MEET OUR STUDENTS | Abbie

Meet ABBIE

Year 12

I’m passionate about theatre arts, particularly the work that happens behind the scenes. I love stage technology, set building, lighting and being part of the process that brings a production together. When I first came to The Studio School, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Through the people I met and the opportunities I was encouraged to explore, I discovered that live production was something I genuinely loved and could see myself pursuing as a career.

At the moment, I spend one day a week doing workplace learning at All Saints’ College, where I work alongside the theatre team and get hands-on experience across different areas of production. I help set up and pack down equipment, observe lighting design and have opportunities to create and test ideas myself. Recently, I was given the opportunity to create a lighting option for a guitarist performing at the theatre and my design was selected for the opening number. Moments like that have boosted my confidence and given me real work to photograph and document as I build my portfolio.

What I love most about production is the process. There’s something special about being part of a group of people constantly creating, experimenting and changing things together. At All Saints’, I’ve been trusted to try things I had never done before, including assistant stage managing a production. Being given that responsibility and getting to learn by actually doing the work has been an amazing experience.

Some of my biggest opportunities have come from being willing to put myself forward. I contacted Black Swan State Theatre Company and completed two weeks of work experience with them, including spending time backstage during the first preview of Carol. It felt surreal to be given that time and to see how a professional production operates.

That first email eventually led to even more opportunities. I’m now a Black Swan Youth Ambassador and there is the possibility of an internship after I graduate. Outside school, I’m also completing a six-week course with UWA Youth Theatre and have taken part in a student ambassador program with State Theatre Centre of WA.

The flexibility at TSS has made it possible for me to say yes to these experiences while continuing my education. I like having the independence to organise my work in a way that suits me and being in an environment that actively encourages creative interests rather than treating them as something separate from your future. My workplace learning at All Saints’ has now been running for a year and the amount of industry experience I've been able to gain while still at school has been huge.

The people at TSS have been an important part of that journey too. When I was in Year 10, older students who had pursued similar interests became role models for me. They helped me understand where to look for opportunities, which workshops were available and who I could contact. As I've gained more experience, one opportunity has led to another and I've become part of a much wider creative community. Nat (Teacher-Facilitator/Project Co-ordinator) has also supported me with applications, acted as a reference and, most importantly, always taken my ambitions seriously.

Now I have a much clearer idea of where I want to go. My goal is to study a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Production and Design) at WAAPA and continue exploring set design, lighting and sound. I'm currently building and refining my portfolio with support from people at TSS and others in the creative community. For now, my approach is simple: keep building my skills, keep meeting people in the industry and say yes to as many opportunities as I can.    

‍How would you describe TSS? TSS is fantastic if you're someone who wants the freedom to explore different options for yourself. There's a lot of flexibility if you don't know exactly what you want to do yet and there are great role models who can help you discover where your interests could take you.