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Jack Curry (2018)

Jack is a 2018 Daramalan College graduate who chose Performing Arts as his life pathway, not without Daramalan Theatre Company’s influence.

How has Daramalan College influenced your life?

Definitely, the biggest influence was doing the shows with Daramalan Theatre Company. It’s where my love for theatre and storytelling started, and I learnt lots of valuable life lessons throughout my time doing shows there.

Since graduating, I’ve been pursuing a diverse acting education and Arts career. I studied for a diploma of stage and screen performance at NIDA in 2019, then studied the Meisner technique for 18 months, including training in screen acting and mime. Since then, I’ve acted in a number of projects, including musicals, short films and music videos.

Recently, I was involved in a show called “Everynight”, where I was the puppeteer for a puppet named Coat: he was a coat. Currently. I am writing and producing a short film alongside my recent work with the DTC.

In Troilus & Cressida, I play the role of ‘Pandarus’, a friend and uncle to the titular characters. He is quite a sneaky, arrogant guy, but he means well and is loyal.

I am also there if needed to step into scenes with students and talk through acting beats – psychological, emotional, character moments, that I might be able to help shape with a new discovery.

What’s challenging about bringing this Troilus & Cressida script to life?

Because of the time it was written, some of the language can be very convoluted and confusing. The most important job for us as actors is to interpret the script and understand it. That process is also the hardest and the most time-consuming. But if we don’t understand the words we’re saying, then it will surely be lost on anyone else watching. So a lot of time and effort goes into just breaking the script down, and understanding each moment, each word.

What sort of person do you think is going to love Troilus & Cressida?

Anybody who loves a shocking, funny, tragically surreal experience.

Anybody who wants to see a new perspective on old ideas; young people with a voice. Anybody who wants a fresh perspective. People who love Shakespeare (because it’s so Shakespeare). People who hate Shakespeare (because it’s literally nothing like Shakespeare). People who hate Shakespeare (because it’s literally nothing like Shakespeare).

It is a real roller-coaster!

What are you most proud of in your life?

“Everynight” was the most fun, challenging, creative, collaborative, and transformative experience ever. I’m really proud of my work in that show. It was a hard show to put on, but the end result was magical.

What is your advice for current students?

Trust that tiny voice in your head telling you to do that thing. Whatever makes you curious, what scares you a bit, do that. Those are the experiences that are the most rewarding, that you learn and grow the most from.