Archive - University of Western Sydney

UWS (Theatre Nepean)

Acting Program Workshops & Graduate Connections

Years: 1997-1998
Role: Guest Tutor / Movement & Performance Workshops
Institution: University of Western Sydney - Theatre Nepean
Invited by: Yana Taylor (Head of Movement / Head of Acting Program)

Selected Archive Credit

During the late 1990s, I was invited by Yana Taylor, then Head of Movement and a central figure within the Theatre Nepean acting program, and formally engaged by the University of Western Sydney as a contracted tutor to deliver a term of weekly workshops with the undergraduate acting cohort.

These sessions focused on movement, embodiment, performance presence, and experiential process, supporting the actors’ transition from training into professional readiness. The work was hands-on, exploratory, and grounded in practical application aligning with Theatre Nepean’s reputation at the time as one of Australia’s most rigorous and industry-connected acting programs.

CentreStage / Ricochet season program, Theatre Nepean (University of Western Sydney), 1998, outlining the graduating year’s mainstage productions and creative leadership under directors Brent McGregor, Terence Clarke, Terence Crawford, and Anna Volska, within a fully supported institutional training framework.

 

Graduating Acting Class portrait spread, Theatre Nepean (University of Western Sydney), 1998, featuring cohort members including Sean Barker, Emily Barrett, Mark Brady, Ruth Pieloor, Gwyneth Price, Tara-Lee Burke, Alexandra Davies, Paul Eden, Melissa Rogan, Sonja Simec, Julianne Formosa, Don Hany, Grania Holtsbaum, Andrew Threlfall, Neridah Waters, Victoria Imber, Jason Malcolm King, and Skye Loneragan.

The cohort was an exceptional group of emerging performers, many of whom went on to sustained professional careers across theatre, film, television, production, and education. Among the graduating class were actors such as Don Hany, alongside peers who would later become producers, directors, writers, and educators within the Australian arts landscape.

I greatly enjoyed these sessions - not only for the quality of the students’ engagement, but for the sense of creative continuity between training, professional practice, and long-term artistic contribution.

Graduate & Professional Continuity

Following graduation, my connection with several members of the cohort continued into professional contexts. Notably, I worked with Mel Rogan on promotional photography for the independent theatre production Alchemy, presented at North Bondi - a project that marked an early step in her trajectory toward a significant career in production and media.

This continuity from university training to professional collaboration, reflects a broader pattern within my practice: long-term creative relationships rooted in trust, generosity, and shared artistic values.

Cover design for the “Bliss & Banter” benefit event invitation, created for the Theatre Nepean (University of Western Sydney) Acting Class of 1998, reflecting the professional presentation and industry-facing nature of the graduating cohort.

Page Main Image
Invitation to “Bliss & Banter,” a benefit event supporting the Theatre Nepean (University of Western Sydney) graduating Acting Class of 1998, held at Old Government House, Parramatta Park, as part of the cohort’s professional transition and industry engagement.

Promotional portrait for Alchemy, an independent theatre production by Mel Rogan, photographed in North Bondi, 1998.

 

Promotional group portraits for Alchemy, an independent theatre production by Mel Rogan, North Bondi, 1998.

 

Contextual Note

At the time, Theatre Nepean (UWS) was internationally recognised for its emphasis on physical theatre, movement training, and rigorous actor preparation, under the leadership of figures including Yana Taylor, Bogdan Koca, and Terence Crawford. The program produced a generation of artists whose influence continues across Australian and international performance industries.

Front cover of a thank-you card presented to Raymond Mather by Theatre Nepean acting students, University of Western Sydney, 1998.

Handwritten messages from Theatre Nepean acting students expressing appreciation for Raymond Mather’s teaching and mentorship, University of Western Sydney, 1998.

 

ART1 Archive Context

This page forms part of the Archive section, documenting professional theatre, screen, and movement work prior to the launch of ART1.

View other theatre works and collaborations prior to ART1 in the Selected Credits.