Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) broadens skills and minds
MFA(CP) student Kate Pomeroy has been interning with the opera company’s art department. “I’m mostly looking for props and learning about working to a budget. I’m also helping out with the set building and labelling costumes.”
Her classmate, Hannah Truly, is interning with the wardrobe team. “I’ve been collecting costumes for two full casts of 10 people, and they need two costumes each. I’ve been collecting costumes and trying them on the cast each night. It’s a mission, but it’s fun.”
Tiernan Partington opted to join the set construction and management team.
Tiernan has previous experience in the film industry but says the MFA(CP) is already boosting his skills. “I’m learning new things and now I’ve learned the theory side of it, I’ll have a broader skill base once I head back into the industry.”
Both Hannah and Kate agree and say the practical skills component of the MFA(CP) will make them more employable.
The internships were arranged by the production’s director, Alex Galvin, who is also a Teaching Fellow in Film at Victoria’s School of English, Film, Theatre and Media Studies.
“We have both theatre and film students from the MFA(CP) programme interning with this production, as there are aspects that are interchangeable between the two. The student interns are doing a great job and it’s been a real success. They’re getting some really good professional connections at the same time as broadening their experience,” he says.
The Marriage of Figaro opens at Hannah Playhouse on 5 August and runs until 12 August. Book at Ticketek.