Kildare Catholic College student Safiah Sawal (top middle) enjoyed a week learning from some of the best stage actors in the country after being awarded the John Bell Scholarship. Photo: Supplied.
For many young and emerging actors, being able to spend time at one of the country’s premier theatre companies is a dream come true.
For Kildare Catholic College student Safiah Sawal, that dream became a reality after securing a scholarship to attend the Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company.
Earlier this year, Safiah was one of four students who received the John Bell Scholarship, which provided the opportunity to shadow some of the best actors, artists and mentors for a week within Bell Shakespeare in Sydney.
While there, she took part in masterclasses, workshops and even enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at one of the company’s upcoming productions, Julius Caesar.
“It was a really surreal experience for me,” Safiah said.
“It was just so interesting to get to see how it worked in a really professional setting, the discussions, and now getting a sense of different pathways I could take into performing arts in the future.
“What really interested me was the really open discussions that they have during the rehearsal process. I mean, you don’t really get that when you perform in schools, because we’re all students, so you mostly get told what to do. So it was really interesting to watch that.”
Safiah said she had always enjoyed performing, which was what led her to apply for the scholarship.
“My performing arts journey started when I was really little,” she said.
“From a young age and even still, I take part in martial arts, which got me used to performing in front of people.
“Then at school, I joined the stage crew. I was a bit shy, but it really helped me get out of my shell a bit. I remember the first production we did was Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
“Ever since then, I’ve been in all the school’s productions in some way.”
Safiah said her teacher Mr Mack had been a major influence on her and supported her in applying for the John Bell Scholarship.
“We have amazing drama space at Kildare,” she said.
“Our teachers, especially Mr Mack, are really encouraging.
“He makes sure that we do a Shakespeare production every year. That’s what really got me hooked onto Shakespeare and going for the scholarship.”
Safiah said she appreciated the opportunity to visit Bell Shakespeare.
“It’s an absolutely amazing, unique opportunity, and I was so lucky to get it,” she said.
“There are some things in regional, but ultimately, it’s really tough to get the same opportunities that kids in Sydney or Melbourne get.
“It was really nice to be put on a sort of even footing with those kids.”
With her time with Bell Shakespeare over, Safiah said she was looking forward to pursuing acting as a career path and that everyone interested in acting should take an interest in the world’s most famous playwright.
“This scholarship has really given me … really opened my eyes to the different paths I could take. Whereas before, I didn’t really think it was possible for me to get into those pathways,” she said.
“Currently, I’m working on my HSC drama major. I’ll definitely take away some of the things I’ve learnt from the week away and put them into that process.
“For anyone else thinking about drama or applying for the scholarship in future, I think learning as much as you can about Shakespeare and reading his work is a good way to start.”
