NAPA News - Week 10, Term 3, 2025
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome to the final week of term 3. We had another busy week at the studio with Winnie the Pooh being performed by our Broadway Kids and our Acting and Vocal students competing at Gold Coast Eisteddfod. For our Broadway Kids, as is tradition, you will have this Saturday off. This means you are now on holidays! If your child attends other classes, these remain on as usual.
Below is a small selection of photos from our wonderful production photographers David and Beau. The entire selection of photographs will be emailed out to families, along with the professional video, once we receive the edited products. When you receive these links please be mindful of posting on social media. Due to our video licensing agreement, no part of our production can be posted publicly. Please ensure you follow these guidelines or we could lose the privilege of capturing these special memories.
QUICK REMINDERS
WINNIE THE POOH CAST T-SHIRTS - 2ND ROUND ORDERS CLOSE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19TH AT 5.00PM.
TICKETS TO CURTAINS WILL GO ON SALE AT 6.00PM ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH.
FINAL CHANCE TO CHECK LOST PROPERTY BEFORE IT IS DONATED.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
NAPA ACTORS AND VOCALISTS AT GOLD COAST EISTEDDFOD
What an incredible week it has been for our NAPA students at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod! For the very first time, we entered Speech & Drama and Vocal Groups, expanding on our history of entering only dance groups. This step truly highlighted the versatility and talent of our students, who excelled across all areas of the Performing Arts.
Our solo vocalists also shone brightly, with Hallie Heaviside taking out Junior Grand Champion and Saje Roberts receiving the prestigious Paul Sharratt Memorial Award. To top it off, our Dance Groups were also recognised with a Special Award, the Aggregate for Musical Theatre, awarded to the school with the highest overall scores across all age groups in this genre.
None of this would be possible without our incredible NAPA staff, whose expertise and dedication continue to inspire and support our students. What a way to wrap up the Gold Coast Eisteddfod for 2025!
Drama Group results:
Senior Tread the Boards entered 4 groups and received 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Very Highly Commended
Junior Tread the Boards entered 2 groups and received 3rd and VHC in a massive section of 13 groups!
Congratulations to Miss Cilla, Miss Amy and all our NAPA Actors!
SUMMER SCHOOL REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!
Applications for our Summer School - CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY are now open! If you wish to audition for a lead role, you need to register at the link below and also enrol in the program via your parent portal. All information can be found on our auditions page.
I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE
Our next production is our NAPA College senior musical - I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE. Tickets are currently on sale for this production, and if you’re considering enrolling into our NAPA College program, we highly recommend you attend! This musical will be performed by our 2nd and 3rd year students and is directed by Amy Elkin.
This celebration of connections takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum know as “the relationship.” Through sketches and songs, Act I explores the journey from dating and waiting to love and marriage, while Act II reveals the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set. This hilarious revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared to ask, “Say, what are you doing Saturday night?”
There are some mature themes but I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE is suitable for all audiences. Parental guidance is recommended for our younger cherubs ;)
Wellbeing
Affirmations: Your Secret Rehearsal for the Mind
As a performer, you spend hours rehearsing your lines, your choreography, or your songs. But have you ever thought about rehearsing the way you speak to yourself? That’s where affirmations come in.
Affirmations sometimes get dismissed as “wishy-washy positive thinking,” but in truth, they’re a powerful mental training tool. Just like you train your voice, your body, or your craft, affirmations train your mind. They’re short, powerful statements you repeat to remind yourself of who you are and who you’re becoming—especially when your inner critic gets loud.
Think of it this way: every time you tell yourself “I always mess up auditions,” you’re rehearsing a belief that undermines you. Over time, your brain starts to accept it as fact. But when you replace that thought with an affirmation like “I bring something unique to every audition” or “I am prepared and ready to perform,” you’re rehearsing a different story—one that supports your growth instead of holding you back.
Professional athletes use affirmations in the same way before they step onto the field, dive into the pool, or run a race. Olympic sprinters repeat phrases like “I am fast, I am strong, I am ready,” while swimmers and gymnasts often visualise success while affirming “I am calm and powerful” or “I perform at my best under pressure.” These mental routines aren’t about pretending—it’s about programming the mind to stay focused, confident, and resilient in high-pressure situations. As performers, you can borrow this same technique to ground yourself before an audition, rehearsal, or show.
