Five Iconic WAAPA Alumni Who Made A Big Impact On Aussie Culture
Follow your passion and apply for WAAPA in 2024. Find out more about WAAPA’S courses here: https://www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses
Australia doesn’t have culture? Try again, sweetie.
It’s no secret that Western Australia is an incredible, vast, diverse, and stunning landscape – West is Best after all! From the gorgeous beaches to picturesque sandstone domes, it’s a big slice of Australian paradise.
But did you know the great state is also responsible for some of Australia’s most talented performing arts legends?
The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) has been home to the likes of iconic Aussie performers including Hugh Jackman, Tim Minchin, Lisa McCune, Meg Mac, and Eddie Perfect. WAAPA hosts a bunch of courses that will help any student who wants to hone their artistic skills and realise their ambition, and is recognised both nationally and internationally for the quality of its graduates over the years.
But don’t just take our word for it. If you’re interested in all things art, theatre, performing, and production, we’ve decided to compile some of the legendary performers who WAAPA have helped along the way to become household names.
Meyne Wyatt
From gracing our screens on shows like Redfern Now to Neighbours, and acting alongside Nicole Kidman and Joseph Fiennes in Strangerland, Meyne Wyatt’s achievements as an actor are plentiful. But his talents don’t stop there. In 2020, Wyatt entered a self-portrait in the Archibald Prize and became the first Indigenous artist to win the Packing Room Prize.
When at WAAPA, Wyatt trained in the Aboriginal Performance course before going on to further study at NIDA. He would go on to star in the aforementioned successful roles, as well as 2012 film The Sapphires and working for the Bell Shakespeare company.
Meg Mac
This Aussie singer-songwriter is an absolute powerhouse and has a bunch of bangers under her belt. She studied music at WAAPA and after completing her degree submitted her song ‘Known Better’ to Triple J’s Unearthed program and things took off from there.
Her debut album Low Blows hit number two on the ARIA charts after it was released in 2017 and her third album released last year, Matter of Time, went straight to the number one spot. If you ever get a chance to see her live, it’s well worth it!
Tim Minchin
Tim Minchin is a famous Brit-Aussie that barely needs an introduction – this man can do it all. He’s a talented comedian, actor, musician, poet, songwriter, and composer, but did you know he really started flexing those creative muscles at WAAPA, after studying an Advanced Diploma of contemporary music? Yep, West really is Best!
Since he completed his diploma, Minchin started out composing music for documentaries and theatre, and garnered attention for his musical talent as well as his wit, making appearances on shows like Spicks & Specks, Good News Week, and Talkin’ Bout Your Generation. He also toured with Jesus Christ Superstar, had roles in TV series like Upright, Californication and No Activity, and of course, is the musical genius behind the stage show adaption of Matilda the Musical.
What CAN’T he do?!
Rachael Maza
Another superbly talented WAAPA graduate is Rachael Maza, who you may recognise from her acting credits on shows such as Wentworth, Winners and Losers, Heartland, A Country Practice, and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
She’s also a TV presenter for ABC and SBS, and artistic director at IIbeijerri Theatre Company and worked as an Indigenous Liaison Advisor on award-winning films like Rabbit Proof Fence.
In 2020, Maza was awarded an Order of Australia for significant service to the performing arts.
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman is one of Australia’s most famous exports and the man can do it all: sing, dance, direct, act, and is devilishly handsome to look at. He’s won Golden Globes, Emmys, a Grammy, and Tony Awards and has been awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia medal.
But back in the day, before all of the accolades, when he realised how much he loved performing Jackman actually turned down a role in Neighbours to attend WAAPA first – if that’s not proof of how good the courses are, we don’t know what is!
Obviously, Jackman has gone on to have a spectacular career nationally and internationally, known for his roles in action movies such as X-Men and The Wolverine, as well as blockbuster hits like Les Miserables and The Greatest Showman.
–
With courses ranging from music theatre, production and design, acting, arts and cultural management, and Aboriginal performance, WAAPA could be the next home for you, if you’re passionate about furthering your creative career and seeing your name up in lights just like the famous and talented Aussies on this list.
–
Follow your passion and apply for WAAPA in 2024. Find out more about WAAPA’s courses here.