Theatre was what I wanted to do from the start, alongside creative writing, stage acting and theatre production later on, and coming to Australia and Brigidine 2.5 years ago was one of the best things to happen.
Alongside a number of other Brigidine Drama students I applied to be a Griffin Theatre Ambassador 2026 and was selected. Workshops as ambassadors soon started with amazing shows including The Elocution of Benjamin Franklin, SISTERIN, Saviour, and Mum Club. The shows showcased different techniques that creates a good, thought provoking, and engaging performance, like a balance of comedic elements and serious elements, with the actors letting go of their egos, committing to the characters, and believing in their truth.
Griffin taught both on and off-stage work, learning that some of the best products come from the simplest and silliest mindset, like using different points in the space as a focal point to differentiate talking to different characters during a monologue and turning water into ‘wine’ using food dye.
The workshops were lead by people with extensive experience and provided great opportunities to gain more insight. The last workshop was on preparing for auditions, led by actor, Bryn Chapman (Spider from Heartbreak High). He is a patient, passionate, kind, down to earth person that was so willing and eager to help everyone.
He taught us:
- We can easily compare ourselves to others, but every actor brings a unique experience. Each person has their own story and their own reasons for becoming the person they are.
- There will be so many people who tell you not to pursue performance work. Don’t listen. It’s easier said than done, but everything in our lives is designed by an artist – logos, objects, buildings and so much more. You don’t have to be famous to be ‘successful’.
- The point of auditions is to tell your version and interpretation of a story through your own experiences. As long as every line of dialogue and action helps your character achieve their objective in the piece, that’s what matters.
- When you don’t receive a role after an audition, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t good enough. Directors may be looking for a different interpretation of the role, an actor with different experiences, or something as simple as appearance. That doesn’t make you any less of a great actor or person.
- When choosing an HSC IP piece, choose something and a topic that you’re genuinely passionate about and interested in. Don’t choose a piece just because it’s ‘cool’. When you do something you’re genuinely passionate about, you’ll be able to bring more of yourself to it.
- During any performance, make sure to always consider your given circumstances, figure out the objective of the scene and truly see and believe what the character sees. The audience can tell when you’re not committed.
Griffin Theatre has given me more than I’ve ever imagined, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without this experience. Theatre is a safe space of belonging, a place where people feel seen, heard and valued, a place where people can just laugh and cry, forgetting their worries. Theatre can change lives!
Scarlett Hwang
Year 11 Drama and Griffin Theatre Ambassador 2026
