# Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a performing arts school in Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1980, it is notable for being the most comprehensive performing arts school in Australia by disciplines of study and has produced some of Australia's most prominent graduates in the field.
It is scheduled to re-locate to the currently under-construction Perth CBD campus following completion in late 2025. The ECU City campus, which is designed by Lyons and will be located in Yagan Square, is planned to have six performance venues which are projected to have 300 performances annually. The campus will be accessible by public transport, being built on top of the underground Perth Busport opposite the Perth railway station.
As of 2019, the executive dean of the school is Prof David Shirley FRSA. Prior to being assigned, he was the director of the Manchester School of Theatre and chair of the Federation of Drama Schools in the United Kingdom.

## Courses

It offers study and research programs in acting, screen performance, arts and cultural management, dance (classical ballet and contemporary dance), music (in various fields of instrumental and voice performance, composition and school teacher education), theatre (including directing and musical theatre), production (including production design, costume design, lighting, props and scenery, sound and stage management) and other fields of performing arts.
It also offers a vocational program in Aboriginal performance and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) research program with an integrated "performance, exhibition, event or an embodiment of some form". Broadcasting is now taught in the School of Communications and Arts of ECU. Originally an initiative of the state government, the Academy receives funding from both the State and Commonwealth governments.

## Public performances

The performing arts school showcases a large number of performances across all fields annually that are open to the public. This events are mostly held at WAAPA's own theatres and facilities in Mount Lawley. Performances and events are also held at various external venues such as the Rosemount Hotel, Government House Ballroom, Ellington Jazz Club, Luna Cinema, Subiaco Arts Centre, Studio Underground, Blue Room Theatre and the Albany Entertainment Centre.

## Venues and facilities

The WAAPA buildings and facilities form part of the Edith Cowan University campus in Mount Lawley, a suburb in Perth, Western Australia.
The academy currently has eight public performance spaces. These include the 297-seat Geoff Gibbs Theatre proscenium, the 200-seat Richard Gill Auditorium, the 194-seat court style Roundhouse Theatre, an outdoor amphitheater, Enright Studio, dance studios and a jazz studio..
Four more purpose built dance/rehearsal studio spaces were created: A recording studio, electronics studio, and four production workshops for design and costume making were also added to the existing workshops and behind the scenes production facilities.
Twelve large rehearsal and dance studios, numerous music and ensemble studios, a specialised visual and performing arts library collection, and numerous exhibition spaces.
Fully equipped broadcasting facilities and studios for television and radio. An environment has been created where broadcasting students can gain first hand experience of working within a media environment.

## Academic appointments

Academic teaching appointments are made on the basis of qualifications, recent professional experience, industry profile, and reputation. WAAPA invites international professionals to Perth as artists in residence to work with students on productions and performances and to provide performance and professional advice through workshops.
Notable past teaching appointments include the Australian conductor Richard Gill as dean of the Western Australian Conservatorium of Music from 1985 to 1990. When Gill moved to take up an appointment as Director of Chorus at Opera Australia, Edward Applebaum filled the appointment.

## Notable alumni

* Hollie Andrew
* Luke Arnold
* Viva Bianca
* Andrew Bibby
* Shalom Brune-Franklin
* Jeremy Callaghan
* Fiona Campbell
* Jarrod Carland
* Vivien Carter
* Karina Carvalho
* Bryn Chapman Parish
* Dustin Clare
* Imelda Corcoran
* Sam Corlett
* Jai Courtney
* Martin Crewes
* Cassie Davis
* Charmaine Dragun
* Stella Donnelly
* Lucy Durack
* Georgie Gardner
* Mark Gasser
* Marcus Graham
* Kerrie Anne Greenland
* Haruhisa Handa
* Georgina Haig
* Geraldine Hakewill
* Karla Hart
* Hugh Jackman
* Jim Jefferies
* Kate Jenkinson
* Hélène Joy
* Alasdair Kent
* Kučka
* Gerald Lepkowski
* Ewen Leslie
* Ben Lewis
* Meg Mac
* Tammy MacIntosh
* Suzie Mathers
* Tim McGarry
* Ainsley Melham
* Jonathan Messer
* William McInnes
* Lisa McCune
* Tim Minchin
* Seann Miley Moore
* Dacre Montgomery
* Frances O'Connor
* Ben O'Toole
* Linda May Han Oh
* Taryn Onofaro
* Paul Paddick
* Karin Page
* Nicholas Papademetriou
* Kevin Penkin
* Eddie Perfect
* Chris Piechocki
* Gemma Pranita
* Aiv Puglielli
* Dominic Purcell
* Daina Reid
* Matthew Lee Robinson
* Gretel Scarlett
* Kris Stewart
* Roza Terenzi
* Pria Viswalingam
* Erica Wardle
* Nic Westaway