The world is Ella's Stage

After completing work experience with Queensland theatre, she decided to enrol in TAFE at School course in performing arts to secure her future in theatre.

During Year 11, Ella came to TAFE at School to experience an adult-learning environment and kick start her acting career while earning a qualification and feeding her creative spark.

"I had to talk to my guidance officer at school, and they helped me enrol to study the Certificate III in Community Dance, Theatre and Events (CUA30220) one day per week while in high school," explains Ella.

"I came to orientation, and I got so inspired and excited about coming to TAFE, and as soon as I began my studies, I knew I was in the right place."

Each day of her studies, Ella's teachers taught her exercises, theory and practical acting techniques to help her engage with audiences — both on stage and in film.

"We'd come to class at 8:30am every Wednesday, and our day was split into three sessions. Firstly we'd train our bodies and learn how to over-exaggerate movement and projection techniques, then we'd do course work and finish the day devise scenes," says Ella.

"Then in the afternoons, we'd learn how to deliver monologues, engaging the body to perform physically and to grow in confidence when getting into character."

Also helping Ella learn her craft was her supportive classmates who worked as a team, supporting, challenging and learning from each other in a flexible learning environment.

"We were all at different levels, but we were all committed to our studies and helping each other – so it was amazing to see how we all improved as performers and as people."

"Our teachers pushed us all to be better by using their real-world, industry experience and knowledge to encourage us, develop our strengths, and improve on our weaknesses. Key to our learning was their ability to get the best out of us by knowing who to push, who to challenge and how to help everyone achieve," Ella continues.

"I look back to when I started, and I'm a much better performer now. The other great thing was that the practical and fun classes didn't feel like studying, and it's amazing to see how quickly we learnt!"

After learning the craft of performance for a year, the class brought their acting skills together to perform 'Chaos' by Laura Lomas at TAFE Queensland's Norman Price Theatre at the South Bank campus.

"Performing in front of a live audience of our friends and family was incredible. Everyone performed amazingly, yet it was a bittersweet experience, as it was the last time our class would be together," she said.

"Sitting in the green room before going on stage, I was nervous and excited, but as soon as I walked into the theatre, the nerves settled, and my performance was filled with excitement. When it was over, and I was standing bowing to the audience with my co-stars as the audience applauded us, I knew acting was my calling. I was so happy," says Ella.

Ella, whose passion for acting and learning saw her win TAFE at School's Graduate of the Year award, plans to finish grade 12 while to keep participating in community theatre and taking acting classes while attending auditions.

When she finishes school, she intends to return to TAFE Queensland to complete the Bachelor of Creative Industries (Drama and Performance) (ARB404), a degree offered in partnership with the University of Canberra at TAFE's South Bank campus.

"My certificate course was fantastic, and performing on stage was a thrilling experience and has solidified that acting is the career for me. The bachelors in the next step in the process, and thanks to TAFE at School, returning to studying at TAFE will be beneficial for me," Ella says.

"I plan to keep putting in the additional hard work, studying further and learning different performance disciplines because I'm determined to become an actress."