Alumni
Esme Anderson
Current Occupation and Country of Residence: Playgroup teacher at Woodlands Montessori Academy
Tell us your Faust Story!
I started in 2004 in
Peter Pan and have been in
Around the World in 80 Days, Royal Hunt of the Sun, Tall Ice Low Fat Mocha Frappucino, Faustus, The Crucible, So You Think You Can Act, Equus and
My School Musical. I worked as a student leader from 2010 – 2011 and as assistant stage manager in
The Wind in the Willows.
"You don’t have to be the loudest or most confident person out there to excel at Faust.”
What is your favourite Faust memory?
There are far too many to choose from! Every Group T and Group Stage session from the fall of 2008 holds significance for me. Faust became something we looked forward to every week and Matthew Gregory really was the main reason for creating such a fun and warm atmosphere for us; we just got to goof around, be ourselves and have fun.
What was your biggest challenge in participating in drama workshops and productions?
I’d also have to say
The Crucible. Matthew put his trust in us in blocking the play ourselves and trusted us with very mature material (as he also did with
Equus). Being trusted with the important and fun role of Mary Warren pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me to be confident.
What did you gain from your experience at Faust as a student and / or as a Leader?
Lifelong friends! And I’ve gained a lot of confidence as a performer, now equipped with a lot of new skills and experience. Faust also gave me my first experience teaching. I was really fortunate to work with both Alice Beaver and Keon Lee as a student leader as they were great to learn from in their approach to classes and performances. I also learnt a lot of backstage skills as assistant stage manager and now have a well-rounded understanding of the different roles in theatre.
How did studying Drama and Theatre impact your life?
Being exposed to the idea of an ensemble really equips you for the variety of changes you go through in adolescence because you’re going through them with the people around you but are putting them aside to achieve a targeted goal with each production.
How would you describe Faust to someone new to drama and theatre?
Drama isn’t just reciting Shakespeare. You don’t have to be the loudest or most confident person out there to excel at Faust. It really is a lot about having fun and using your imagination to create something that you love and want to be a part of with your peers.
