principal Partner, the ARA Group, and Principal Patron First Nations Program, The Balnaves Foundation, as well as its many generous patrons and sponsors (see below).
For further information, please contact:
Sophie Curtis
Managing Director, BLACK Communications
M: + 61 413 607 695
T: + 61 2 8399 3005
Vanessa Hollins
NIDA Publicity and Communications
M: +61 418 478 970
[email protected]
National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
NIDA is Australia’s national dramatic arts educator and innovator. NIDA’s unparalleled rigour, practice-based learning, connections to industry and culture of innovation have produced some of the world’s most influential and in-demand storytellers across stage, screen and new digital platforms. NIDA offers comprehensive training in the skills necessary to create and deliver entertainment experiences for audiences across theatre, film, television, dance, opera, commercials, musicals, festivals, live events, interactive gaming and more. NIDA alumni are actors, directors, writers, set and costume designers, lighting and sound designers, set builders, costume and prop makers, special effects artists, world builders, and stage and production managers. A not-for-profit, NIDA was founded in 1958.
NIDA Sponsors and Patrons
NIDA wishes to thank its Principal Partner, the ARA Group, and Principal Patron First Nations Program, The Balnaves Foundation, as well as major donors including Tim Fairfax AC, Federman Family Foundation, Girgensohn Foundation, Zareh Nalbandian and Animal Logic Entertainment, Penn Foundation, Campbell Edwards Trust, Andrew and Cathy Cameron, AHEPA: Daughters of Penelope Sydney, Seaborn Broughton and Walford Foundation and Helpmann Family Foundation. It also wishes to acknowledge the support of the Inghams, Peter Ivany AO, Weir Anderson Foundation, Cowled Foundation and Andrew Banks. NIDA acknowledges industry partners including Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and TDC, as well as Raise the Curtain event partners Nepenthe, Olivia Bond, TDC (Technical Direction Company), Buds and Bowers, Bennelong Event Hire, KAWAI, Lyre’s and Showtech.