When you’re feeling doubtful,
think about the level of
commitment and hard work
three years of professional
training and university
learning represents to
potential employers
and collaborators.
‘With everything you post, make sure you add in plenty
of relevant hashtags, as you never know who will see
them. Don’t be afraid to draw attention to yourself and
your work – be confident and proud of what you do.
Always use good quality photographs and be brave,
comment on other’s posts and start the conversation,
because you never know what might happen.’
The theatre culture in Australia is noticeably different
to that in America, where plays and musicals run seven
days a week, consistently selling out of tickets. It’s much
more intense in terms of demand from the perspective
of a playwright and director but it’s also very competitive.
Bookings are required to meet with companies and
theatres who then spend days reading over scripts,
forming feedback and questions for the playwright.
‘It usually involves a lot of sleepless nights wondering
whether your work is going to cut it. The feedback is
often critical but constructive – a useful reminder and
push for future submissions. But at the end of the day,
you have to look at everything as a step forward. It’s
very competitive and you have to be at the head of the
pack if you want to stay in the game.’
David is currently writing two more plays, one being a
sequel to The friendzone called Desire, and is considering
testing his skills at writing a musical, as they are currently
quite popular in American and Australian theatre culture.
Wherever his writing or directing roles take him, you can
be sure to find David grounded and always genuinely
passionate about sharing his hard work with the world.
Keep an eye on David’s Instagram @searstonds to follow
his adventures as well as details about his productions
overseas and on Australian shores.
Interested in studying a Bachelor of Creative Arts
majoring in theatre at USQ? Don’t waste another
moment, get started now.
Audition tips for
current students
‘When auditioning actresses and actors for
my work, they have to suit the character,
match the vision in my imagination and bring
it to life as they are, after all, embodying my
character and need to be as close to authentic
as possible. They also need to be skilled,
committed and passionate about their craft.’
• Know the whole play, research the
author (social media, Google)
• Treat it like a job interview:
be a professional in terms of appearance,
preparation and expression.
• Understand the relationships between
the characters in the play.
• Be prepared to answer questions.
• Be confident and passionate.
Social media tips for
networking and exposure
• Use as many relevant hashtags as possible so
like-minded people can find your account.
• Comment on other's photos, start the
conversation and build relationships.
• Be creative.
• Always use high-quality imagery.
• Use relevant channels: Twitter is really
popular in America and Instagram
is relevant everywhere.