A Stroud teenager has spent a week experiencing what it is like to work at one of Australia's leading theatre companies - and firmed up his future career plans in the process.
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Dungog High School student Cambell Gorton was one of 26 high school students the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) hosted during the school holidays for its annual work experience program.
Cambell was chosen out of hundreds of applications from across the state and was one of only six students to receive the prestigious regional scholarship. His video application for the program was recently completed at a production company during his Year 10 Dungog High School work experience.
The busy week in Sydney allowed Cambell to explore the many facets of STC and gain a broad understanding of the workings of a theatre company. He said he had learned a multitude of new things relating to threatre and had the chance to see a production at the Sydney Opera Theatre.
"I quite enjoyed the acting workshop where we were given scripts and rehearsed and did a little bit of acting based on this," he said.
"I have always been interested in acting since I was very young and have been pursuing acting for a quite a while.
"This was a very big opportunity for me so I jumped at the chance and learned a lot more."
He first attended drama lessons in Newcastle while in primary school, encouraged by a friend who was attending. When the friend dropped out Cambell kept going.
Each day during the week the students focussed on a different STC department, looking at programming, direction, set and costume design, marketing and corporate sponsorship, allowing Cambell to broaden his horizons.
"Maybe acting might not be the only thing I am interested in now," he said.
"Design is pretty interesting, costume design and set design. There's a lot of work to put in to a single play. This week has opened plenty of doors for me. It has given me a lot of information.
"I am sure I will be taking a career path in the entertainment industry one way or another."