Top Performing Arts Universities in Perth, Australia

Australia has a number of thriving performing arts institutions with esteemed alumni working on Broadway, touring theatre, local theatre, TV and film! Below, BroadwayWorld rounds up the top performing arts schools in Perth. Check out the list below!

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Murdoch University

Our Theatre and Drama major will give you the perfect start into a world of drama. You will be taught by professionals who not only teach theatre and drama, but who are actively working and producing in Perth and beyond. They will provide you with the practice-based knowledge and skills to pursue your passion with creative vision and professional discipline.

You can focus on specialising in acting, production, lighting, stage management or design. You will learn about the historical foundations of drama and theatre, as well as the most innovative and challenging contemporary work; you will be taught analytical and critical skills with which to develop your own ideas and theories. You will also be given the opportunity to enjoy the great literature of the world, and to write your own work. When you graduate you will be a versatile and informed practitioner; skilled at debating, analysing, arguing and communicating effectively.

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Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

Studying acting at WAAPA is an inspiring and all-consuming experience. The Acting course provides graduates with the skills and experience required to engage in professional theatre practice and contemporary screen work. The program trains students as a theatre ensemble. The ensemble develops performance skills in acting, voice and movement by exploring a wide range of works and performance styles, as well as through improvisation and devising original works.

While theatre is the core focus of the course, students are also trained in acting for television, film and radio. Working with guest artists and leading industry practitioners facilitates the transition from student to professional life. Full-scale acting productions provide the opportunity for students to collaborate with their WAAPA peers from other disciplines, such as Production and Design, and learn more about the complete theatrical production process.

Our Acting course has an international reputation for excellence, built on the success of graduates such as Hugh Jackman, Jai Courtney, Frances O'Connor, Marcus Graham, Rachael Maza, Dominic Purcell, and William McInnes. These and many other WAAPA alumni have established careers in theatre, film, television and radio both in Australia and internationally.

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Australia Institute of Music

Through Performance Skills, the students engage in the major aspects of actor training. Acting and Ensemble combines the student's intellect, body and voice in a collaborative process working with text-based and non-text narratives, encouraging a personal connection with the development of character and an in-depth understanding of what is required to stage a performance. Improvisation unleashes instinct, focuses energy, develops spontaneity, and encourages invention. Voice offers ongoing technique for a?free and flexible speaking instrument. Movement focuses on alignment, observation and adjustment, and includes specialised training such as combat and clowning.

Performance Practice includes public and in-house performances?which are scheduled at the end of each trimester as a culmination of skills training. The Discovery Play and Physical Stages are early explorations of a full-length script and a new piece of physical theatre. The Contemporary Text is the first season of public performances, followed by the challenge of the Classic Text. Second year students take roles onstage and off in the Graduating Company Production and in their final showcase of plays, New Short Works which they also develop, devise and write.

Performance knowledge and acting skill are applied in a weekly Master Class which explores ancient Storytelling, scenes from Australian Plays, landmarks of British and American drama, translations from European and Asian Theatre, and Classics from across the world stage. Each student rehearses and presents scenes twice per trimester, and all second year students are assigned to direct a scene.

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Academy of Music and Performing Arts

The Music Theatre focus area at AMPA offers an intensive and highly practical program, producing unique and professional performers, ready for any and all of the challenges the music theatre industry will throw at them.

AMPA'S innovative undergraduate degrees merge high-level performance and practical training with academic rigour and unparalleled industry insight. Students can personalise their degree based around their individual musical interests and aspirations. AMPA undergrads may choose to undertake a double major and focus on two areas and can choose electives across all focus areas to further tailor their degree.

Within this intensive AMPA program, students undergo technical training across the three core areas for Music Theatre: singing, dancing and acting. This combined with consistent performance and practice opportunities, produces unparalleled triple threat performers. Alongside this rigorous practical training, students receive tuition in music history, industry and performance technique enabling them to graduate ready for the highly competitive and demanding music theatre industry.

Music Theatre students can choose electives to complement and refine their degrees from classes such as: Production, Music Industry, Jazz Improvisation, Music and Media, Song Writing, Jazz/Rock Choir and more.

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Curtin University

The Theatre Arts major expands your skills, theoretical understanding and experience in theatre and performance practice. Classes encompass skills and processes in acting, directing, devising, writing, dramaturgy, critical analysis, stage management and theatre production and are applied in the on-campus Hayman Theatre.

You will also have the opportunity to apply your skills as actors and production crew in the Hayman Theatre Company's extensive production program. Every year Theatre Arts at Curtin produces five Major Productions directed by staff and artists-in-residence with extensive industry experience and twenty student-directed productions. These productions range from classical drama, contemporary Australian or international plays and new devised works. Each year ends with "Curtin: STAGE ONE" the premiere of a new play by a Western Australian playwright produced at a professional venue in Perth.

Theatre Arts is offered as part of the Bachelor of Arts. You can enhance your studies with a secondary major or choose from a range of elective units to support your career goals.

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