University of Tasmania students are joining Marta Dusseldorp on the TV star’s latest Hobart theatre production.
Students Trisha Agrawal and Jorja Williams are part of the team bringing Tony-nominated The Sound Inside to the Playhouse Theatre this month.
The theatre students are working as interns with Archipelago Productions on the play, which stars Jack Irish and Janet King’s Dusseldorp alongside Tasmanian actor Griffin McLaughlin.
Ms Williams has taken on the role of assistant stage manager, checking on missed lines, setting up props and trouble-shooting backstage.
“Being able to watch Marta and Griff just do their thing has been really special,” she said.
“I wanted to be involved with theatre in any way possible. My main love is for performing but this has been really great, learning and understanding how the cogs move behind the scenes.”
Ms Agrawal, who is also studying a Master of Teaching, said her role combined creative work alongside production designer Ben Winspear with day-to-day logistics.
“I’ve had the chance to make things and to get real joy out of that,” she said.
“I’m encouraged to experiment and it’s helping me find a confidence with my creative ideas.”
Ms Dusseldorp said the students brought a youthful lens and new ideas to the production.
“I've really appreciated that lens and that diversity of thought and ideas,” she said.
“It’s also giving them that practical experience of turning up and seeing that some days are harder, some days are euphoric and some days are devastating. But that's the way of the world.”
Written by American playwright Adam Rapp and described as a “literary detective work”, The Sound Inside will be directed at The Playhouse by leading Australian director and Helpmann Award winner Lee Lewis.
It runs at The Playhouse Theatre in Hobart from October 8-18. Find out more about studying Theatre and Performance at the University of Tasmania.
