Thursday, 24 April 2025

Get ready for an unforgettable experience at WAAPA's "Access All Areas" Open Day on Sunday 4 May at ECU’s Mount Lawley campus from 10am-3pm.

This is your opportunity to experience the world-class training offered by one of Australia's top performing arts institutions. Whether you're interested in Acting, Dance, Music, Music Theatre, Performing Arts, Production and Design, Arts & Cultural Management, or one of WAAPA's many other programs, this event is the perfect opportunity to explore it all.

Meet current students and staff, visit live rehearsals, and sit in on classes across a variety of disciplines. Watch exclusive performances, including jazz and contemporary music ensembles, and see how WAAPA’s industry-simulated training brings creativity to life. Get a behind-the-scenes look at upcoming productions and observe real-life performing arts training in action!

ECU’s Mount Lawley campus has been WAAPA’s home for the past 45 years, producing many of Australia’s finest performers, musicians and theatre practitioners. 2026 marks the start of a new exciting chapter for WAAPA, as the school moves to its new home as part of the ECU City campus. With brand-new performance venues and state-of-the-art facilities, this extraordinary new campus in the heart of Perth will place WAAPA firmly at the forefront of performing arts training both nationally and internationally.

Students accepted into our 2026 courses will attend WAAPA’s new home at the ECU City campus – so this year’s Open Day offers a glimpse of what awaits you at the ECU City campus through several displays and an ECU City information hub.

From 2026 onwards, the transformative ECU City campus will elevate your global experience, expand your talent and prepare you for a successful career in the arts. Join us and discover how WAAPA’s conservatoire training will help you master your craft.

This is more than just an Open Day – it's a chance to experience WAAPA’s vibrant, dynamic community up close. Bring your family and discover how WAAPA can help you take the next step in your performing arts journey.

WAAPA at ECU Open Day

Sunday 4 May 2025, 10.00 am – 3.00 pm

Edith Cowan University, 2 Bradford St, Mount Lawley

Here is an easy-to-follow schedule of events for the WAAPA Open Day to help you plan ahead.

🟠 GENERAL

WAAPA Overview

🗣️ Presenter: Professor David Shirley, Executive Dean of WAAPA
🕙 10:00am–10:40am | 🕝 2:20pm–3:00pm
📍 The Edith Spiegeltent, Building 5

WAAPA Information Desk

ℹ️ Staff available to answer all questions
🕐 All Day
📍 Study Area Zone (Outside Building 1)

🔵 PRODUCTION & DESIGN

Overview Presentation

🗣️ Assoc. Prof. Richard Reddrop
🕛 12:00pm–12:45pm
📍 Lecture Theatre 3.101, Building 3

Guided Tours

🕙 10:00am | 11:00am | 12:00pm | 1:00pm | 2:00pm
📍 Meet in Main Foyer of Building 1 (arrive 10 mins early)
Bookings are essential register here: https://www.trybooking.com/DBETM

Exhibitions & Info Desks (All Day):

• Costume Exhibition – Building 1, Level 4
• Production Design Exhibition – Building 1, Level 4
• Lighting Info Desk – Room 1.1111 (Lower Ground Level)
• Props & Scenery Exhibition – Workshop (Lower Ground Level)
• Sound Studios Info Desk – Room 1.1122 (Lower Ground Level)
• Stage Management Info Desk – Room 2.214, Building 2

🔴 ABORIGINAL PERFORMANCE / ACTING & SCREEN PERFORMANCE / PERFORMING ARTS

Course Presentations + Q&A

🕥 10:45am–11:45am | 🕐 1:00pm–2:00pm
📍 The Edith Spiegeltent, Building 5

Performer Training Workshops

🕦 11:15am–11:45am (Acting Class) | 🕛 12:00pm–12:30pm (Performance Making Class) | 🕝 2:30pm–3:00pm (Voice Class)
📍 Studio C, Building 1

🟢 ARTS & CULTURAL MANAGEMENT

Degree Presentation

🗣️ Presenter: Dr Vahri McKenzie, Coordinator A&CM and members of student-led ACMO

🕐 1:00pm–1:45pm
📍 Lecture Theatre 3.101, Building 3

🟣 DANCE / BALLET / MUSIC THEATRE

Merrily We Roll Along Rehearsals

🕐 All Day
📍 Studio D, Building 1

Ballet Talk

🕥 10:05am–10:25am
📍 Studio A, Building 1

Demo Ballet Class + Q&A

🕥 10:30am–12:00pm
📍 Studio 1, Building 1

Music Theatre Presentation + Ballroom Demo + Q&A

🕦 11:30am–12:30pm | 🕐 1:00pm–2:00pm
📍 Roundhouse Theatre, Building 1

Ballet Repertoire Class + Q&A

🕛 12:00pm–1:00pm
📍 Studio 1, Building 1

BA (Dance) Talk

🕧 12:30pm–1:00pm
📍 Studio A, Building 1

Contemporary Dance Class (3rd Year)

🕐 1:00pm–2:15pm
📍 Studio A, Building 1

Contemporary Dance Rehearsal

🕝 2:15pm–3:00pm
📍 Studio A, Building 1

🟡 MUSIC

Music Information Desks (All Day)

• Classical Performance & Music Education – Ensemble Studio 1, Building 1
• Contemporary Music – Jazz Studio, Building 1
• Jazz – Ensemble Studio 2, Building 1
• Composition & Sonic Arts – Room 2.201, Building 2

Music Artists Performance (Acoustic)

🕙 10:00am–10:30am
📍 Courtyard, Main Foyer, Building 1

Jazz Concert – WAAPA Big Band

🕥 10:30am–11:00am
📍 Geoff Gibbs Theatre, Building 1

Classical Music Concert

🕥 10:30am–11:00am | 🕝 1:30pm–2:00pm
📍 Richard Gill Auditorium, Building 1

Jazz/Contemporary/Music Artist Info Sessions

🕚 11:00am–11:30am | 🕑 2:00pm–2:30pm
📍 Geoff Gibbs Theatre, Building 1

Classical/Composition/Music Ed Info Sessions

🕚 11:00am–11:30am | 🕐 1:00pm–1:30pm
📍 Richard Gill Auditorium, Building 1

Composition & Sonic Arts Performance

🕦 11:15am–11:45am | 🕜 1:15pm–1:45pm
📍 Room 2.201, Building 2

Contemporary Music Concert

🕦 11:30am–12:00pm | 🕝 2:30pm–3:00pm
📍 Geoff Gibbs Theatre, Building 1

Percussion Workshop – Defying Gravity

🕛 12:00pm–12:30pm
📍 Handa Studio, Room 1.101, Building 1

Historic Pianos Demo

🕧 12:30pm–1:00pm
📍 Room 1.224, Building 1

Music Artists Concert (Live Performance)

🕧 12:30pm–1:00pm
📍 Geoff Gibbs Theatre, Building 1

Jazz Ensemble Performance

🕜 1:30pm–2:00pm
📍 Geoff Gibbs Theatre, Building 1

🟣 POSTGRADUATE STUDIES & RESEARCH

Motion Capture Studio

🎥 Explore ECU's world-class motion capture facility used for digitally animating WAAPA performers into high-fidelity avatars.
🕛 12:00pm–3:00pm
📍 Building 10, Room 10.224