Sydney Theatre Company Offers Regional Scholarship For Work Experience Week

For the first time, Sydney Theatre Company is offering a regional scholarship for its acclaimed Work Experience Week program in 2018. The scholarship covers the cost of travel and accommodation for a student and their parent/carer - up to the value of $1500.

"We wanted to expand the theatre learning opportunities for young people in regional NSW," said STC Executive Director Patrick McIntyre. "We didn't want students to be limited by financial boundaries or physical distance."

STC's Work Experience Week will accept twenty five Drama students in Years 10 and 11 into the immersive, interactive program which will be held from 8-12 October 2018.

The week enables students to explore many facets of STC and gain a broad understanding of the workings of a theatre company. Each day focuses on a different STC department, including programming, direction, set and costume design, marketing and corporate sponsorship. Working in groups, students complete activities in the roles of different creatives and STC staff, and present their ideas in informal presentations. Students participate in tours, panel discussions, workshops and activities run by STC staff and creatives. The work experience students will also create a collaborative production/design project on Accidental Death of an Anarchist, which presented to STC staff at the end of the week.

The program endeavours to inspire a love and appreciation of the theatre-making process, as well as foster the next generation of arts industry professionals.

Ella Clements, who participated in the program in 2017, said the week was invaluable. "It truly an experience of a lifetime!" she said "The week taught me so many things that I use every day and will continue to for the rest of my life."

Since its inception in 2014, students from all over the state including from Armidale, Mudgee, Glen Innes and Lismore have participated in the program.

To apply, students are required to complete the application form online and create a short video about themselves. The video should tell the story of who they are and why they are a great candidate for STC's Work Experience Week.

More information can be found on the STC website: www.sydneytheatre.com.au

Applications close on August 5. STC strongly encourage students who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those with disabilities to apply.