NAPA News - Week 5, Term 1, 2025
KIM REYNOLDS
COMPANY DIRECTOR
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Week 5 already?! This term is just flying by. I can’t believe it is March already. Kimberley has sent out your monthly statements, so please ensure you check these over and check in with her if you have any issues. This newsletter has a few reminders, so please ensure you’re reading over these and taking note of important info. Have a great week everyone!
IMPORTANT CYCLONE ALFRED UPDATES
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IMPORTANT CYCLONE ALFRED UPDATES
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PLEASE MONITOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAILS FOR STUDIO CLOSURES AS THE WEEK PROGRESSES
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IMPORTANT CYCLONE ALFRED UPDATES 〰️ IMPORTANT CYCLONE ALFRED UPDATES 〰️ PLEASE MONITOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAILS FOR STUDIO CLOSURES AS THE WEEK PROGRESSES 〰️
QUICK REMINDERS
UNIFORMS — DON’T FORGET WE HAVE NAPA SOCKS AND JIBBITS FOR SALE AT RECEPTION
LOST PROPERTY — THIS HAS BUILT UP AGAIN. PLEASE CHECK THE RACK IN RECEPTION.
ONLINE PRACTICE — PASSWORDS FOR OUR ONLINE PRATICE PORTALS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT TO SEVERAL CLASSES. PLEASE ENSURE PRACTICE VIDEOS ARE NOT SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
MISS KIM IN SYDNEY
This weekend I made a quick trip to Sydney to surprise Kael and Dakota in Sydney. I was lucky enough to see a preview performance of MJ the Musical. WOW! Not only was I blown away by the show, but by Kael’s performance. He just lights up the stage and it is no wonder he has been chosen to perform to the Opening Night audience this week. A great honour!
Dakota is working hard in her Annie rehearsals, and we are loving seeing the media content online. We are all thinking of you both and we’re so proud of you for all your hard work. Big love for big sister Bella who is doing an amazing job of looking after the cherubs and ensuring that they are well supported on this journey.
REMINDER NEW ABSENTEEISM PROCEDURE
We now have a new procedure for notifying us of your child’s absenteeism. If you go into your parent portal and click on ATTENDANCE, you can then follow the prompts to advise which classes your child will miss on particular days. This will then automatically load in their roles, so teacher can see who is away and when.
REMINDER: CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME
Tickets are now on sale for our NAPA Ensemble production of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, which opens this Friday. This play is recommended 13+ but parents can make the call as to whether they think their child is mature enough to watch. I’m sure they would love to see Miss Kim on stage. There are some mature themes, simulated violence and coarse language.
Christopher Boone is 15 years old and lives in the English town of Swindon, located about 100 miles west of London. He is extremely curious, an excellent mathematics student, and has an extraordinary ability to observe and retain highly detailed information about any situation he finds himself in. Christopher lives with his father, Ed, and shares a close bond with his teacher, Siobhan, who encourages him to keep a written journal of his thoughts and activities, which they read aloud together as the play progresses. As a young person on the autism spectrum, certain social situations can be challenging or confusing for Christopher to navigate, and his work with Siobhan helps him express and process his unique perspective on the world around him.
WELLBEING
turning nerves into confidence: managing performance anxiety
Performance anxiety is something almost every performer experiences at some point in their career. Whether you’re stepping onto the stage for the first time or the hundredth, those pre-show nerves can be overwhelming. But anxiety doesn’t have to be your enemy. With the right mindset and techniques, you can channel that nervous energy into a powerful and confident performance.
Why Do We Get Nervous?
Performance anxiety is a natural response to being in the spotlight. Your brain perceives the situation as high-stakes, triggering a surge of adrenaline—often leading to a racing heart, shaky hands, or even blanking on lines. But instead of letting these feelings take over, you can train yourself to use them to your advantage.
Strategies to Stay Calm & Confident
✅ Breathe Deeply
When nerves hit, your breathing may become shallow, making anxiety worse. Try the 4-7-8 technique: Inhale for four seconds, hold for seven, and exhale for eight. This helps slow your heart rate and calm your nervous system.
✅ Visualize Success
Close your eyes and imagine yourself performing confidently. Picture the applause, the connection with the audience, and the joy of storytelling. Visualisation helps rewire your brain to expect success rather than fear failure.
✅ Reframe Nervousness as Excitement
Your body doesn’t know the difference between fear and excitement—it’s your mind that labels it. Instead of thinking, “I’m so nervous,” tell yourself, “I’m excited!” This simple shift in mindset can help turn anxiety into enthusiasm.
✅ Stay Present
Worrying about forgetting lines or making a mistake only fuels anxiety. Instead, focus on the moment. Feel your feet on the floor, take in your surroundings, and engage with your scene partners. Mindfulness keeps you grounded.
✅ Practice Under Pressure
Rehearsing alone is different from performing in front of an audience. Try running your lines while recording yourself or performing for friends. The more you expose yourself to pressure in practice, the more comfortable you’ll be on stage.
