8 December 2022
The Helpmann Academy, in partnership with The Independent Arts Foundation, is delighted to announce the recipient of the 2023 Neil Curnow Award, is Brittany Gallasch.
Brittany is an emerging actor, theatre maker and Motion Capture (MoCap) specialist, who graduated from Flinders University in 2022, and is looking to develop her skills in dramatic combat and movement performance.
Made possible through the generous bequest of the late Neil Curnow (passionate actor, director and teacher), The Neil Curnow Award supports an emerging artist to undertake further study or an internship at a recognised institution with up to $10,000 in potential funding.
Brittany will be using the award to travel to the UK in February 2023 to undertake a four-week internship at Fourth Monkey, a critically acclaimed theatre company and contemporary drama school specialising in improvised theatre and physical theatre training. She will then head to advanced MoCap training with MoCap Vaults, the world’s leading MoCap and performance capture school to build on her foundational abilities. Brittany’s personal development program will then conclude with five-day stage combat intensive with Captivate Action at the Dancehouse Melbourne.
After recognising a lack of MoCap training in in Adelaide, Brittany hopes to use her experiences overseas and interstate to build a short introductory MoCap masterclass for drama students.
Brittany is excited to diversify her skills and return to Adelaide with the knowledge needed to support future generations with their MoCap training.
“As an actor and Motion Capture specialist it is absolutely amazing to receive the Neil Curnow award and have the opportunity to take my physical-theatre and Motion Capture performance skills further. I feel really grateful to The Helpmann Academy and the Independent Arts Foundation for believing in my vision and helping me with my professional development,” says Gallasch.
“I’m inspired to continue my trajectory to becoming a leading Motion Capture expert here in South Australia who also has the skills to create new innovative work combining physical-movement and technology.”
She adds that exciting developments in recent theatre shows in Australia have inspired her desire to grow in this area.
“Technology is opening up new avenues for storytelling. I am super inspired by director Kip Williams and the Sydney Theatre Company’s dazzling projects such as ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ and ‘Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ where they have adapted classic texts to connect with a modern audience and combining live performance, filmed action and recorded video,” says Gallasch.
“I hope the new skills I gain from the Neil Curnow award will allow me to be at the forefront of making and collaborating with others in using technology to push the envelope in theatre and film here in South Australia.”
The Neil Curnow is presented in partnership with the Independent Arts Foundation.
Image: Brittany Gallasch, image supplied.