Spotlight on: Darcie Osullivan
DIPLOMA OF LIVE PRODUCTION AND TECHNICAL SERVICES STUDENT FROM REGIONAL NSW
Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Darcie O’Sullivan, growing up I lived in a small rural community in the Southern Tablelands of NSW called Bowning. My family owns and runs a boutique horse stud and Equestrian Centre. They also own a fertiliser spreading business which unfortunately has been greatly affected over the years due to bushfires, Covid-19 and severe weather as the country is in the La Nina cycle, which brings increased rain and storms. Growing up on a farm I've been surrounded by horses my whole life. I’ve spent the last couple of years before NIDA breaking in and training horses of my own which has been quite the challenge.
What inspired you to get into the arts?
I've always loved live music and going to performances and theatre. It lets you come out of reality and enter the world of imagination. Personally, I think it's a great way to show your creativity and ideas. Whilst I was in high school, I always loved helping whenever productions were on. The bump in and out, assisting in making props and sets and running the show really helped me learn how to think on my feet, identify problems and come up with solutions.
How did you first hear about NIDA?
I first heard about NIDA when I was in year 12 looking for different universities to study at, I originally hadn’t put any thought into it until I sat down with my VET Entertainment teacher, Ian Munn, who was a past NIDA student and studied the Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services course. He told me about the course and what it was like and really increased my interest to study at NIDA.
How was the move to Sydney?
Moving to Sydney from a small rural area has been a huge transition in my life. A year ago I would have never thought I would be going to NIDA and living in Sydney. I had never really been to Sydney before, so it was quite strange moving from a quiet town to a big noisy city. I found trying to make friends and get to know people quite overwhelming since I’m a little on the introverted side, but now being halfway through the year I’ve met a bunch of great people and made quite a few friends.
What have you gained from your time at NIDA?
I think that NIDA truly gives all students great opportunities in whatever pathway they decide to take and gives us all incredible experiences along the way. The amount of knowledge I have gained in such a short amount of time has been incredible. The number of opportunities and learning offers I've been given is truly amazing. Being a regional student myself, I really encourage all and any students who have an interest in the arts to come to NIDA and see what an amazing place it is and experience any opportunities given to you.
Applications for NIDA's 2023 intake are open, apply before September 30.
