Camilla Ward, arts enthusiast, ‘bring out the creative voice within’
Growing up on the Liverpool Plains in country NSW and encouraged by my mother who was a professional musician, I was given opportunities in music and drama from an early age and have always been involved in eisteddfods and performing in musical theatre.
After attending boarding school, I went to university and studied teaching and secured my first position in Sydney. After a few years, I travelled, lived and worked overseas as a teacher for several years in the UK and Ireland, and I took every opportunity to experience theatre at its highest level by attending as many shows and performances I could from the West End to Broadway. Oh those were happy days!
Upon returning to Australia while school teaching, I also began The Creative Voice Studio in my hometown of Quirindi providing musical theatre and drama sessions for the local children there and loved it. I also performed in local musical theatre productions and charity events and loved the camaraderie of being part of it all!
When I married, my husband David and I moved from NSW to Queensland where I worked for Arts Queensland, as Youth Arts Development and Engagement Officer. Quite a long title!
After the birth of our first child we had the opportunity to move closer to family so that is how we came to live in Dubbo and 12 years on we still love it!
Over the past eight years, I have successfully run The Creative Voice Studio here in Dubbo, which is a performing arts and consultancy studio for children and adults.
In 2018, I have been working at the new Central West Leadership Academy as the specialist drama teacher for their Year 3 to 6 class which I am so enjoying, as my motto is to “bring out the creative voice within”.
I have also been coaching the St Pius X debating team this term and they have made it into the finals this month, which is very exciting.
I am the founding director of The Black Box Creatives Youth Theatre Company at the Western Plains Cultural Centre. Recently, I directed The Black Box Creatives in the production “Brainstorm”. This was a theatrical experience about the neurology of the teenage brain and its extraordinary potential told through the eyes of our youth. The amazing local cast of 13-19-year-olds were so proud of what they created and achieved with the support of local author Toni Grant, who turned their words into a powerful and insightful script. We are now looking at touring this production and the cast is very excited to share their show with other youth in regional NSW.
Also, I am the founding director of the Youth Music Theatre program at the Macquarie Conservatorium for ages eight to 12 years. We are currently involved in our tenth production for Christmas, entitled
“Lights Camel Action”. It’s going to be great fun to see!
The typical challenges in my life include the quest for balance between my love of the arts, my family and my own time! In Dubbo we have such opportunities to experience the arts through a variety of shows, exhibitions and community events such as the DREAM festival which I am involved with. It’s hard to choose sometimes!
Life has taught me to never underestimate the power of kindness – the strongest people I know are the kindest to themselves and those around them. With everything that is going on in our world at the moment I have two quotes I focus on: “Be the change you want to see in the world – with a dash of humour...” and “Choose kind”.