Background

Dianna Nixon has been working with young dancers, singers, musicians and actors from this region for the past 20 years. The ACT and Southern NSW region has great dance schools and performing arts trainers, with many of their graduates going on to tertiary and post-school training and into professional careers in Australia and overseas. Dianna spoke to our local university music school about setting up a music theatre stream, but they were not interested. However, music theatre is a major employer of performing artists, and a hugely popular and influential artform, so we felt we needed to create a clearer pathway from undergraduate vocational training in this region to the profession.

In Dianna’s voice studio, Wild Voices Music Theatre, amongst other teaching priorities, there is a strong commitment to providing a pathway for young people to grow as artists and have the requisite skills to go on into a professional career. WVMT students have been working through the AMEB Music Theatre syllabus since it was first launched, with great success. Past WVMT students, like many of the local dancer cohort, have gone on to music, dance and theatre training at institutions around the country and overseas.

Some years ago Dianna worked with a local program where she directed music theatre for young people and teenagers, directing 9 productions in 3 years. At that time Dianna envisioned a program that those beginner programs could feed into, but which was tailored for those undertaking serious dance, music, voice training, as a pathway with professional aspiration at its heart. It didn’t eventuate as the host organisation had different priorities.

The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when choreographer and dance educator, Helen Linkenbagh and production designer Martin Thomas left their impressive UK careers to move to Canberra as owners of Ballet Canberra, bringing to this region their skills and experience. 

So, in 2024 PATH was founded, under the umbrella of Music Theatre Projects, as a partnership between Wild Voices Music Theatre, and Ballet Canberra.

PATH – Performing After Training HARD!

(The pic is of Sam Holmes, taken at Wild Voices Music Theatre’s studio concert at The Street Theatre in 2021. He was presenting a solo song & dance version of Les Poissons from The Little Mermaid.)

Want MORE INFORMATION, then email: mtprojectsltd@gmail.com

Project Status

Each year we’ll produce one musical, with a strong movement focus, with a cast of participants from our region. The cast will need to pass eligibility criteria: they must be studying dance on a serious and ongoing basis at one of our region’s dance schools, and/or studying voice on an ongoing basis with Wild Voices Music Theatre, or with other local music theatre voice specialists.

We’ll have minimal rehearsal and a one week season, supported by a team of professional creatives and crew.

Newsies Jnr is our first show. Our performance season is booked at The Street, Canberra for Thurday 16 till Sunday 19 Oct over 2025.

Collaborators

Dianna Nixon will produce and direct, and utilise her skills as repetiteur and vocal coach in the rehearsal process. ANU School of Music composition graduate, singer/pianist/guitarist/songwriter, Oakelani Edmonds, will be musical director, supervising the musical integrity of the show in final rehearsals and during the season. Helen Thomas will choreograph and collaborate with Dianna on producing the show. Martin Thomas will design and make pretty much everything required to create the world of each show we produce.

During each year’s audition process, we’ll have a guest panel member who is currently working in professional music theatre – a creative team member, voice coach or casting director. They’ll provide an outside eye, and give feedback about what our participants need to consider if choosing this career.

For 2025 that person was Lauren Wiley, freelance casting director, whose credits include MJ the Musical (Michael Cassel), Tina the Musical (TEG Dainty), Hamilton (Jeffrey Seller/Michael Cassel Group),Come From Away (Junkyard Dog Productions/ Newtheatricals), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and Kinky Boots (Michael Cassel Group), and has worked with Sydney Theatre Company as in-house Casting Director, and been Casting Administrator for Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Misérables. 

The Estill Voice Model will be embedded in the program, underpinning the vocal preparation for each production, led by Dianna Nixon who is an EFP (holding the international-recognised certification of Estill Figure Proficiency).

Work-In-Progress 

First round of auditions were completed on Sunday March 16 2025, then another audition session was held 27 April. Now onto the casting process, and on into production.

Important dates and activities

We have developed a rehearsal and production timeline that works around studio exams, Eisteddfods and dance comps.

Newsies Jnr performance season is booked at The Street, Canberra for Thursday 16 Oct till Sunday 19 Oct.

Email us for more info: mtprojectsltd@gmail.com