Theatre is no drama for USQ guest director
MATT Scholten has worked with some of the country’s biggest theatre companies, produced and directed dozens of projects, and taught classes at various theatre schools and colleges.
Now he’s developing the next generation of theatre artists in his first semester at the University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba.
“The drama students at USQ have floored me with their commitment and courage,” Mr Scholten said.
“They are all keen and hungry to learn as much as they can.
“If the future of Australian theatre is in the hands of these young people, we can all look forward to their upcoming work.”
Mr Scholten joined USQ as a guest director and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in all forms of theatre.
He said accepting the position offered him the opportunity to take on new challenges and help the University’s Creative Arts students achieve their academic and career goals.
“I am really enjoying working here and so impressed with the intellect and passion of the staff in this department and at Artsworx,” he said.
“I have worked for much of my career in regional settings and to come to Toowoomba and see the calibre of work being created at USQ is very exciting.”
Mr Scholten’s previous appointments were Teaching Artist at the Victorian College of the Arts and Head of Theatre Arts at Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE.
He has been working with acclaimed playwright Daniel Keene the past eight years in his role as Artistic Director and Creative Producer of independent theatre company If Theatre.
He is also currently working with award-winning actor Noni Hazlehurst, directing her one-woman show Mother, which will play at the Empire Theatre in October.
Mr Scholten is currently preparing for the first play he has directed since joining USQ.
Lysistrata, which opens at Artsworx tonight and runs until Saturday , is a comic account of one woman’s mission to end a war by convincing women of Greece to withhold sexual privileges from their husbands as a means of forcing the men to negotiate a peace treaty.
Thirteen actors, one drummer and 25 first-year drama students have been working hard rehearsing throughout the semester.
“The students have done a wonderful job in realising the script from page to stage and are ready and eager for the audience to join them in the theatre,” Mr Scholten said.