Shining the spotlight backstage: Production graduates showcase work

The exhibition featured the work by VCA Production students over their three years of study, including initial design concepts and renderings through to final creations with colourful costumes, interactive soundscapes, multimedia presentations and light displays.

“The exhibition demonstrated the success of the Production course that equips each student with systematic imaginative skills. Match this with their individual vision and artistic leadership and these are the first steps toward each student’s stimulating career,” says Props and Scenery lecturer Mark Postlethwaite.

The annual exhibition is an opportunity for the public, industry professionals and prospective students to explore the skilful work that goes on behind the scenes in creative and backstage roles. 

Production graduate and stage manager Lyndie Li’s work featured in the exhibition.

“My work on show was a compilation of interviews of all students together, so the audience could get to know a little more about us individually. This video was shown for the entirety of the exhibition.

“Over the three years of study at the VCA, each production student works hard to showcase the talents of the director. This is a way to showcase the work we have done, and show audiences a little bit of the process and time it takes us before we get to the end result,” Ms Li says.

In 2013, Ms Li completed secondments in Stage Management at the famous Arts Centre’s Spiegeltent and King Kong the Musical at the Regent Theatre. She also spent time in Mauritius as backup (or second) to the technical consultant on the 45th Independence Day Anniversary Celebrations.

Ms Li says her secondment in Mauritius was an incredible experience showing her a great culture, the value of teamwork and providing an invaluable learning experience. 

“Being a practical person, I learnt more in the two weeks in that stadium in Mauritius than any amount of class time would teach me.

Lighting Designer and Production Manager Benjamin Howlett is another production graduate whose work will be showcased at the exhibition. He worked with the Australian Carmen Orchestra on their two-month tour of China as Production Stage Manager (2012) and on secondments with the Technical and Production Management teams of the Victorian State Schools Spectacular 2012 and King Kong.

Mr Howlett will be going on a six-week tour of China as Lighting designer in 2014 with the China International Orchestral tours.

Mr Howlett says he is looking forward to the challenge ahead of him.

“Having 32 concerts in 20 venues as a lighting designer will be a very difficult task. To walk into a different venue and not know what it is awaiting me will push me to new levels of design.”

Mr Howlett believes the Production Graduate Launch Exhibition is a great way for the production students to conclude three years by working together and creating a show.

“It will be an amazing experience for us all to come together to create this show,” he says.

VCA Production graduates are working across Australia’s leading performing arts companies including the Melbourne Thea-tre Company, Malthouse Theatre, the Australian Ballet, Australian Opera, Creature Workshop and throughout the Melbourne Festival.