When the acclaimed musical The Sunshine Club opens July 9 at QPAC, two QUT acting students will take to the stage in a golden opportunity to launch their careers in showbiz.
Written and directed by Wesley Enoch AM, QUT Indigenous Chair in the Creative Industries, the feel-good musical’s cast includes third year student Jazleen Latrise and second year student Zoe Walters.
The opportunity of a lifetime was fostered by the strong connections QUT has with Queensland Theatre.
“For the past six years, QUT acting students have spent a week immersed in Queensland Theatre, meeting the whole company and really getting up close with how a world-class theatre operates on stage and behind the scenes,” said Dr Andrea Moor, senior lecturer in acting at QUT and a member of the Queensland Theatre board who has also served as associate artistic director and resident director and acted in many QT productions.
“This is a phenomenal opportunity for Jazleen and Zoe and a wonderful affirmation of their talent. To appear in a high-profile musical theatre production like The Sunshine Club will get them a lot of attention and set them in a very positive direction professionally.”
The Sunshine Club is an Australian musical with book and lyrics by Wesley Enoch and music by John Rodgers.
Commissioned by the Queensland Theatre Company in the late 1990s, it tells the story of Frank Doyle, an Aboriginal serviceman who has come home from World War II. He just wants to spend time with girl next door Rose but in 1946 Brisbane it’s still frowned upon for black and white to be together.
Full of optimism and determined to seek a better life, Frank starts The Sunshine Club, his own ballroom where anyone can come together and dance, especially he and Rose.
For Jazleen and Zoe, treading the boards in the multi-award-winning production with established actors including Marcus Corowa (Frank Doyle), Irena Lysiuk (Rose Morris) and Roxanne McDonald (Aunty Faith) is a dream come true.
“It has been a challenging and enriching experience, but I love working alongside First Nations creatives and practitioners and being a part of this story’s rich history and cultural significance,” said Kaanju, Pitta Pitta, Iama Island woman Jazleen.
“Wesley has been a great mentor to us. The most rewarding advice I have received from him is that ‘you can carry more sand with an open fist’ which has allowed me to accept all offers and be open to learning new things. I will take that lesson with me always.”
Zoe, a Anmatyerre woman, added that she had gained a lot of confidence in working with Wesley and the rest of the cast.
“Wesley has an infinite amount of belief in his cast and creative team, reminding us that he cast us for a reason,” said Zoe.
“Often, I feel intimidated and in awe of the amount of talent in the room and Wesley is always swift to remind me I am part of that talent. He has also been a great source of knowledge and wisdom when it comes to the history of country and the context surrounding the play.
“I have learnt so much from my cast members too. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and we are all so supportive of each other and take time to help one another.”
Zoe said she felt QUT had prepared her well for the role.
“Thanks to QUT, I feel quite grounded acting-wise in the show, finding the realism within the moments. It is a bit different in that this is a musical, so I am singing and dancing majority of the time, but QUT has instilled a great sense of professionalism, teamwork, and collaboration in me," she said.
“I am living my dream. This is the beginning of a career I have hoped and worked so hard to establish. I never would have thought I'd make my debut this early on and it is the most rewarding thing knowing that this is only the beginning.”
Wesley, himself a QUT graduate - Bachelor of Arts (Drama)(Hons), said The Sunshine Club was the perfect platform to showcase Indigenous talent.
“When we made the show last century it was all about identifying and supporting new First Nations talent. For many of the performers it was their first time on the mainstage - David Page, Elaine Crombie, Wayne Blair, Ursula Yovich, Tessa Rose and Kamahi Djordan King and they went on to great careers,” he said.
“When we looked at restaging this show I wanted to focus on that same idea – how do we identify and support First Nations talents? It was obvious QUT was a place to talk to about their Indigenous Acting students and help bring them on the journey.
“QUT has a long, star-studded history of training and empowering Indigenous artists. When you get to a certain age it’s no longer about your ego but how to make a better world for the next generation. I am filled with joy seeing how Zoe and Jaz are giving their all and being deadly sponges to the opportunity.”
Find out more about QUT acting courses online at: https://www.qut.edu.au/courses/bachelor-of-fine-arts-acting
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 3151, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
