For many aspiring actors, the dream is to graduate with real experience, and ideally, a real job already lined up. For Collarts Acting student Grace, that dream is already her reality. After immersing herself in the collaborative, industry-connected world of Collarts, Grace has secured a full-time acting role with Brainstorm Productions for next year, traveling across Victoria to educate and inspire young audiences through live performance.
With 82.1% of Collarts graduates reported finding jobs shortly after completing their course, Grace's story is a powerful example of Collarts’ commitment to preparing students for real careers in the creative industries.
From her very first trimester, Grace embraced every opportunity available to her at Collarts.
Her passion for screen acting flourished through collaborations with Collarts Screen & Media students, leading her to star in a wide range of student films.
These projects opened doors to collaborations at other creative universities and expanded her professional network across Naarm/Melbourne’s broader arts community. She soon found herself cast in the feature film 'Sloane', produced by Garden State Journal and directed by Jasper Newman, alongside additional student film roles at other universities.
Grace also continued nurturing her love for theatre. She performed in:
'Committed', a comedy showcase (dir. Andrea Powell, Collarts Comedy Program Leader)
'Scenes Of the Climate Era' (dir. Kitan Petkovski)
'Peer Gynt', where she was cast in the title role (dir. Briony Dunn, Collarts Performing Arts Program Leader)
Her performance in Peer Gynt formed part of her graduate Capstone project – showcased at the iconic Malthouse Theatre – offering her a coveted professional-level stage experience before even completing her degree.
“Collarts has truly set me up for the future. Being mentored by very talented industry professionals and learning alongside people who share my passion has been inspiring and rewarding. I now feel confident pursuing a creative career!” says Grace.
Grace’s hard work and Collarts’ industry-first training have already paid off.
She has officially secured a full-time acting position with Brainstorm Productions, touring schools across Victoria next year. For eight months, she will perform educational theatre aimed at empowering young people – a role that combines performance, purpose, and professional growth.
Grace’s advice for aspiring actors?
“Just keep going and don’t be afraid to say yes to all of the opportunities that come your way—even if it’s something you never pictured yourself doing.”
Grace’s willingness to say “yes” transformed her education into a thriving career, and she’s only just getting started.
Ready to launch your acting career? Take the next step and see what you can create at Collarts.