VCA vs NIDA

Dear one and all, I'm trying to find out as much as possible about both the NIDA and the VCA Production Courses. Has anyone been through one or the other, or knows people who have? What are the differences between them as far as teaching methods, values, general quality and focus goes? I'm from Brisbane and have applied for both, the catch being I have always wanted to live in Melbourne but I simply cannot find out anything about the VCA Production Course other than what is on their website. I know a fair bit about NIDA (namely that you are guaranteed work when you come out of it) but I'm not as keen on living in Sydney as in Melbourne. Obviously I am simply trying to plan my life in advance as I am yet to be accepted into either, both or none of these courses. I'm just playing with hypotheticals. Can anyone give me any info, particularly on the specifics of VCA Production? Thanks so much Nicola

Hi Nic, I'm a current VCA production student. I read your post and thought maybe I might be able to provide you with a little bit of first-hand knowledge on what to expect if you come down to Melbourne. The course is 3 years. In your first semester you study everything; Lighting, Sound, Stage Management, Design, Costume, Workshop, OH&S and Technical Drawing. From there you start to narrow it down. By the middle of year 2, you should be focused on one area. I found this structure invaluable. Studying such a broad area of theatre production opens your eyes to what is going on around you. Theatre is above anything else, a collaboration, so to have an understanding of what everyone else is going through (even if you yourself have no interest in that area of production) is very helpful. There are two major production periods during the year. If you think of it like school terms, you'll primarily spend terms 1 and 3 on classwork (assignments, projects, research etc) and spend terms 2 and 4 on production placements. That said, projects often occur beyond these terms and if you're organized you can often take advantage of them. Depending on timetable and your own personal preference, you can do anywhere from 2 to 6 VCA shows per year. I lit four shows this year, designed the sound for one and produced another. One thing thats fantastic about VCA is the variety of art-forms you can get involved with. VCA produces drama, music theatre , dance, puppetry, film and opera and the production school supports all of these areas. We have even worked in the past with NICA on circus shows. The course at VCA is really what you make it. It will not by any means guarantee you a career at the end (neither will NIDA). It will not magically turn you into a designer or stage manager (again, neither will NIDA). What it does is provide you with tools, with contacts and the means to develop your skills. You need to identify your long-term goals and then look at how the course can help you reach them. Personal motivation and initiative is the key. The piece of paper you get at the end pales in significance to the professional relationships and opportunities you can cultivate within your course. Hope this helps. You can always send me an email at tpwillis@bigpond.net.au if you have any questions. Might see you round next year! Tom W

VCA vs NIDA

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