Archive - Young Actors Studio

YAS, Coffs Harbour

Performance, Portraiture, Production & Digital Documentation

Coffs Harbour, NSW | 2011-2018

Selected Archive Credit

Overview

From the mid-2000s onward, I worked closely with the Young Actors Studio (YAS) in Coffs Harbour, supporting the organisation’s creative, educational, and public-facing activities through long-term photographic and digital collaboration.

My involvement included professional portraiture, production and performance photography, promotional campaigns, website development, and the visual documentation of training programs and public events. Over many years, this work formed part of a broader commitment to strengthening regional arts practice and providing young performers with professional-standard representation as they developed their skills and progressed into tertiary study and industry careers.

Young Actors Studio performers in fairy costumes during backstage preparation for A Midsummer Night’s Dream rehearsal.

 

Young Actors Studio student practising movement and spatial awareness during A Midsummer Night’s Dream rehearsal, Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens.

 

The Young Actors Studio

Founded and directed by Belinda Lemair, the Young Actors Studio operated as a major regional training centre for young performers in Coffs Harbour and surrounding areas. The studio provided structured acting education, performance opportunities, and professional development pathways for children and young adults pursuing stage and screen careers.

Under Belinda’s leadership, YAS became known for its strong emphasis on discipline, creative exploration, and industry-aligned training, with graduates progressing into tertiary arts programs and professional work nationally and internationally.

Young Actors Studio student delivering a solo monologue during the Cr8Studios screening event, Coffs Harbour, September 2012.

Young Actors Studio monologue performance presented as part of the 2012 Cr8Studios public showcase.

Wide-angle view of student monologue performance highlighting stage composition and audience engagement at Cr8Studios, 2012.

Scope of Work and Creative Contribution

My work with YAS developed organically over time into a multi-faceted creative collaboration. This included:

Professional headshots and portrait sessions for students and graduates

Production photography for stage and screen projects

Documentation of workshops, rehearsals, and performances

Promotional imagery for print and online use

Website design and visual content development

Media and publicity assets

Archival documentation of long-term studio activity

These materials were used across marketing platforms, educational resources, press coverage, and institutional communications, helping to position YAS and its students within broader cultural and professional contexts.

The work combined technical precision with sensitivity to performance, character, and emerging identity, drawing on my background in choreography, theatre, and visual storytelling.

Performances, Training & Community Engagement

In addition to formal productions, YAS maintained a strong presence within the local and regional arts community through screenings, showcases, collaborative projects, and public events. My documentation extended across these activities, capturing both staged performance and behind-the-scenes processes.

This included work produced at Cr8Studios and other venues, studio-based projects, youth performance initiatives, and touring or outreach programs. Together, these formed a continuous visual record of creative growth, experimentation, and professional preparation.

Studio headshots of Young Actors Studio cast members for the production of Hook, Coffs Harbour.

Graduate Pathways and Professional Outcomes

Many students documented during this period progressed into tertiary arts education and professional careers in theatre, film, and television. The photographic and digital materials created during my collaboration with YAS supported auditions, applications, publicity, and early career development.

Selected alumni profiles and testimonials included in this archive illustrate the long-term impact of the studio’s training environment and the value of sustained creative documentation in supporting emerging artists.

Selected Media & Public Recognition

YAS activities and productions were regularly featured in regional media, community publications, and online platforms. My photography contributed to this public profile, providing consistent visual identity and professional presentation.

Press coverage, promotional campaigns, and institutional materials from this period form part of the archived record presented here.

Coffs Coast Independent feature article, “Young actors, big accomplishments,” highlighting Young Actors Studio student achievements, June 2012.

Practice Context

This archive entry sits within my broader practice of performance and event documentation, recording live cultural moments as they are experienced by performers, educators, and audiences.

It reflects a long-standing commitment to community-based arts development, professional standards, and the ethical documentation of creative processes.

ART1 Archive Context

This page forms part of the ART1 Archive, documenting professional experience and cultural engagement prior to the launch of ART1.

View other related professional projects and collaborations in the  Selected Credits.