At the end of 2006 the VCA will farewell Lindy Davies, long-time Head of the School of Drama and a leading contributor to the performing arts in Australia. After eleven years at the helm Lindy is leaving the VCA to return to her life as a practising artist. Next year she will be involved in projects in London, Vienna and Slovenia.

At the VCA Lindy  is credited with the design of the School’s trademark course for the integrated training of autonomous actors, designers, theatre makers, animateurs, writers and directors.  Actors she has trained include Lucy Taylor, Joe Manning, Angus Grant, Jonathan Pasvolsky, Catherine Moore, Luke Mullins, Alice McConnell, Stephen Phillips, Simon Stone and Alison Bell. Also during her time at the VCA,  actor/writers Gareth Ellis and Patrick Brammall, designers Philip Rolfe and  Anna Tregloan and directors Chris Bendall and Chris Kohn trained under her integrated curriculum. Some of the companies to emerge from the school during this time are Stuck Pigs Squealing, Theatre at Risk, Uncle Semolina and Friends and Theatre in Decay.

Of her time at the College, Lindy said: “Teaching and directing at the VCA has been a truly wonderful experience.  It has enabled me to undertake profound research into my art form whilst working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure that a younger generation of artists has had a meaningful education.

“I have spent the most enriching and challenging eleven years at the VCA, and I feel extremely privileged to have been immersed in the pursuit of difference in such a dynamic and remarkable context. It also feels immensely satisfying to complete my time here during the celebration of the Thirtieth birthday of this unique and visionary school.

“I know that current and future students of this School will be changing people's perception by inciting compassion through their work, they will soon be out in the world working with brave endeavour and opening new frontiers,” she said.

Professor Andrea Hull AO, Director of the Victorian College of the Arts, praised Lindy’s leadership of the School of Drama and thanked her for her contribution.

“Her leadership and passion is evident in the quality of graduates and staff at the School of Drama. She has made a profound contribution to Drama at the VCA and  to theatre in Australia – she is not only a visionary leader and teacher but a remarkable artist in her own right.  We are proud to have had her lead the VCA School of Drama and we wish her well.”

Richard Murphet, currently Postgraduate Coordinator and Head of Theatre Making at the school, will take up the position of Acting Head of Drama to provide leadership and continuity for students and staff as the VCA integrates with the University of Melbourne in 2007.

More information on Associate Professor Lindy Davies career

For further information contact Kate Mazoudier
03 9685 9371
0403 497 424
www.vca.unimelb.edu.au/announcements