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

hey..

Why don't you contact both courses, and see if you can find some students/teachers interested in talking to you? There are always graduates and students around all over the country who would be more than willing to have a chat. Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.thepromptcopy.com/pip My puppets www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

I have a very dear friend who is currently completing her second year in Stage Management at VCA. She has blossomed during the course and has worked on a number of proffessional shows around Melbourne. I don't know how this stacks up against NIDA, but I'm rather envious of all the experience and opportunites she's getting. Good luck with your application. Freddie (The Rocking Jedi Badger)

Nicola wrote - I know a fair bit about NIDA (namely that you are guaranteed work when you come out of it) I found this comment rather odd. As far as I'm aware, no course can guarantee work for its graduates. Does anyone else remember that documentary series on the Seven Network circa 2003 about students going through NIDA? One of the main lecturers there stated a number of students who graduate from their institution will never work professionally. Seems to back up what an industry mentor once told me - it ain't the piece of paper (meaning the degree or diploma) that gets you hired, it's what you can do, and how well you can do it. Perhaps one might add - and who you know. Angus Macpherson wrote - At the moment, VCA does not have the Music Theatre course. Actually, VCA does have Musical Theatre students. They have their Graduating Showcase next month. For further details, read - http://www.theatrelink.com.au/show_details.htm?showid=23799

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Of course there's no guarantee for work in this industry. But as a Melbourne techie who went to Swinburne, my experience has been that VCA students often get work more than non-VCA students or graduates. It's the same with NIDA. The mere name-dropping of having been to VCA, NIDA or WAAPA seems to get those people more work. (I'm not accusing people of name-dropping, just that I know a lot of people who come out of VCA who are no more experienced or skilled than those who don't, and get tonnes more work than the non-VCA students) As they say, it's who you know, not what you know. Sticky Apple Legs www.freewebs.com/stickyapplelegs Puppets in Melbourne www.thepromptcopy.com/pip My puppets www.collectzing.com/collection/137/

So then, by your own admission, VCA DOES have a musical theatre course.

Thank you all for your helpful words. I have always understood the WAAPA course to be fantastic but wasn't prepared to make the move to the other side of the country. I'm glad to be hearing good things about both courses and I'm sorry about my misleading comment about all NIDA graduates coming out with work. (Quite obviously if you have worked only as hard as you had to throughout the course and have not made an effort to impress then you'll probably fall on your ass). I'll contact both institutions and see how we go - as was mentioned, my decision may be made for me!

you also don't make comment on QUT either which i believe is on par with VCA, NIDA, WAAPA. but it really depends on what kind of learning enironment you are after. as many TAFE courses are a good stepping stone to get some more experience first. if you know what field of production you want to do, then look up the lectures for that subject and see if they practice what they preach. Also look at the factilies and equiptment avaliable at the different institutions, as some tech with new technologies and some don't. also what kind of training they offer, dance, drama, music theatre, puppetry, installation, opera, film. i choose the wrong one for me at first but at the time i thought it was they right one, you can always change your mind. and apply again to another one.

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

Hi, I suspect this comment may be coming a bit late as it is now almost the end of January, so the selection process for 2008 is over, I know, but if you weren't accepted yet, it may be useful for next time, or for someone else reading this post :-) By the way, did you get accepted somewhere? My two cents worth: At the risk of sounding harsh, I think the best thing you can do is realise early that the industry is a business one, not a creative one. This took me a while. This is why not all schools are equal, I believe. Obviously each institution will offer it's own perspective on the world of PERFORMANCE, and we could talk until the cows come home about which one is better in that regard, but in terms of practical circumstances and the business of show, NIDA is simply leaps and bounds ahead of the rest in terms of the resources it can provide it's students. I am a NIDA graduate. Spent three years in the mix doing the Acting course, not the Technical Production one, but one thing I can tell you is that NIDA has money. VCA does not, comparatively, This makes for a very different experience. At NIDA you have patrons and access to incredible resources. (I mean, honestly, Mel Gibson and Cate Blanchett and Catherine Martin etc, are just a few who can afford to help out......) The new Parade Theatre is a world class venue, and as a student there you will be working with the best and latest stuff. They encourage you to think on a small budget creatively too, don't get me wrong, I understand the value of this, but honestly, they train you to be a world class practitioner, dealing with top of the profession conditions and THIS is why NIDA grads get more work than untrained people not because of any bias or name dropping, it's simply holds logical sense that if an employer has a choice between someone who's dealt with expensive equipment for years, and someone who has not, they would probably employ the person they feel would know how to look after their investment best. This doesn't just go for the equipment. But experience too, TP graduates with access to top work experience positions with National and International companies at school, step out with a ready made network for the future. You see what I'm saying? It sounds crude, but it's true. Particularly for the TP course. Every single NIDA TP grad I have worked with is hot at their job and some of them are only 22, incredible! Obviously I am biased because NIDA is my school, but NIDA has the facilities the others simply do not have, because they have the dough. Also as far as living in Sydney is concerned, I am a Melbourne girl, and lived in Sydney for my time at NIDA, and it's not so bad to be there :-) If indeed, you do think that you'd prefer ultimately to live in Melbourne, then it might be wise in fact to try to study in Sydney to broaden your possibility of work. I find it a real advantage because professionally now I have twice the playing opportunities because I established a Sydney network and a Melbourne one. Hope this helps, good luck with your application I really hope it goes well for you. :-)

The other really important thing to remember is that NIDA is an Institute the others are departments within Universities. This means they are run fundamentally differently. Again, primarily a money advantage. Also, NIDA has around one hundred people total all courses -that's it. It's a smaller community, your teachers and staff practically live with you and it's all very tight and hands on. Take a third year show for example, the Acting class perform, the designers design the set and cossies, the props students make em, the costume students stitch em, and the TPs run the whole shebang. It's a real family atmosphere. Because the people who know, run the machine (and not university boards), I suspect this allows the syllabus to flex and be as fluid and tailored to the skills of a particular class as necessary.

From my understanding both courses offer great prospects into the production work world. I have close friends who have done both courses, as well as the BAPA (when it still was) course. NIDA had a bit of a tough rep in the workforce a few years ago... ie. ABC only hiring from BAPA at the time. However now it is a totally different ball game. I'd probably agree with an earlier post by Na, contact both courses and ask them questions... best bet!