✅ Develop a Pre-Show Ritual
Many performers have pre-show rituals to calm their nerves. Whether it’s stretching, listening to a favourite song, or repeating a mantra like “I am prepared, I am ready”, find a routine that soothes and centres you.
✅ Trust Your Preparation
You’ve put in the work—now trust yourself. Let go of perfectionism and focus on telling the story rather than delivering a flawless performance. Mistakes happen, but the audience is rooting for you.
Final Thoughts
Nerves don’t mean you’re not ready—they mean you care. Instead of fighting them, embrace the energy and let it fuel your performance. With practice, patience, and self-compassion, you’ll learn to transform anxiety into confidence and truly shine on stage. 🌟🎭
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
COOPER SWAIN
Years at NAPA: 2017-2022
Classes Taken: Broadway (Musical Theatre), Tread the Boards (Plays), Dance, Performance Teams, Film and Television, NAPA College
From the moment Cooper Swain stepped into NAPA, his passion and dedication to the performing arts were undeniable. Now, as he enters his final year of a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre at Australia’s most prestigious institution, Cooper is preparing to take the stage in front of the country’s top agents—ready to carve his path in both Australian and international theatre and film.
Looking back, Cooper credits NAPA with shaping not only his technical skills but also his resilience, professionalism, and artistry. After completing three years with NAPA College, in what was then a small but mighty cohort, he was hired the week of graduation to perform as a host, singer, and dancer at Dreamworld, a role he continued while pursuing full-time studies. His journey has since led him to Movie World, where he continues to thrive as a performer.
“NAPA trained me to be a master of stagecraft, but also to be a kind human and an artist that creatives want to work with,” Cooper reflects. “Kim is the best there is—she truly cares for her students and ensures that each one receives an experience tailored to their learning style. That level of mentorship builds discipline, respect, resilience, and success.”
As he steps into this next exciting phase of his career, Cooper carries with him the values instilled by NAPA—dedication, kindness, and a deep love for the craft. We can’t wait to see where his talent and hard work take him next!
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Carolyn Dante
ACTING SPECIALIST
CLASSES — SENIOR FILM + TV, ADVANCED SCREEN ACTING
NAPA is proud to have Carolyn Dante as part of our teaching team, bringing with her over 30 years of professional industry experience across film, television, theatre, and voiceover work.
Originally from Canada, Carolyn has built an impressive career in Australia, appearing in major productions such as BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE (Netflix), JOE VS CAROLE (Stan), and NEIGHBOURS (Network Ten). She has worked alongside star-studded casts on THE WILDS S2 (Prime), THE BUREAU OF MAGICAL THINGS (Netflix/Nickelodeon), TROPPO (ABC), THE END (Foxtel/Sky Atlantic), TOTAL CONTROL (ABC), and SEACHANGE (Nine Network)—just to name a few!
Beyond her on-screen work, Carolyn has extensive experience in casting, voiceover, and commercial work, as well as a two-year theatre run playing the lead role of Marge in the Arena Spectacular Show 'HEARTLAND' at Australian Outback Spectacular—where she sang and performed on horseback alongside Queensland’s finest talent.
With a deep passion for teaching and mentoring, Carolyn particularly enjoys working with kids and teens, helping to nurture their confidence, skills, and industry understanding. Her wealth of knowledge and warm, encouraging approach make her an invaluable part of the NAPA team!
We are so lucky to have Carolyn guiding our students with her expertise and experience. Welcome to NAPA, Carolyn!
PERFORMANCE TIPS
Master your lines with ease!
Learning lines can feel daunting, but with the right tools and techniques, you can make the process smoother and more enjoyable. One fantastic resource is 'Run Lines With Me', an app designed to help actors memorise scripts efficiently. The app allows you to record dialogue, mute your lines to practice responding in real-time, and even adjust playback speed to match your learning pace. Whether you're rehearsing solo or with a scene partner, this tool can be a game-changer in getting off-book quickly.
Additional Tips for Memorising Lines:
✅ Break It Down – Instead of trying to memorise the entire script at once, focus on small sections. Master a few lines at a time before moving on.
✅ Repetition is Key – Read your lines aloud multiple times, record yourself, and play them back. Writing them down can also reinforce memory.
✅ Move While You Practice – Studies show that movement helps memory retention. Try walking around, using gestures, or associating lines with specific actions to solidify recall.
✅ Engage Your Senses – Say your lines out loud, visualise the scene, and even use different tones or accents to make memorisation more dynamic.
✅ Test Yourself – Cover up your lines and see if you can recall them naturally. Try reciting them while doing another task to strengthen memory recall under pressure.
✅ Practice with a Friend or AI – Running lines with a partner can help, but if no one is available, use apps like 'Run Lines With Me' or text-to-speech tools to play back cue lines for extra practice.
The more techniques you use, the more confident and natural your performance will feel. With dedication and smart rehearsal strategies, you’ll be off-book and stage-ready in no time!
