Inspiration and aspiration

You’ve just completed a work experience placement in the rehearsal room for Losing Face. What did you learn?

My week of work experience was truly inspirational for me. Sitting in the 'room where it happens' and witnessing the magic that is live theatre deeply changed my own approach to performing. Throughout the week, I witnessed incredible professionalism and talent that I know I will never forget. Stepping into the rehearsal room and seeing first-hand how a professional theatre show is produced was remarkable, and being in the room surrounded by such creative minds was utterly inspiring. 

What resonated with me the most was the actors’ in-depth dedication to their characters and rehearsals. I really loved watching them explore their roles, seeing how they would question their characters' motives and intentions throughout lines and scenes. It was a delight watching these actors and the production team work together to transform the written words into something of reality.

I thoroughly enjoyed work experience, and it filled me with a genuine sense of inspiration and aspiration. After experiencing that environment, I feel motivated to take what I had learned and adopt their professionalism and commitment within my own acting journey.

Sarah Moyle in the Losing Face rehearsal room during work experience. Photo: Emily Doyle

You also participated in Young Artists Week last year. What did you take away from that experience? 

Young Artists Week at Melbourne Theatre Company was an amazing experience that deeply altered the way I approach performing. The program taught me many new techniques for creating a character and building a scene from the ground up. In our physical theatre workshops, I learned how our bodies tell stories through singular images, and how adjusting a character's 'leading edge', pace, and body weight can completely transform their voice and presence on stage. A major highlight for me was spending the week alongside like-minded young people, participating in collaborative workshops and improvisation exercises that pushed us to trust our instincts and connect with our scene partners. Furthermore, it was incredibly engaging to explore different production areas, such as working with the playwright Dan Giovanni on breaking line patterns and using character-building exercises to discover natural responses.

The program was filled with rewarding challenges and new experiences where there was never a dull moment. I left feeling motivated to use my full body on stage and to stray away from character stereotypes to make a role my own. Looking back, the entire experience has ultimately deepened my understanding of theatre and reshaped how I will approach my performances in the future.

Sarah Moyle at Southbank Theatre during Young Artists Week. Photo: Tiffany Garvie

You've travelled a long way to participate in these programs. Has the journey been worthwhile? 

Living in regional Central Victoria, around three hours away from the city, makes accessing the arts quite a challenge. However, the moment these opportunities arose, I immediately applied to participate. I am incredibly fortunate to have family in Melbourne whom I could stay with during both programs, which was a saving grace in allowing me to take part, particularly for the work experience. Completing these two programs run by Melbourne Theatre Company stands as a massive milestone for me, and making the long trip was undeniably worthwhile. The immersive knowledge, practical skills, and connections I gained have had a huge impact, and I truly believe both programs have greatly improved my skills as a performer.

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