Year 10 boarder Olivia Garland took to the stage during the September school holidays as part of Queensland Theatre Company’s Theatre Residency Week.
The week-long intensive camp provides students in Years 9-12 the opportunity to develop their acting skills. Leading guest artists attend the camp to network, share and inspire and participants also have the opportunity to attend live theatre productions. Students work towards creating a group performance for a live audience at the end of the week.
Olivia, who is from North Star in northern NSW, says St Margaret’s has fostered her passion for the performing arts.
“I wouldn’t have had access to all these amazing opportunities without being in Brisbane and, without my teachers, I wouldn’t have been able to attend the Theatre Residency Week,” said Olivia.
She has studied Speech and Drama since she was in Year 7, appeared in the school musical ‘Annie’ and also enjoys singing as a member of one of St Margaret’s choral ensembles.
Olivia was awarded a Tim Fairfax Family Foundation Regional and Remote Area Scholarship for regional and rural students to attend the theatre residency week.
“I feel extremely grateful and privileged to have been granted this opportunity.
“I loved every minute of my time at the camp but the things I enjoyed most were putting on a performance at the end of the week to show our parents and going out to see a live performance of ‘I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You’ which was directed by St Margaret’s Head of Performance, Ms Annette Box,” said Olivia.
As to whether we will see Olivia gracing the stage in the future, we will have to wait and see. For now, she is content continuing to work on her drama skills and whether her career path is on the stage or in law or journalism, there is no doubt the skills she is honing now will hold her in good stead for whatever the future holds.