Anna Karenina

For students in any creative field it is incredibly important to be given the opportunity to apply what they have learnt in the classroom to a practical environment – this is where the first Australian production of the recently revised Anna Karenina by British playwright Helen Edmundson comes into play.

As part of the 2016 Bachelor of Performance at The Australian Institute of Music (AIM) nineteen final year students have been given the chance to collaborate over the course of twelve weeks in an immersive development and rehearsal process. During the program the students have taken over the creative and production roles whilst also preparing to perform in the play, as they have done this they have been mentored by a number of professionals from the industry to help them further their knowledge and ensure that upon graduation these students can go out into the work force with confidence.

As director and the Head of AIM Dramatic Arts, Peta Downes explained: “This production presents a huge creative challenge but enables our final year students to work simultaneously as actors, creators and producers guided by experienced theatre-makers as their professional mentors and empowers them to deliver a production as a professional theatre company would.”

The play, which has been adapted by Helen Edmundson from the original novel by Leo Tolstoy, is a celebrated and exemplary adaptation of an enduring classic about contemporary morality and the extreme consequences of love. (JA)

Aug 16–20, matinees and evenings. Pilgrim Theatre, 262 Pitt St, Sydney. $15. Tickets & info: www.aim.edu.au/courses/acting-theatre