Â鶹ֱ²¥ has named award-winning Western Australian playwright and actor Kate Mulvany the Patron of the Hayman Theatre, the associated Hayman Theatre Company and the Curtin Theatre Arts Program for a three-year term.<\/p>\n
Â鶹ֱ²¥ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said the University was delighted to recognise Ms Mulvany\u2019s significant contribution to the arts and welcome her return to Curtin.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheatre Arts at Curtin is the longest established tertiary theatre course in WA and we are proud to have Kate Mulvany \u2013 a celebrated playwright, screenwriter, librettist, social activist and stage, film and TV actor \u2013 as one of our alumni,\u201d Professor Terry said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring one of her recent visits to Curtin where she was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Letters, Kate met with our current theatre arts students, who are greatly inspired by her achievements both on and off the stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was keen to support students studying theatre arts so we are very pleased to officially welcome her to the role of Patron of the Hayman Theatre, where she will be able to continue to inspire and encourage future generations of Theatre Arts graduates from Â鶹ֱ²¥.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Mulvany said her career \u2018started at the Hayman Theatre\u2019 while she was a Curtin Bachelor of Arts student, where she spent time writing, directing and performing at the \u2018theatre on the hill\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to write scripts in class and then head up to the Hayman Theatre to ask the staff there if I could stage my plays. They would give me an $80 budget; I\u2019d audition actors and direct them,\u201d Ms Mulvany said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI then put on a couple of those plays at The Blue Room Theatre in Northbridge and after I graduated, I took those same plays to Sydney. So, it basically all started for me at the Hayman.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo return to Â鶹ֱ²¥ as its Patron fills me with pride, joy and inspiration. The education and friendships I found at the Hayman provided me with all the necessary skills to forge my career. To see today\u2019s Hayman Theatre students honing their craft to become writers, actors, directors, producers and designers is an absolute honour. I\u2019m thrilled to be able to assist them on their journey as Australian artists.\u201d<\/p>\n
Born and raised in Geraldton, Ms Mulvany has gone on to write more than 20 plays and take on a variety of screen acting roles including appearances on TV in Secret City<\/em> and the upcoming Foxtel series Fighting Season, <\/em>and feature films including Baz Luhrmann\u2019s The Great Gatsby <\/em>and Tim Winton\u2019s The Turning.<\/em> In September 2017, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Â鶹ֱ²¥, recognising her contribution to performing arts in Australia.<\/p>\n As a recent venue for Fringe World Festival 2018, the Hayman Theatre will host over 100 performances in 2018, ranging from major productions to class performances to various student shows such as the Sunday Night Theatre.<\/p>\n