Affirmations don’t mean pretending that everything is perfect. They don’t erase nerves or magically guarantee success. What they do is strengthen the mental muscle that helps you:
Step into a room with confidence, even when you feel nervous.
Recover from rejection without losing your self-worth.
Keep moving forward in an unpredictable industry.
Affirmations to Add to Your Repertoire
Here are some affirmations young performers can start with. Choose a few that resonate with you, or create your own:
For auditions and performances:
“I am prepared, focused, and ready.”
“I have something unique to share.”
“I trust myself in this moment.”
“My nerves are energy, and I know how to use them.”
For rehearsals and training:
“Every rehearsal makes me stronger.”
“I am open, I am growing, I am improving.”
“I bring effort, not perfection.”
“Learning is part of the process.”
For self-worth and resilience:
“I am enough, exactly as I am.”
“Rejection is redirection—it does not define me.”
“I deserve to take up space.”
“I celebrate progress, not just results.”
Try weaving these into your daily routine: say them in front of the mirror, write them in your journal, or keep one in your back pocket to whisper before walking into an audition room. With practice, affirmations stop being just words—they become part of your inner strength.
CHERUB OF THE WEEK
CONGRATULATIONS AMINA!
Amina is a long time NAPA Cherub, taking a wide range of classes all across the studio. While we have all had a massive Term 3, we’d love to take a moment to commend Amina for her commitment to both her Performance Teams and her show casts. Over the last few weeks, Amina performed admirably in our PT concerts, before fronting up the next day, completing prepared and enthusiastic for an all day rehearsal for April Aardvark. The following weekend Amina performed two shows of our Pre-Senior Tread the Boards play and competed with her team at Evolution. In Tread the Boards this year Amina has naturally taken on a leadership role. She has role modelled putting in the work to ensure she has been secure with her lines, retaining blocking and direction and working hard to create interesting and believable characterisation. Her experience has also been of benefit to some of her younger cast mates, as she offers words of encouragement and valuable advice. Next term, you will also see her take the stage in Curtains. Amina is a valued member of our NAPA family and a most deserving Cherub of the Week.
Congratulations, AMINA – we’re so proud of you!
PERFORMANCE TIPS
The Power of Breath
Whether you’re singing, acting, or dancing, your breath is the invisible thread running through every performance. It fuels your voice, supports your movement, and helps you stay present in the moment. Yet when the pressure is on—audition nerves, stage fright, opening night jitters—breath is often the first thing we lose.
Why Breath Matters
For singers: Strong breath support gives you control, projection, and stamina. Without it, even the most trained voice can feel weak or shaky.
For dancers: Breath keeps movement fluid and stops your body from becoming stiff. Syncing breath to movement also prevents fatigue and injury.
For actors: A steady breath calms nerves, helps you access emotion, and gives your voice power and resonance on stage or on camera.
Think of breath as your foundation. Without it, everything else wobbles. With it, you have balance, power, and presence.
A Simple Pre-Performance Breath Reset
Before you walk into the rehearsal room, step on stage, or face the camera, try this short exercise to reset your system:
Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of 4.
Hold gently for a count of 4 (no straining).
Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 6–8, letting your shoulders drop.
Repeat 3 times.
This kind of mindful breathing sends a signal to your nervous system: “I’m safe. I’m ready.” It steadies your heart rate, clears away tension, and creates space for focus and confidence.
Training Your Breath Daily
Just like scales or warm-ups, breathwork gets stronger with practice. Try adding small breath rituals into your routine:
Morning reset: Take 3 minutes of deep breathing before you start your day.
Rehearsal warm-up: Add a breathing exercise before vocal runs or stretching.
Nerves check-in: If you feel shaky before a performance, use breath to ground yourself instead of trying to “push through.”
The more you practice connecting to your breath, the easier it becomes to draw on it in high-pressure moments.
Breath = Presence
When you’re connected to your breath, you’re connected to your body, your voice, and your character. You’re not stuck in your head or worrying about what’s next—you’re alive in the present moment. And that’s when the magic of performance truly happens.
