With longer days and warmer nights on the horizon our alumni have a fresh cultural harvest for your October calendar. It’s all treat and no trick, so read on to discover where you can see their work this month.
From 1 October, Gabriel Alvarado (Acting, 2021), Les Chantery (Acting, 2003), Matthew Backer (Acting, 2010), Yure Covich (Acting, 2002) and Rupert Raineri (Acting, 2013) will co-star alongside Mark Wahlberg in the action-thriller Play Dirty, premiering on Prime Video. Building the world and costumes behind-the-scenes are, Art Director Nicholas Dare (Design, 2001), Costume Designer Kym Barrett (Design, 1989), Senior Prop Maker Meg Hamilton (Properties and Objects, 2019), Draftsperson Iz Sperling (Design for Performance, 2021), 3D Artist Eddy Taylor (Properties, 2011), Set Designer Ruru Zhu (Design for Performances, 2021) Special Effect Junior Technician Luca Kovasc (Properties and Objects, 2022), Special Effects Assistant Technician Eileen Ortiona (Staging, 2019), Costume PA Rebecca Howarth (Design for Performance, 2023), Assistant Art Finisher Katrina McFarlane (Costume, 2012) and Cast Prep Costumer Sabina Myers (Design for Performance, 2017) .The film follows a hardened professional thief who’s forced into a dangerous heist and must go toe to toe with the New York Mob, a billionaire and a South American Dictator.
Arriving in cinemas nationwide on 9 October, The Travellers is the latest feature from legendary director Bruce Beresford (Ladies in Black, Mao’s Last Dancer) and NIDA alumni are part of its powerhouse team. The film co-stars Susie Porter (Acting, 1995) with supporting cast Julia Moody (Voice, 1992), Oliver Wenn (Acting, 2005) and Amy Rose Jackson (Design for Performance, 2021) working as assistant costume standby. Shot in regional Western Australia, this warm and witty story of family, identity and home is one for the calendar.
Launching globally on Apple TV+ from 17 October, Mr Scorsese is an unmissable new documentary series exploring the life and career of legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese. Among the artists featured, audiences can look forward to seeing Cate Blanchett (Acting, 1992), whose acclaimed collaborations with Scorsese includes The Aviator. Offering rare insight, behind-the-scenes stories and tributes from some of the world’s biggest names, this series is a must-watch for cinephiles everywhere.
Turn up the 90’s beats with Daytime Deewane, running 16 – 25 October at the National Theatre of Parramatta, Phive. This two-hander stars Ariyan Sharma (Musical Theatre, 2020 & Acting, 2023) and Ashan Kumar (Acting, 2021), alongside the creative brilliance of Costume Designer, Rita Naidu (Design, 2021), Lighting and Set Designer, BROCKMAN (Production, 2011) and Dialect/Voice Coach, Linda Nicholls-Gidley (Voice Studies, 1998). Part rave, part coming-of-age story and a whole lot of drama, this exhilarating production blends spoken word and Bhangra-fused dance music to deliver an unforgettable performance that will leave you calling for “one more tune”.
They’re creepy and they’re kooky. Get ready to snap your fingers for The Addams Family Musical, running 3 – 26 October at Teatro at the Italian Forum, Leichhardt. With Jess Parris (Acting, 2022) as Morticia Addams, Robert Miniter (Acting, 2024) and a frightfully talented crew including, Max Shanahan (Design for Performance, 2024), Angus Nott (Scenic Construction and Technologies, 2022), Gavan Swift (Technical Production, 1994), Alex Duffy (Production, 2011), Design student Joey McKenze and assistance from our Diploma of Screen and Media: Specialty Make-up Services students. With its iconic characters and original score, you’ll love getting reacquainted with everyone’s favourite gothic family.
The iconic rock musical Rent is back in town and you can catch it at the Sydney Opera House until 1 November. Reprising his role as Benny is Tana Laga’aia (Diploma of Musical Theatre, 2023), Calista Nelmes (Diploma of Musical Theatre, 2018) returns as Maureen and Sam Harmon (Diploma of Musical Theatre, 2019) is back as a featured ensemble and cover. Behind the scenes, Set Designer Dann Barber (Design, 2014) and Costume Designer Ella Butler (Design for Performance, 2017) bring New York’s East Village down under. With its unforgettable soundtrack and powerful story of love, loss and community, this is your chance to see one of the world’s most beloved musicals.
Jessica Arthur (Directing, 2015) will direct Sydney Theatre Company’s world premiere of The Shiralee by D’Arcy Niland playing from 6 October – 29 November. This sweeping adaptation features an incredible team of alumni, including Designer Jeremy Allen (Design, 2015), Dramaturg Kip Williams (Directing, 2009), Assistant Director Guy Simon (Acting, 2010) with Actors Josh McConville (Acting, 2008) and Ziggy Resnick (Acting, 2021). This is a story with heart and grit; a moving portrait of connection and resilience in the Australian outback.
In Case You Missed It: A huge congratulations to Michael Wilkinson (Design, 1993), who won a Creative Emmy Award for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes for his work on Andor, alongside his incredible costume team.
Header image: Mateo (Gabriel Alvarado), Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), Zen (Rosa Salazar), Colonel Ortiz (Hemky Madera) and Parker (Mark Wahlberg) in PLAY DIRTY. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC