THE EDUCATOR
EDITHPODESTA,ASSOCIATEARTISTICDIRECTOROFYOUNG&WILD
EdithPodestaistheepitomeofamulti-hyphenate,
whoseamlesslyswitcheshatsbetweenactor,director,
playwright,choreographerandperformancelecturer—
andtheyallrevolvearoundtheatre.Butitisinherroleas
associateartisticdirectorofWildRice’syouthdivision,
Young&Wild, that she brings all of these skill sets together
to nurture the next generation of actors.
“I’m interested in practice-based training, very much like
a conservatoire, looking at how actors use the tools, skills
and techniques that they have to create characters that
come alive for the audience,” said Podesta, who previously
served as programme leader for the BA (Hons) in Acting
course at Lasalle College of the Arts. She studied acting
and movement studies at Australia’s National Institute of
Dramatic Arts and has a Master of Fine Arts from Lasalle.
Young&Wild is a yearlong programme aimed at those
aged 18 to 30. Courses are held every Saturday and the
programme will culminate in a graduation showcase, which
is part of Wild Rice’s main season line-up. Other modules
include characterisation, movement, and play production, as
well as workshops on professional development.
Podesta is hopeful about the young talents of today:
“They are talented, passionate, and also mindful of the
change they wish to see in the world, and what art can bring
to a community. An actor can bring about change because
weembodyit.Weshowyouperhapsifyoumakethischoice
inlife,maybethiswillhappen—there’saresonancewiththe
audience.FortheyouthsatYoung&Wild,Iadmiretheir
dedicationandopen-mindedness to look at society and
think, ‘What are the stories that we need to tell now?’”